Lockheed X-7
Lockheed Corporation · United States · first flew 1951 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Lockheed X-7 was an American unmanned ramjet-powered test vehicle used from 1951 to develop ramjet propulsion technology for long-range missiles. It was air-launched from a B-29 carrier aircraft and recovered by parachute after powered flight.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.98 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unmanned ramjet test vehicle — not a crewed aircraft
- Air-launched from a Boeing B-29 mothership
- Used to develop ramjet propulsion for missiles
Slender swept-wing drone with a pointed nose, a single ramjet/booster engine, and no cockpit; extremely small wingspan for its body length.
Specifications
- The Lockheed X-7 has a length of 9.98 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 3.66 m (12 ft).
- Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The X-7 program ran from 1951 to 1960, completing dozens of flights and achieving speeds up to Mach 4.3. Its data directly informed the development of several US missile programs including the Bomarc surface-to-air missile. The vehicle used a recoverable structure, allowing repeated use of hardware.
Variants
Several configurations were tested; the X-7A-1 and X-7A-3 were the main test variants with different engine installations.
Where you'll see it
US Air Force and NACA research program; unmanned test vehicle, no operational service.
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