View source for Bell X-9 Shrike

{{Short description|Experimental missile to test guidance and propulsion technology}}
[[Image:Bell X-9 trailer.jpg|thumb|300px|Bell X-9 on its trailer]]

The '''Bell X-9 Shrike''' was a prototype [[Surface-to-air missile|surface-to-air]], [[Liquid fuel|liquid-fueled]] [[guided missile]] designed by [[Bell Aircraft]] as a testbed for the nuclear-armed [[GAM-63 RASCAL]]. It is named after the [[shrike]], a family of birds.

==Testing==
Thirty-one X-9 rockets were delivered, flying from April 1949 to January 1953. The program was used to gather aerodynamic and stability data, and to test guidance and propulsion systems for the RASCAL.<ref>Yenne, Bill (2018). ''A Complete History of U.S. Cruise Missiles''. Forest Lake, MN: Specialty Press. p. 61. {{ISBN|978-1-58007-256-4}}.</ref>

None of the missiles survived testing. The only known remaining fragment of an X-9 is part of a [[vertical stabilizer]], at the [[Larry Bell Museum]] in [[Mentone, Indiana]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jenkins |first1=Dennis R. |last2=Landis |first2=Tony |last3=Miller |first3=Jay |title=AMERICAN X-VEHICLES Centennial of Flight Edition SP-2003-4531 An Inventory—X-1 to X-50 |url=https://history.nasa.gov/monograph31.pdf |access-date=5 December 2021 |pages=15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425225303/https://history.nasa.gov/monograph31.pdf |archive-date=2020-04-25 }}</ref>

==Specifications (X-9)==
General characteristics:

* [[Length]]: 22&nbsp;ft 9 in (6.9 m)
* [[Wingspan]]: 7&nbsp;ft 10 in (2.4 m)
* [[Diameter]]: 1&nbsp;ft 10 in (0.56 m)
* Wing area: 70&nbsp;ft<sup>2</sup> (6.5 m<sup>2</sup>)
* Weight (empty): 2,125&nbsp;lb (964&nbsp;kg)
* Weight (loaded): 3,500&nbsp;lb (1,588&nbsp;kg)
* [[Air propulsion|Propulsion]]: [[Bell XLR65]]-BA-1 liquid-fuel rocket engine, 3,000&nbsp;lbf (13.3&nbsp;kN) thrust

Performance:

* Maximum [[speed]]: [[Mach number|Mach]] 2.0
* [[Range of a projectile|Range]]: 50&nbsp;mi (80&nbsp;km)
* [[Service ceiling]]: 12.3&nbsp;mi (19.8&nbsp;km)
* [[Rate of climb]]: m/min (ft/min)
* [[Wing loading]]: kg/m<sup>2</sup> ( lb/ft<sup>2</sup>)
* [[Thrust/weight]]:

==See also==
* [[Bell GAM-63]], a related development
* [[List of experimental aircraft]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200425225303/https://history.nasa.gov/monograph31.pdf ''American X-Vehicles''] (PDF)

== External links ==
* {{commonscatinline|Bell X-9}}

{{Bell Aircraft}}
{{X-planes}}
{{USAF early missiles}}

[[Category:Experimental missiles]]