America's Premier Jet Airplane First Flew 70 Years Ago

摘要

The bell XP-59A airacomet was the first turbojet-powered airplane to be built and flown in America. Three examples of the XP-59A was built under U.S. Army Air Forces Material Command Secret Project MX-397. This first example was initially but unofficially flight tested on October 1, 1942, by Bell test pilot Robert M. (Bob) Stanley. It was also flown by USAAF Colonel Laurence C. (Bill) Craigie on the following day; thus, he became the first military pilot to fly a jet-powered airplane in the U.S.