The early boomers are dying out
Yeagers final Mach Climb
The first filmed publicity of the X1 flight clearly accepts that this was not the 'first' time the sound barrier was broken, but the first in level flight. As with many things American 'not the first' often gets edited to the first. Like the brothers from Ohio, it was the first time they did it, having played catch up as others flew around for years. It's what they do.
Not detracting from the achievement, but, even on this day, let's acknowledged the achievements of those who went before.
37 flights of the X1 before Yeager
12 flights for Yeager before the M 1.06 flight
'The Right Stuff' is not a documentary and it's 'advisor' and 'actor' didn't seem to worry about that.
Went a very long way once, to watch as he strapped into the back of a jet and hear the double pop and rumble as the pilot dropped the 'booms' right on the crowd line at Edwards.
Last edited by Point Merge; 16th Dec 2020 at 06:06.