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Description
| Manufacturer: | Bell | |
| Base model: | X-22 | |
| Designation: | X-22 | |
| Version: | A | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | |
| Designation Period: | 1948-Present | |
| Basic role: | Research | |
| Crew: | 2 | |
Specifications
| Length: | 39' 7" | 12.0 m | |
| Height: | 20' 8" | 6.3 m | |
| Wingspan: | 39' 3" | 11.9 m | |
| Wingarea: | 850.0 sq ft | 78.9 sq m | |
| Empty Weight: | 11,458 lb | 5,196 kg | |
| Gross Weight: | 18,016 lb | 8,170 kg | |
Propulsion
| No. of Engines: | 4 | ||
| Powerplant: | General Electric YT58-GE-8D | ||
| Horsepower (each): | 1250 | ||
Performance
| Range: | 445 miles | 716 km | |
| Max Speed: | 255 mph | 410 km/h | 221 kt |
| Ceiling: | 27,800 ft | 8,473 m | |
Known serial numbers
Recent comments by our visitors
| Art Fromm Newfane, NY | My post was supposed to be titled "On Behalf of the Paul and Clara Lou Fromm Family" 04/30/2013 @ 11:12 [ref: 67779] |
| Art Fromm on behalf of the Paul and Newfane, NY | My Dad, Paul Fromm, helped design the complicated hydraulics for this amazing aircraft.
I'll never forget the time that he took me to work at Bell on Niagara Falls Blvd. and let me stand on the cockpit step right next to one of the huge fan ducts (not running obviously), and walking on the catwalk above the full-size mock-up of the hydraulic controls and electrical system. I also remember witnessing some test flights, as well as test flights of the Bell "Rocket Belt," and Hydro Skimmers. He was very proud of the X-22a and was devastated when the first one crash landed. Too bad the second one didn't make it further than the prototype/experimental phase. We recently added Dad's name to the Wall of Honor at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport, "Dedicated to all who have shared a passion for flight," and went as a family to see it. In the museum we noticed that they had one of the scale models of the X-22a on display. Interestingly they had the display wrong - the two front fans were pointing down (which was impossible) and the back two were pointing up, which would have put the aircraft into nose-down summersault. I notified the people at the museum and hopefully they've corrected it. (I'll try to post a photo). Good work by all the fine Bell employees who designed, built, and flew this amazing aircraft! 04/30/2013 @ 11:01 [ref: 67778] |
| Patrick Gorman Corry, PA | I worked for Bell AeroSpace during the late 60's/early 70's and worked in Quality Control in the R & D Lab. The lab was run by a Charlie Billman I believe. I had the opportunity to inspect some minor component assy's used on the X-22 such as small cable assy's and such. On lunch breaks, we would walk over to the hanger(s) and sometimes get to see the X-22's. My family owned a greenhouse business on Ward Road out in Sanborn which was just about where 1520 went down. It was cordoned off very quickly and we did not get any pictures of it. I did see much of the wreckage after it was placed in the hanger at the Bell Plant in Wheatfield. I have seen and taken photos of 1521 when it was on display at the Museum in Niagara Falls when it was located on 3rd and Niagara Street. I have purchased a resin kit of the X-22 which I have not built yet but hope to soon. I look forward to seeing her on display again! 02/05/2013 @ 10:46 [ref: 67554] |
| Russell Voelker Martinsburg, WV | FYI.....
The only exisiting Bell X-22A (1521) will be back on display at the new location of the Niagara Falls Aerospace Museum...the former Niagara Fall Airport Passenger Terminal. It hopes to be open by May 2013. 01/04/2013 @ 04:36 [ref: 67473] |
| AL , DE | Yes remember it well flying over the house in Town of lockport. Always with a small chase plane closeby. Then one day saw just the chase plane come back and knew, even as a teen that something had happened. Years later read what had happened. I remember the excitement of hearing the drone of the fans and seeing the aircraft. Things seemed so innovative back then in this area with Bell thriving, as was everything else. Is the playing field level yet? 09/10/2012 @ 11:54 [ref: 67203] |
| Karen North Tonawanda, NY | My dad was the QC Inspector on the X-22 at Bell Aerospace when the X-22 (both) were being built. He has since passed but I still have some of this "collection". I remember I was young when the one ship crashed on Hoover Rd. My dad on vacation at the time and was called back to assist at the crash scene. 03/23/2012 @ 12:09 [ref: 54417] |
| Justin , ND | Very interested in the x-22 project and was wondering why this aircraft never took off?? would love to see something with duct fans for general aviation. 01/12/2012 @ 19:40 [ref: 51953] |
| Russ Voelker Martinsburg, WV | Tim,
I understand that after the first prototype (#1520) made its unfortunate forced landing they turned it into a simulator. I think your photos are of all that remains of #1520. Thanks 06/19/2011 @ 06:55 [ref: 39663] |
| Bill Hamilton TUCSON, AZ | I'M A BORN "AIRCRAFT BUFF", AND HAVE SEEN MORE AIRCRAFT, THAN MOST PEOPLE. I WAS BORN & RAISED IN BUFFALO ,AND I TOO ,REMEMBER THE X-22A, AS IT FLEW AROUND THE AREA, DURING IT'S FLIGHT TEST PROGRAM, BACK IN THE 70'S. IT WAS THEN, AND REMAINS TO THIS DAY, "THE STRANGEST LOOKING,AND...THE LOUDEST AIRCRAFT,I'VE EVER SEEN OR HEARD!" WITH IT'S "DUCTED FAN CONFIGURATION, THE SOUND WAS "UNMISTAKABLE". IF IT FLEW OVER HEAD, YOU COULD'NT HELP BUT TO STOP AND LOOK UP AT IT ! THERE'S NO QUESTION, THAT THE X-22A, WAS A "VERY UNIQUE" AIRCRAFT, AND I'M GLAD SHE IS NOW IN A MUSEUM ON PERMANENT DISPLAY, WHERE SHE "PROUDLY BELONGS". 10/11/2010 @ 19:49 [ref: 31468] |
| kevin barry Williamsville, NY | When I was a youngster I watched the Bell X-22A fly low over our house. It was so low the trees would bend and the grass was flattened. I lived along the take-off and landing route that the plane used as it came into Buffalo Airport.
It was the most amazing thing to see a large airplane simply hover and move slowly and loudly right over our heads. I recall my mother and I standing in the backyard and shielding our eyes as we watched the plane. It just blew my mind! 09/01/2010 @ 19:07 [ref: 29764] |
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