Flight Test Files: The Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket – Chasing Mach 2

Before manned spaceflight, the Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket was pushing boundaries at the edge of the atmosphere. In 1953, NACA’s Scott Crossfield became the first to fly twice the speed of sound—Mach 2—in this rocket-powered research aircraft.

Moreno Aguiari Published April 11, 2025

With the debut of “The Other First Man,” we launched our Flight Test Files series—an exploration of the groundbreaking flight research conducted by NACA and later NASA. These stories shine a light on the aircraft and test pilots that pushed the limits of aeronautical knowledge, many of them flying out of the legendary Dryden Flight Research Center (now Armstrong Flight Research Center) at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

1377px The NACA Test Force GPN 2000 000083 — The NACA Test Force at the High-Speed Flight Station in Edwards, California. The white aircraft in the foreground is a Douglas Skyrocket.

Today, we take a closer look at the Douglas D-558-2 “Skyrocket,” one of the pioneering aircraft of the transonic era, flying alongside the likes of the X-1, X-4, X-5, and XF-92A. Developed as a joint program between NACA, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and the Douglas Aircraft Company, the swept-wing, single-seat Skyrocket flew from 1948 to 1956 with the goal of solving high-speed flight challenges—particularly the dangerous “pitch-up” phenomenon.

D 558 Skyrocket — Viewed in this 1955 photograph is the NACA High Speed Flight Station D-558-2 #2 (144) Skyrocket, an all-rocket powered vehicle. The Skyrocket is parked on Rogers Dry Lakebed at Edwards Air Force Base. This aircraft, NACA 144/Navy 37974, was the first to reach Mach 2. Photo via NASA

Three Aircraft, One Mission

Three Skyrockets were built, designated Bureau Numbers 37973, 37974, and 37975—NACA 143, 144, and 145, respectively. They flew a total of 313 missions, collecting invaluable data on pitch stability, lift, drag, and buffeting in transonic and supersonic flight. The first Skyrocket, NACA 143, began with a turbojet engine, later modified to an all-rocket configuration. After this conversion, it was launched from a Navy P2B (a modified B-29) at altitude. Research pilot John McKay flew it once in this form on September 17, 1956. The jet- and rocket-powered aircraft exceeded expectations, performing better than predicted in high-speed wind tunnel tests—particularly in drag performance above Mach 0.85.

Douglas D 558 2 Skyrockets Dryden — Left side view of D-558-2 Skyrocket on ramp at South Base in 1948

Skyrocket 144: Climbing to the Edge

NACA 144 followed a similar evolution, beginning with a turbojet engine before being outfitted with a powerful LR-8 rocket. Piloted by William B. Bridgeman, it achieved Mach 1.88 and reached an altitude of 79,494 feet on August 15, 1951—an unofficial world record at the time. Subsequent flights by NACA pilots, including A. Scott Crossfield, focused on understanding the aircraft’s behavior in all axes of motion. Crossfield flew the Skyrocket 20 times, collecting critical data on longitudinal and lateral stability. In 1953, U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Marion Carl flew the same aircraft to another record-breaking altitude of 83,235 feet and a top speed of Mach 1.728.

Douglas D 558 2 Skyrockets JATO assist — D-558-2 Skyrocket take off using JATO assist in
1949

NACA engineers improved the rocket’s performance by adding nozzle extensions to its combustion chambers, reducing exhaust interference with the rudders and increasing thrust at altitude. They also chilled the alcohol fuel and waxed the aircraft’s fuselage to reduce drag for a record attempt.

Breaking Barriers: Mach 2

That record attempt came on November 20, 1953. Scott Crossfield, in a daring flight plan devised by project engineer Herman Ankenbruck, pushed the Skyrocket to its absolute limits. Dropped from a P2B at 32,000 feet, he climbed to over 70,000 feet, then nosed into a gentle dive. The aircraft reached Mach 2.005—1,291 mph—making Crossfield the first pilot to fly at twice the speed of sound. This flight marked the pinnacle of the Skyrocket’s career and underscored NACA’s growing role not just in research, but in making history.

NACA 145: Tackling Pitch-Up and External Loads

The third aircraft, NACA 145, was used extensively to investigate “pitch-up”—an uncommanded nose rise encountered at high angles of attack, particularly dangerous in swept-wing aircraft. Pilots Scott Crossfield and Walter Jones flew with different wing configurations, including fences, slats, and extended leading-edge chords. Their work proved wing fences were effective in reducing pitch-up, while leading-edge chord extensions were not—contradicting prior wind tunnel findings. Later, Crossfield and other NACA pilots, including John McKay and Stanley Butchart, conducted tests with external stores—bomb shapes and fuel tanks—to evaluate their influence on flight behavior near Mach 1. The final Skyrocket mission took place on August 28, 1956.

The D 558 2 is launched from the Navy P2B 1S Navy designation for the B 29 in this 1950s photograph — The D-558-2 is launched from the Navy P2B-1S (Navy designation for the B-29) in this 1950s photograph.

Legacy of the Skyrocket

Beyond the records, the Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket played a key role in improving the understanding of high-speed flight. Its test flights provided data that shaped the designs of later swept-wing military aircraft, including the Century Series of jet fighters. The Skyrocket also contributed to refining wind tunnel methodologies and validating theories of flight dynamics in the transonic and supersonic regimes.

D 558 2 in flight with F 86 chase — This 1950s photograph shows the Douglas D-558-2 and the North American F-86 Sabre chase aircraft in flight. Both aircraft display early examples of swept-wing airfoils. NASA photo

The Skyrocket’s influence extended to control system designs as well—its data supported the adoption of all-moving horizontal stabilizers, which became standard on high-speed aircraft following the X-1 and D-558 series. In short, the Skyrocket wasn’t just a record-setter—it was a knowledge generator, providing the foundation for future aircraft that would fly higher, faster, and more safely than ever before. Read the entire Flight Test Files article, click HERE.