List of X-1 flights

The Bell X-1 was the first manned airplane to exceed the speed of sound in level flight and was the first of the X-planes.

XS-1 pilots

Pilot Agency Flights Aircraft
Joseph Cannon Bell Aircraft 1 46-064
Chalmers "Slick" Goodlin Bell Aircraft 26 46-062 (9), 46-063 (17)
Alvin "Tex" Johnston Bell Aircraft 1 46-063
Jack Woolams Bell Aircraft 10 46-062
Robert Champine NACA 13 46-063
Scott Crossfield NACA 10 46-063
John H. Griffith NACA 9 46-063
Herb Hoover NACA 14 46-063
Howard Lilly NACA 6 46-063
Joseph A. Walker NACA 2 46-063
Fred Ascani USAF 1 46-063
Albert Boyd USAF 1 46-062
Frank Everest USAF 10 46-062
James Fitzgerald USAF 7 46-062
Patrick Fleming USAF 1 46-062
Richard Johnson USAF 1 46-062
Gustav Lundquist USAF 6 46-062
Jack Ridley USAF 5 46-062
Chuck Yeager USAF 34 46-062 (33), 46-063 (1)

XS-1 flights

Vehicle
Flight #
Date Pilot Aircraft Agency Velocity
-Mach-
Altitude
- m -
Comments
XS-1 #1 January 19, 1946 Jack Woolams 46-062 Bell 1 #1 ? ? Pinecastle AAF Base, FL. Glide flight.
XS-1 #2 February 5, 1946 Jack Woolams 46-062 Bell 2 #1 ? ? Pinecastle AAF Base, FL. Glide flight.
XS-1 #3 February 5, 1946 Jack Woolams 46-062 Bell 3 #1 ? ? Pinecastle AAF Base, FL. 2nd flight on this date. Glide flight.
XS-1 #4 February 11, 1946 Jack Woolams 46-062 Bell 4 #1 ? ? Pinecastle AAF Base, FL. Gear retracts after landing, left wing damage. Glide flight.
XS-1 #5 February 19, 1946 Jack Woolams 46-062 Bell 5 #1 ? ? Pinecastle AAF Base, FL. Nose Gear retracted on landing. Landing gear door damage. Glide flight.
XS-1 #6 February 25, 1946 Jack Woolams 46-062 Bell 6 #1 ? ? Pinecastle AAF Base, FL
Directional stability tests. Glide flight.
XS-1 #7 February 25, 1946 Jack Woolams 46-062 Bell 7 #1 ? ? Pinecastle AAF Base, FL. Longitudinal stability tests. 2nd flight on this date. Glide flight.
XS-1 #8 February 26, 1946 Jack Woolams 46-062 Bell 8 #1 ? ? Pinecastle AAF Base, FL. Dynamic stability tests. Glide flight.
XS-1 #9 February 26, 1946 Jack Woolams 46-062 Bell 9 #1 ? ? Pinecastle AAF Base, FL. Roll rate tests. 2nd flight on this date. Glide flight.
XS-1 #10 March 6, 1946 Jack Woolams 46-062 Bell 10 #1 ? ? Pinecastle AAF Base, FL. Longitudinal stability tests. Glide flight.
XS-1 #11 October 11, 1946 Chalmers Goodlin 46-063 Bell 1 #2 ? ? All XS-1 flights now from Muroc AAF Base, CA. Glide flight, familiarization.
XS-1 #12 October 14, 1946 Chalmers Goodlin 46-063 Bell 2 #2 ? ? Glide flight.
XS-1 #13 October 17, 1946 Chalmers Goodlin 46-063 Bell 3 #2 ? ? Glide flight.
XS-1 #14 December 2, 1946 Chalmers Goodlin 46-063 Bell 4 #2 ? ? Glide flight. Check fuel jettison system.
