The X-5 was tested from 1951 until 1955 at the NACA High-Speed Research Station. Built by Bell Aircraft Company, the X-5's maiden flight was June 20, 1951. The X-5 was the first aircraft capable of sweeping its wings in flight and helped our understanding of wing-sweep angles of 20, 45, and 60 degrees at subsonic and transonic speeds.

X-5 Ship #1 (50-1838) was flown by NACA from 1952 to late 1955. X-5 Ship #2 (50-1839) was operated only by Bell and the Air Force and was lost in a spin accident in 1953.

The X-5 was tested from 1951 until 1955 at the NACA High-Speed Flight Research Station. Built and initially flight tested by Bell Aircraft Corporation, the first X-5 flight was on June 20, 1951. The X-5 was the first aircraft capable of variably sweeping its wings in flight and helped our understanding of wing-sweep angles of 20, 45, and 60 degrees at subsonic and transonic speeds. The X-5 Ship #1 (50-1838) was flown by NACA from 1952 to late 1955. The X-5 Ship #2 (50-1839) was operated only by Bell and the Air Force and was lost in a spin accident in 1953

The X-5 was a single-place aircraft powered by an Allison J-45-A jet engine, and measuring 36 feet in length with a wingspan of 19 feet (with the wings swept back 60 degrees). The X-5 weighed 10,000 pounds when fully fueled.

Results of the research program demonstrated that the variable-wing-sweep principle worked. With the wings fully extended the low-speed performance was improved for take-off and landing and when swept back the high speed performance was improved and drag reduced. The pilots found they could use the variable wing sweep as a tactical control to out-perform the escort aircraft during research missions. The X-5 flight tests provided some of the design background for the F-111 and the Navy F-14 tactical aircraft.

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