08/31/2017. Remarks by Jack McKillop: "The one and only X-1A-BE had the same wings, tail surfaces and engine as the X-1-BE but had a completely new fuselage. It arrived at Edwards AFB, Muroc, California, on January 7, 1953, made its first gliding-flight seven days later followed by a powered-flight on January 21. On December 9, 1953, Chuck Yeager flew this aircraft at Mach 1.9 at 60,000 ft (18,288 m). Three days later, Yeager was flying at Mach 2.4 at 70,000 ft (21,336 m) when he experienced a loss of control but he managed to recover and land the aircraft. During 1954, this X-1A was used for high-altitude flights and achieved 90,440 ft (27,566 m) on August 26.

The X-1A was transferred to the NACA in September 1954 and was modified with the addition of an ejection seat. The first flight for NACA was made on July 20, 1955. On the following day, an explosion occurred while the X-1A was still attached to the B-29 mother plane and it was released over the Edwards AFB bombing range. It crashed and was destroyed."