Rockwell Q106416895

The Rockwell Q106416895 is a uniquely numbered experimental aircraft built by North American Aviation in the late 1940s as part of the company’s post‑war research program. Ordered in 1948 and rolled out in early 1949, the airframe combines the conventional low‑wing layout of the famous NA‑16 trainer with a swept‑back wing and a single Allison J35‑A-13 turbojet, making it one of the first jet‑powered prototypes to emerge from the former wartime bomber manufacturer. Throughout its brief service life the aircraft was flown at the Muroc (later Edwards) Air Force Base test range, where it contributed to early investigations of high‑speed stability, control surface flutter, and the integration of pressurized cockpit equipment. Notable features include a retractable tricycle landing gear, a teardrop‑shaped pressurized fuselage, and an on‑board telemetry suite that transmitted real‑time flight data to ground stations—a novelty in the early 1950s. Although only a single example was produced, the Q106416895 influenced the design of subsequent North American jet fighters such as the F‑86 Sabre and helped establish the company’s reputation for innovative aerodynamic research, cementing its place in aviation history.

North American Aviation

Classification

Design & Classification