Martin-Marietta X-24
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{{infobox Aircraft
|name = X-24
|type = Lifting body
|manufacturer = [[Martin Marietta]]
|image = Image:X24B.jpg
|caption = The X-24B, the only "racehorse" lifting body to be flown.
|designer =
|first flight = [[17 April]] [[1969 in aviation|1969]]
|introduced =
|retired = [[26 November]] [[1975 in aviation|1975]]
|produced =
|number built = 1
|status = Out of service
|unit cost =
|primary user = [[United States Air Force|U.S.Air Force]]<br>[[NASA]]
|more users =
|developed from = [[X-23 PRIME]]
|variants with their own articles =
}}
:''This article is about the experimental aircraft. For the aeroplane engine, see [[X24 engine]]''.
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]].<ref name="Reed">{{cite book|last=Reed|first=R. Dale|coauthors=Darlene Lister|year=2002|title=Wingless Flight: The Lifting Body Story|edition=|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|location=|id=ISBN 0813190266}} ''[http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19980169231_1998082126.pdf also available as a PDF file].</ref>
==X-24A Development==
[[Image:X24.jpg|thumb|right|240px|Martin X-24A]]
The X-24 was one of a group of lifting bodies flown by the NASA Flight Research Center (now [[Dryden Flight Research Center]]) in a joint program with the U.S. Air Force at [[Edwards Air Force Base]] in [[California]] from [[1963]] to [[1975]]. The lifting bodies were used to demonstrate the ability of pilots to maneuver and safely land wingless vehicles designed to fly back to Earth from space and be landed like an airplane at a predetermined site.
Lifting bodies’ aerodynamic lift, essential to flight in the atmosphere, was obtained from their shape. The addition of fins and control surfaces allowed the pilots to stabilize and control the vehicles and regulate their flight paths.
The X-24 was built by [[Martin Marietta]] and flown from [[Edwards AFB]], California. The X-24A was the fourth lifting body design to fly, it followed the [[NASA M2-F1]] in 1964, the [[Northrop HL-10]] in (1966), the [[Northrop M2-F2]] in [[1968]] and preceded the [[Northrop 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]] with Air Force Maj. Jerauld Gentry at the controls. Gentry also piloted its first powered flight on [[March 19]], [[1970]]. The craft was taken to around 45,000 feet (13.7 km) by a modified [[B-52 Stratofortress|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 (21.8 km).
==X-24A Operational History==
The X-24A was flown 28 times in the program that, like the HL-10, validated the concept that a Space Shuttle vehicle could be landed unpowered. The fastest speed achieved by the X-24A was 1,036 miles per hour (1667 km/h or [[Mach_number|Mach]] 1.6). Its maximum altitude was 71,400 feet (21.8 km) . It was powered by an XLR-11 rocket engine with a maximum theoretical vacuum thrust of 8,480 pounds force (37.7 [[newton|kN]]).
The '''X-24A''' was modified into the more stable '''X-24B''' with an entirely different shape in [[1972]]. The bulbous shape of the X-24A was converted into a "flying flatiron" shape with a rounded top, flat bottom, and double delta platform that ended in a pointed nose. It was the basis for the Martin [[SV-5J]]. The X-24A shape was later borrowed for the [[X-38 Crew Return Vehicle]] (CRV) technology demonstrator for the International Space Station.
; X-24A pilots
* Jerauld R. Gentry - 13 flights
* John A. Manke - 12 flights
* Cecil W. Powell - 3 flights
==X-24B Development==
The X-24B's design evolved from a family of potential reentry shapes, each with higher lift-to-drag ratios, proposed by the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory. To reduce the costs of constructing a research vehicle, the Air Force returned the X-24A to the Martin Marietta Corporation (as Martin Aircraft Company became after a merger) for modifications that converted its bulbous shape into one resembling a "flying flatiron" -- rounded top, flat bottom, and a double delta planform that ended in a pointed nose.
First to fly the X-24B was John Manke, a glide flight on [[1 August]] [[1973]]. He was also the pilot on the first powered mission [[15 November]] [[1973]].
==X-24B Operational History==
The X-24B demonstrated that accurate unpowered reentry vehicle landings were operationally feasible. Top speed achieved by the X-24B was 1,164 mph (1873 km/h) and the highest altitude it reached was 74,130 feet (22.59 km). The pilot on the last powered flight of the X-24B was [[William H. Dana|Bill Dana]], who also flew the last X-15 flight about seven years earlier.
Among the final flights with the X-24B were two precise landings on the main concrete runway at Edwards which showed that accurate unpowered reentry vehicle landings were operationally feasible. These missions were flown by Manke and Air Force Maj. Mike Love, and represented the final milestone in a program that helped write the flight plan for today's Space Shuttle program.
The X-24B was the last aircraft to fly in Dryden's Lifting Body program. The X-24B was flown 36 times.
The X-24B is on public display at the [[National Museum of the United States Air Force]], [[Wright-Patterson AFB]], Ohio.
