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Bell X-1

Series: X-Planes
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( 11 ratings, 2 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Bell X-1 by Peter E. Davies, the narrative explores the groundbreaking journey of the first aircraft to break the sound barrier. Set against the backdrop of post-war aviation innovation, the book delves into the technical challenges and daring exploits of the test pilots and engineers who pushed the limits of flight. This travel and adventure tale captures a pivotal moment in aviation history, filled with suspense, discovery, and the human spirit's quest for advancement.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by the thrilling story of the first supersonic flight and the technological innovations that made it possible. It appeals to those interested in pioneering aviation adventures, historical milestones, and the personal tales of those who pushed the boundaries of flight during a pivotal era in aeronautics.

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A detailed history of the pioneering Bell X-1, the first manned craft to break the sound barrier. Brought to life with dazzling digital art, this rocket-powered aircraft launches Osprey's new 'X-Planes' series and brings the reader into the dangerous and thrilling world of experimental aircraft.

A detailed history of the pioneering Bell X-1, the first manned craft to break the sound barrier. Brought to life with dazzling digital art, this rocket-powered aircraft launches Osprey's new 'X-Planes' series and brings the reader into the dangerous and thrilling world of experimental aircraft.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A detailed history of the pioneering Bell X-1, the first manned craft to break the sound barrier. Brought to life with dazzling digital art, this rocket-powered aircraft launches Osprey's new 'X-Planes' series and brings the reader into the dangerous and thrilling world of experimental aircraft.

In 1947, no one knew if it was possible to break the 'sound barrier'. The Bell X-1 was the tiny, rocket-powered craft that finally broke it. It was the result of innovative designers and engineers turning their attention from the pioneering jets of World War II to a new task – an aircraft designed purely to fly faster than sound. Legendary pilots rallied to the cause, with World War II ace Chuck Yeager piloting the X-1 when it finally achieved supersonic flight in 1947, the first manned craft to reach such speeds.

With historical photographs and meticulously researched digital art, Peter Davies traces the whole career of the pioneering Bell X-1, from its early development through to the influence it had on military and civilian jets in the second half of the 20th century.

Series: X-Planes

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  • Bell X-1
    A detailed history of the pioneering Bell X-1, the first manned craft to break the sound barrier. Brought to life with dazzling digital art, this rocket-powered aircraft launches Osprey's new 'X-Planes' series and brings the reader into the dangerous and thrilling world of experimental aircraft. In 1947, no one knew if it was possible to break the 'sound barrier'. The...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Bell X-1 by Peter E. Davies is appreciated for being accessible to those not looking for overly technical details, offering good value and appealing to a wide audience. It is praised for its exceptional historical account and is complemented by clear, superb photographs that enhance the reading experience. Additionally, it provides technical insights, including illustrations of the aircraft's interior and its rocket engine.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781472814647

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 22 September 2016

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Osprey Publishing

Illustration: 20 b/w; 35 col

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Gareth Hector
  • Illustrated by Jim Laurier

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 10.0mm

Width: 180.0mm

Height: 244.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 80

About the Author

Peter E. Davies is a specialist on modern American high-performance aircraft, having written or co-written over 25 books including the standard reference work on US Navy and Marine Corps F-4 Phantom II operations. He is based in Bristol, UK.

Jim Laurier
is a native of New England and lives in New Hampshire. He attended Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut, from 1974–78, and since graduating with Honours, he has been working professionally in the field of Fine Art and Illustration. He has been commissioned to paint for the US Air Force and has aviation paintings on permanent display at the Pentagon. Jim created the cutaway and profile art for this book.

Gareth Hector is a digital artist of international standing as well as an aviation history enthusiast. Gareth completed the battlescene artwork and cover artwork for this book.

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