| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Registration / Serial: | 48-1385 |
| Alternate Serial: | 1385 |
| Aircraft Original Type: | Bell S-1 |
| Aircraft Generic Type: | Bell S-1/X-1 |
| Aircraft Version: | Bell X-1B |
| C/n (msn): | 5 |
| Operator Titles: | USA - Air Force / NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| City / Airport: | Dayton - Wright-Patterson AFB / Wright AFBMap |
| Region / Country: | Ohio, United States |
| Airport Codes: | ICAO: KDWF IATA: - Local: DWF Other: - |
| Collection: | National Museum of the United States Air Force |
| Photo Date: | 16 December 2024 |
| Photo by: | Richard Vandervord |
| Photo ID: | 828827 |
| Photo Comment |
|---|
|
Nestled under the XB-70 is the X-1B, which was instrumented to study thermal heating during supersonic flight. In 1957 Neil Armstrong, then a NACA test pilot, tested the installation of a system of small reaction rockets used for directional control. Cracks in the fuel tanks finally grounded the rocket plane with the last of 27 flights being made in January 1958 This photo is copyright © Richard Vandervord, and may not be used or published in any way without permission. It was added on 26 July 2025, and has since been viewed 35 times. |