X-Planes

XPL001 - Bell X-1

In 1947, no one knew if it was possible to break the "sound barrier." The Bell X-1 was the tiny, rocket-powered craft that finally broke it. It was the result of innovative designers and engineers turning their attention from the pioneering jets of World...

XPL004 - Luftwaffe Emergency Fighters

In late 1944, the German Air Ministry organized what it called an 'Emergency Fighter Competition' intended to produce designs for quick-to-build yet technically and tactically effective jet fighter aircraft capable of tackling the anticipated arrival of...

XPL005 - TSR2: Britain's lost Cold War strike jet

The TSR2 is one of the greatest "what-if" aircraft of the Cold War, whose cancellation still generates anger and controversy among aviation fans. It was a magnificent, cutting-edge aircraft, one of the most striking of the Cold War, but fell victim to...