McDonnell Douglas X-36

The McDonnell Douglas (later Boeing) X-36 Tailless Fighter Agility Research Aircraft is an American stealthy subscale prototype jet. Built for NASA and first flown in 1997, it was designed without the traditional empennage found on most aircraft. This configuration was designed to reduce weight, drag, and radar cross section; and increase range, maneuverability, and survivability.

Design and development

File:McDonnell Douglas X-36 planform.jpg

Plan view of the X-36

The X-36 was built to 28% scale of a possible fighter aircraft and was controlled by a pilot in a ground-based virtual cockpit with a view provided by a video camera mounted in the canopy of the aircraft.

For control, a canard forward of the wing was used as well as split ailerons and an advanced thrust vectoring nozzle for directional control. The X-36 was unstable in both pitch and yaw axes, so an advanced digital fly-by-wire control system was used to provide stability.

First flown on 17 May 1997, it made 31 successful research flights. It handled very well, and the program is reported to have met or exceeded all project goals. McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing in August 1997 while the test program was in progress; the aircraft is sometimes referred to as the Boeing X-36.

The X-36 possessed high maneuverability that would be ideal for use as a fighter. Despite its potential suitability, and highly successful test program, there have been no reports regarding further development of the X-36 or any derived design as of 2025.

Preservation

• The first X-36 is at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio. It arrived on July 16, 2003, the same day as the Boeing Bird of Prey and is displayed in the Museum's Research & Development Gallery.
• The second X-36 is displayed outside the Air Force Test Flight Center Museum at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

• X-36 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force
  X-36 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force
• File:X-36 head-on view at the National Museum of the USAF.jpg
• File:X-36 at the National Museum of the USAF right front view.jpg

Specifications (X-36)

File:McDonnell Douglas X-36 3-view drawing.svg

Gallery

• The aircraft is hoisted following its arrival at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center in July 1996
  The aircraft is hoisted following its arrival at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center in July 1996
• Remote cockpit
  Remote cockpit
• A technician at Dryden prepares the X-36 for its first flight
  A technician at Dryden prepares the X-36 for its first flight
• First flight 17 May 1997
  First flight 17 May 1997
• In flight June 1997
  In flight June 1997

See also

• Tailless aircraft

Related development

• Boeing X-45

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Boeing Bird of Prey

Related lists

• List of experimental aircraft

External links

• NASA fact sheet on the X-36 Tailless Fighter Agility Research Aircraft Template:Webarchive
• "X-36 Proving Its Agility In Flight Testing". Boeing, 1997.
• Boeing X-36 (1997): Tailless Agility Aviation Week & Space Technology