5. The First Supersonic Flight
On October 14, 1947, U.S. Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager piloted the Bell X-1, nicknamed “Glamorous Glennis,” over California’s Mojave Desert, becoming the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound. This historic flight reached Mach 1.06 (700 mph or 1,127 km/h) at an altitude of 43,000 feet (13,100 meters), proving supersonic flight was achievable and paving the way for future advancements in aviation. (airandspace.si.edu)
