Bell Aircraft History Essay Example

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The next day, he discussed with Lawrence Dale Bell from Bell Aircraft Corporation about constructing a fighter that could use it. Bell agreed and began working on three prototypes in complete secrecy. On Sept. 30, 1942, the P-59 Airacomet, America's first jet aircraft, made its maiden flight. The design was influenced by European blueprints and powered by two General Electric engines. One noteworthy feature was the incorporation of an observer's seat located ahead of the cockpit (8).

Fifty P-59s were constructed, but their performance fell short of expectations. Despite this, the P-59 proved to be a successful test platform and played a key role in ushering in the jet age in the U.S. Bell Aircraft made several attempts to develop a viable jet aircraft, starting with their lightweight aircraft project in 1944 known as the XP-77. This jet fighter incorporated wood materials and a lightweight engine, but it failed to deliver satisfactory performance, leading to its cancellation. In 1945, Bell Aircraft endeavored to create a jet with superior fuel efficiency. The resulting prototype, the XP-83, was a jet fighter resembling the P-59 but lacked sufficient power. Following the construction of a second prototype, the project was ultimately discontinued.

Finally, after numerous unsuccessful attempts, they decided to take inspiration from Hollywood and create the most futuristic plane imaginable. The XF-109 was an original design like nothing before - an eight-engine, Mach two capable, vertical takeoff and landing jet. The military, who was funding the project, ultimately deemed it too costly and decided to cancel it. However, Bell Aircraft managed to create a life-size model of the jet that not only functioned efficiently but

also left a mark in history.

The concept of a supersonic aircraft surpassing the speed of sound was conceived in 1944. Although Larry Bell recognized the importance of this research, he also understood the need for practical applications beyond its research benefits, especially during wartime. Despite some initial hesitation, Larry ultimately decided to proceed with the project. As a result, Bell Aircraft won the contract in 1945 to build the "Supersonic-1" or X-1.

The X-1 aircraft was designed to resemble a stable fifty-caliber bullet in supersonic flight. However, it was later found that the jet engines lacked sufficient power. To resolve this problem, Larry sought permission from the Navy to use their developing rocket engine. Consequently, the X-1 became the pioneer aircraft with a liquid-propellant rocket engine. On January 25th, 1946, Chuck Yeager successfully piloted the X-1 and created history by surpassing Mach 1, thus breaking the sound barrier.

During Larry Bell’s acceptance speech for the Collier Trophy awarded by President Truman, Bell emphasized the significance of the X-1 aircraft. He stated that the aircraft had been flown multiple times in different speed ranges without any modifications, which was a testament to the engineering team. Bell also mentioned that the Army continued the project after the successful X-1 flight, creating various versions to explore different aspects of Mach speed (11).

The X-1A aircraft was specifically built for testing aerodynamic occurrences and speeds above Mach 2, as well as altitudes exceeding 90,000 feet. During a flight with Yeager as the pilot, the X-1A successfully achieved the desired speed and altitude. However, it soon lost control and rapidly descended 65,000 feet, subjecting Yeager

to accelerations eight times the force of gravity. Remarkably, he was able to recover from this situation. Inertia coupling was identified as the cause, wherein the inertia of the heavier fuselage overpowered the aerodynamic stabilizing forces of the wing and empennage (5). The X-1B aircraft, on the other hand, was equipped with heating instrumentation to facilitate thermal research, completing a total of 27 flights for test purposes.

The X-1B was the first aircraft to utilize a sophisticated control system, made possible by the inclusion of small reaction rockets. Regrettably, the X-1C, which had been intended for high-speed munition testing, was discontinued during its mock-up stage. Likewise, both the X-1D and X-1E were created for heat transfer research. However, the X-1D experienced a crash while the X-1E had to be permanently grounded due to cracks found in its fuel tank. Despite these setbacks, Bell persisted in developing innovative aircraft designs after the military assumed control of the X-1 project.