XS-1 #15 December 9, 1946 Chalmers Goodlin 46-063 Bell 5 #2 0.79 10,675 First powered flight. Minor engine fire.
XS-1 #16 December 20, 1946 Chalmers Goodlin 46-063 Bell 6 #2 ? ? Familiarization flight. Powered.
XS-1 #17 January 8, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-063 Bell 7 #2 0.80 10,675 Buffet boundary investigation.
XS-1 #18 January 17, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-063 Bell 8 #2 0.80 ? Buffet boundary investigation. Full power climb.
XS-1 #19 January 22, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-063 Bell 9 #2 ? ? Buffet boundary investigation. Full power climb. Telemetry failed.
XS-1 #20 January 23, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-063 Bell 10 #2 ? ? Buffet boundary investigation. Full power climb.
XS-1 #21 January 30, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-063 Bell 11 #2 0.75 ? Accelerated stalls. Partial power.
XS-1 #22 January 31, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-063 Bell 12 #2 0.70 ? Buffet boundary investigation.
XS-1 #23 February 5, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-063 Bell 13 #2 ? ? Machmeter calibration.
XS-1 #24 February 7, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-063 Bell 14 #2 ? ? Buffet boundary investigation.
XS-1 #25 February 19, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-063 Bell 15 #2 ? ? Accelerated stalls.
XS-1 #26 February 21, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-063 Bell 16 #2 ? ? Aborted after launch. Low engine-chamber pressure.
XS-1 #27 April 10, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-062 Bell 11 #1 ? ? Glide flight, stall check.
XS-1 #28 April 11, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-062 Bell 12 #1 ? ? First powered flight of aircraft #1. Nosewheel damaged.
XS-1 #29 April 29, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-062 Bell 13 #1 ? ? Handling qualities check.
XS-1 #30 April 30, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-062 Bell 14 #1 ? ? Handling qualities check.
XS-1 #31 May 5, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-062 Bell 15 #1 ? ? Handling qualities check.
XS-1 #32 May 15, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-062 Bell 16 #1 ? ? Buffet boundary test. Aileron damper malfunction.
XS-1 #33 May 19, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-062 Bell 17 #1 ? ? Buffet boundary test.
XS-1 #34 May 21, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-062 Bell 18 #1 ? ? Buffet boundary test.
XS-1 #35 May 22, 1947 Alvin "Tex" Johnston 46-063 Bell 17 #2 0.72 ? Pilot familiarization. 8 g (78 m/s²) pullout.
XS-1 #36 May 29, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-063 Bell 18 #2 0.72 ? Airspeed calibration. End of Bell contractor program.
XS-1 #37 June 5, 1947 Chalmers Goodlin 46-062 Bell 19 #1 ? ? Demonstration for Aviation Writers Association.
XS-1 #38 August 6, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF glide 1 ? ? Pilot familiarization.
XS-1 #39 August 7, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF glide 2 ? ? Glide flight.
XS-1 #40 August 8, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF glide 3 ? ? Glide flight.
XS-1 #41 August 29, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF powered 1 0.85 ? First USAF powered flight.
XS-1 #42 September 4, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 2 0.89 ? Telemetry failure. Flight had to be repeated.
XS-1 #43 September 8, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 3 ? ? -
XS-1 #44 September 10, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 4 0.91 ? Stability and control test.
XS-1 #45 September 12, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 5 0.92 ? Check elevator, stabilizer and buffet.
XS-1 #46 September 25, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-063 NACA acceptance ? ? Number 4 engine tube burned out.
XS-1 #47 October 3, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 6 ? ? Check elevator, stabilizer and buffet.
XS-1 #48 October 8, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 7 0.925 ? Airspeed calibration flight.
XS-1 #49 October 10, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 8 0.997 ? Stability and control test.
XS-1 #50 October 14, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 9 1.06 13,115 First supersonic flight. 1,126 km/h.
