Bell X-1

The Bell X-1 was a pioneering aircraft developed in the late 1940s to explore high-speed flight and break the sound barrier. It was the first aircraft to officially fly faster than the speed of sound in 1947. Designed with a sleek, rocket-powered structure, the X-1 was dropped from a larger plane at high altitude and then ignited its engine to accelerate. Its successful flights provided crucial data on aerodynamics and flight physics at supersonic speeds, marking a major milestone in aerospace technology and advancing the development of faster aircraft and space exploration.