Bell XGAM-63 Rascal Nuclear Missile

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Bell XGAM-63 Rascal Nuclear Missile
Bell XGAM-63 Rascal Nuclear Missile

National Museum of the US Air Force

BELL XGAM-63 "RASCAL"
The "Rascal," originally designated as the XB-63, was an air- to-surface supersonic guided missile armed with a nuclear warhead. Its development was inaugurated in April 1946. The Rascal was intended as a "stand off" weapon, to be launched from SAC bombers as far away from the target as 100 miles, thus reducing the manned bomber crew's exposure to enemy defenses in the immediate target area. Launched from its carrier aircraft, the missile would continue toward its predetermined target controlled by a self-contained inertial guidance system. The terminal dive began about 20 miles from the target. During this final phase of flight, the Rascal's course could be altered by signals from the launching "director" aircraft.

The first launch of a guided Rascal took place in October 1953 from a DB-47 director aircraft; various successful powered flights were demonstrated during later tests. The GAM-63 program was terminated in late 1958, shortly before the first Rascal-equipped SAC unit was to become operational, in favor of the more promising and longer range "Hound Dog" missile. The Rascal on display was delivered to the USAF Museum in November 1958 from Bell Aircraft Corp., Buffalo, New York

SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 16 ft. 8 in.
Length: 32 It 0 in
Height: 12 ft. 6 in.
Weight: 18,200 lbs. max. at launch
Armament: Nuclear warhead
Engine: Bell XLR-67 three-chamber liquid fuel rocket engine of 10,440 lbs. thrust
Cost: $2,262,000

PERFORMANCE
Max. speed: Approx. 1,950 mph/ 1,695 knots
Max. range: 100 statute miles 87 nautical miles
Max. altitude: 65,000 ft

Attribution Noncommercial Some rights reserved
Taken on: July 23, 2012
Tags: Everybody's photos tagged with XGAM-63 XGAM-63 Everybody's photos tagged with XB-63 XB-63 Everybody's photos tagged with Nuclear Missile Nuclear Missile
Sets appears in:   • USAF Museum Presidential and R&D Hangar    • XB-63 Rascal Nuclear Missile   
Camera: Canon PowerShot G12, f/2.8, 1/1000 sec, 6.1mm, ISO 400 (more info) (hide info)
Camera: Canon PowerShot G12
Aperture: f/2.8
Exposure Time: 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Focal Length: 6.1mm
ISO: 400
Exposure Bias: -2/3 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Exposure Mode: Manual
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
White Balance: Auto
Color Space: sRGB
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