XS-1 #51 October 21, 1947 Herb Hoover 46-063 NACA glide 1 ? ? Familiarization flight. Stall check. Nose wheel collapsed at landing.
XS-1 #52 October 27, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 10 ? ? Power failure. Rocket didn't fire.
XS-1 #53 October 28, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 11 ? ? Telemetry failure.
XS-1 #54 October 29, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 12 ? ? Telemetry failure.
XS-1 #55 October 31, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 13 ? ? -
XS-1 #56 November 3, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 14 ? ? -
XS-1 #57 November 4, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 15 ? ? -
XS-1 #58 November 6, 1947 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 16 1.35 14,823 First-ever aircraft flight to exceed July 6, 1944, flight speed record (702 mph/1,130 km/h) of Heinz Dittmar in Me 163B V18 prototype
XS-1 #59 December 16, 1947 Herb Hoover 46-063 NACA powered 1 0.84 ? No record of telemetry.
XS-1 #60 December 17, 1947 Herb Hoover 46-063 NACA 2 0.80 ? Familiarization.
XS-1 #61 January 6, 1948 Herb Hoover 46-063 NACA 3 0.74 ? Turns, pull-ups to buffet.
XS-1 #62 January 8, 1948 Herb Hoover 46-063 NACA 4 0.83 ? Turns, pull-ups to buffet.
XS-1 #63 January 9, 1948 Howard Lilly 46-063 NACA 5 ? ? Pilot familiarization.
XS-1 #64 January 15, 1948 Howard Lilly 46-063 NACA 6 0.76 ? Turns, pull-ups to buffet. Sideslips.
XS-1 #65 January 16, 1948 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 17 0.9 ? Airspeed calibration.
XS-1 #66 January 21, 1948 Herb Hoover 46-063 NACA 7 0.82 8,845 Stabilizer effectiveness test.
XS-1 #67 January 22, 1948 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 18 1.2 ? Pressure distribution survey.
XS-1 #68 January 23, 1948 Herb Hoover 46-063 NACA 8 0.83 ? Attempted high speed flight. Aborted due to drop in chamber pressure.
XS-1 #69 January 27, 1948 Herb Hoover 46-063 NACA 9 0.925 11,590 High speed flight. Cylinders 2 and 3 didn't fire.
XS-1 #70 January 30, 1948 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 19 1.1 ? Pressure distribution survey.
XS-1 #71 February 28, 1948 James Fitzgerald 46-062 USAF 20 ? ? Engine fire at launch. Propellants jettisoned. Glide flight.
XS-1 #72 March 4, 1948 Herb Hoover 46-063 NACA 10 0.943 12,200 High speed flight.
XS-1 #73 March 10, 1948 Herb Hoover 46-063 NACA 11 1.065 ? First NACA supersonic flight. Nose wheel didn't extend at landing. Minor damage.
XS-1 #74 March 11, 1948 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 21 1.25 ? Reached Mach 1.25 in a dive.
XS-1 #75 March 22, 1948 Herb Hoover 46-063 NACA 12 1.12 ? Stability and loads test.
XS-1 #76 March 26, 1948 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 22 1.45 12,239 Reached Mach 1.45 in a dive. Highest speed achieved in original XS-1.
XS-1 #77 March 30, 1948 Herb Hoover 46-063 NACA 13 0.90 ? Stability and loads test.
XS-1 #78 March 31, 1948 Howard Lilly 46-063 NACA 14 1.10 ? Stability and loads test.
XS-1 #79 March 31, 1948 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 23 ? ? Engine shutdown after launch. Propellants jettisoned. Glide flight.
XS-1 #80 April 5, 1948 Howard Lilly 46-063 NACA 15 ? ? Engine didn't ignite. Propellants jettisoned. Glide flight.
XS-1 #81 April 6, 1948 James Fitzgerald 46-062 USAF 24 1.1 12,505 Pilot check flight. All 4 cylinders fired.
