Bell X-1A

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The Bell X-1A was an experimental rocket-powered research aircraft developed in the early 1950s to investigate high-speed, high-altitude flight beyond the capabilities of the original Bell X-1.

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Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf X-plane
experimental rocket-powered research aircraft
achievedMachNumber Mach 2.44 on 1953-12-12
aircraftConfiguration single-seat rocket research aircraft
aircraftRole research aircraft
airframeMaterial metal
brokeSpeedRecord 1953-12-12
countryOfOrigin United States of America
surface form: United States
crew 1
designedBy Bell Aircraft engineering team
designedToInvestigate aerodynamic heating at high Mach numbers
high-altitude stability and control
supersonic flight
transonic flight
developedFor high-altitude flight research
high-speed flight research
engine Reaction Motors XLR11 rocket engine NERFINISHED
fate lost in landing accident
firstFlightDate 1953-02-21
firstFlightYear 1953
flightRegime high supersonic
landingAccidentYear 1954
launchMethod air-launched from Boeing B-29
air-launched from Boeing B-50
manufacturer Bell Aircraft Corporation NERFINISHED
maxAltitudeFeet approximately 90,000
maxSpeed approximately 1,650 mph
maxSpeedMach 2.44
notablePilot Arthur Murray NERFINISHED
Chuck Yeager NERFINISHED
numberBuilt 1
numberOfEngines 1
operator United States Air Force
predecessor Bell X-1 NERFINISHED
program US X-plane program
propulsionType rocket-powered
researchContribution data on aerodynamic heating for future high-speed aircraft
data on high-Mach longitudinal stability
researchFocus dynamic stability at high Mach numbers
pilot handling qualities at high altitude
status retired
successorInProgram Bell X-1B NERFINISHED
Bell X-2 NERFINISHED
tailConfiguration conventional tail
usedBy NACA (through data sharing) NERFINISHED
wingConfiguration low-wing monoplane

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Bell X-1B successorTo Bell X-1A
Bell X-1C hasVariantRelation Bell X-1A
Bell X-1D relatedTo Bell X-1A
NASA X-plane series includes Bell X-1A