Chuck Yeager’s Understated Radio Call Marked First Supersonic Flight
On October 14, 1947, pilot Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in the Bell XS-1, signaling the milestone not with celebration but with a complaint about a faulty Machmeter.
On October 14, 1947, Chuck Yeager became the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound. Piloting the Bell XS-1, he pushed the aircraft beyond Mach 1, achieving one of aviation's defining milestones.
The moment did not sound like a celebration. Instead of announcing the feat, Yeager told engineer Jack Ridley that something seemed wrong with his instrument. He said, "This Machmeter is all screwy."
His understated message reflected how unexpectedly smooth the transition through the sound barrier had been. The Air Force Test Center history of the flight provided the account.
Sources
- simpleflying.com79 Years Later, Chuck Yeager's Famous Radio Call Still Captures The First Supersonic Flight