MX-656 - Early Concepts for The Douglas X-3 "Stiletto"

[hesham]

Hi,

Mr. Jay Miller spoke about the Douglas Type-499 which later led to
Type-499D (the X-3),as it had a twin Westinghouse 24C turbojet/rocket
boosted aircraft with low aspect ratio wings and a jettisonable nose
section for pilot recovery in case of emegncy.

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1952/1952%20-%203149.html

 

[archipeppe]

A similiar escape system was contemplated for the Douglas proposals 684 (also dubbed as D 558 Phase III).

 

[airrocket]

What was 499 research or military application? Any more info on this design?

 

[Stargazer]

Here is an interesting set of original blueprints for Douglas's MX-656 submission, which became the Model DS-499D or XS-3 (then X-3) « Stiletto ».

What is particular worthy of note here is the alternate designs considered.


(from original drawings)

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

Reminds me of some of the designs from Jared's book
Secret Aerospace Projects of the US Navy, Volume 1: The Incredible Attack Aircraft of the USS United States, 1948-1949

 

[circle-5]

Early Douglas MX-656 factory display model, with single engine, top intake and (I believe) a prone pilot position. From the Douglas model shop in Santa Monica, California.

 

[Boxman]

Apparently, wind tunnel testing one of the designs. NACA circa-1947 footage posted at the NASA Langley CRGIS YouTube channel (link) entitled, Flight Tests a Model Similar to Douglas XS-3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzPRAavweck

 

[hesham]

Hi,


from LA FANA magazine,issue 296,here is one from early study to Douglas X-3.

 

[Jemiba]

The model looks, as if the incidence of the wing was adjustable ?

 

[hesham]

Hi,


I think,that I saw anther article about this design,but I don't remember where ?,who
can help ?.

 

[Stargazer]

I know three distinct designs submitted to MX-656 by Douglas, and they're attached below. I would imagine they all fell under the DS-499 program, though I couldn't say for sure.
Second of these proposals (no particular order) is also shown in model form. Third proposal was closest to the built X-3.

 

[hesham]

Yes Stargazer,


but Mr. Jay Miller had a good sources for that info of course,but I saw
article about this drawing exactly,I don't know if it was from a book,
magazine or on Internet ?.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Jay Miller's X-Planes book gives Douglas model 499 for the early X-3.

"By now the MX-656 was being referred to in-house at Douglas as the Model 499"

Final version of the X-3 was Model 499D.

 

[hesham]

Thank you my dear PaulMM,

and from; Skystreak Skyrocket & Stiletto

 

[fightingirish]

Douglas X-3 Stiletto - Was it Really a Failure?
An inside look at one of the many pioneering aircraft considered an aeronautical flop in the 1950s, and one of many revolutionary machines that were built, flown, and flight tested to determine their ultimate fate. Did the Stiletto ever reach its ultimate design speed of Mach 2? Watch and find out!

Video:

View: https://youtu.be/v5G9HlsqPTE

https://youtu.be/v5G9HlsqPTE