The Air Force has always explored cutting- edge technology. This
1953 photo of research aircraft at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics’ High-Speed Flight Research Station (now known as the Dryden Flight Research Center) shows the Douglas X-3 Stiletto (center) and (clockwise from bottom left) the Bell X-1A, the
third Douglas D-558-1 Skystreak, Convair XF-92A, Bell X-5, Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket and Northrop X-4 Bantam. (U.S. Air Force)
U.S. Air Force