XS-1 #82 April 7, 1948 Gustav Lundquist 46-062 USAF 25 ? ? Glide flight.
XS-1 #83 April 8, 1948 James Fitzgerald 46-062 USAF 26 ? ? Familiarization flight.
XS-1 #84 April 9, 1948 Howard Lilly 46-063 NACA 16 0.89 ? Stability and loads test.
XS-1 #85 April 9, 1948 Gustav Lundquist 46-062 USAF 27 ? ? Powered pilot-check flight.
XS-1 #86 April 16, 1948 Howard Lilly 46-063 NACA 17 ? ? Stability and loads test. Nose wheel collapsed on landing causing moderate damage.
XS-1 #87 April 16, 1948 Gustav Lundquist 46-062 USAF 28 ? ? Pressure distribution test. Only cylinders 2 and 4 fired.
XS-1 #88 April 26, 1948 James Fitzgerald 46-062 USAF 29 0.9 ? Aborted due to rocket malfunction.
XS-1 #89 April 29, 1948 Gustav Lundquist 46-062 USAF 30 1.18 ? Pressure distribution test.
XS-1 #90 May 4, 1948 James Fitzgerald 46-062 USAF 31 1.15 ? Pressure distribution test.
XS-1 #91 May 21, 1948 Gustav Lundquist 46-062 USAF 32 0.92 ? Stability, control and buffeting test.
XS-1 #92 May 25, 1948 James Fitzgerald 46-062 USAF 33 1.08 ? Wing, tail loads, buffet test.
XS-1 #93 May 26, 1948 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 34 1.05 ? Wing, tail loads, buffet test.
XS-1 #94 June 3, 1948 Gustav Lundquist 46-062 USAF 35 ? ? Left main landing gear door opened in flight. Nose wheel collapsed on landing.
XS-1 #95 November 1, 1948 Herb Hoover 46-063 NACA 18 0.9 ? Stability and control test. Number 4 cylinder did not fire.
XS-1 #96 November 15, 1948 Herb Hoover 46-063 NACA 19 0.98 ? Stability, control and pressure distribution test.
XS-1 #97 November 23, 1948 Robert Champine 46-063 NACA 20 ? ? Pilot familiarization. Handling qualities and pressure distribution test.
XS-1 #98 November 29, 1948 Robert Champine 46-063 NACA 21 0.88 ? Handling qualities and pressure distribution test.
XS-1 #99 November 30, 1948 Robert Champine 46-063 NACA 22 ? ? Handling qualities and pressure distribution test.
XS-1 #100 December 1, 1948 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 36 1.0 ? Wing, tail loads and handling qualities at mach 1.
XS-1 #101 December 2, 1948 Robert Champine 46-063 NACA 23 1.0 ? Handling qualities and pressure distribution test.
XS-1 #102 December 13, 1948 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 37 1.0 ? Wing, tail loads and handling qualities at mach 1.
XS-1 #103 December 23, 1948 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 38 1.09 ? Wing, tail loads during supersonic flight at high altitude.
XS-1 #104 January 5, 1949 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 39 1.03 [1] 23,000 [1] Ground takeoff with 50% fuel load.[1]
XS-1 #105 March 11, 1949 Jack Ridley 46-062 USAF 40 1.23 10,675 Familiarization flight. Minor engine fire caused by loose igniter.
XS-1 #106 March 16, 1949 Albert Boyd 46-062 USAF 41 ? ? Familiarization flight. Inflight engine fire and shutdown.
XS-1 #107 March 21, 1949 Frank Everest 46-062 USAF 42 1.22 12,200 Familiarization flight.
XS-1 #108 March 25, 1949 Frank Everest 46-062 USAF 43 1.24 14,640 Pressure suit altitude test. Engine fire and automatic shutdown.
XS-1 #109 April 14, 1949 Jack Ridley 46-062 USAF 44 1.1 12,200 Accelerated stall check at transonic speeds.
