@ Lancaster, CA
May 2006
I try to research possible aviation finds when traveling to new locations and Lancaster was no different. Here is a Douglas D-558 II Skyrocket located on the campus of Antelope Valley College. The D-558-II is a rocket and jet-powered supersonic research aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company for the US Navy. This example (NACA 145) had both an LR-8-RM-5 rocket engine rated at 6,000 lbf static thrust and a Westinghouse J-34-40 turbojet rated at 3,000 lbf static thrust. On 20 November 1953, Scott Crossfield piloted the Skyrocket to Mach 2 (1,290 mph), the first time an aircraft had exceeded twice the speed of sound. Three aircraft were built, this aircraft (D-558-II #3) flew 87 test flights. Panasonic FZ30 photo.