Dates

Event

Constructed as a X-1B.

1954

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 48-1385.

October 1954

Two unpowered, glider flights made by test pilot Jack Ridley.

8 October 1954

First flight.
First powered flight, flown by Captain Arthur Warren.

October 1954

Beginning 10/54: Used by USAF for high-speed research.

From 15 December 1954 to July 1955

Transferred to NACA Langley Research Center, Langley Field, VA.

January 1955

Taken on Strength/Charge with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration with s/n 1385.

January 1955

Transferred to NACA High-Speed Flight Research Station (later the High-Speed Flight Station), Edwards AFB, CA.

Equipped with aerodynamic heating instrumentation for thermal research. Also used to train X-2 pilots.

1956

Photographer: NASA Dryden Flight Research Cent

November 1957

A notable achievement was the installation of a system of small reaction rockets used for directional control, making the X-1B the first aircraft to fly with this sophisticated control system, later used in the North American X-15. (Wikipedia).

November 1957

NACA test pilot Neil A. Armstrong made three flights in the airplane to experience the reaction controls performance. (NASA).

January 1958

Last flight.
Cracks in fuel tanks forced its grounding. Completed 27 flights.

30 July 1958

Photographer: NASA Dryden Flight Research Cent

1959

To United States Air Force Museum, Patterson Field (East Side), Dayton, OH.
View the Location Dossier

Circa 1960

Photographer: National Museum of the USAF

October 1971

To National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright Field, Dayton, OH.
View the Location Dossier

21 July 1988

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

16 July 1996

Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio.

17 April 2017

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

Photographer: Airbooks