The X-5 was the first aircraft in the world with "swing-wing" capabilities, allowing for forward and backward movement of the wings during flight. This unique feature enabled the jet to fly efficiently at both low and high speeds. When the wings were positioned forward, the aircraft could fly slowly and effectively carry heavy cargo. Conversely, when the wings were retracted, the jet could achieve Mach speeds at high altitudes (11). Bell Aircraft successfully navigated through a recession by continuously innovating and adapting within the aircraft industry. By thinking outside conventional boundaries, Bell Aircraft sought to broaden their product range to encompass the emerging field of helicopters.

During World War II, Igor Sikorsky and Lawrence LePage were

in a rivalry to create the first military helicopter for the United States. However, it was Sikorsky who ultimately succeeded with the R-4, which became the sole mass-produced helicopter used during the war. In contrast, Larry Bell came to realize that he lacked both sufficient knowledge and time to develop a military helicopter given the ongoing war situation. Consequently, his focus shifted towards designing an affordable civilian helicopter that would enjoy widespread acceptance. To convince the board of directors, Bell confidently declared, "The only way we can sell the helicopter is to have the courage to build some" (8).

In 1941, Arthur M. Young joined Bell Aircraft as a helicopter development expert. Prior to his employment, Young dedicated twelve years to designing model helicopters. These models were instrumental in assisting Bell Aircraft in constructing prototypes (3). From his models, Young devised several changes to enhance flight stability and efficiency. His first breakthrough involved demonstrating that independently hinged blades would mimic the mast's movements. By December of 1939, Young had created a mast-mounted stabilizing bar that significantly enhanced the hover performance of the models.

Replacing the bar with a flywheel allowed the model to have omnidirectional flying capabilities (3). The initial flight-testing of the Model 30 took place on December 29th, 1942, one year after Young's employment. While testing in May of 1943, it was discovered that when the helicopter reached speeds of twenty miles per hour, it experienced severe shaking. It was determined that the rotor blades were not sturdy enough to maintain a smooth ride at higher speeds. To address this issue, a device was created to keep the blades rigid, causing

them to rise when the speed increased (3). This solution proved successful as the helicopter easily surpassed its original speed limit of twenty miles per hour.

Larry Bell and Arthur Young introduced the addition of a tricycle wheel arrangement for landing as their next modification. They proceeded to exhibit the original Model 30 and a second model to various audiences after achieving successful landings. Larry Bell promoted the versatility of the helicopter, claiming it to be "the only vehicle of transportation in the world that's self-contained." He stressed that buying a helicopter eliminates the necessity for road, harbor, right of way, or airport construction – essentially rendering these unnecessary.

Bell and Young (8) suggest that there is no need to stick to predetermined routes or go through airports; individuals can freely choose their destinations. However, Bell and Young differ in their opinions on what should be done next. While Bell proposes conducting additional tests for a better understanding of flight characteristics, Young advocates for making radical modifications to the Model 30. Eventually, Bell's perspective prevails, but secretly, Young creates a new helicopter resulting in a third model. After testing it, Bell approves of this decision upon discovering it. The success of this third model, known as ship three, leads to the development of the Model 47 with a production quantity of 10,000 units.

The Model 47 was the first helicopter to be commercially certified and used in the military (3). This success led Bell Aircraft to produce other successful helicopters, including the impactful UH-1 Iroquois. The UH-1, developed by Bell Helicopter in 1952, was used during the early 1960s in the Vietnam

War. It became the most notable helicopter of the war and was primarily used for medical evacuations and utility purposes. The UH-1 first flew on October 20th, 1956.

The UH-1, ordered in March 1960, was the United States military's first turbine-powered helicopter to go into production. It was equipped with a single turbo shaft engine and featured a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. Over 16,000 of these helicopters were manufactured worldwide throughout the war. During their service in the Vietnam War, the UH-1 proved to be versatile and efficient, fulfilling various roles. Those assigned with ground attack or armed escort duties were fitted with rocket launchers, grenade launchers, and machine guns.

In 1962, the army themselves locally modified UH-1s, making their own mounting systems. Hunter-killer teams with surveillance helicopters were also deployed, using UH-1s to locate and attack enemy bases. Later on, during the 1972 Easter Invasion, two UH-1B helicopters equipped with the XM26 Armament Subsystem were deployed to counter the threat. The UH-1, which was tested with TOW missiles towards the end of the conflict, remains in service today and has shaped the course of history.