| Ordered by the Air Force on 2 April 1948, the X-1A (serial 48-1384) was intended to investigate aerodynamic phenomena at speeds above Mach 2 (681 m/s, 2,451 km/h) and altitudes greater than 90,000 feet (27 km), specifically focusing on dynamic stability and air loads. Longer and heavier than the original X-1, with a bubble canopy for better vision, the X-1A was powered by the same Reaction Motors XLR-11 rocket engine. The aircraft first flew, unpowered, on 14 February 1953 at Edwards AFB, with the first powered flight on 21 February. Both flights were piloted by Bell test pilot Jean Ziegler. After NACA started its high-speed testing with the Douglas Skyrocket, culminating in Scott Crossfield achieving Mach 2.005 on 20 November 1953, the Air Force started a series of tests with the X-1A, which the test pilot of the series, Chuck Yeager, named "Operation NACA Weep". These culminated on 12 December 1953, when Yeager achieved an altitude of 74,700 feet (22,770 m) and a new air speed record of Mach 2.44 (equal to 1620 mph, 724.5 m/s, 2608 km/h at that altitude). Unlike Crossfield in the Skyrocket, Yeager achieved that in level flight. Shortly after, the plane spun out of control, due to the then not yet understood phenomenon of inertia coupling. The plane dropped from maximum altitude to 25,000 feet (7,620 m), exposing the pilot to accelerations of up to 8g, during which Yeager broke the canopy with his helmet before regaining control.[7] The aircraft was transferred to NACA in September 1954. Following modifications, including the installation of an ejection seat, the aircraft was lost on 8 August 1955 while being prepared for launch from the RB-50 mothership, becoming the first of many early X-planes that would be lost due to the failure of Ulmer leather fuel tank gaskets. This is the same manual that Chuck Yeager would have used to fly this aircraft. The earlier model that he flew and broke the record for supersonic flight in an X-1 named "Glamorous Glennis". This manual is in very good condition and will be valuable to any researcher interested in the X-1 and the Reaction motors XLRII-RM-5 engine. Pages: 44 File Size: 8.6 MB Format: PDF - Adobe Acrobat Version 7 (Get Free Adobe Acrobat reader, click here.) Important Note: See purchase confirmation email for password necessary to open this file once you download it. Usage: These items are provided for historical and reference use only. PilotManuals.com, RareAviation.com and Steve Rhode, Inc. assume no liability for any loss or damage resulting from or in any way connected to other use of this information. Not for commercial use or further dissemination. Printing: Once downloaded, this manual may be printed. |
