This page no longer updated from 31 October 2001. Latest version can be found at www.astronautix.com
astronautix.com XS-1
XS-1
XS-1

Credit: NASA. 21,892 bytes. 546 x 239 pixels.

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

Also known as the X-1. This rocket plane was the first aircraft to break the sound barrier, and the first in a line of X- aircraft leading to the space shuttle. Due to the press of war work, Bell Aircraft was the only company that would take on the project in 1944. German swept-wing research being unknown, the configuration developed was a thin, straight-winged aircraft with a bullet-shaped fuselage. The XS-1 began flight test in 1946 and Chuck Yeager flew it through the sound barrier on October 14, 1947.

Specification

XS-1 Chronology

01 December 1943 NACA rocket program.

The rocket aircraft research program conceived by NACA's John Stack, to investigage the flight characteristics of an airplane flying beyond the speed of sound or Mach 1.

01 January 1944 Bell Aircraft begins work on the XS-1 rocketplane.

Due to the press of war work, Bell Aircraft was the only company that would take on the XS-1 rocketplane project. This would produce the X-1, the first aircraft to break the sound barrier, and the first in a line of X- aircraft leading to the space shuttle. German swept-wing research being unknown, the configuration developed was a thin, straight-winged aircraft with a bullet-shaped fuselage.

16 March 1944 NACA proposes a jet-propelled transonic research airplane.

At a National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) seminar, in Washington, D.C., with Air Force and Navy personnel attending, NACA personnel proposed a jet-propelled transonic research airplane be developed. This proposal ultimately led to the 'X' series research airplane projects.

13 December 1944 X-1 manned supersonic rocket aircraft begun.

In an AAF-NACA conference, Air Force representatives indicated strong preference for use of rocket engines instead of jets in X-1 research airplane project.

19 January 1946 XS-1 Flight 1 Flight Crew: Woolams.

Bell flight 1. First glide flight of AAF-NACA XS-1 rocket research airplane (No.1 of the original three X-1's built), by Jack Woolams, Bell Aircraft test pilot, at Pinecastle Army Air Base, Fla.

05 February 1946 XS-1 Flight 2 Flight Crew: Woolams.

Bell flight 2. At Pinecastle AAF, Florida.

11 February 1946 XS-1 Flight 4 Flight Crew: Woolams.

Bell flight 4. Gear retracted, left wing damaged. At Pinecastle AAF, Florida.

19 February 1946 XS-1 Flight 5 Flight Crew: Woolams.

Bell flight 5. Nosewheel retracted on landing runout. Landing-gear door damaged. At Pinecastle AAF, Florida.

25 February 1946 XS-1 Flight 6 Flight Crew: Woolams.

Bell flight 6. Static directional stability investigation. At Pinecastle AAF, Florida.

26 February 1946 XS-1 Flight 9 Flight Crew: Woolams.

Bell flight 9. Rate of roll investigation. At Pinecastle AAF, Florida.

06 March 1946 XS-1 Flight 10 Flight Crew: Woolams.

Bell flight 10. Static longitudinal stability investigation. At Pinecastle AAF, Florida.

07 October 1946 X-1 moved to Edwards.

First of three XS-1 (later X-1) rocket research airplanes moved from Bell Aircraft's Niagara Falls plant to Muroc, Calif.

11 October 1946 XS-1 Flight 11 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 1. Glide flight, pilot familiarization.

14 October 1946 XS-1 Flight 12 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 2. Glide flight.

17 October 1946 XS-1 Flight 13 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 3. Glide flight, small check.

02 December 1946 XS-1 Flight 14 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 4. Glide flight, check of fuel-jettison system.

08 December 1946 X-1 first powered flight.

First successful powered (RMI XLR-11 rocket engine) flight of an XS-1, flown by Chalmers Goodlin, Bell test pilot, reached a speed of 550 mph. This was first U.S. aircraft designed for supersonic speeds.

09 December 1946 XS-1 Flight 15 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 5. First XS-1 powered flight. Mach 0.79 at 10675 m. Minor engine fire. At Edwards AFB, California.

