Bell aircraft after the P-39?

[MIflyer]

Well, there was the X-1 series and the X-2.

 

[wlewisiii]

Put everything into getting from the Bell 30 to the Bell 47. Forget their fixed wing sidetracks.

 

[GrauGeist]

Bell's "X" series aircraft were actually quite vital in the American's development of supersonic flight.

Including the X-5, which was based on Messerschmitt's P.1101 V4.

 

[wlewisiii]

Bell's "X" series aircraft were actually quite vital in the American's development of supersonic flight.

Including the X-5, which was based on Messerschmitt's P.1101 V4.

But how critical was Bell to that? Lockheed, I'm sure, could have put a rocket in back of a winged .50 cal bullet.

Arthur Young, though, was a helicopter genius and should have had much more support.

 

[GrauGeist]

Bell was quite critical.

Their X jets broke barriers, set records and provided valuable data.

Their X rockets did the same, the X-15 is probably one of the most important rocket aircraft developed. The data gathered from it's tests benefited not only jet powered aircraft, but the space program, too.

Bell certainly had shortcomings with their conventional piston powered aircraft, and they get an unfair bad rap for the P-59A.
But their experimental jet and rocket aircraft were amazing performers.

 

[Reluctant Poster]

Bell was quite critical.

Their X jets broke barriers, set records and provided valuable data.

Their X rockets did the same, the X-15 is probably one of the most important rocket aircraft developed. The data gathered from it's tests benefited not only jet powered aircraft, but the space program, too.

Bell certainly had shortcomings with their conventional piston powered aircraft, and they get an unfair bad rap for the P-59A.
But their experimental jet and rocket aircraft were amazing performers.

X-15 was a North American design.

 

[GrauGeist]

X-15 was a North American design.

Right, I was thinking X-2 but wrote X-15 (which had a great legacy, itself).