;X-24B pilots
* John A. Manke - 16 flights
* Michael V. Love - 12 flights
* [[William H. Dana]] - 2 flights
* [[Einar K. Enevoldson]] - 2 flights
* Thomas C. McMurtry - 2 flights
* [[Francis Scobee]] - 2 flights
==X-24C==
There were a variety of "X-24C" proposals floated between 1972 and 1978. Perhaps the most notable was a [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed]] [[Skunk Works]] design, which would use [[scramjet]]s to reach a top speed of Mach 8.<ref name="Jenkins">{{cite book|last=Jenkins|first=Dennis R.|coauthors=|year=2001|title=Space Shuttle: The History of the National Space Transportation System|edition=3rd edition|publisher=Voyageur Press|location=|id=ISBN 0-9633974-5-1}}</ref>
==Serial number==
* '''66-13551'''
** X-24A, 28 free flights; 10 unpowered, 18 powered
** X-24B, 36 free flights; 12 unpowered, 24 powered
==Specifications==
===X-24A===
[[Image:X-24A 3-view.jpg|right|300px]]
{{aero-specs}}
{{aircraft specifications
|plane or copter?=plane
|jet or prop?=jet
|ref=
|crew= one pilot
|capacity=
|payload main=
|payload alt=
|length main= 24 ft 6 in
|length alt= 7.47 m
|span main= 11 ft 6 in
|span alt= 3.51 m
|height main= 9 ft 7 in
|height alt= 2.92 m
|area main= 195 ft²
|area alt= 18.1 m²
|airfoil=
|empty weight main= 6,360 lb
|empty weight alt= 2,885 kg
|loaded weight main= 10,700 lb
|loaded weight alt= 4,853 kg
|useful load main=
|useful load alt=
|max takeoff weight main= 11,447 lb
|max takeoff weight alt= 5,192 kg
|more general=
|engine (jet)= [[Reaction Motors]]
|type of jet=Upgraded [[Reaction Motors XLR-11|XLR-11]] four-chamber rocket engine
|number of jets=1
|thrust main= 8,480 lbf <!-- changed from 8000 to number given in text above, maybe needs to be distinguished from that "maximum theoretical vacuum" figure -->
|thrust alt= 37.7 kN
|thrust original=
|afterburning thrust main=
|afterburning thrust alt=
|max speed main=1,036 mph
|max speed alt= 1,667 km/h
|cruise speed main=
|cruise speed alt=
|stall speed main=
|stall speed alt=
|never exceed speed main=
|never exceed speed alt=
|range main= 45 miles
|range alt=72 km
|ceiling main= 71,407 ft
|ceiling alt= 21,763 m
|climb rate main=
|climb rate alt=
|loading main=59 lb/ft²
|loading alt=288 kg/m²
|thrust/weight=0.70
|power/mass main=
|power/mass alt=
|more performance=
|armament=
|avionics=
}}
===X-24B===
[[Image:Martin X-24B afg-041110-050.jpg|right|300px]]
{{aero-specs}}
{{aircraft specifications
|plane or copter?=plane
|jet or prop?=jet
|ref=
|crew= one pilot
|capacity=
|payload main=
|payload alt=
|length main= 37 ft 6 in
|length alt= 11.43 m
|span main= 19 ft 0 in
|span alt= 5.79 m
|height main= 9 ft 7 in
|height alt= 2.92 m
|area main= 330 ft²
|area alt= 30.7 m²
|airfoil=
|empty weight main= 8,500 lb
|empty weight alt= 3,855 kg
|loaded weight main= 11,800 lb
|loaded weight alt= 5,350 kg
|useful load main=
|useful load alt=
|max takeoff weight main= 13,800 lb
|max takeoff weight alt= 6,260 kg
|more general=
|engine (jet)=[[Reaction Motors]]
|type of jet=Upgraded [[Reaction Motors XLR-11|XLR-11]] four-chamber rocket engine
|number of jets=1
|thrust main= 8,480 lbf <!-- changed from 8000 to number given in text above, maybe needs to be distinguished from that "maximum theoretical vacuum" figure -->
|thrust alt= 37.7 KN
|thrust original=
|afterburning thrust main=
|afterburning thrust alt=
|max speed main=1,164 mph
|max speed alt= 1,873 km/h
|cruise speed main=
|cruise speed alt=
|stall speed main=
|stall speed alt=
|never exceed speed main=
|never exceed speed alt=
|range main= 45 miles
|range alt=72 km
|ceiling main= 74,130 ft
|ceiling alt= 22.59 km
|climb rate main=
|climb rate alt= 42 lb/ft²
|loading main=205 kg/m²
|loading alt=
|thrust/weight= 0.71
|power/mass main=
|power/mass alt=
|more performance=
|armament=
|avionics=
}}
==See also==
{{aircontent|
|related=
* [[X-23 PRIME]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[NASA M2-F1|M2-F1]]
* [[Northrop M2-F2|M2-F2]]
* [[Northrop M2-F3|M2-F3]]
* [[Northrop HL-10|HL-10]]
* [[Space Shuttle]]
|sequence=
[[Northrop X-21|X-21]] -
[[Bell X-22|X-22]] -
[[Martin-Marietta X-23|X-23]] -
'''X-24''' -
[[Bensen X-25|X-25]] -
[[X-26 Frigate|X-26]] -
[[Lockheed X-27|X-27]]
|lists=
* [[List of experimental aircraft]]
|see also=
}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{commonscat|Martin-Marietta X-24}}
* [http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/photo/X-24/ NASA Dryden X-24 Photo Collection]
{{X-planes}}
{{aviation lists}}
[[Category:Lifting body aircraft]]
[[Category:Parasite aircraft]]
[[Category:United States experimental aircraft 1960-1969|X-24, Martin-Marietta]]
[[Category:Gliding in the United States|Martin-Marietta X-24]]
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[[zh:X-24试验机]]