Title

D-558-2 being mounted to P2B 1S launch aircraft, USA, 1953. Creator: Unknown.

Caption

D-558-2 being mounted to P2B 1S launch aircraft, USA, 1953. The Douglas D-558-2 2 Skyrocket (NACA 144), prior to flight, being towed under the P2B-1S (Navy designation for the Air Force B-29) launch vehicle (NACA 137) for attachment. The tail of the Skyrocket is almost aligned with the opening cut to fit in the bottom of the P2B-1S. The photograph also shows the large hydraulic jacks used to elevate the P2B-1S launch vehicle. The Douglas D-558-2 "Skyrockets" were among the early transonic research airplanes like the X-1, X-4, X-5, and X-92A. Three of the single-seat, swept-wing aircraft flew from 1948 to 1956 in a joint program involving the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), with its flight research done at the NACA's Muroc Flight Test Unit in California, redesignated in 1949 the High-Speed Flight Research Station (HSFRS). Also partners in the flight research were the Navy-Marine Corps and the Douglas Aircraft Co.

Credit line

Photo12/Heritage Images/Heritage Space

Reference

HRM21B20_392

Model release

No

Property release

No

License type

Rights managed

Available size

5,3Mb (218,9Kb) / 5,1in x 4,0in / 1536 x 1198 (300dpi)

Keywords

transport transportation people male man men country flight guy research tools tool jack aeroplane aeroplanes aircraft plane planes airplane location century jet mechanics aviation B&W NASA fifties research and development 1950s air Transport United States of America aeronautics black & white black and white B W r&d 20th century supersonic American America USA decade photograph united states Unknown National Aeronautics and Space Administration rocket powered Heritage Space NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration rocket-powered NACA National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket High-Speed Flight Research Station NACA High-Speed Flight Station