X-1B on Lakebed, NASA history collection

One of three second generation X-1 aircraft built by Bell Aircraft Corporation is seen here parked on Rogers Dry Lake. The Bell X-1B, along with its sister ship's, the X-1A and X-1D, had better propulsion systems, greater fuel capacity, a more traditionally designed cockpit and canopy, and almost a five-foot longer fuselage than the original X-1 aircraft. In all, 10 pilots--eight Edwards Air Force and two NACA High-Speed Flight Station--flew 27 flights in the X-1B between September 24, 1954 and January 23, 1958. The Bell X-1B was a second-generation X-1 used by the U.S. Air Force for pilot familiarization before being turned over to NACA in December 1954. The X-1B had a modified fuselage with greater capacity for fuel tanks, an improved cockpit, and a turbopump fuel system as compared with the X-1. The NACA used the X-1B primarily for aerodynamic heating and reaction-control research from 1956 to 1958. The aircraft was fitted with special instrumentation for exploratory aerodynamic heating tests. It had over 300 thermocouples installed on it. The X-1B was the first aircraft to fly with a reaction-control system; a prototype of the reaction-control system used on the X-15 and other piloted test aircraft. The X-1B was given to the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Dayton, Ohio, on January 27, 1959, for preservation and display. This aircraft completed a total of 27 glide and powered flights by eight U.S. Air Force and two NACA test pilots. Second-generation X-1 aircraft were 35.8 feet long and had a wingspan of approximately 28 feet.

NASA Identifier: NIX-E-2539