Perhaps the most visually stunning of the "X" planes, the Douglas X-3 Stiletto looked like Mach 2 just sitting on the ramp. While a conventional aircraft in every respect, the radical appearance of the X-3's long, pointed fuselage and straight, stubby wings was a major design departure from the earlier X-1 and X-2.
With limited wing area, high take-off and landing speeds were expected and the aircraft lived up to those expectations. Flown on three of its six USAF test flights by veteran test pilot Lt. Col. Frank K. "Pete" Everest, Jr., the short- winged Stiletto finally got airborne after a ground run of 3 miles. The X-3 lifted off the dry lake bed at 260 mph, WITH FULL FLAPS!