Chuck Yeager and the Bell X-1: Breaking the Sound Barrier

by Dominick A. Pisano, F. Robert Van Der Linden, Frank H. Winter

"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 insider's view of one of the most significant achievements of the twentieth." 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. Historical black-and-white and full-color photographs and illustrations accompany the 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.

144 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2006

Reviews

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow....it was an amazing time. They thought that the sound barrier was a solid object in the sky and that no one would be able to fly faster than the speed of sound. Lots of people died trying.

Then came Chuck Yeager and a whole bunch of engineers from Bell Aircraft.

The sound barrier was broken October 14, 1957.

Although it was long ago new pictures, interviews and little tidbits are still surfacing. This book has a good collection of them.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I was 4 yr old…borrowed it from the local Carnegie library where my mother left me while she went curling

[Velimir Randic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great summary of the development of the X-1, it's XLR-11 rocket engine and Chuck Yeager, it's most famous pilot authoratively written by three curators of the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum.