Benson X-25B
S/N 68-10771
The X-25 program began in response to a perceived need for an emergency egress capability for downed pilots. The vehicle was part of the Air Force’s Discretionary Descent Vehicle program, intended to give aircrew members forced to abandon their aircraft an option of landing somewhere other than where wind and gravity dictated. The concept was to equip combat aircraft with a small ultralight autogyro that could be used by the aircrew. The X-25A and B were used to evaluate piloting techniques and training requirements of the autogyro.
