SUPERSONIC FLIGHT: Breaking the Sound Barrier and Beyond - Story of the Bell X-1 and Douglas D-558

by Richard P. Hallion

Published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Chuck Yeager's first supersonic flight, this edition includes a new introduction and new photographs. The book is a history of the struggle to break the sound barrier. Starting with an introduction co-written by astronaut Michael Collins and a prologue relating the fatal attempt by Britain's Geoffrey de Havilland to break the sound barrier in 1946, the book the basic problems of supersonic flight; the story of the Bell X-1 in which "Chuck" Yeager successfully broke the sound barrier in 1947; and the Douglas D-558, the first aircraft to reach twice the speed of sound.

Genres: Aviation

288 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Richard P. Hallion is Senior Adviser for Air and Space Issues, Directorate for Security, Counterintelligence and Special Programs Oversight, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.