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The X-24 was an experimental US aircraft developed from a joint USAF-NASA program named PILOT (1963-1975). It was designed and built to test lifting body concepts, experimenting with the concept of unpowered reentry and landing, later used by the Space Shuttle.
The X-24 was built by Martin Marietta and flown from Edwards AFB, California. The X-24A was the second development of the program, it followed the HL-10 (1966) and preceded the M2-F3 (1970).
The X-24A was a fat, short teardrop shape with vertical fins for control. It made its first, unpowered, glide flight on April 17, 1969 and its first powered flight on March 19, 1970. The craft was taken to around 45,000 feet by a modified B-52 and then drop launched, then either glided down or used its rocket engine to ascend to higher altitudes before gliding down. The X-24A was flown 28 times at speeds up to 1,036 mph ( 1,667 km/h) and altitudes up to 71,400 feet (21,762 m).
The X-24A was modified into the more stable X-24B with a entirely different shape in 1972. It was the basis for the Martin SV-5J.
Specifications (X-24A)
- Span: 4.17 m (3.51 m fuselage)
- Length: 7.47 m
- Height: 3.15 m
- Weight: 4,864 kg (max)
- Power: one Thiokol XLR-11 rocket, two Bell LLRV landing rockets
- Crew: 1
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