Chuck Yeager Bell X-1 Drawing

This week, an American pioneer and hero passed away. Chuck Yeager, the Air Force pilot who first crossed the sound barrier in his Bell X-1 experimental aircraft, passed away at the age of 97. I’m a pretty big aircraft fan, and to honor Captain Yeager, I chose to make this Chuck Yeager Bell X-1 drawing.

Yeager flew this Bell X-1 experimental aircraft at Mach 1 on October 14, 1947. The Aircraft, named Glamorous Glennis, which was named after his wife, Glennis and now resides on public display at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

I started this drawing off with a Micron pen sketch using 01 and 005, and then added in thicker 03 and 05 for perspective. The bottoms of the wings, for example, must be variable line weights to evoke changing depth.

Finally, I shaded the fuselage with Copic yellows and yellow-oranges to capture the unique bright paint. The canopy is shaded with grays to capture light reflection on my Chuck Yeager Bell X-1 Drawing.

It’s a sad week for the aviation, Air Force, and American History communities, but at 97, I’d say Captain Yeager lived a long, full life. Godspeed, Chuck Yeager.

This drawing is available for sale in the store, here.