X-3 Stiletto, one of the sleekest experimental planes ever created

Dronescapes · Feb 4, 2023

View: https://youtu.be/gXTa9yRJ8OE

Thumpalumpacus · Feb 4, 2023

I never did like the looks of it ... it struck me as something you'd see in Mad Magazine's "Spy vs Spy" strip.

Dronescapes · Feb 4, 2023

Thumpalumpacus said:
I never did like the looks of it ... it struck me as something you'd see in Mad Magazine's "Spy vs Spy" strip.

But considering it is 70 years old, it is still looking good. It's a bit like the SR-71 and the Concorde, their designed aged very well. It's not all that common

GTX · Feb 4, 2023

Pity it was essentially a failure due to the engines.

rob23 · Feb 4, 2023

My uncle gifted me the Revell X-3 model when I was seven. I thought it was the coolest looking thing ever! Then in Bill Bridgeman's book I read that it was a hangar queen. Not unlike the F7U with the terrible motors?

GTX · Feb 4, 2023

Let's not forget the related Douglas Model 1186-C Long Range Special Attack Aircraft's seen on the cover of Jared's book:

Thumpalumpacus · Feb 4, 2023

Dronescapes said:
But considering it is 70 years old, it is still looking good. It's a bit like the SR-71 and the Concorde, their designed aged very well. It's not all that common

I just don't like its lines, it's all good. De gustibus non disputandum.

SaparotRob · Feb 4, 2023

Thumpalumpacus said:
I never did like the looks of it ... it struck me as something you'd see in Mad Magazine's "Spy vs Spy" strip.

Ya' know, now that you mention it...

Thumpalumpacus · Feb 4, 2023

SaparotRob said:
Ya' know, now that you mention it...

Just look at the face:

Maybe Alfred E Neuman worked for Douglas?

Dr. Saul · Apr 17, 2023

GTX said:
Pity it was essentially a failure due to the engines.

I never understood why they didn't put in better engines (with twice the thrust) when they became available. It makes no sense to me. This was the first model I ever got. Loved it from Day 1. I also loved Spy vs. Spy. I see no detriment in the design because of the coincidental look... The wing was borrowed by Lockheed for the F-104 Starfighter...the Flying Tent Peg in Europe....

Sabrejet · Apr 17, 2023

The X-3 is incorrectly labelled as a failure; it played a large part in identifying and resolving the phenomenon of inertia coupling.

SaparotRob · Apr 17, 2023

Dr. Saul said:
I never understood why they didn't put in better engines (with twice the thrust) when they became available. It makes no sense to me. This was the first model I ever got. Loved it from Day 1. I also loved Spy vs. Spy. I see no detriment in the design because of the coincidental look... The wing was borrowed by Lockheed for the F-104 Starfighter...the Flying Tent Peg in Europe....View attachment 716308

I built the model of the X-3 as well. It is a very cool looking plane. I felt it should have flown again with better engines. Not that it would provide any data but just to see the thing GO.

rob23 · Apr 18, 2023

Sabrejet said:
The X-3 is incorrectly labelled as a failure; it played a large part in identifying and resolving the phenomenon of inertia coupling.

If I remember correctly there were metallurgy and materials data too.

X-3 Stiletto, one of the sleekest experimental planes ever created

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