Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas) manufactured two X-36 vehicles, and the aircraft successfully completed all of its planned low- and high-g agility maneuvers, which demonstrated the aircraft’s ability to quickly perform under a wide range of aerodynamic loads, and included 360-degree rolls at angles of attack (AoA) up to 15 degrees and rapid turning-rolling maneuvers at up to 35 degrees AoA.
Fully fueled the X-36 prototype weighed approximately 1,250 pounds. It was 19 feet long and three feet high with a wingspan of just over 10 feet. A Williams International F112 turbofan engine provided close to 700 pounds of thrust. A typical research flight lasted 35 to 45 minutes from takeoff to touchdown. A total of 31 successful research flights were flown from May 17, 1997, to November 12, 1997, amassing 15 hours and 38 minutes of flight time. The aircraft reached an altitude of 20,200 feet and a maximum angle of attack of 40 degrees.