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Who became the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound, in the Bell X-1 in 1947?

Chuck Yeager, on October 14, 1947.

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  1. Scott Crossfield
  2. Chuck Yeager ✔
  3. Neil Armstrong

Why: Air Force pilot Chuck Yeager flew the X-1 to Mach 1.06 at 43,000 feet. The X-1 was carried up under a B-29 bomber and dropped before lighting its rocket.

Huh, didn't know that: The flight was so important that the Air Force made it Top Secret two hours later.

The dad joke
Why did Chuck Yeager fly so fast? He heard there was a sound barrier and wanted to beat it to the punch.
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References

Answer: Chuck Yeager. Air Force pilot Chuck Yeager flew the X-1 to Mach 1.06 at 43,000 feet. The X-1 was carried up under a B-29 bomber and dropped before lighting its rocket.

  1. First Generation X-1, NASA www.nasa.gov/aeronautics/first-generation-x-1
    Yeager reached a speed of Mach 1.06 at 43,000 feet, becoming the first man to fly supersonic.
    Checked 2026-10-10.
  2. First Generation X-1, NASA www.nasa.gov/aeronautics/first-generation-x-1
    The X-1-1 was air launched from a B-29.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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