| Experimental high-speed research plane with combined propulsion: turbo-jet for take-off and rocket engine for high-altitude flight.
First flew on February 4, 1948.
In August 1951 after deploying from Boeing P2B-1S (B-29) D-558-2 reached a speed of 1992kph and an altitude of 24230m.
On August 31, 1953 the aircraft reached an altitude of 25370m and on November 20, 1953 set a speed record of 2.05M.
3 built.
MODEL | Douglas D-558-2 "Skyrocket" |
CREW | 1 |
ENGINE | 1 x Westinghouse J4-WE-22 turbo-jet, 13.3kN and 1 x Reaction Motors XLR-8 rocket engine, 26.7kN |
DIMENSIONS |
Wingspan | 7.62 m | 25 ft 0 in |
Length | 13.79 m | 45 ft 3 in |
Height | 3.51 m | 12 ft 6 in |
Wing area | 16.26 m2 | 175.02 sq ft |
Hank Murrow, e-mail, 11.02.2015 00:12 My father, Richard B Murrow, was an aeronautical engineer for both the Skystreak and Skyrocket research aircraft while working for Douglas from 1938 to the late fifties. reply | Ken Jarecki, e-mail, 07.06.2012 17:18 The 558II is in my opinion one of the most beautifull airplanes ever designed. reply | Bill Macdonald, e-mail, 20.10.2010 07:09 I did the Testing on the Yaw Damper Control. reply | Jeff Butler, e-mail, 26.05.2008 05:12 One example of the Skyrocket is on display at the Planes Of Fame Air Museum, in Chino, California reply |
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