20 December 1946 XS-1 Flight 16 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 6. Familiarization powered flight.

08 January 1947 XS-1 Flight 17 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 7. Buffet boundary investigation. Mach 0.80 at 10675 m.

17 January 1947 XS-1 Flight 18 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 8. Buffet boundary investigation. Full-power climb. Plane reached mach 0.82.

22 January 1947 XS-1 Flight 19 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 9. Buffet boundary investigation. Full-power climb. Telemetry failure.

23 January 1947 XS-1 Flight 20 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 10. Buffet boundary investigation. Full-power climb.

30 January 1947 XS-1 Flight 21 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 11. Accelerated stalls. Partial power due to engine igniters. Mach 0.75.

31 January 1947 XS-1 Flight 22 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 12. Buffet boundary investigation. Mach 0.7.

05 February 1947 XS-1 Flight 23 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 13. Machmeter calibration.

07 February 1947 XS-1 Flight 24 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 14. Buffet boundary investigation.

19 February 1947 XS-1 Flight 25 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 15. Accelerated stalls.

21 February 1947 XS-1 Flight 26 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 16. Flight aborted after drop because of low engine-chamber pressure.

10 April 1947 XS-1 Flight 27 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 11. Glide flight and stall check. At Muroc Dry Lake, California.

11 April 1947 XS-1 Flight 28 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 12. Nosewheel damaged. First powered flight of XS-1 # 1 aircraft. At Muroc Dry Lake, California.

29 April 1947 XS-1 Flight 29 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 13. Handling qualities check. At Muroc Dry Lake, California.

30 April 1947 XS-1 Flight 30 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 14. Handling qualities check. At Muroc Dry Lake, California.

05 May 1947 XS-1 Flight 31 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 15. Handling qualities check. At Muroc Dry Lake, California.

15 May 1947 XS-1 Flight 32 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 16. Buffet-boundary investigation. Aileron-damper malfunction.

19 May 1947 XS-1 Flight 33 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 17. Buffet-boundary investigation. At Muroc Dry Lake, California.

21 May 1947 XS-1 Flight 34 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 18. Buffet-boundary investigation. At Muroc Dry Lake, California.

22 May 1947 XS-1 Flight 35 Flight Crew: Johnston Alvin.

Bell flight 17. Pilot familiarization flight. Mach 0.72, 8 g pullout.

29 May 1947 XS-1 Flight 36 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 18. Airspeed calibration flight to mach 0.72. End of Bell contractor program.

05 June 1947 XS-1 Flight 37 Flight Crew: Goodlin.

Bell flight 19. Demonstration flight for Aviation Writers Association. At Muroc Dry Lake, California.

06 August 1947 XS-1 Flight 38 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF glide flight 1. Pilot familiarization.

07 August 1947 XS-1 Flight 39 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF glide flight 2.

08 August 1947 XS-1 Flight 40 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF glide flight 3.

29 August 1947 XS-1 Flight 41 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF powered flight 1. Mach 0.85.

04 September 1947 XS-1 Flight 42 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 2. About mach 0.89. Telemeter failure required repeat of this flight.

08 September 1947 XS-1 Flight 43 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 3.

10 September 1947 XS-1 Flight 44 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 4. Mach 0.91. Stability and control investigation.

12 September 1947 XS-1 Flight 45 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 5. Mach 0.92. Check of elevator and stabilizer effectiveness. Also buffet investigation.

25 September 1947 XS-1 Flight 46 Flight Crew: Yeager.

NACA acceptance flight. Number 4 cylinder burned out.

03 October 1947 XS-1 Flight 47 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 6. Check of elevator and stabilizer effectiveness. Also buffet investigation.

08 October 1947 XS-1 Flight 48 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 7. Airspeed calibration flight. Plane attained mach 0.925.

10 October 1947 XS-1 Flight 49 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 8. Stability and control investigation. Plane attained mach 0.997.

14 October 1947 XS-1 Flight 50 - first supersonic manned flight Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 9. World's first supersonic flight in level or climbing flight was made by Capt. Charles E. Yeager (USAF) at Muroc, Calif., in a rocket-powered NACA-USAF research plane, Bell XS-1XS-1 # 1 attained mach 1.06 at 13,115 m, approximately 1126 kph.

