What plane did Chuck Yeager fly when he broke the sound barrier?

Prepare for the NJ-931 Inspection Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Excel in your exam!

Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier on October 14, 1947, flying the Bell X-1, which was a rocket-powered aircraft specifically designed for supersonic flight. The X-1 was developed by the Bell Aircraft Company and was notable for its distinctive bullet shape and small wings, which facilitated its ability to reach speeds exceeding the speed of sound. Yeager's successful flight in the X-1, which he named "Glamorous Glennis" after his wife, marked a significant milestone in aviation history, proving that controlled manned flight could exceed the speed of sound, which was previously thought to be an insurmountable boundary.

Other options represent aircraft from different eras or for different purposes; for instance, the F-86 Sabre was a jet fighter used in the Korean War, the Concorde was a commercial supersonic airliner, and the P-51 Mustang was a World War II fighter aircraft known for its role in dogfights. These aircraft, while historically significant, did not achieve the milestone of breaking the sound barrier in the same pioneering way that the Bell X-1 did under Yeager's command.

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