This is a list of flights made in the Bell X-1E airplane.

X-1E pilots

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Pilot Agency Flights Aircraft
John B. McKay NACA 5 46-063
Joseph A. Walker NACA 21 46-063

X-1E flights

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Vehicle
Flight #
Date Pilot Aircraft Agency Velocity
-Mach-
Altitude
- m -
Comments
X-1E #1 December 12, 1955 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 1 ? ? Pilot familiarization. Glide flight. Low speed evaluation.
X-1E #2 December 15, 1955 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 2 ? ? First powered flight. Engine ran overpressure, overspeeds with two automatic shutdowns. Pilot shutdown engine.
X-1E #3 April 3, 1956 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 3 0.85 9,150 Cylinder 1 did not fire. Damping characteristics good.
X-1E #4 April 30, 1956 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 4 ? ? Turbopump didn't start. No engine start.
X-1E #5 May 11, 1956 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 5 0.84 ? Turns from mach 0.69 to 0.84. Control pulses.
X-1E #6 June 7, 1956 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 6 1.55 13,725 Longitudinal, lateral trim changes in transonic region bothersome to pilot..
X-1E #7 June 18, 1956 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 7 1.74 18,300 Damaged while landing.
X-1E #8 July 26, 1956 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 8 ? ? Subsonic flight. Cylinders 3 and 4 didn't fire.
X-1E #9 August 31, 1956 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 9 2.0 18,300 Sideslips, pulses, rolls.
X-1E #10 September 14, 1956 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 10 2.1 18,910 Stabilizer, rudder, aileron pulses.
X-1E #11 September 20, 1956 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 11 ? ? Brief engine power. Engine malfunction. Flight aborted.
X-1E #12 October 3, 1956 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 12 ? ? Engine fired for only 60 seconds. Flight aborted. Engine and turbopump replaced.
X-1E #13 November 20, 1956 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 13 ? ? Engine did not start due to lack of manifold pressure.
X-1E #14 April 25, 1957 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 14 1.71 20,435 Aileron, rudder pulses.
X-1E #15 May 15, 1957 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 15 1.5 22,265 Aileron pulses, rolls, sideslips, wind-up turns. Aircraft was severely damaged on landing.
X-1E #16 September 19, 1957 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 16 ? ? Planned velocity not achieved due to loss of power during pushover from climb.
X-1E #17 October 8, 1957 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 17 2.24 ? Highest speed attained by X-1E.
X-1E #18 May 14, 1958 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 18 ? 21,350 First flight with ventral fins. Longitudinal, lateral stability, control maneuvers tests. Engine air start at altitude.
X-1E #19 June 10, 1958 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 19 ? ? Flight aborted. Only 1 engine cylinder fired. Aircraft damaged on landing.
X-1E #20 September 10, 1958 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 20 ? ? Stability, control tests with ventral fins.
X-1E #21 September 17, 1958 Joseph Walker 46-063 NACA 21 ? ? Stability, control tests with ventral fins. New stabilizer bell crank allowed greater stabilizer travel.
X-1E #22 September 19, 1958 John McKay 46-063 NACA 22 ? ? Pilot familiarization.
X-1E #23 September 30, 1958 John McKay 46-063 NACA 23 ? ? Tests of low-speed stability and control.
X-1E #24 October 16, 1958 John McKay 46-063 NACA 24 ? ? First flight of modified engine with increased chamber pressure. Flight shortened due to overcast obscuring view of

lakebed.

X-1E #25 October 28, 1958 John McKay 46-063 NACA 25 ? ? Good data obtained on new elevated chamber pressure, stability and control.
X-1E #26 November 6, 1958 John McKay 46-063 NACA 26 ? ? Low-altitude and low-mach investigation of new U-Deta fuel. Last flight. Aircraft grounded due to significant crack in the fuel tank wall.

See also

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