21 October 1947 XS-1 Flight 51 Flight Crew: Hoover.

NACA glide-familiarization flight for NACA pilot. Stall check. Nosewheel collapsed on landing.

27 October 1947 XS-1 Flight 52 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 10. Electric power failure. No rocket ignition.

28 October 1947 XS-1 Flight 53 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 11. Telemetry failure.

29 October 1947 XS-1 Flight 54 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 12. Telemetry failure.

31 October 1947 XS-1 Flight 55 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 13.

03 November 1947 XS-1 Flight 56 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 14.

04 November 1947 XS-1 Flight 57 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 15.

06 November 1947 XS-1 Flight 58 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 16. Mach 1.35 at 14823 m.

16 December 1947 XS-1 Flight 59 Flight Crew: Hoover.

NACA powered flight 1. Familiarization. Mach 0.84. No telemetry record.

17 December 1947 XS-1 Flight 60 Flight Crew: Hoover.

NACA flight 2. Familiarization. Mach 0.8.

06 January 1948 XS-1 Flight 61 Flight Crew: Hoover.

NACA flight 3. Turns and pull-ups to buffet. Mach 0.74.

08 January 1948 XS-1 Flight 62 Flight Crew: Hoover.

NACA flight 4. Turns and pull-ups to buffet. Mach 0.83.

09 January 1948 XS-1 Flight 63 Flight Crew: Lilly.

NACA flight 5. Pilot familiarization.

15 January 1948 XS-1 Flight 64 Flight Crew: Lilly.

NACA flight 6. Turns and pull-ups to buffet. Sideslips. Mach 0.76.

16 January 1948 XS-1 Flight 65 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 17. Airspeed calibration. Mach 0.9.

21 January 1948 XS-1 Flight 66 Flight Crew: Hoover.

NACA flight 7. Stabilizer effectiveness investigation. Mach 0.82 at 8845 m.

22 January 1948 XS-1 Flight 67 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 18. Pressure distribution survey. Mach 1.2.

23 January 1948 XS-1 Flight 68 Flight Crew: Hoover.

NACA flight 8. Attempted high-speed run aborted at mach 0.83, drop in chamber pressure.

27 January 1948 XS-1 Flight 69 Flight Crew: Hoover.

NACA flight 9. High-speed run to mach 0.925 at 11590 m. Cylinders 2 and 3 failed to fire.

30 January 1948 XS-1 Flight 70 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 19. Pressure distribution survey. Mach 1.1.

24 February 1948 XS-1 Flight 71 Flight Crew: Fitzgerald.

AF flight 20. Engine fire after launch forced jettisoning of propellants, completed as a glide flight.

04 March 1948 XS-1 Flight 72 Flight Crew: Hoover.

NACA flight 10. High-speed run to mach 0.943 at 12200 m.

10 March 1948 XS-1 Flight 73 Flight Crew: Hoover.

NACA flight 11. First NACA supersonic flight. First civilian supersonic flight. Mach 1.065. Nosewheel failed to extend for landing. Minor damage.

11 March 1948 XS-1 Flight 74 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 21. Attained mach 1.25 in dive.

22 March 1948 XS-1 Flight 75 Flight Crew: Hoover.

NACA flight 12. Stability and loads investigation. Mach 1.12.

26 March 1948 XS-1 Flight 76 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 22. Attained mach 1.45 at 12239 m during dive. Fastest flight ever made in original XS-1 aircraft.

30 March 1948 XS-1 Flight 77 Flight Crew: Hoover.

NACA flight 13. Stability and loads investigation. Mach 0.90.

31 March 1948 XS-1 Flight 78 Flight Crew: Lilly.

NACA flight 14. Stability and loads investigation. Plane attained mach 1.1.

05 April 1948 XS-1 Flight 80 Flight Crew: Lilly.

NACA flight 15. Engine failed to ignite. Propellants jettisoned, completed as glide flight.

06 April 1948 XS-1 Flight 81 Flight Crew: Fitzgerald.

AF flight 24. Pilot-check flight. Mach 1.1, during 4-cylinder run at 12505 m.

