Chuck Yeager taking X-1 Supersonic | Stock Footage

Bell X-1 was the first aircraft to break the sound barrier in level flight. It was a rocket-powered research aircraft developed by the US National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and built by Bell Aircraft Corporation. The X-1 made its first supersonic flight on October 14, 1947, piloted by Chuck Yeager. This event marked a significant milestone in the history of aviation and helped lay the groundwork for future supersonic aircraft designs. The Bell X-1 program was part of a larger effort to explore the technical and physiological aspects of high-speed flight, and it helped pave the way for the development of advanced military aircraft, such as the X-15 and the Space Shuttle.