KerbalX

Details

• Type: SPH
• Class: aircraft
• Part Count: 137
• Pure Stock

The X-24B was the finale of the Dryden lifting bodies program. The design came from a number of studies trying to improve the lift-to-drag ratio of the original shape and also have it suitable for re-entry. To save costs on building a new air frame, the X-24A was just modified to produce the desired shape. The craft flew 36 times, testing the feasibility of accurately landing an unpowered glider from a reentry. On two of the final flights, an accurate landing was performed by the X-24B on the main runway at Edwards Air Force Base. These flights helped with the development of the Space shuttle program with validation of the concept of landing a lifting body or lifting body type spacecraft unpowered to a runway landing. After testing, the X-24B was retired to public display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Ohio.

Builder’s Notes: This craft is very draggy and will only do at most 200 m/s unlike the real thing, which achieved a maximum speed of around 520 m/s. However glides quite well.