It's time to begin the X-periment. I hope I'll make it interesting for you guys, so most of all, have fun! Nothing I hate more than beginning a project only to have many things go wrong. Let's hope all of your builds are trouble free!
Meanwhile, since this is the anniversary of the breaking of the sound barrier, I'll include a little write up on the aircraft I'm building, the Bell X-1 (or XS-1).
The Bell X-1 is one of the most significant aircraft in the history of aviation. It was the first manned aeroplane to exceed the speed of sound in level flight, a feat it achieved on October 14, 1947. This marked a critical point in aeronautical research and forever changed the course of aviation, paving the way for the development of supersonic and eventually, hypersonic flight.
In 1944, during the last years of World War II, the U.S. Army Air Forces and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA, the precursor to NASA) jointly launched a research project aimed at breaking the “sound barrier”—a perceived limit to how fast an aircraft could fly without suffering severe aerodynamic problems. The initiative was given the name “XS-1,” with the “X” standing for “experimental” and “S” for “supersonic”.
Bell Aircraft Corporation was selected to develop the aircraft in 1945. The X-1 was powered by a Reaction Motors XLR-11 rocket engine, which used ethyl alcohol and liquid oxygen as propellants. Additionally, a unique launch process was used whereby the X-1 was carried aloft under the belly of a modified B-29 or B-50 bomber to save fuel, before being air-dropped for its flight.
Test flights were conducted at Muroc Army Air Field (later renamed Edwards Air Force Base) in California, a location chosen for its remote desert setting and long, flat surface—ideal for the X-1’s skid-based landing system. X-1 was approximately 30.9 feet long with a wingspan of about 28 feet. Its overall height stood at around 10.4 feet. The aircraft adopted a shape reminiscent of a .50 calibre bullet, known for its stable flight even at supersonic speeds.
The fuselage of the Bell X-1 was constructed from K-Monel, a robust and corrosion-resistant copper-nickel alloy, designed to withstand the immense heat and pressure generated at supersonic speeds. Its windscreen was made of quartz and was capable of handling temperature up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
In conclusion, the Bell X-1 was more than just an aircraft; it was a marvel of engineering, embodying the dreams and ambitions of the time.
I'll post up pictures of the actual model parts later. Looks interesting.
Gary