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X-1B
X-1B

Credit: NASA. 34,935 bytes. 483 x 252 pixels.

Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Nation: USA. Manufacturer: Bell.

The X-1A, B, and D were essentially identical rocketplanes intended to reach speeds above Mach 2. The X-1A and X-1D were destroyed in in-flight explosions; the X-1B survived, training future moon lander Neil Armstrong on its last flights in 1958.

Specification

X-1B Chronology

29 August 1954 X-1B Flight 1 Flight Crew: McKay.

NACA flight 2. Cabin-pressure regulator malfunction causes inner canopy to crack; only low-speed, low-altitude maneuvers made.

24 September 1954 X-1B Flight 2 Flight Crew: Ridley.

AF flight 1. Glide flight, because of turbopump over-speeding.

06 October 1954 X-1B Flight 3 Flight Crew: Ridley.

AF flight 2. Glide flight, aborted power flight because of evidence of high lox-tank pressure.

08 October 1954 X-1B Flight 4 Flight Crew: Murray.

AF flight 3. First powered flight.

13 October 1954 X-1B Flight 5 Flight Crew: Stephens.

AF flight 4.

19 October 1954 X-1B Flight 6 Flight Crew: Childs.

AF flight 5.

26 October 1954 X-1B Flight 7 Flight Crew: Hanes.

AF flight 6.

04 November 1954 X-1B Flight 8 Flight Crew: Harer.

AF flight 7.

26 November 1954 X-1B Flight 9 Flight Crew: Holtoner.

AF flight 8.

30 November 1954 X-1B Flight 10 Flight Crew: Everest.

AF flight 9.

02 December 1954 X-1B Flight 11 Flight Crew: Everest.

AF flight 10. Mach 2.3 at 19825 m.

14 August 1956 X-1B Flight 12 Flight Crew: McKay.

NACA flight 1. Pilot check; nose landing gear failed on landing, minor damage.

07 September 1956 X-1B Flight 13 Flight Crew: McKay.

NACA flight 3. Speed run to 17080 m and mach 1.8. Limited heating data gathered.

18 September 1956 X-1B Flight 14 Flight Crew: McKay.

NACA flight 4. Glide flight, due to erratic engine start.

28 September 1956 X-1B Flight 15 Flight Crew: McKay.

NACA flight 5. Three-chamber engine run to 18300 m to obtain heating data.

03 January 1957 X-1B Flight 16 Flight Crew: McKay.

NACA flight 6. Mach 1.94 aerodynamic heating investigation (end of heating program).

22 May 1957 X-1B Flight 17 Flight Crew: McKay.

NACA flight 7. Control pulses at mach 1.45 at 18300 m. Flight for instrumentation check.

07 June 1957 X-1B Flight 18 Flight Crew: McKay.

NACA flight 8. Supersonic maneuvers to mach 1.5 at 18300 m to determine the dynamic and static stability and control characteristics.

24 June 1957 X-1B Flight 19 Flight Crew: McKay.

NACA flight 9. Supersonic maneuvers to mach 1.5 at 18300 m to determine the dynamic and static stability and control characteristics.

11 July 1957 X-1B Flight 20 Flight Crew: McKay.

NACA flight 10. Aborted after launch, indication of open landing-gear door. Propellants jettisoned, completed as a glide flight.

19 July 1957 X-1B Flight 21 Flight Crew: McKay.

NACA flight 11. Mach 1.65 at 18,300 m. Control pulses, sideslips, and 2 g wind-up turn.

29 July 1957 X-1B Flight 22 Flight Crew: McKay.

NACA flight 12. Enlarged wing tips installed to simulate wing tips to be used with reaction controls. Mach 1.55 at 18,300 m.

08 August 1957 X-1B Flight 23 Flight Crew: McKay.

NACA flight 13. Stability and control investigation. Mach 1.5 at 18300 m, accelerated maneuvers, control pulses, and pull-ups.

15 August 1957 X-1B Flight 24 Flight Crew: Armstrong.

NACA flight 14. Pilot check. Nose landing gear failed on landing, minor damage.

27 November 1957 X-1B Flight 25 Flight Crew: Armstrong.

NACA flight 15. First reaction-control flight.

16 January 1958 X-1B Flight 26 Flight Crew: Armstrong.

NACA flight 16. Low-altitude, low-mach reaction-control investigation.

23 January 1958 X-1B Flight 27 Flight Crew: Armstrong.

NACA flight 17. Reaction-control investigation. Mach 1.5 at 16775 m. Last NACA flight.

Bibliography:

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Last update 12 March 2001.
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© Mark Wade, 2001 .