I remember assembling a plastic model of this plane when I was 8 or 9 years old. I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen, and couldn't understand why they weren't the US's front-line fighter. I figured that any plane that looked like this just HAD to be the hottest thing in the sky!
Yes, it was underpowered because the specified engines failed to develop and low powered engines were substituted. The X-3 also suffered from inertial roll coupling with the yaw axis, as any aircraft with its sleek aspect ratio would. Nobody was prepared for that, and it nearly crashed because of it. However, the X-3 taught us this lesson, so the X-15 and later jet-powered aircraft included stability augmentation systems to solve this problem. Take a look at the F-104 and compare their shapes.
If looks could get it done, this flying fantasy would have ended the "Cold War." As pure flyable art it has little competition. I received a plastic model-kit of one when I was 9 or 10 years old and I still have the hots for it. But, at 7 I thought the 1st-generation Edsel was the coolest thing on wheels, too! Still good to see a clip of the X-3 in flight. Best regards.
No question, this is by FAR the most beautiful aircraft ever built. Nothing even comes close. There's the X-3, and then all others. You might try to argue the SR-71, but it loses out due to it's black paint scheme, corrugated skin, and protruding canopy. ( I love the SR-71) Can you imagine a fleet of B-70 Mach-3 bombers and a properly powered F-3 Mach-3 Stiletto fighter escort? The enemy would have thrown their arms up in surrender.
Was made to test supersonic flights, but the engine that they made was too big to fit in to the airframe they made already so it end up being underpowered, but they did test the effect of inertial coupling with this aircraft and it sure did help gather data for future aircrafts.
WHO exactly was it who came up with the basic layout of the design of the F104, Kelly?
paullubliner 1 month ago
Is it my imagination, or did a lot of X-planes have to deal with being underpowered?
And, as for cool looking planes, I'd nominate the Douglas F4D Skyray.
Setebos 1 month ago
Can almost hear Jeremy Clarkson yelling, "POWERRRRR..."
JBofBrisbane 3 months ago
Looks like the ship from Planet of the Apes but smaller.
vexviper 4 months ago
The F86 was much better. And so was the Gloster Meteor.
xxwzaebd 4 months ago
they should build more wierd experimental planes like this again ^^ the planes from the 50 and 60s are much cooler than most now a days
happosai27 4 months ago
Way ahead of it's time from a design perspective. Maybe this is what triggered a young Burt Rutan.
21voyageur 4 months ago
I remember assembling a plastic model of this plane when I was 8 or 9 years old. I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen, and couldn't understand why they weren't the US's front-line fighter. I figured that any plane that looked like this just HAD to be the hottest thing in the sky!
amateurphilosopher 4 months ago
Yes, it was underpowered because the specified engines failed to develop and low powered engines were substituted. The X-3 also suffered from inertial roll coupling with the yaw axis, as any aircraft with its sleek aspect ratio would. Nobody was prepared for that, and it nearly crashed because of it. However, the X-3 taught us this lesson, so the X-15 and later jet-powered aircraft included stability augmentation systems to solve this problem. Take a look at the F-104 and compare their shapes.
gsmollin 5 months ago
If looks could get it done, this flying fantasy would have ended the "Cold War." As pure flyable art it has little competition. I received a plastic model-kit of one when I was 9 or 10 years old and I still have the hots for it. But, at 7 I thought the 1st-generation Edsel was the coolest thing on wheels, too! Still good to see a clip of the X-3 in flight. Best regards.
TheSonofmydad 5 months ago
No question, this is by FAR the most beautiful aircraft ever built. Nothing even comes close. There's the X-3, and then all others. You might try to argue the SR-71, but it loses out due to it's black paint scheme, corrugated skin, and protruding canopy. ( I love the SR-71) Can you imagine a fleet of B-70 Mach-3 bombers and a properly powered F-3 Mach-3 Stiletto fighter escort? The enemy would have thrown their arms up in surrender.
JetMechMA 6 months ago
Makes me think of a space fighter
SolarAlliance 9 months ago
Chuck Yeager says this was the worst plane he ever flew.
megashegem 1 year ago
Was made to test supersonic flights, but the engine that they made was too big to fit in to the airframe they made already so it end up being underpowered, but they did test the effect of inertial coupling with this aircraft and it sure did help gather data for future aircrafts.
Indianmalujl 1 year ago 3
It sort of reminds me of the spys from MAD magazine's spy vs spy.
3ISAMAGICNUMBR 1 year ago 14
While this thing was underpowered, it did however help gather data for future aircraft.
MilkyWayArchives 1 year ago
waou
laviru93 1 year ago
this thing looks like it'd go a billion miles an hour, but they couln't even break mac 1
MarkDAretard 1 year ago
made sense if they called it ''pinnocchio''
AdrianNtart 2 years ago