Kotcher is regarded as the most important person in transsonic aircraft research. He studied the problem thoroughly and concluded that a rocket-propelled aircraft would perform much better than a jet. Kotcher went as far as designing a prototype much like the X-1. Then, in November of 1944, he met with Robert Woods, Bell Aviation's famous designer, to discuss the possibility of building a supersonic aircraft. Wood was extremely receptive to the idea and created a small team at Bell to work on this supersonic barrier-breaker.
