Bell X-5

Rudolph · 18 November 2010

THE X-5 NEVER CARRIED WEAPONS. IF IT HAD, WHAT TYPE WOULD IT HAVE USED?

overscan (PaulMM) · 18 November 2010

Please note writing in capitals is considered as "shouting" online. Write in upper and lower case.

The X-5 was only ever a test airplane, so there is little point speculating on what weapons it would have carried. It would not have made a usable fighter.

SOC · 18 November 2010

overscan said:
The X-5 was only ever a test airplane, so there is little point speculating on what weapons it would have carried.

Except for the fact that the USAF did toy with the idea of selling it to NATO!

http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4303.pdf

Check page 47.

overscan (PaulMM) · 18 November 2010

The Air Force evaluated the Bell X-5 variable-sweep aircraft to see if it could be modified into a cheap fighter for NATO and other foreign countries.

To which the answer was "no". An X-5 derived light fighter would face difficulties in locating weapons hardpoints, plus inherit the vicious flight characteristics. The sweep mechanism was heavy and cumbersome. It was small, and the advantages over, say, the F-86 seem obscure.

Silencer1 · 18 November 2010

Hi!
The question reminds me a famous photo of X-5 predecessor (of some kind) - Messerschmitt Me P.1101. Cannon's have been painted on the fuselage nose.

More info here http://www.luft46.com/mess/mep1101.html

Orionblamblam · 18 November 2010

overscan said:
It would not have made a usable fighter.

Didn't prevent Bell from studying precisely that. Somewhere around here I have a few Bell drawings for armed operational versions. All guns, no missiles.

I'll see if I can dig 'em up.

fightingirish · 17 October 2018

Please see the chapter "The X-5 as a Fighter?" on page 46 ff.

Ron Downey said:
Bell X-5 Research Aircraft Paper
A copy of the research paper written by Warren Greene for the Bell X-5 aircraft. Report was written by the Historical Division of the Wright Air Development Center. Dated March 1954. Details the design and development of the X-5.

Click here to download (11,7 Megs).

Alternate download here.

Source: http://aviationarchives.blogspot.com/2018/10/bell-x-5-research-aircraft-paper.html

Ron Downey said:
Bell X-5 Photos and Drawings
A number of factory and general photos and 3-view drawings of the Bell X-5 aircraft.

Click here to download photos and drawings (71.8 Megs).

Source: http://aviationarchives.blogspot.com/2018/10/bell-x-5-photos-and-drawings.html

Bell X-5

Rudolph

ACCESS: Restricted

overscan (PaulMM)

Administrator

SOC

I look at pictures all day

overscan (PaulMM)

Administrator

Silencer1

That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!

Attachments

Orionblamblam

ACCESS: USAP

fightingirish

ACCESS: Top Secret

Similar threads