Chuck Yeager X-1A Mach 2.44 Record and Incident - Audio & Footage (1953-12-12)

Interesting that in 1953 the X-1A had straight wings instead of swept. 10 years later almost to the day Yeager does NF-104A altitude flight.

To hell with that annoying music!!!

Gen. Yeager's story is nothing short of incredible, almost unbelievable.

Extra structure was required to accommodate Yeager's iron balls.

Man the sky sure is dark up that high!

Edith Ione Yeager was her birth name

He is the cousin of my grandmother Edith Ione Posey

"Keep that crazy hillbillie out of Washington"

Today I learned this wasn’t just made up for The Right Stuff movie

I think I busted the canopy with my head, I don’t know...

Pure badass

They can't talk, they're bearing down to keep from passing out from hypoxia. The g forces pool the blood to your lower extremities. He sounds calm and cool to me, but he does express that he doesn't want to get back in that plane.

Came here directly from chuck book. Amazing

Speaks to the integrity of the airframe not coming apart at that speed. High marks.

When Chuck says that he has 1800 lbs nitrogen source pressure, I assume he’s referring to his G-SUIT? Can anyone explain this?

That rudder would have guillotined him if he tried to bail. This recording was on a Smithsonian or Nasa, or some other site I had come across years ago. The most incredible recording of self preservation. Rest in Peace Chuck. Shook the mans hand at a hand carved model signing. I still have the hand carved Normandy P-51 with drops and stows. Chucks signature across the wing, with photo and letter of Authenticity. Amazingly and slightly ironic, he passed away on my birthdate, (December 7th, Pearl Harbor Day).

Awesome post 👍

QEPD,CHUCK.

Epic! Remembering that in the X-1 there was no ejection seat. He wouldn't even have a chance to get out through the hatch.

Badass. Chuck is an American hero. But he was an ornery cuss personally. Still, an amazing pilot, he should have been an astronaut. WWII Ace, shot down behind enemy lines and made his way back. All his test pilot work. But the astronauts were only taking college grads, and Chuck was not that. But he turned out to be a great aerospace engineer in his nearly year-long run up to breaking the sound barrier--and beyond.

Imagine going 30 mph in your car and slamming in the breaks. It’s not fun. Now imagine going around 1400 mph and that happening , expect your being slammed in every direction over and over again. Scott cross field was an arrogant bastard and not to fond of Yeager, but when I read his book, even he said “we all listened to it to it on the squawk box and cheered the master on”

What is interesting is that the Bell engineers said the plane would become unstable at Mach 2.3 and that’s exactly what happened.

yeah

What an absolute machine! The X-1A is of worth noting as well. To this day the aircraft still hasn't a clue how lucky it is to have survived the savage at the controls that day.

Probably the only recording where Chuck Yeager sounds like he's scared stiff.

I have been waiting to hear this recording for 30 years . wow .

Incredible footage.

The Right Stuff!

Pro.....

Never thought I would hear the legendary Yeager say something with fear in his voice!

This tells the story so much better than the movie representation of the flight. Thanks for posting it.

The amazing part is how he ever got airborne with those Titanium balls he hed.

He would have made a great astronaut.

Well, they won't need to do a structural integrity test on that plane.

Reading chucks book right now.

Was hoping to hear Jack say “he’s uncorked it!” Great video.

Sounds harrowing. Yeager...balls of steel.

Man, CY sounded scared af!

Great achievement for 1953! Looks really scary! Thank goodness (Gen) Chuck Yeager was at the controls and saved it.

cool ready for Apollo 11 launch please.

thanks for posting!! never saw this before, amazing!! beyond balls of steel here, incredible!! felt like i was right there.