Bell Aircraft was contracted in March 1945 by the US Army Air Force, and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) to build three XS-1 research aircraft to obtain flight test data in the transonic speed range. The XS-1's distinctive shape was closely modeled on the Browning .50 caliber machine gun bullet, which was known to be stable in super sonic flight.

Bell performed numerous gliding test flights over the high California desert at Muroc Army Air Field, and modified the aircraft accordingly, but when Bell's test pilot Chalmers "Slick" Goodlin demanded $150,000 plus danger pay for every minute over Mach 0.85 the Air Force assumed responsibility for the program. Bell's conservative flight test program called for incremental increases of Mach 0.02. Had his rate been accepted, Goodlin stood to make a fortune. Instead, a relatively unknown Air Force ace, Capt. Charles "Chuck" Yeager stepped into the flying role and into history.

On October 14, 1947, on the 50th flight of the XS-1, which was now christened Glamorous Glennis (in honour of Yeager's wife) dropped from a modified Boeing B-29 mothership and rocketed to Mach 1.06. Yeager and several others actually believe that flight number 49 might actually have broken the sound barrier, however it was officially recorded as Mach 0.997, and no sonic boom was observed.

The Model:

Using Eduard's multi-media X-1 kit, Peter added the famous broomstick handles that Yeager employed to close the hatch once he'd climbing inside on that historic 50th flight. He also spent a great deal of effort matching the non-standard colours. The orange was mixed using Tamiya lacquers, until it matched the original X-1 in the National Air and Space Museum. He also found an exact match to Bell's bronze green in the Humbrol paint range.

As a final touch, Cutting Edge's decals were used.