07 April 1948 XS-1 Flight 82 Flight Crew: Lundquist.

AF flight 25. Glide flight only.

08 April 1948 XS-1 Flight 83 Flight Crew: Fitzgerald.

AF flight 26. Familiarization flight.

09 April 1948 XS-1 Flight 85 Flight Crew: Lundquist.

AF flight 27. Powered pilot-check flight.

16 April 1948 XS-1 Flight 86 Flight Crew: Lilly.

NACA flight 17. Stability and loads investigation. Plane's nosewheel collapsed on landing. Moderate damage.

26 April 1948 XS-1 Flight 88 Flight Crew: Fitzgerald.

AF flight 29. Aborted because of inconsistent rocket operation. Reached mach 0.9.

29 April 1948 XS-1 Flight 89 Flight Crew: Lundquist.

AF flight 30. Pressure distribution survey. Attained mach 1.18.

04 May 1948 XS-1 Flight 90 Flight Crew: Fitzgerald.

AF flight 31. Pressure distribution survey. Mach 1.15.

21 May 1948 XS-1 Flight 91 Flight Crew: Lundquist.

AF flight 32. Stability and control and buffeting investigation. Mach 0.92.

25 May 1948 XS-1 Flight 92 Flight Crew: Fitzgerald.

AF flight 33. Buffet investigation, wing and tail loads. Mach 1.08.

26 May 1948 XS-1 Flight 93 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 34. Buffet investigation, wing and tail loads. Mach 1.05.

03 June 1948 XS-1 Flight 94 Flight Crew: Lundquist.

AF flight 35. Left main gear door opened in flight. Nosewheel collapsed on landing.

01 November 1948 XS-1 Flight 95 Flight Crew: Hoover.

NACA flight 18. Stability and control. Mach 0.9. Number 4 cylinder failed to fire.

15 November 1948 XS-1 Flight 96 Flight Crew: Hoover.

NACA flight 19. Stability and control. Also pressure-distribution survey. Mach 0.98.

23 November 1948 XS-1 Flight 97 Flight Crew: Champine.

NACA flight 20. Pilot familiarization. Check on handling qualities and pressure distribution.

29 November 1948 XS-1 Flight 98 Flight Crew: Champine.

NACA flight 21. Check on handling qualities and pressure distribution. Mach 0.88.

30 November 1948 XS-1 Flight 99 Flight Crew: Champine.

NACA flight 22. Check on handling qualities and pressure distribution.

01 December 1948 XS-1 Flight 100 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 36. Handling qualities and wing and tail loads at mach 1.

02 December 1948 XS-1 Flight 101 Flight Crew: Champine.

NACA flight 23. Check on handling qualities and pressure distribution. Plane exceeded mach 1 briefly.

13 December 1948 XS-1 Flight 102 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 37. Handling qualities and wing and tail loads at mach 1.

23 December 1948 XS-1 Flight 103 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 38. Wing and tail loads during supersonic flight at high altitudes. Mach 1.09.

05 January 1949 XS-1 Flight 104 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 39. Rocket takeoff from the ground.

11 March 1949 XS-1 Flight 105 Flight Crew: Ridley.

AF flight 40. Familiarization flight. Mach 1.23 at 10675 m. Small engine fire due to loose igniter.

16 March 1949 XS-1 Flight 106 Flight Crew: Boyd.

AF flight 41. Familiarization flight. Inflight engine fire and shutdown.

21 March 1949 XS-1 Flight 107 Flight Crew: Everest.

AF flight 42. Familiarization flight. Mach 1.22 at 12200 m.

25 March 1949 XS-1 Flight 108 Flight Crew: Everest.

AF flight 43. Check of pressure suit for altitude operation. Mach 1.24 at 14640 m. Rocket fire and automatic engine shutdown.

14 April 1949 XS-1 Flight 109 Flight Crew: Ridley.

AF flight 44. Accelerated stall check at transonic speeds. Mach 1.1 at 12200 m.

19 April 1949 XS-1 Flight 110 Flight Crew: Everest.

AF flight 45. Altitude attempt. Only 2 cylinders fired.

