FileBell X1A in flight.jpg Wikimedia Commons

The Bell X-1 ( Bell Model 44) is a rocket engine-powered aircraft, designated originally as the XS-1, and was a joint National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics - U.S. Army Air Forces - U.S. Air Force supersonic research project built by Bell Aircraft. Bell X-1, U.S. rocket-powered supersonic research airplane built by Bell Aircraft Corporation, the first aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in level flight.

Bell X1 Wikiwand

Single engine, single seat, mid-wing rocket plane with international orange paint scheme.On October 14, 1947, the Bell X-1 became the first airplane to fly faster than the speed of sound. Piloted by U.S. Air Force Capt. Charles E. Summary On October 14, 1947, the Bell X-1 became the first airplane to fly faster than the speed of sound. Piloted by U.S. Air Force Capt. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager, the X-1 reached a speed of 1,127 kilometers (700 miles) per hour, Mach 1.06, at an altitude of 13,000 meters (43,000 feet). A joint project of NACA and the U.S. Army Air Forces, built by Bell Aircraft of Buffalo, New York, the X-1 reached a speed of 700 miles per hour that bright day, Mach 1.06 at an altitude of. Seventy-five years ago, on October 14, 1947, the Bell X-1 Glamorous Glennis, piloted by U.S. Air Force Captain Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager, became the first airplane to fly faster than the speed of sound (Mach 1). The experimental purpose-built aircraft reached 1,127 kilometers (700 miles) per hour (Mach 1.06).

The Bell X1 and Breaking the Sound Barrier

1. To conserve fuel, the X-1 was flown up to 7,620 meters (25,000 ft) attached to the bomb bay of a modified Boeing B-29 bomber and then dropped. The Bell X-1 underneath the modified B-29. Photo: NASM-1A08078 2. Yeager named the Bell X-1 Glamorous Glennis after his first wife. Yeager in the cockpit of Glamorous Glennis. Photo: NASM-98-15403 3. The Bell X-1 was a rocket-powered aircraft developed for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and the US Army Air Forces that first flew in 1946. Intended for research into transonic flight, the X-1 became the first aircraft to break the sound barrier. Summary On October 14, 1947, the Bell X-1 became the first airplane to fly faster than the speed of sound. Piloted by U.S. Air Force Capt. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager, the X-1 reached a speed of 1,127 kilometers (700 miles) per hour, Mach 1.06, at an altitude of 13,000 meters (43,000 feet). The Bell X-1 is a rocket engine-powered aircraft, designated originally as the XS-1, and was a joint National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics-U.S. Army Air Forces-U.S. Air Force supersonic research project built by Bell Aircraft. Conceived during 1944 and designed and built in 1945, it achieved a speed of nearly 1,000 miles per hour in 1948. A derivative of this same design, the Bell.

Bell X1 USA Air Force Aviation Photo 2638463

The Bell X-1 broke the sound barrier, proving that supersonic flight was possible. The X-1 was unique in design, made from lightweight materials and propelled by a rocket engine. The X-1's legacy continues to inspire innovation in aviation, including the development of the SR-71 Blackbird. Bell X-1 NASA Jan 01, 2016 Image Article Bell Aircraft built three of the original X-1s, plus an X-1A and X-1B, an X-1D. There was also an X-1E rebuilt from the X-1 #2. They flew a total of 214 flights between 1946-1958. This was a joint program among the NACA, the Air Force, and Bell Aircraft. The Bell X-1 was a rocket-powered aircraft designed by Bell for a supersonic joint research project between the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and the US Army Air Forces (USAAF), later the US Air Force. Bell X-1: Dropping the Orange Beast That Broke the Sound Barrier Numerous books, articles, documentaries and movies have told the story of how famed pilot Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier. Here's the story behind the team and aircraft that made that possible by Mark Carlson 10/14/2021

Bell X1 Smithsonian Institution

January 3, 2024 The Bell X-1 rocket plane made history in 1947 as the first aircraft to break the sound barrier in level flight, piloted by the legendary Chuck Yeager. This major milestone opened up the era of practical supersonic flight. The plane. The Bell X-1 broke the sound barrier with Col. Chuck Yeager at the controls on Oct. 14, 1947. (Image credit: NASA) Four rocket engines propelled the X-1, and it was built to absorb 18.