XS-1 #110 April 19, 1949 Frank Everest 46-062 USAF 45 ? ? High altitude flight attempt. Only 2 cylinders fired.
XS-1 #111 May 2, 1949 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 46 ? ? Engine malfunction, faulty ignition plug.
XS-1 #112 May 5, 1949 Frank Everest 46-062 USAF 47 ? ? Engine chamber exploded. Rudder jammed. Safe landing.
XS-1 #113 May 6, 1949 Robert Champine 46-063 NACA 24 0.88 12,200 Instrumentation check.
XS-1 #114 May 13, 1949 Robert Champine 46-063 NACA 25 0.91 ? Spanwise pressure distribution. Stability and control.
XS-1 #115 May 27, 1949 Robert Champine 46-063 NACA 26 0.91 ? Spanwise pressure distribution. Stability and control. Stabilizer more effective than elevator in mach 0.91 pull-ups.
XS-1 #116 June 16, 1949 Robert Champine 46-063 NACA 27 0.91 ? Spanwise pressure distribution. Stability and control. Rolls, pull-ups at mach 0.91
XS-1 #117 June 23, 1949 Robert Champine 46-063 NACA 28 ? ? Spanwise pressure distribution. Stability and control. Rolls, pull-ups, stabilizer effectiveness.
XS-1 #118 July 11, 1949 Robert Champine 46-063 NACA 29 0.91 ? Spanwise pressure distribution. Stability and control. Cylinder 2 didn't fire.
XS-1 #119 July 19, 1949 Robert Champine 46-063 NACA 30 0.91 ? Spanwise pressure distribution. Stability and control. Cylinder 2 didn't fire.
XS-1 #120 July 25, 1949 Frank Everest 46-062 USAF 48 ? 20,388 High altitude flight.
XS-1 #121 July 27, 1949 Robert Champine 46-063 NACA 31 ? ? Spanwise pressure distribution. Stability and control. Rolls, pull-ups, stabilizer effectiveness.
XS-1 #122 August 4, 1949 Robert Champine 46-063 NACA 32 ? ? Spanwise pressure distribution. Stability and control. Rolls, pull-ups, stabilizer effectiveness.
XS-1 #123 August 8, 1949 Frank Everest 46-062 USAF 49 ? 21,930 High altitude flight.
XS-1 #124 August 25, 1949 Frank Everest 46-062 USAF 50 ? 21,000 First use of partial pressure suit. Cabin lost pressure at 21,000 m. Pilot made safe emergency descent.
XS-1 #125 September 23, 1949 John Griffith 46-063 NACA 33 0.9 ? Pilot familiarization.
XS-1 #126 October 6, 1949 Patrick Fleming 46-062 USAF 51 ? ? Pilot familiarization.
XS-1 #127 October 26, 1949 Richard Johnson 46-062 USAF 52 ? ? Pilot familiarization.
XS-1 #128 November 29, 1949 Frank Everest 46-062 USAF 53 ? ? High-altitude wing, tail loads test.
XS-1 #129 November 30, 1949 John Griffith 46-063 NACA 34 0.91 ? -
XS-1 #130 December 2, 1949 Frank Everest 46-062 USAF 54 ? ? High-altitude wing, tail loads test.
XS-1 #131 February 21, 1950 Frank Everest 46-062 USAF 55 ? ? Wing, tail loads test.
XS-1 #132 April 26, 1950 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 56 ? ? Lateral stability, control test.
XS-1 #133 May 5, 1950 Jack Ridley 46-062 USAF 57 ? ? Buffeting, wing, tail loads test.
XS-1 #134 May 8, 1950 Jack Ridley 46-062 USAF 58 ? ? Buffeting, wing, tail loads test.
XS-1 #135 May 12, 1950 John Griffith 46-063 NACA 35 ? ? Spanwise pressure distribution. Stability and control. Rolls, pull-ups.