02 May 1949 XS-1 Flight 111 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 46. Partial engine malfunction, faulty engine ignition plug.

05 May 1949 XS-1 Flight 112 Flight Crew: Everest.

AF flight. Engine chamber exploded, jamming rudder. Everest landed safely.

06 May 1949 XS-1 Flight 113 Flight Crew: Champine.

NACA flight 24. Check on airplane instrumentation. Mach 0.88 at 12200 m.

13 May 1949 XS-1 Flight 114 Flight Crew: Champine.

NACA flight 25. Spanwise pressure distribution, stability and control. Mach 0.91.

27 May 1949 XS-1 Flight 115 Flight Crew: Champine.

NACA flight 26. Spanwise pressure distribution, stability and control. Mach 0.91. Stabilizer found more effective than the elevator during pull-ups at mach 0.91.

16 June 1949 XS-1 Flight 116 Flight Crew: Champine.

NACA flight 27. Spanwise pressure distribution, stability and control. Rolls and pull-ups around mach 0.91.

23 June 1949 XS-1 Flight 117 Flight Crew: Champine.

NACA flight 28. Spanwise pressure distribution, stability and control. Rolls, pull-ups, check of stabilizer effectiveness.

11 July 1949 XS-1 Flight 118 Flight Crew: Champine.

NACA flight 29. Spanwise pressure distribution, stability and control. Rolls, pull-ups, check of stabilizer effectiveness. Mach 0.91. Number 2 cylinder failed to fire.

19 July 1949 XS-1 Flight 119 Flight Crew: Champine.

NACA flight 30. Spanwise pressure distribution, stability and control. Rolls, pull-ups, check of stabilizer effectiveness. Mach 0.91. Number 2 cylinder failed to fire.

25 July 1949 XS-1 Flight 120 Flight Crew: Everest.

AF flight 48. Altitude attempt. Attained 20388 m altitude.

27 July 1949 XS-1 Flight 121 Flight Crew: Champine.

NACA flight 31. Spanwise pressure distribution, stability and control. Rolls, pull-ups, check of stabilizer effectiveness.

04 August 1949 XS-1 Flight 122 Flight Crew: Champine.

NACA flight 32. Spanwise pressure distribution, stability and control. Rolls, pull-ups, check of stabilizer effectiveness.

08 August 1949 XS-1 Flight 123 Flight Crew: Everest.

AF flight 49. Altitude attempt. Attained 21930 m altitude.

25 August 1949 XS-1 Flight 124 Flight Crew: Everest.

AF flight 50. First use of partial pressure suit to save life of pilot during flight at high altitude. X-1 # 1 lost cockpit pressurization about 21000 m. Everest made safe emergency descent.

23 September 1949 XS-1 Flight 125 Flight Crew: Griffith.

NACA flight 33. Pilot familiarization. Mach 0.9.

06 October 1949 XS-1 Flight 126 Flight Crew: Fleming.

AF flight 51. Pilot familiarization.

26 October 1949 XS-1 Flight 127 Flight Crew: Johnson.

AF flight 52. Pilot familiarization.

29 November 1949 XS-1 Flight 128 Flight Crew: Everest.

AF flight 53. High-altitude wing-tail loads investigation.

30 November 1949 XS-1 Flight 129 Flight Crew: Griffith.

NACA flight 33. Mach 0.91.

02 December 1949 XS-1 Flight 130 Flight Crew: Everest.

AF flight 54. High-altitude wing-tail loads investigation.

21 February 1950 XS-1 Flight 131 Flight Crew: Everest.

AF flight 55. Wing-and-tail-loads investigation.

26 April 1950 XS-1 Flight 132 Flight Crew: Yeager.

AF flight 56. Lateral stability and control investigation.

05 May 1950 XS-1 Flight 133 Flight Crew: Ridley.

AF flight 57. Buffeting, wing and tail loads.

08 May 1950 XS-1 Flight 134 Flight Crew: Ridley.

AF flight 58. Buffeting, wing and tail loads.

12 May 1950 XS-1 Flight 135 Flight Crew: Griffith.

NACA flight 34. Spanwise pressure distribution, stability and control. Pull-ups and rolls.

