Help needed (again)

Okay, this time I would like a bit of info on the Bell Aircraft's X-16.

The X-16 was initially developed in the mid-50's to meet a demand for a high-altitude recon aircraft. We all know that the U-2 took that title, but I want to know just one thing about the X-16 program, if anyone's got the information.


Did the Bell X-16 prototype use a Pratt & Whitney J57-P-31 jet engine?

Ever heard of Google...

Global security does it again...

X-16

And yes, it used a Pratt & Whitney J-57-P19 (later J-57-P37) engine...

The P-19/37 wasn't the P-31. There were differences between them. The P-19W was rated at 12,000 pounds of thrust and water injection. The P-37 was rated at 10,500 pounds of thrust, and the P-31 was rated between 11,200 and 15,800 pounds of thrust. Same basic engine, different variants.

FM FIN, I was under the impression that the P&W J-57-P-37 was not meant for high-altitude. I do not believe that my sources are wrong. That site states that the -37 version was developed for high-altitudes. I will attempt to contact the author, but in the meantime, anymore info anyone?

Sorry Watch, but your sources ARE wrong. The U-2A used the J57-P-37/37A engine.

area51specialprojects.com...
Fuel control was a problem as was the propensity of the ‑37 version of the engine to dump engine oil into the cockpit via the ventilation system. In order to re‑start, the aircraft had to descend to 35,000 feet or lower which would make it vulnerable to Soviet interception. That was unsatisfactory! Pratt & Whitney began working on a ‑31 high altitude version of the J‑57 that also provided added payload and altitude capability.

A pilot talking about the U-2.

www.danshistory.com...
Powerplant Data: Pratt & Whitney(P & W) J57-P-37/ J57-P-37A with 10,500lb of thrust
updated to: P & W J57-P-31/ J57-P-31A with 11,200lb of thrust

A website stating that the P-37/P-37A was replaced with the P-31. It does not state which year.

You see, I was under the impression that the Bell X-16 project used the P-31, until that was terminated in the mid-50's, and the P-31 variant became available for the U-2 project, who had up to that point been using the P-37. This happened in about 1956.