McDonnell Douglas X-36


The McDonnell Douglas 'X-36' ''Tailless Fighter Agility Research Aircraft'' is an American stealthy subscale prototype jet. Built for NASA and first flown in 1997, it was designed without the traditional empennage found on most aircraft. This configuration was designed to reduce weight, drag, and radar cross section; and increase range, maneuverability, and survivability.

Design and development

The X-36 was built to 28% scale of a possible fighter aircraft and was controlled by a pilot in a ground-based virtual cockpit with a view provided by a video camera mounted in the canopy of the aircraft.
For control, a canard forward of the wing was used as well as split ailerons and an advanced thrust vectoring nozzle for directional control. The X-36 was unstable in both pitch and yaw axes, so an advanced digital fly-by-wire control system was used to provide stability.
First flown on 17 May 1997, it made 31 successful research flights. It handled very well, and the program is reported to have met or exceeded all project goals. McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing in August 1997 while the test program was in progress; the aircraft is sometimes referred to as the Boeing X-36.
The X-36 possessed high maneuverability that would be ideal for use as a fighter. Despite its potential suitability, and highly successful test program, there have been no reports regarding further development of the X-36 or any derived design as of 2025.

Preservation