17 May 1950 XS-1 Flight 137 Flight Crew: Griffith.

NACA flight 35. Spanwise pressure distribution, stability and control. Pull-ups and rolls. Mach 1.13 at 12810 m.

26 May 1950 XS-1 Flight 138 Flight Crew: Griffith.

NACA flight 36. Spanwise pressure distribution, stability and control. Pull-ups and rolls. Mach 1.20. Nosewheel collapsed on landing.

09 August 1950 XS-1 Flight 139 Flight Crew: Griffith.

NACA flight 38. For pressure distribution and stability and control data. Check of stabilizer effectiveness. Mach 0.98.

11 August 1950 XS-1 Flight 140 Flight Crew: Griffith.

NACA flight 39. For pressure distribution and stability and control data. Check of stabilizer effectiveness.

21 September 1950 XS-1 Flight 141 Flight Crew: Griffith.

NACA flight 40. For pressure distribution and stability and control data. Check of stabilizer effectiveness. Also drag investigation. Pull-ups. Mach 0.90.

04 October 1950 XS-1 Flight 142 Flight Crew: Griffith.

NACA flight 41. For pressure distribution and stability and control data. Check of stabilizer effectiveness. Also drag investigation. Pull-ups.

06 April 1951 XS-1 Flight 143 Flight Crew: Yeager.

NACA flight 42. Flight for RKO film Jet Pilot. Slight engine fire but no damage.

20 April 1951 XS-1 Flight 144 Flight Crew: Crossfield.

NACA flight 43. Pilot familiarization. Reached mach 1.07.

27 April 1951 XS-1 Flight 145 Flight Crew: Crossfield.

NACA flight 44. Plane and instrument check.

15 May 1951 XS-1 Flight 146 Flight Crew: Crossfield.

NACA flight 45. Wing loads and aileron effectiveness. Aileron rolls at mach 0.90.

12 July 1951 XS-1 Flight 147 Flight Crew: Crossfield.

NACA flight 46. Wing loads and aileron effectiveness. Aileron rolls at mach 1.07.

20 July 1951 XS-1 Flight 148 Flight Crew: Crossfield.

NACA flight 47. Wing loads and aileron effectiveness. Abrupt rudder fixed aileron rolls left and right, from mach 0.70 to mach 0.88.

31 July 1951 XS-1 Flight 149 Flight Crew: Crossfield.

NACA flight 48. Wing loads and aileron effectiveness.

03 August 1951 XS-1 Flight 150 Flight Crew: Crossfield.

NACA flight 49. Wing loads and aileron effectiveness.

08 August 1951 XS-1 Flight 151 Flight Crew: Crossfield.

NACA flight 50. Wing loads and aileron effectiveness. Elevator and stabilizer pull-ups.

10 August 1951 XS-1 Flight 152 Flight Crew: Crossfield.

NACA flight 51. Wing loads and aileron effectiveness. Elevator and stabilizer pull-ups, clean stalls.

27 August 1951 XS-1 Flight 153 Flight Crew: Walker Joseph.

NACA flight 52. Pilot familiarization. Reached mach 1.16 at 13420 m during four-cylinder run.

05 September 1951 XS-1 Flight 154 Flight Crew: Crossfield.

NACA flight 53. Fuselage pressure distribution survey. Number 1 cylinder failed to fire. Stabilizer pull-ups at mach 1.07.

23 October 1951 XS-1 Flight 155 Flight Crew: Walker Joseph.

NACA flight 54. Engine cut out after two ignition attempts; propellants jettisoned and flight completed as glide flight. Plane subsequently grounded because of possibility of fatigue failure of nitrogen spheres.

09 November 1951 XS-1 No. 3 destroyed in ground explosion. Flight Crew: Cannon. Launch Site: Edwards .

Planned captive flight with B-50 for propellant jettison test. XS-1 (No. 3) rocket research airplane and its B-29 "mother" airplane were destroyed on the ground by postflight explosion and fire. Pilot Cannon was injured.

Bibliography:

Back to Index
Last update 12 March 2001.
Contact Mark Wade with any corrections or comments.
Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site..
© Mark Wade, 2001 .