XS-1 #136 May 12, 1950 Chuck Yeager 46-062 USAF 59 ? ? Last XS-1 #1 flight. Flown for movie, "Test Pilot".
XS-1 #137 May 17, 1950 John Griffith 46-063 NACA 36 1.13 12,810 Spanwise pressure distribution. Stability and control. Rolls, pull-ups.
XS-1 #138 May 26, 1950 John Griffith 46-063 NACA 37 1.2 ? Spanwise pressure distribution. Stability and control. Rolls, pull-ups. Nose wheel collapsed on landing.
XS-1 #139 August 9, 1950 John Griffith 46-063 NACA 38 0.98 ? Pressure distribution. Stability and control. Stabilizer check.
XS-1 #140 August 11, 1950 John Griffith 46-063 NACA 39 ? ? Pressure distribution. Stability and control. Stabilizer check.
XS-1 #141 September 21, 1950 John Griffith 46-063 NACA 40 0.90 ? Pressure distribution, stability, control, stabilizer check. Drag test. Pull-ups.
XS-1 #142 October 4, 1950 John Griffith 46-063 NACA 41 ? ? Pressure distribution, stability, control, stabilizer check. Drag test. Pull-ups.
XS-1 #143 April 6, 1951 Chuck Yeager 46-063 NACA 42 ? ? Flown for movie, "Jet Pilot". Minor engine fire. No damage.
XS-1 #144 April 20, 1951 Scott Crossfield 46-063 NACA 43 1.07 ? Pilot familiarization.
XS-1 #145 April 27, 1951 Scott Crossfield 46-063 NACA 44 ? ? Plane and instrument check.
XS-1 #146 May 15, 1951 Scott Crossfield 46-063 NACA 45 0.90 ? Wing loads, aileron effectiveness. Aileron rolls at mach .9.
XS-1 #147 July 12, 1951 Scott Crossfield 46-063 NACA 46 1.07 ? Wing loads, aileron effectiveness. Aileron rolls at mach 1.07.
XS-1 #148 July 20, 1951 Scott Crossfield 46-063 NACA 47 0.88 ? Wing loads, aileron effectiveness. Rudder fixed aileron rolls left and right, from mach 0.70 to mach 0.88.
XS-1 #149 July 20, 1951 Joseph Cannon 46-064 Bell 1 #3 ? ? Glide flight. First and only free flight for XS-1 #3. Known as "Queenie".
XS-1 #150 July 31, 1951 Scott Crossfield 46-063 NACA 48 ? ? Wing loads, aileron effectiveness.
XS-1 #151 August 3, 1951 Scott Crossfield 46-063 NACA 49 ? ? Wing loads, aileron effectiveness.
XS-1 #152 August 8, 1951 Scott Crossfield 46-063 NACA 50 ? ? Wing loads, aileron effectiveness. Elevator and stabilizer pull-ups.
XS-1 #153 August 10, 1951 Scott Crossfield 46-063 NACA 51 ? ? Wing loads, aileron effectiveness. Elevator and stabilizer pull-ups, clean stall.
XS-1 #154 August 27, 1951 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 52 1.16 13,420 Pilot familiarization.
XS-1 #155 September 5, 1951 Scott Crossfield 46-063 NACA 53 1.07 ? Fuselage pressure survey. Stabilizer pull-ups. Cylinder 1 didn't fire.
XS-1 #156 May 10, 1950 Fred Ascani 46-063 NACA/USAF ? ? Pilot familiarization. Gen. Ascani says he flew the X-1 in the "Fall of 1951". Most sources do not have a record of this flight. General Ascani's Form 5 was located a few years prior to his passing and the entry for his flight in the X-1 was 10 May 1950.
XS-1 #157 October 23, 1951 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 54 ? ? Two ignition attempts. Engine cutout. Propellants jettisoned. Glide flight. Aircraft grounded due to possible nitrogen sphere fatigue.

See also

References

  1. Yeager:An Autobiography
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