BELLXS-1/X-1

摘要

As noted, the X-1 's forward section closely resembled that of a bullet and the pilot was housed inside the nose contours to maintain this shape; aft of the wing leading edge the fuselage tapered to the engine nozzles. Bell built a full-size wooden mock-up to see if its test pilots could land the aircraft with only small side windows to see out. This nose could not be jettisoned and there was no ejection seat, but the problem of exiting in an emergency was eased because of the rocket powerplant, since the X-1 's pilot did not have to worry about avoiding the air intake, as on the M52. The airframe had a semi-monocoque fuselage, again using an aluminium alloy stressed skin. The mid-fuselage wing was straight, and the tailplane was positioned on the fin, rather higher than on the M52.