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Experimental missile to test guidance and propulsion technology
Bell X-9 on its trailer
The Bell X-9 Shrike was a prototype
surface-to-air ,
liquid-fueled
guided missile designed by
Bell Aircraft as a testbed for the nuclear-armed
GAM-63 RASCAL . It is named after the
shrike , a family of birds.
Testing
Thirty-one X-9 rockets were delivered, flying from April 1949 to January 1953. The program was used to gather aerodynamic and stability data, and to test guidance and propulsion systems for the RASCAL.
[1]
None of the missiles survived testing. The only known remaining fragment of an X-9 is part of a
vertical stabilizer , at the
Larry Bell Museum in
Mentone, Indiana .
[2]
Specifications (X-9)
General characteristics:
Length : 22 ft 9 in (6.9 m)
Wingspan : 7 ft 10 in (2.4 m)
Diameter : 1 ft 10 in (0.56 m)
Wing area: 70 ft2 (6.5 m2 )
Weight (empty): 2,125 lb (964 kg)
Weight (loaded): 3,500 lb (1,588 kg)
Propulsion :
Bell XLR65 -BA-1 liquid-fuel rocket engine, 3,000 lbf (13.3 kN) thrust
Performance:
See also
References
External links
Media related to
Bell X-9 at Wikimedia Commons
Manufacturer designations Fighter aircraft Target drones Attack helicopters Observation and utility helicopters Commercial helicopters Tiltrotors UAVs Non-production helicopters Experimental aircraft Names 1 Unknown/not assigned
Supersonic/special test "S" (1946–1947) Experimental "X" (1948–present)
See also 1 Not assigned • 2 Assigned to multiple types • 3 Unofficial
Air-launched
Ground-launched
Surface-to-air Surface-to-surface
Test vehicles
Launch test Propulsion test Rocket test