North American X-10

The North American X‑10, developed by North American Aviation in the early 1950s, was a pioneering research vehicle that helped shape the United States’ early space‑flight and missile programs. Derived from the earlier JB‑2 Doolittle flying bomb, the X‑10 first flew on 22 August 1953 and served as a testbed for the Navaho cruise‑missile and later for the Atlas and Titan launch‑vehicle systems. The aircraft was powered by a single Westinghouse J30‑A turbojet, producing 1,600 lb thrust, and featured a sleek, swept‑wing design with a retractable tricycle landing gear. Its most distinctive capability was the ability to be launched from a conventional runway, then climb to high altitude before being released from a rocket‑boosted launch rail, allowing engineers to study high‑speed aerodynamics, guidance stability, and heat‑shield performance in a controlled environment. Over its service life, the X‑10 completed more than 250 test flights, collecting vital data on propulsion, control‑surface behavior, and high‑Mach flight characteristics. The program’s findings directly contributed to the successful development of the Atlas ICBM and the Saturn V launch vehicle, cementing the X‑10’s legacy as a critical stepping stone in the transition from subsonic aircraft to orbital rockets.

North American Aviation

Classification

Dimensions

Performance

Production & History

Design & Classification