Northrop MX-324
Northrop Corporation · United States · first flew 1944 · fighter
The Northrop MX-324 was the first American rocket-powered aircraft to fly, a small flying-wing glider fitted with a rocket motor in 1944.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × rocket, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 4.27 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tailless flying wing with a large wire-braced fin added above the centre section for directional stability
- Prone pilot position under a small canopy at the nose
- Small 200 lbf rocket motor at the rear of the centre section
A flying wing with no fuselage and no horizontal tail, apart from a large wire-braced fin; the pilot lies prone in the nose, and the span matches that of the later XP-79.
Specifications
- The Northrop MX-324 has a length of 4.27 m (14 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.58 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 370 km/h (230 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The MX-324 was the secret designation of the second MX-334 glider after it was fitted with an Aerojet XCAL-200 rocket motor of 200 lbf. After tow tests of the gliders in 1943, the first powered flight was made on 5 July 1944 after an aerotow launch. The tests were a stepping stone to the XP-79.
Variants
Three MX-334 gliders were built; only the second was fitted with the rocket motor and renamed MX-324. The other two were disposed of after testing finished by 1 August 1944.
Where you'll see it
The MX-324 was a research vehicle and never entered service.
Related aircraft
- Northrop F-15 Reporter
- Northrop XFT
- Northrop Gamma
- Arado E.580
- Bell XP-77
- Blohm & Voss BV 155
- Blohm & Voss BV 40
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.