XR2s

XR2s, also known as XR-2s, are a series of experimental aircraft developed by the United States Air Force (USAF) in the 1950s. The primary purpose of these aircraft was to explore the feasibility of supersonic flight and to gather data for the development of future high-speed aircraft. The XR2s were designed and built by the North American Aviation company.

The XR2s were powered by a single Westinghouse J46-WE-8 turbojet engine, which provided a thrust of approximately 5,000 pounds. The aircraft had a maximum speed of around Mach 1.2 (approximately 800 mph) and a service ceiling of about 45,000 feet. The XR2s were designed with a swept-wing configuration to reduce drag and improve stability at high speeds.

The XR2s program consisted of two main variants: the XR2Y and the XR2V. The XR2Y was a single-seat fighter aircraft, while the XR2V was a two-seat trainer version. Both variants were used to evaluate the performance and handling characteristics of the aircraft at supersonic speeds. The data collected from these flights was instrumental in the development of the F-100 Super Sabre, the first operational supersonic fighter aircraft for the USAF.

The XR2s program was officially canceled in 1955, but the aircraft continued to be used for research and development purposes until 1958. In total, 12 XR2s were built, with 10 of them being XR2Y variants and 2 being XR2V variants. The aircraft are now considered historical artifacts and are preserved in various museums around the United States.