Founded in 1935 by aviation pioneer Lawrence Dale Bell, Bell Aircraft quickly became a leader in aerospace innovation. During World War II, the company designed and produced several notable aircraft, including the P-39 Airacobra and its successor, the P-63 Kingcobra. Bell also developed the United States’ first operational jet fighter, the P-59 Airacomet. Bell’s relentless pursuit of innovation extended to rotary-wing aircraft, culminating in the Bell 47 — the world’s first mass-produced helicopter — introduced in 1946. A year later, Bell made history when its X-1 rocket plane became the first aircraft to break the sound barrier. In 1960, the company rebranded as Bell Helicopter and cemented its reputation with the legendary UH-1 Huey, a symbol of the Vietnam War and one of the most iconic aircraft in aviation history. The Huey and its successors have served every branch of the U.S. military and continue to fly more than six decades after their debut. Today, Bell remains at the forefront of vertical-lift innovation through projects such as the tiltrotor V-22 Osprey and next-generation advanced air mobility systems. In 2018, the company reintroduced itself simply as Bell, a name that continues to embody nearly a century of flight innovation and global impact.
Inducted in 2024.
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