For something a little different, for those interested, I'm posting some pics I took at the NASM in Washington, DC in 2015-16, in honor of Chuck Yeager's famous flight. I was a volunteer member of the restoration team for LM-2, the Lunar Module on display there. Concurrently, they lowered the Bell X-1 for some restoration work and cleaning, and it was stationed right next to where we were on the museum floor. I got the permission and opportunity to take some pics of it before it was eventually hoisted back up to the ceiling. One of my favorites is a pic of the hatch. For those who followed the details of this flight, Yeager was injured in a horseback riding accident a few days before, broke some ribs, but kept it a secret, lest they put another pilot in his place. One of his trusted engineer assistants sawed off a broomstick handle that Yeager put in his jacket so that he could use it as a lever to close the hatch handle with his left arm, as it was too painful to move his right arm to do this as was normally done. 
Probably many are not aware that this famous Bell X-1 flew many more flights at Edwards, and was eventually stuck on a pole outside the main gate until the Smithsonian took it into its collection in the early 1950s. Some of the work they were doing in these pictures was trying to clean up the insides the damage made by welding steel as a framework for the pole. The landing gear was reattached inside as it once was.
Probably many are not aware that this famous Bell X-1 flew many more flights at Edwards, and was eventually stuck on a pole outside the main gate until the Smithsonian took it into its collection in the early 1950s. Some of the work they were doing in these pictures was trying to clean up the insides the damage made by welding steel as a framework for the pole. The landing gear was reattached inside as it once was.
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