top of page
Search

October in Aviation History

  • Writer: Aviation Trail
    Aviation Trail
  • Oct 9, 2017
  • 1 min read

On October 1, 1942 the first U.S. turbojet powered aircraft took off at Muroc Army Air Field. The XP-59A Airacomet twin jet fighter was designed and built by Bell Aircraft. General Hap Arnold had witnessed the UK’s jet program in 1941, and obtained plans for the aircraft’s powerplant. He arranged for General Electric to produce a U.S. version of the engine, the GE 1-A, and Bell was chosen to build a fighter to utilize the engine. Three prototypes were ordered, and the first one was delivered to Muroc in September of ‘42. To maintain secrecy, prototype Airacomets were towed to and from the flightline with a fake propeller and a cover over the engine exhausts and intakes. Testing of the XP-59A’s uncovered a multitude of shortcomings, and subsequent production model YP-59A’s were fitted with engine upgrades. After further testing by the RAF, USAAF, and US Navy, it was determined that the planes were inferior in performance to jets that the British were already flying, and to propeller driven planes in the USAAF. The contract for 80 planes was cancelled after only 40 had been produced. Even though the aircraft never entered combat, it was the stepping stone to the next generation of successful U.S. jet fighter aircraft.


XP-59A

A later production model of the Airacomet, the P-59B, can be seen in the Research & Development Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.


 
 
 

Comments


Location

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park 

16 S. Williams St., Dayton, OH 45402

Visitor Center:

For details and seasonal date schedules see https://www.nps.gov/daav/planyourvisit/hours.htm

or please call (937) 225-7705 for the current park schedule.

Parking:

From W. Third St., turn south on Williams St and then turn left on Fourth St. Go 1/2 block and turn left into the Visitor Center parking area.

CLICK HERE for a parking map.

See the Visitor Center page for details on hours and for a map.

NPS logo

Aviation Trail, Inc.

- In Partnership with the

National Park Service

wilbear trademark

®

Volunteer logo
  • Facebook Social Icon

Follow Aviation Trail

Follow Parachute Museum

Also see more about the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park on Facebook.  

Subscribe to "The Flight Log", the ATI electronic Newsletter, for updates and announcements

Congrats! You’re subscribed

Aviation Trail does not sell, share, or distribute subscriber information to third parties.

CONTACT AVIATION TRAIL, INC.:

Your email was sent successfully! Thank you for your interest!

To send messages with attachments use:

webmaster@aviationtrailinc.org

  or  avtrailinc@gmail.com

*The Parachute Museum archives were considered as perhaps the world's largest  private parachute collection when assessed by experts from WPFB and the Smithsonian Institute.  

© Aviation Trail, Inc. 2025

bottom of page