Chuck Yeager
Flying faster than the speed of sound!
The many accomplishments
Chuck Yeager (1923-) broke the sound barrier flying in the air on October 14th, 1947. The speed of sound is 660 mph above 45,000 feet. He had been a test pilot for a plane designed to breath the sound barrier. Planes shake violently as they catch up to their own shock waves. This was a very important discovery. After breaking the speed of sound, Chuck went to be a P-51 fighter pilot in World War II. Later, he worked at Wright field, a base for testing new planes. Even after all of the accomplishments Chuck completed, he still led the first aero-space school for pilots and was the first American to fly a Soviet Mig-15. Overall, Chuck Yeager played a very important role in the U.S. history.
Chuck Yeager in his Air Force outfit
Himself on a TIMES magazine
Chuck with his wife, Glennis
Background
Throughout his life, Chuck was anxious to learn. This helped him lead to the important discoveries he accomplishment later on in life.