Who broke the sound barrier
This happened when sound waves actually began to get ahead of their source, creating localized shockwaves that disrupted airflow around the aircraft. One limit that many considered absolute was the speed of sound, Mach 1 (760 mph at sea level).ĭuring World War II research into supersonic flight, pilots noticed that when aircraft velocity approached the speed of sound, the planes started to become uncontrollable. During what is now called the golden age of flying, test pilots regularly pushed new aircraft to their limits.
With the Eastern Bloc and Western Alliance locked in the Cold War, massive investments went into the design, construction, and testing of new aircraft.
The need for speed and maneuverability, particularly among fighters, spurred advances in design, including the development of jet engines.Īir superiority, particularly with a nuclear payload, became a life and death concern after the war. Airplanes became an essential weapon during World War II. In addition, competitions, most notably the race to cross the Atlantic solo, captured public imagination and attracted investment. BackgroundĪircraft went through a period of rapid development and commercialization after World War I, with the development of airmail and regular passenger flights. Commercial use of high-speed aircraft has been limited primarily to the Concorde, but plans exist for hypersonic flight (Mach 5 or higher). Not only did he prove that the " sound barrier" could be broken, but he set in motion development that has led to the high-speed fighters that are critical to military defense. In 1947, Chuck Yeager (1923- ) became the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound.