X-1 Question for the experts

[Jerry O'Neill]

I just got a 1/18 Scale Bell X-1.
It's very nice and would be a great candidate for super detailing.
My question is: When the X-1 broke the sound barrier for the first time with Capt. Yeager at the controls, was the name "Glamorous Glennis" painted on or did that happen after the historic flight on Oct. 14, 1947?



The reason I ask is that I understand that this X-1 is available in a Kit form also and every reference to Yeager or "Glamorous Glennis" has been removed. My X-1 has no name on it and doesn't mention Yeager anywhere. I'd like to keep it as authentic to the date the Sound Barrier was "officially" broken (sorry Geo. Welch fans!)
I understand the kit version has the "Glamorous Glennis" decal cut out from each sheet! Sad comment on how people deal with the historic times in history when they were only working for the government and the airframe belongs to the government.
Jerry

[The Inspector]

It has to do more with the super inflated ego of a certain CY, and his insistance that ANYTHING bearing his name or G.G. be obtained by license fees paid to him. So him tugging on a penny in fees is why the world has copper wire. remember, this is the guy who, if you listen to him tell the story, flew the B-29, flew both chase planes, dropped himself from the B-29, flew the X-1, met himself on the ramp and towed himself and the airplane back in while riding on the wing for his 'adoring' admirerers to pay tribute to. I believe he actually prevented one of our forum members from finishing a painting of a spinning F-104 and a red helmeted ejection seat coming up the center of the rendition.
I think one of his deep seated reasons for disliking Scott Crossfield stemmed from the fact that Scott got to fly the X-15 (including one trip 'acciddentally' to just over +3) and CY couldn't, and couldn't stand that. This is the guy who poo-pooed the VOYAGERs flight as 'anyone can fly around the world with enough gas' while setting record times of flights between two 'who cares' RPO's (regional post offices) in a CHEYANNE 3 'CY breaks flight record times between Podunk and East Podunk' and wouldn't say one positive thing about Scotty when he died. Of course, Scott also got to Mach 2 first and CY had to about literally kill himself to equal that mark.

[MX304]

The Glamorous Glennis lettering was not applied until after the first supersonic flight. I am not sure if his name was on the plane for that flight or not. IIRC it only had the serial number on the tail, stars and bars on the wing and fuse, and the bell aircraft script on the nose.

[michaelharadon]

"him tugging on a penny in fees is why the world has copper wire"

[Jerry O'Neill]

The Glamorous Glennis lettering was not applied until after the first supersonic flight. I am not sure if his name was on the plane for that flight or not. IIRC it only had the serial number on the tail, stars and bars on the wing and fuse, and the bell aircraft script on the nose.

Thanks for the info. I didn't think the "GG" nose art was painted on before the famous flight.
Now I'll just have to add the Bell Aircraft logo to the nose!

Copper wire......That's really funny!!!!
Jerry

[The Inspector]

Forgot to add see if you can pop the windscreen out and paint the framing black. Then dip the 'glass' in FUTURE floor polish (they've changed the name so it's now Pride with Future or some such marketing masterstroke), keep it covered and out of dust for a couple days until you're certain it's completely dry and re-install, you'll be amazed @ how much better the 'glass' looks.

[Dan Jones]

It has to do more with the super inflated ego of a certain CY, and his insistance that ANYTHING bearing his name or G.G. be obtained by license fees paid to him. So him tugging on a penny in fees is why the world has copper wire. remember, this is the guy who, if you listen to him tell the story, flew the B-29, flew both chase planes, dropped himself from the B-29, flew the X-1, met himself on the ramp and towed himself and the airplane back in while riding on the wing for his 'adoring' admirerers to pay tribute to. I believe he actually prevented one of our forum members from finishing a painting of a spinning F-104 and a red helmeted ejection seat coming up the center of the rendition.
I think one of his deep seated reasons for disliking Scott Crossfield stemmed from the fact that Scott got to fly the X-15 (including one trip 'acciddentally' to just over +3) and CY couldn't, and couldn't stand that. This is the guy who poo-pooed the VOYAGERs flight as 'anyone can fly around the world with enough gas' while setting record times of flights between two 'who cares' RPO's (regional post offices) in a CHEYANNE 3 'CY breaks flight record times between Podunk and East Podunk' and wouldn't say one positive thing about Scotty when he died. Of course, Scott also got to Mach 2 first and CY had to about literally kill himself to equal that mark.

