Editing Bell X-5 (section)

{{Short description|NASA experimental variable-sweep wing aircraft}}
{{Infobox aircraft
  |name = X-5
  |image = Bell X-5 USAF.jpg
  |caption = 
  |type = [[Experimental aircraft]]
  |manufacturer = [[Bell Aircraft Corporation]]
  |designer = Robert J. Woods
  |first_flight =20 June 1951
  |introduction = 
  |retired = December [[1958 in aviation|1958]]
  |status =
  |primary_user = [[United States Air Force]]
  |more_users = [[National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics]]
  |produced =
  |number_built = 2
  |unit cost =
  |developed_from=
  |variants =
}}
[[File:Bell-X5-Multiple.jpg|thumb|right|A composite photograph showing the '''Bell X-5'''’s variable-sweep wing]]

The '''Bell X-5''' was the first [[Fixed-wing aircraft|aircraft]] capable of [[Variable-sweep wing|changing the sweep of its wings in flight]]. It was inspired by the untested wartime [[Messerschmitt P.1101|P.1101]] design of the [[Germany|German]] [[Messerschmitt]] company. In a further development of the German design, which could only have its wing sweepback angle adjusted on the ground, the Bell engineers devised a system of electric motors to adjust the sweep in flight.