| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Registration / Serial: | 50-1838 |
| Alternate Serial: | 01838 |
| Aircraft Original Type: | Bell X-5 |
| Aircraft Generic Type: | Bell X-5 |
| Aircraft Version: | Bell X-5 |
| C/n (msn): | |
| Operator Titles: | USA - Air Force |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| City / Airport: | Dayton - Wright-Patterson AFB / Wright AFBMap |
| Region / Country: | Ohio, United States |
| Airport Codes: | ICAO: KDWF IATA: - Local: DWF Other: - |
| Collection: | National Museum of the United States Air Force |
| Photo Date: | 16 December 2024 |
| Photo by: | Richard Vandervord |
| Photo ID: | 828914 |
| Photo Comment |
|---|
|
The X-5 was the first high-performance aircraft that could vary the sweep of its wings in flight and was an experimental design based upon that of the Messerschmitt P.1101, discovered in Germany at the end of WWII (sweep only adjustable on ground). Two X-5s were built, the first flight occurring in June 1951. One was destroyed in October 1953 when it failed to recover from a spin at 60 degrees sweepback, the survivor being delivered to the USAFM in 1958 This photo is copyright © Richard Vandervord, and may not be used or published in any way without permission. It was added on 26 July 2025, and has since been viewed 24 times. |