from under the wing of a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. Launch and Recovery of the X-7 The X-7 was launched at speed release from the underside of either a B-29 or B-50 carrier plane. The jet would then take over and build up speed to its top speed of , but was later redesigned to push . The recovery method of the X-7 rocket plane was a new and simple design for a test plane of its kind but functioned as designed. A multi-stage parachute was deployed after the jet had exhausted its fuel, slowing its descent. Once it had reached the ground, the long metal rod on the end of the nose penetrated the ground, keeping the plane upright and preventing damage to structure of the X-7. In 1954, the modified X-7 underwent significant changes and was renamed the X-7A-3. The wing shape was altered, and two small boosters were added to the plane, one under each wing. Due to these alterations, the drop method previously used was changed. The previous version was a complicated, bulky under-wing system, while the new design allowed for a simple fuselage-mounted dropping system. This system was used until its final flight in July 1960. Surviving aircraft X-7 on display at the Aviation Unmanned Vehicle Museum in Caddo Mills, Texas. Specifications of X-7A-1 Length: Wingspan: Height: Diameter: Weight: Speed: (Maximum speed: ) Ceiling: Range: Booster: Alleghany Ballistics Lab. X202-C3 solid- fuel rocket; 467 kN for 4 seconds. Sustainer: Ramjet Specifications of X-7A-3 Length: Wingspan: Height: Diameter: Weight: Speed: Ceiling: Range: Booster: X-7A-3/XQ-5: 2x Thiokol XM45 (5KS50000) solid-fuel rocket; 222 kN (50000 lb) Sustainer: Ramjet See also References External links Q-5/AQM-60 "Ramjet test missile takes off on supersonic flight." Popular Science, pp. 142–143. Lockheed X7-A – X7-A on display at Aviation Unmanned Vehicle Museum outside Dallas, Texas, United States. X-007 X-07, Lockheed Unmanned military aircraft of the United States Single-engined jet aircraft Mid-wing aircraft Ramjet-powered aircraft Aircraft with auxiliary rocket engines Aircraft first flown in 1951