1947 Today | The Biggest Aviation Hurdle Was Broken

1947 Today | The Biggest Aviation Hurdle Was Broken | World War Wings Videos

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/multimedia/imagegallery/X-1/index.html?id=361002

Chuck Yeager And The X-1 Made History!

While World War II was dominated by propeller driven planes, jets such as the Me 262 started appearing towards the end of the war. After the war ended, the jet age took off at a lighting pace. While the fastest World War II fighters flew in the mid 400 mph range, by 1947 the speed of sound was broken and we reached over 700 mph. That’s was just two short years after the end of the war!

Chuck Yeager named the X-1 Glamorous Glennis for his wife.

Chuck Yeager, a World War II ace and an outstanding aviator, was chosen to pilot Bell’s experimental X-1 rocket plane. With the Air Force wanting to create faster planes and research what happens when the speed of sound is broken, Yeager strapped into the cockpit on October 14th, 1947 and did just that. For the mission, a B-29 Superfortress was specially modified in order to attach the X-1 to its belly. Reaching 35,000 ft., Yeager was drop launched and took off. Breaking the speed of sound just moments later, the whole experiment was videotaped and we can now revisit this historic moment.

As a side note, Chuck Yeager broke the speed of sound again just three years ago in 2012 at the age of 89. Click here to witness THAT historic moment too!

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