Laurence
            Bell  worked for both the Glenn L. Martin and Consolidated Aircraft
            companies before forming his own aircraft company in 1935 when
            Consolidated relocated to San Diego.
            Bell Aircraft developed the P-39 Airacobra and
            the P-59 Airacomet (the
            first American jet aircraft).
            
            Directly after World War II, Bell Aircraft was at
            the forefront of the U.S. military's experimental aircraft work and
            produced the world's first supersonic aircraft, the
            X-1.
            Bell Aircraft was a pioneer in helicopter
            development in the
            U.S. and the Model 47 of 1946 was the first helicopter to receive
            civil certification.  Bell also advanced helicopter technology
            by introducing a turbine-powered helicopter--the UH-1 Iroquois or
            "Huey".
            Bell Aircraft became part of Textron in 1960.