Supersonic legend Chuck Yeager has passed away

Chuck Yeager, a name – a legend. He was the first person to break the sound barrier. We at WingMag have bowed to his achievements and his work for international aviation on several occasions. Now, he passed away at the proud age of 97 on Tuesday night, but his legacy will last forever.

In 1947, Chuck Yeager pushed his Bell X-1 aircraft to break the sound barrier. By 2020 such a manoeuvre will be commonplace for pilots trained for it and machines built for it. However, it was the material from which a legend grew up. Just think: in 1947, there was no space programme and the aircraft were not even remotely designed to withstand such a load due to the material and construction alone. Nevertheless, Yeager made the impossible possible and paved the way for a new era with his flight.

This has opened up space to us, from satellites to Star Wars.

Chuck Yeager on his supersonic flight

Even after his legendary flight, Chuck Yeager’s heart continued to belong to aviation. In his entire pilot career, he flew around 360 different types of aircraft. Another achievement that is unparalleled. Our WingMag team says goodbye to this pioneer of aviation with great reverence.

Picture © Peter Mizsak

by Johanna Koyser