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Seventy years ago today—on October 14, 1947—Charles Elwood Yeager became the first person to travel faster than the speed of sound. The Air Force pilot broke the sound barrier in an experimental X-1 rocket plane (nicknamed “Glamorous Glennis”) over a California dry lake at an altitude of 25,000 feet.
In 2015, the nonagenarian posted a few details on Twitter surrounding the anniversary of the achievement, giving amazing insight into the history-making flight.
Sept 1947: My 1st flight in the X-1 was non-powered. I got a Free Spirit Award for doing a roll immediately after being dropped by B-29
— Chuck Yeager (@GenChuckYeager) October 1, 2015
Oct 9, 1947:Lost control as I approached transsonic region.The shockwave laid down on horizontal stabilizer.I told Ridley, We got a problem
— Chuck Yeager (@GenChuckYeager) October 11, 2015
Oct 10,1944:Ridley figured out-I should use jackscrew 2 manually change horizontal stabilizer.Next flight I try it:"Ridley, we got it made!"
— Chuck Yeager (@GenChuckYeager) October 12, 2015
Oct 12, 1947: At Pancho's, Glennis challenged me 2 a horse race.Someone had closed the gate.My horse pulled 3 G's & I flew over fence-Ouch.
— Chuck Yeager (@GenChuckYeager) October 13, 2015
Oct 13, 1947.Went to a vet. Couldn't go to base doc- he would've grounded me! Vet taped up my broken ribs & said, Don't do nothin' strenuous
— Chuck Yeager (@GenChuckYeager) October 14, 2015
Oct 13,1947:Told Ridley I didn't know if I could close hatch on X-1.Ridley pondered this.We were scheduled to try 2 fly MACH 1 the next day!
— Chuck Yeager (@GenChuckYeager) October 14, 2015
Today, 68 years ago, at 10:24am,I broke the sound barrier w/ only 1.5 minutes of fuel. I told Ridley: Something wrong with this Mach meter
— Chuck Yeager (@GenChuckYeager) October 15, 2015
To close hatch on X-1, hindered by my broken ribs, Ridley sawed off a broomstick, gave me a piece.It worked. Then, I broke the sound barrier
— Chuck Yeager (@GenChuckYeager) October 15, 2015
Photos and more re breaking the sound barrier 68 years ago today: http://t.co/bagryTZRYI
— Chuck Yeager (@GenChuckYeager) October 15, 2015
For even more on the historic ride, check out the video below.