For a while, it seemed the series of experimental aircraft
sponsored by the U. S. government had run its course. Between the
late 1940s and the late 1970s, almost thirty designations had been
allocated to aircraft meant to explore new flight regimes or
untried technologies. Then, largely, it ended. But there was a
resurgence in the mid- to late1990s, and as we enter the fourth
year of the new millennia, the designations are up to X-50. Many
have a misconception that X-vehicles have always explored the
high-speed and high-altitude flight regimes-something popularized
by Chuck Yeager in the original X-1 and the exploits of the twelve
men that flew the X-15. Although these flight regimes have always
been in the spotlight, many others have been explored by
X-vehicles. The little Bensen X-25 never exceeded 85 mph, and
others were limited to speeds of several hundred mph. There has
been some criticism that the use of X designations has been
corrupted somewhat by including what are essentially prototypes of
future operational aircraft, especially the two JSF demonstrators.
But this is not new-the X-11 and X-12 from the 1950s were going to
be prototypes of the Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile, and
the still-born Lockheed X-27 was always intended as a prototype of
a production aircraft. So although this practice does not represent
the best use of "X" designations, it is not without precedent.
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