First supersonic flight by Bell X-1 | Techday, October 14th
On this TECHDAY in history, on October 14th 1947, happened the first supersonic flight. The aircraft that managed to fly at supersonic speeds was a Bell X-1 (designated originally as the XS-1), a rocket-powered research plane, and its pilot was Major Charles (Chuck) E. Yeager of the U.S. Air Force . After dropping from the belly of a Boeing B-29, the XS-1 broke the (local) sound barrier at 1,066 km per hour. It achieved a top speed of 1,126 km/h, or Mach 1.06.
This achievement marked a major milestone in the history of aviation, as scientists had long believed that it was impossible for an aircraft to fly faster than the speed of sound without breaking apart.
The Bell X-1 aircraft used in the historic flight is now on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Chuck Yeager’s achievement met proper recognition with many awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985. He is a pioneer of supersonic flight and an American hero.
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Author: PC-GR
The World of Technology
