X-9 Shrike

Specifications

Company- Bell Aircraft
Type- Designed as a system and aerodynamic testbed for the cancelled Bell GAM-63 (Rascal) air-to-surface missile.
Goals- Test air-to-surface missiles; guidance systems, ect.
Primary Testing Facility Research- Holloman AFB
Dimensions- Span- 7 ft, 10 in; Length- 22 ft, 9 in
Max Speed- Mach 2.0 (1,320 MPH)
Range- 50 miles
Max Altitude- 12.3 miles
Power Plant- Bell XLR65-BA-1 liquid-fuel rocket engine
Thrust- 3,000 lbf
Weights- Empty: 2,125 lbs; Full Loaded: 3,500 lbs
Payload- N/A
Flights- 28
Number of Prototypes Built- 31
Project Tenure- 1949-1953
Project Status- Cancelled

Information

When the X-9 program was more successful than the GAM-63 project it was meant to support. Bell requested that the X-9 project be continued to either replace or compliment the GAM-63, but the request was denied.

** Information provided by X-Plane Data Site **