X-7A Test Vehicle

Built by Lockheed, the X-7A served as a test vehicle to develop a ramjet engine for anti-aircraft missiles. Because it was intended to be reusable, it was recovered by parachute and impacted on a long nose penetration spike that protected the craft from serious damage. Among the records set by the X-7A were a maximum number of flights per vehicle of 13 and a maximum speed of Mach 4.31, or 2,881 miles per hour. This X-7A is one of only six known to exist.

Alamogordo, New Mexico · United States