Alamogordo in Otero County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

X-7A Test Vehicle

Photographed by James Hulse, July 24, 2024

1. X-7A Test Vehicle Marker

Inscription. Built by Lockheed, the X-7A served as a test vehicle to develop a ramjet engine* for anti-aircraft missiles. Because it was a test vehicle, the X-7A was intended to be reusable. It was recovered by parachute with impact upon the 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 (13) and a maximum speed of Mach 4.31 (2,881 mph). This X-7A is one of only six known to exist.
*A jet engine that relies on the aircraft's speed for air compression necessary for combustion to produce thrust.

Length - 32 feet, 9 inches (10.0 meters)
Wingspan - 12 feet (3.7 meters)
Weight - 2,766 pounds (2,245 kg)
Booster Thrust (each)- 50,000 pounds (230,000 newtons)

Fun Fact: The X-7A was dubbed the "Flying Stove Pipe" because of its somewhat obvious shape.

Captions
On loan from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Wright Patterson AFB, OH-NMMSH #IL075.012

Erected by New Mexico Museum of Space History.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space.

Location. 32° 55.266′ N,

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105° 55.272′ W. Marker is in Alamogordo, New Mexico, in Otero County. It is on State Route 2001 0.4 miles east of N Scenic Drive. The marker is located on the grounds of the New Mexico Museum of Space History. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3198 State Rte 2001, Alamogordo NM 88310, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in New Mexico’s Pecos Valley. It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

and the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: V-2 Rocket Engine (here, next to this marker); XQ-4A Drone (a few steps from this marker); X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Mockup (a few steps from this marker); Lance Missile (a few steps from this marker); Aerobee 150 (a few steps from this marker); PTV Parachute Test Vehicle (within shouting distance of this marker); Apollo Command Module Boilerplate S/N 1207 (within shouting

Photographed by James Hulse, July 24, 2024

2. X-7A Test Vehicle Marker

distance of this marker); Crawler Transporter Shoe (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alamogordo.

Also see . . . Lockheed X-7. Wikipedia

The Lockheed X-7 (dubbed the "Flying Stove Pipe") was an American unmanned test bed of the 1950s for ramjet engines and missile guidance technology. It was the basis for the later Lockheed AQM-60 Kingfisher, a system used to test American air defenses against nuclear missile attack.

(Submitted on August 11, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

X-7A Test Vehicle image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, July 24, 2024

3. X-7A Test Vehicle

Lockheed X-7 USAF image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - US Air Force

4. Lockheed X-7 USAF

Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 259 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 11, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.