In 1948, the Northrop X-4 Bantam, a pint-sized contender at California’s Muroc Air Force Base, struggled for recognition amidst the aerial heavyweights.
Overshadowed by the formidable X-1 and X-2 rocketplanes, as well as the flashy but impractical Douglas X-3 Stiletto, the X-4 seemed like the 98-pound weakling of research aircraft. It paled in comparison to its Mach-breaking counterparts. The impending arrival of the swing-wing X-5 hinted at a monumental breakthrough.
Tailless designs, as championed by the likes of Northrop and Lippisch, held a particular allure for those seeking supersonic prowess. As the X-5 prepared to take center stage, the nerdy and notably tailless X-4 faced its moment of truth. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation, but the odds were against the little aircraft as it attempted a feat beyond its modest stature—breaking the elusive sound barrier.
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I guess your would call this a “ breathless narration” complete with mumbled words like “speed bricks!” This must be AI on drugs!
So supersonic flying wing is not possible? That's interesting- did they find out why exactly?
" Well, it shakes a little. Just throw these shims in 'er and I'll bet she'll straighten up and fly right." Basal wood! Where are these incredible engineers for today? I had no idea this little bird had such a glorius past. And flown by the legend Scott Crossfield no less!
Odd how the Americans first used German aviation advances to build their air force after the second big war. Now, 75+ years later, they're busy copying the government that initiated those aeronautical innovations.
I believe the DH Swallow had the same divergence problems as it approached high mach numbers. Something which caused the demise of Geoffrey De Haviland.
Hate to rain on your parade but the SR-71 and the Space Shuttle were both as tailless as the X4. SR-71 could do Mach 3 as long as it had fuel, and the Space Shuttle could do Mach 25. But they were both deltas instead of swept-wing.
Thanks for all the vids man.👍
Nice video about X4 aircraft's rocket power 🚀 launching…designed by US
Impractical X-3 Stilletto? The plane was somewhat of a dissappointment only because the promissed engines lacked power.
But it 'was' practical, cause it could take off under its own power and didn't need a mothership to get airborne.
Totally cool aircraft ! Mr . Jack Northrop was ahead of his time ! Wow – Never seen this
Little aircraft – Outstanding . Weak engines , but it was early days of jet power . Thanks –
Looks more like a dog fighting jet than a super sonic speedster.
Please turn off the synthetic muzac so I can concentrate on your words
Ironically, Crossfield was killed in a Cessna 182.
Happy unsubscribe day!
Check out the X-36's Cockpit @ 9:39, LOL.
Pretty sure this is a photoshopped image, but there appears to be some hi-jinks goin' on w/ the Cockpit.
More of your inane opinions and stupid writing passing as knowledge. And your customary quota of factual errors. You've fooled a number of subscribers, however.
In 1958 McDonnell / Duglass along with Rockwell started paper work on the F-4 Phantom . The F-4 was the first computer generated design aircraft . I know My dad worked for them in St Louis Mo . He worked their until 1966 when he burned out after 15 years in engineering by paper and mind .
I quit watching after about the fifteenth time the word naca was said. That was less than 5 minutes in. Aviation historians should know the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics was never called “naca” it was always pronounced letter-by-letter: N.A.C.A.
Complimentary algorithm enhancement comment!😊
The Avon Sabre was smooth up to M.94 where shock wave formation caused unbalanced flight but could reach M1.1 in a full power dive.
Good video. Thanks
Спасибо за видео. Очень интересно.
The Americans stole military aviation design, development and technology from Germany and Britain, brashly claiming it as their own. What's new?
Love this post war era of X Planes
I somewhat struggle to follow the idea of a lack of a "tailless supersonic aircraft". If I look at a Mirage III, accomplishing its first flight in 1956, I see a tailless aircraft flying at speeds of over Mach 2, much before the B2 took its maiden flight….
The X4 looks like a direct steal of the Remarkable German KOMET developed in the last years of WW2 as a Bomber interceptor and an example probably transported to US when WW2 ended
Same Profile and general Shape
Any research on this by the Film Maker?
Derek
troubleshooting without a computer that takes real talent / wonder what they would arm it with?
I still think their is allot to ve said about countries developing modern Midget fighters. The Folland gnat is a good example as is this. Modern avionics is a pint sized fighter that can be produced in numbers would be helpful when F 35, F22 types cannot be produced nearly as quick as fighters in ww2. A tiny and cheap fighter thay is 90% as good as anything else that is only 20% the cost will surely be very useful to any air force
Sure looks a lot like the ME 163 Komet.
Awsome video 👌
Tailless like the Dassault Mirage or the Convair F 106?
In a way, the X-4 paved the way for the eventual success of the B-2 and B-21 bombers. It showed that a flying wing really needed something like fly-by-wire controls to keep a true flying wing reasonably stable.
The X4 had a bubble cockpit,
Interestingly, both examples of the X-4 survived. It, like the German rocket powered “Swallow” became unstable approaching transonic speeds.
Thanks for mentioning my father, John H. Griffith, who was Chief Test Pilot for NACA at the time. He liked the X-4 but knew and experienced the problems with instability. It was his experience with the Bantam that caused Chance Vought to lure him away from NACA to fly the F7U Cutlass. The Cutlass was also a tailless plane and proved to be one of the Navy's most deadly planes. A test dive in the F7U went wrong and he ended up pulling 6g for 45 seconds. He grayed out but stayed conscious until he saw a positive rate of climb. He missed the ground by 1100 feet at a speed of around 600 knots. He quit flying as a test pilot after that and worked in other areas of aviation. Many pilots he knew were getting killed at that time and he had three young children who he wanted to see graduate from school.
The 163 was a beautiful airplane to fly. Sorry 'Merica it cracked the speed of sound CLIMBING, not in a shallow dive Chuck. Some times Wright Field never quite got it Right. This was the last days of the Golden Age of aviation. And even failures were successes because it was about the learning. Even the X5 was really a Messerschmitt rebuilt. ( The debate rages on that one) And think about Bell who made huge contributions to aviation building X planes, but made their money with helo's. Speaking of Wright Field a trip to the USAF Museum is worth your time, spend 2 days, there is that much to take in. And visit Huffman Prairie where flight control was perfected buy the Wrights.
That was a cute one! 🥰
It r
The X-4 at the Air Force Academy – does that bring back memories. A few of us at one time made an almost monthly habit of moving that thing about, even after the administration bolted it to the ground and planted trees around it so it could not be moved. A group of young, strong cadets with lots of time on their hands will always find a way to do the impossible.
The X4 repeated the lessons learned a few years with the DeHavilland DH108 Swallow, three of which crashed, each time killing the pilot. That did exceed Mach 1 on a single occasion, but was considered to be out of control. Perhaps more consideration should have been given to the fact that Lippisch had already moved on from "flying wing" tail-less, to the delta. He had good reason, the DH Swallow and Northrop wings all turned out to be deathtraps.
The B-2 was never designed to fly a mach 1…..
Another machine I didn't know about. And the designers, flyers who made it happen.
Great vid.
i want 1….
People don't realize that research is just that.. RESEARCH.. Contracts come and go.. some outcomes are "successful" and some are not so to speak. BUT what is learned is NEVER forgotten and the lessons learned are added to future projects.
Anything Us has done is a Ripoff of Germany WW2
And the successor of NACA is still up to testing aerodynamics. the first A in NASA is aeronautics.
Why does America turn its back on its veterans so quickly after service.