D-558-2

Aztecdoug's Aerospace Website

D-558-2

The Douglas D-558-2 was used for transonic study and the vehicle Scott Crossfield used to break Mach 2. This craft had three models. Jet powered, Jet/Rocket powered, and Rocket powered.

Stan Butchart

Frank "Pete" Everest

Robert Champine

D-558-2 with F-86 chase plane

The D-558-2 pilot pictured is Bill Bridgeman with Chuck Yeager flying chase*

Scott Crossfield

John Griffith

The D-558-1

Marion Carl

There were a remarkable number of pilots who flew both the D-558-1 and D-558-2. I have assembled here a list of the pilots who have flown both of these planes.

Pilots who have flown both the D-558-1 and D-558-2

(Number of flights with each plane respectively)

Gene May               103 + 46
Scott Crossfield       15 + 89
Joe Walker              14 + 5
John McKay             9   + 29
Bob Champine         9   + 12
John Griffith            15 + 9
John Martin              2   + 16
Marion Carl              9   + 7
Stanley Butchart      12 + 2
Turner Caldwell        9   + 3
Walter Jones             5   + 7
Larry Peyton              6   + 1

Pilots who have flown the D-558-1 (Number of flights)

Howard Lillly           19
F.M. Trapnell            2
George Jensen         2

Pilots who have flown the D-558-2 (Number of flights)

Bill Bridgeman        81
Frank Everest           2
John Marion Davis   4
Albert Boyd              2

Toward Mach 2:
The Douglas D-558 Program

Edited by J. D. Hunley
NASA SP-4222
*page 33

http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/History/Publications/PDF/D-558.pdf