Douglas D-558-2, ca. 1950s. Creator: Douglas Aircraft Company

Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Heritage Images

Douglas D-558-2, ca. 1950s. Creator: Douglas Aircraft Company

White, US Navy, single-seat, rocket-powered supersonic aircraft. Piloted by A. Scott Crossfield, on November 20, 1953, the Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket became the first aircraft to fly faster than Mach 2, twice the speed of sound. Air-launched from a U.S. Navy Boeing P2B-1S (B-29) the swept-wing, rocket-powered D-558-2 reached Mach 2.005 in a shallow dive at 18, 898 meters (62, 000 feet). The D-558 series of aircraft was developed by Douglas under the direction of Edward H. Heinemann for the U.S. Navy to explore transonic and supersonic flight. The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA, the predecessor to NASA), used this Skyrocket, the second one built, to explore the flight characteristics of swept-wing aircraft. It set several other speed and altitude records before the program ended in 1956

Media ID 23877595

© Heritage Art/Heritage Images

1950s Aeroplane Air And Space Museum Air Transport Aircraft Airplane Craft Aircraft Douglas Aircraft Company Fifties Nasm National Air And Space Museum Plane Rocket Powered Supersonic

MADE IN THE UK
Safe Shipping with 30 Day Money Back Guarantee

FREE PERSONALISATION*
We are proud to offer a range of customisation features including Personalised Captions, Color Filters and Picture Zoom Tools

SECURE PAYMENTS
We happily accept a wide range of payment options so you can pay for the things you need in the way that is most convenient for you

* Options may vary by product and licensing agreement. Zoomed Pictures can be adjusted in the Basket.