Brian Abraham
As an aside, it is rumored that at Bell, a decision was made to design the X-1 in the shape of a .45 caliber bullet, as this projectile was supersonic.
Do you think that the success Bell had with their rocket created temporary obstacles to the aha of area rule?
I was unaware the 102 ever went super. For years, in the '50's, everything popular had "Coke Bottle Shapes".