X-24C Hypersonic Research Craft (1977)

Scale: 1/72
Initial Release: 2001
Medium: Resin
Length: 8.0"
Kit Rarity: 3

About the Design

Following the X-15's retirement in the 1960s, NASA began planning for the "next generation" of hypersonic research air/spacecraft. One of the joint NASA/USAF proposals was the X-24C, a rocket-powered lifting body based on the top-secret FDL-8 configuration. To be launched by either a modified B-52 aircraft or a Titan III-C ballistic missile, the X-24C was designed to reach speeds of up to Mach 8 and cruise at Mach 6 for 40 seconds.

Approximately $200 million was appropriated for development of two X-24C prototypes. However, in 1977, budget overruns caused the project to be cancelled.  Or perhaps it just "went black...

About the Kit

Based on one of several known X-24C configurations, this multi-media model from France's Sharkit featured "white metal" landing gear in addition to its resin fuselage, cockpit and wheels. This particular kit was the last of a very short run of X-24C's produced by Sharkit and did not come with decals; decals were custom-designed and printed for this model.