Dates

Event

1945

Constructed as a XS-1.

December 1945

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 46-0062.

19 January 1946

First flight.
Unpowered glide flight over Pinecastle Army Airfield, FL, by Bell test pilot Jack Woolams. Nine more such flights were made.

March 1946

Aircraft returned to Bell Aircraft, Buffalo, New York for modifications to prepare for the powered flight tests.

Four more glide tests occurred at Muroc Army Air Field near Palmdale, California, which had been flooded during the Florida tests. (Wikipedia).

September 1946

NACA engineers took over the program at Muroc from Bell.

9 December 1946

First flight.
First powered flight, made by Bell test pilot Chalmers Slick Goodlin at Muroc.

22 May 1947

Another test flight by Bell pilot Tex Johnson.

30 June 1947

Army Air Forces and NACA representatives agreed on a two-phase flight program. The Army Air Forces would use the X-1-1, with its thinner wing, to conduct an accelerated program to reach Mach 1.1 as quickly as possible. The NACA would provide support, such as technical advice and data analysis. The NACA would then undertake a slower-paced, more detailed series of research flights at transonic (near the speed of sound) speeds, using the X-1-2 and its thicker wing. (NASA).

18 September 1947

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 46-0062.

1947

Markings Applied: Glamorous Glennis

14 October 1947

First supersonic flight, piloted by Captain Charles Yeager. Aircrafts 50th flight.

1948

Redesignated as X-1.

Photographer: NASA Dryden Flight Research Center (public domain)

26 August 1950

To Smithsonian-National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC.
View the Location Dossier

10 June 1991

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

11 June 1991

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

June 2012

Photographer: Gustavo Bonilla

Photographer: Paul Thallon
Notes: Bell X-1 at National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC

Photographer: Bell Aircraft Official Photo