The advent of the rocket motor and the turbojet engine enabled designers to contemplate seriously the development of aircraft capable of flying at speeds greater than that of sound. They then had to contend with the so-called "heat-barrier", which necessitated the development of new materials capable of withstanding the friction-generated (kinetic) heat encountered in supersonic flight. In February, 1945, the USAAF and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics promoted and financed jointly the development of a series of research aircraft to investigate these problems. A contract for these aircraft was duly awarded to Bell. On October 14, 1947, the second prototype, flown by Captain Charles "Chuck" Yeager, broke through the "sound barrier" for the first time, achieving 670 mph (Mach 1.05) at 42,000 feet. Just a few days later this airplane, which is now in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, set an altitude record of 70,119 feet. Chuck Yeager flew a later X-1 aircraft with turbo-driven fuel pumps in substitution for the original system which used nitrogen under pressure, at a speed of Mach 2.35 on December 12, 1953, and in June 1954, he reached an altitude of more than 90,000 feet with the airplane. This rocket-propelled supersonic research aircraft used one 6,000-lb. thrust Reaction Motors rocket unit. (Interestingly, the weight of this aircraft empty, including test equipment, was only 4,892 pounds, about the same weight as a full-size luxury automobile.

All airplane models are Hand Carved, Hand Painted Mahogany and come fully assembled with removable desk stand.

Dimensions: Wingspan, 13 1/2" -Length, 15 3/4" -Scale 1/28

X-1, Item #AM150-AR - Air Corps Price $129.95

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Dimensions: Wingspan, 10 1/2" -Length, 13 1/4" -Scale 1/32

X-1A (silver) - Air Corps Price $119.95

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AM150AR - x1 CY CX1TSS - x1a CX1AT

This department is part of the Wonders Never Cease / Clem & Company store.