Beschreibung:

Mixed materials on wood base, Penwal, late 1980s, wingspan 4-inches, fuselage 15 3/8-inches, 6 1/2-inches tall, plaque on base reads: "X-30 / National Aerospace Plane," with Pratt & Whitney emblem, Penwal label on underside.
The Rockwell X-30 was an advanced technology demonstrator project for the National Aero-Space Plane (NASP), which was a U.S. project to create a single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) spacecraft and passenger spaceliner, which would eventually lead to two-hour flights from Washington to Tokyo. Rocketdyne and Pratt & Whitney were both awarded contracts to develop engines/propulsion. Pratt & Whitney's experience with the triple-sonic J58 engine used in the SR-71 was a major factor in their winning the contract. The present model is an early version as evidenced by the single dorsal fin tail and the conical nose.