The Bell X-1 (the first aircraft to fly solely with the X for experimental designation) was designed to explore the dynamic characteristics of aircraft flying at or faster than the Speed of Sound.[1]
First Generation[]
Three airframes, with US Air Force serials 46-062, 46-063 and 46-064, were built under the terms of contract
W33-038-ac-9183, which had been signed on March 16 1945. The three aircraft, which originally carried the XS (Experimental Supersonic) designation, would be used to explore the transonic speed envelope wherein an object transitions from subsonic to supersonic flight, with emphasis on the affects on stability and control experienced during supersonic flight.[1]
Significant flights[]
| Flight number | Date | Aircraft used | Pilot | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | January 25 1946 | 46-062 | Jack Woolams, Bell | First X-1 flight |
| 011 | October 11 1946 | 46-063 | Chalmers 'Slick' Goodlin, Bell [2] | First X-1 flight from Muroc[3]. First flight with aircraft #2 |
| 015 | December 9 1946 | 46-063 | Goodlin | First powered flight of X-1 program. Aircraft reached Mach 0.75 (510mph) and 35,000ft |
| 038 | August 6 1947 | 46-062 | Captain Charles Elwood 'Chuck' Yeager, USAF | First Air Force flight of X-1 programme |
| 050 | October 14 1947 | 46-062 | Yeager | First Supersonic flight by a manned aircraft - speed of Mach 1.06 (700mph) and altitude of 45,000 ft |
| 074 | March 10 1948 | 46-063 | Herbert Hoover, NACA | First supersonic flight by civilian pilot - Mach 1.065 (703mph) and 40,000ft |
| 077 | March 26 1948 | 46-062 | Yeager | Fastest flight in First Generation X-1 - Mach 1.45 (957mph) and 50,000ft |
| 105 | January 5 1949 | 46-062 | Yeager | Only conventional ground take off by X-1 design. Flight conducted to test performance of an X-1 type aircraft following a runway take-off. Aircraft reaches 23,000ft just over 90 seconds after take off. |
| 124 | August 8 1949 | 46-062 | Major Frank Everest, USAF | Highest flight in First Generation X-1 - 71,902ft |
| 136 | May 12 1950 | 46-062 | Yeager | Final flight of aircraft #1, made to gain footage for Howard Hughes filom Jet Pilot[4] |
| 150 | July 20 1951 | 46-064 | Jospeh Cannon, Bell | Sole completed flight using aircraft #3 |
Second Generation[]
Significant flights[]
| Flight number | Date | Aircraft used | Pilot | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Miller, Jay. 2001. Chapter 3
- ↑ Took over as X-1 test pilot after death of Woolams, who was killed following crash of modified Bell P-39 Cobra I on August 30 1946
- ↑ The previous flights had been carried out at Pinecastle Field near Orlando, Florida
- ↑ according to some sources, 46-062 had Soviet markings added for this flight
Bibliography[]
Miller, Jay. The X Planes X-1 to X-45. Midland Publishing. 2001. ISBN 1-85780-109-1