Douglas Skystreak and Skyrocket Flight Operating Manual

Book excerpt: The D-558 aircraft were part of a transonic research program originated by NACA and the U.S. Navy. The D-558-1 Skystreak turbojet was designed in 1945 and first flew in 1947 at Muroc. It quickly set a new world speed record of over 650 miles per hour. Although it approached Mach 1.0 in level flight, the Skystreak could only break the speed of sound in a dive. The successor aircraft, the D-558-2 Skyrocket, was equipped with a turbojet and the same rocket system as Bell¿s X-1. The jet was used for takeoff and landing, and the rockets allowed the aircraft to travel into the transonic zone. The Skyrocket test program began in 1948. In 1953, Scott Cross- field bested that mark and flew into aviation history when he became the first person to reach Mach 2.0 in the plane. Originally printed by the U.S. Navy, NACA and Douglas, this book contains manuals for both of these amazing aircraft. Originally classified ¿Restricted¿, they have been declassified and are here reprinted in book form.