There's no "ACDelco" battery in your car, is there, boss?

[PropsRule]

I've seen illustrations of the X-1 painted half white and half orange. Did it ever "really" carry that paint scheme?

[APG85]

I've seen illustrations of the X-1 painted half white and half orange. Did it ever "really" carry that paint scheme?

It was originally in the NASM in that paint job. They have since re-painted it back to original...

[The Inspector]

Nope, I drive a 2005 JEEP Wrangler equipped with an OPTIMA battery, and I've pretty much been a Blue Oval type guy all my life so I cut my car teeth on MOTORCRAFT and CHAMPIONS. My1963 T Bird also has an OPTIMA.

[BTromblay]

Hi,

In the book "The Quest for Mach One" by Penguin studios. On Page 107, there is a photo with the caption, "The X-1 team and Air Force officers suround Chuck yeager after his supersonic flight, October 14, 1947". In the photo you can see G.G. on the nose.

Bill

[mustangdriver]

As far as I know the Glamorous Glennis artwork was applied before the flight. Also his name does not appear on the X-1. As for the comments about money , just remember he was in the pilot seat that day because another test pilot who was ahead of him to fly it was holding out for a ton of cash. Yeager did it for his normal pay. After the flight was released to the public he was sent out on a PR tour. However he still didn't get much in the way of money. He couldn't even afford to buy his wife a dress coat that she wanted.

[Jerry O'Neill]

Hi,

In the book "The Quest for Mach One" by Penguin studios. On Page 107, there is a photo with the caption, "The X-1 team and Air Force officers surround Chuck Yeager after his supersonic flight, October 14, 1947". In the photo you can see G.G. on the nose.

Bill

I have the same book but unfortunately, the book has too many photo caption errors for me to be satisfied that that photo was taken on Oct 14, 1947.
They have a photo of the X1-A dropping out of the the B-29 on Page 90, but it's labeled as the "X-1". Also, on page 117, it shows CY standing next to what is obviously the X-1 mock up used in the filming of "The Right Stuff" but claims that he was reunited with "6062" in the 1980's and that aircraft now resides in the NASM. A bit misleading.

I need a little more proof or several other sources before I will be convinced that "GG" was on the aircraft on Oct. 14, 1947. Three sources at least.

In Jay Miller's "The X Planes" there is a photo of both X-1 "6062" and "6063" in the same frame on page 19. It states it was taken in 1948-49, but there is no "GG" on the aircraft. That time frame on the dates is a little too general for me, but it states that it is after 1947. Who to believe?

My gut is telling me that the "GG" nose art was added sometime after the record flight. CY flew both X-1's before Oct. 14th, so how would he know which one was going to break the sound barrier, hence which one to put "GG" on? There were others who flew both ships also, so to me, it seems logical that once the Sound Barrier was broken, the name would be bestowed upon the X-1 that actually did it by, the pilot who broke the barrier. Better press that way.
My two cents, but I'm still not convinced.
Any body got a contact with Jay Miller? he might be able to help.
Jerry

[jdvoss]

It seems to me (barring 'Old Timers Disease) that the X-1 that broke the sound barrier (6062) was actually painted in a hi-vis yellow/orange paint scheme. The expression "Glamorous Glennis" was in red lettering. A Natl Geographic mag of that time period published some good color photos.

Does anyone know how to reach CY ?? He just possibly may be a good source of info.

[Jerry O'Neill]

One more thing.
Did the X-1 break the sound barrier on Oct 14, 1947 while wearing the star and bar national insignia with the red stripe? It was pretty close to when the AF became a separate service. The famous photo taken by Bob Hoover showing the diamond exhaust was told to me by both Yeager and Hoover that it was taken on Oct.14. In that photo, the the bars have the red stripe.
I guess I'm wondering when it was added?
Jerry