012 DOUGLAS D-558: D-558-1 Skystreak and D-558-2 Skyrocket

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The six Douglas D-558 research aircraft, built as two variants, were produced for a US Navy and NACA collaborative project to investigate flight in the high subsonic and supersonic regimes and to develop means of coping with the dangerous phenomena of compressibility and pitch-up which had caused many accidents to early jets. Wind tunnels could not provide the necessary data so pilots had to risk their safety in experimental aircraft which, for their time, achieved phenomenal performance. Supported by full-color artwork including three-view plates of the two D-558 models and a technical view of the D-2 cockpit.