The Bell X-16 was an aircraft designed as a high altitude reconnaissance jet aircraft in the United States in the 1950s. A mockup of the X-16 was built, but the project was cancelled in favor of Martin RB-57 before any X-16 aircraft were completed.

Development

During the second half of 1953, Fairchild, Bell, and Martin Aircraft conducted high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft design studies for the U.S. Air Force. All three designs used Pratt & Whitney J57-P19 engines. The Bell (X-16) and Martin (B57-D) designs were chosen for further development. The Bell design was designated the X-16. The X-16 project was cancelled by the Air Force in favor of Martin RB-57 in 1956. A full-scale X-16 mockup was completed and one aircraft was partially completed. It was designed as a high-altitude long-range reconnaissance aircraft. A total of 28 aircraft were ordered, but none were completed. The first X-16 was about 80-percent complete when the program was cancelled in 1956.

The X-16 design was breaking new ground with its design. Its wing was extremely long with a high-aspect ratio. It was significantly lighter and more flexible than any in existence at that time. The entire aircraft was made as light as possible to fufill its mission of a 3,000-mile unrefuled range at a 70,000 foot altitude.

Although no X-16 was ever completed, it made contributions to aircraft design with its lightweight design. It was also a driving force behind the development of the high-altitude J57 jet engine that would later power the U-2 and other aircraft.

Operational history

None completed. Program cancelled in 1956

Aircraft serial number

28 ordered, none completed.

Specifications (X-16, as designed)

General Characteristics

• Crew: one pilot
• Length: 60 ft 10 in (18.55 m)
• Wingspan: 114 ft 10 in (35 m)
• Height: 17 ft 1 in (5.2 m)
• Wing area: 1,099 ft² (102.19 m²)
• Empty: 23,280 lb (10,582 kg)
• Loaded: 36,124 lb (16,420 kg)
• Maximum takeoff: lb ( kg)
• Powerplant: 2 x Pratt & Whitney J57-PW-37A turbojet, 4,520 lbf (20.11 kN) thrust ea

Performance

• Maximum speed: 553 mph (885 km/h)
• Range: 3,319 miles (5,310 km)
• Service ceiling: 71,832 ft (21,900 m)
• Rate of climb: ft/min ( m/min)
• Wing loading: 33 lb/ft² (160 kg/m²)
• Thrust-to-Weight: 1:0.55

Related content

Related development:

Comparable aircraft: Lockheed U-2 - Martin RB-57

Designation sequence: X-13 - X-14 - X-15 - X-16 - X-17 - X-18 - X-19

See also:

• X-plane - A list of all the X planes