Chuck Yeager and the Bell X-1

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{detailed description}On the morning of October 14, 1947, something once deemed impossible was accomplished: an aircraft broke through the "impenetrable wall" of the sound barrier and flew supersonically for the first time. World War II ace Charles "Chuck" Yeager piloted his Bell X-I experimental aircraft to Mach 1.06- seven hundred miles per hour at 42,000 feet-and the momentous feat made him a hero and ushered in a new era in flight. Chuck Yeager and the Bell X-1: Breaking the Sound Barrier tells the story behind the endeavor to fly supersonically and the legends of aviation-both the people and aircraft-that made it possible. Written by authorities on aeronautics, aviation, and rocketry from the National Air and Space Museum, it presents an insiders' view of one of the most significant achievements of the twentieth century. The book describes the many unknowns of supersonic flight at the time-creating an aircraft that could withstand such high speeds without breaking apart and developing a propulsion system that would not explode. Thanks to a remarkable collaboration among the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (the precursor to NASA), the military, and the manufacturers of the aircraft and engine, these problems were overcome. World War II and the Cold War that followed made controllable, reliable high-performance aircraft a necessity, and the success of this program was considered imperative to the security of the United States. The sense of urgency to be the first country to develop such an aircraft was pervasive during this period. Historical black-and-white and full-color photographs and illustrations accompany the dramatic text, both of which bring to life the events that forever changed the course of flight, gave the United States a military advantage for years to come, and helped propel humans into space.
{Author / Publisher / Date}by Dominick A. Pisano, F. Robert van der Linden, and Frank H. Winter
published by Abrams (USA) 2006 1st edn. 144pp profusely illustrated, some colour, index, appendices, bibliography 20x26
{condition}fine, d/j slightly rubbed at edges
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