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Bell XP-59

The Bell XP-59 flies a test mission. The aircraft was America's first jet-powered aircraft, and made its maiden flight on Oct. 1, 1942. (Courtesy photo)
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Lockheed XP-80

The Lockheed XP-80 made its first flight on Jan. 8, 1944. In 1948, the Air Force changed the "P" designation (Pursuit) to "F" (Fighter). The P-80 Shooting Star was the first operational jet fighter, and as the F-80 saw combat in the Korean War. (Courtesy photo)
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XP-86

The North American XP-86 made its first flight Oct. 1, 1947. In 1948, the Air Force changed the "P" designation (Pursuit) to "F" (Fighter), and when the aircraft was added to the inventory, it was named the Sabre. (Courtesy photo)
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Bell X-1

The first supersonic flight flown on Oct. 14, 1947 with the Bell X-1. (Courtesy photo)
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First Mach flight propels Yeager, Air Force into history

Capt. Charles E. Yeager (shown standing next to the Air Force's Bell-built X-1 supersonic research aircraft) became the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound on Oct. 14, 1947. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Captains Yeager and Ridley

Capts. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager (left) and Jackie L. Ridley stand next to the cockpit of the X-1. (Courtesy photo)
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Capt. Charles E. Yeager

Capt. Charles E. Yeager seated in the cockpit of the Bell X-1 supersonic research aircraft. He became the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound on Oct. 14, 1947. (Courtesy photo)
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Capt. Chuck Yeager

Capt. Chuck Yeager with Maj. Arthur Murray and the X-1A. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Capt. Glen W. Edwards

Capt. Glen W. Edwards, an Air Force test pilot, was killed when the YB-49 flying wing prototype bomber broke apart during a test flight. All members of the crew were killed. Muroc Air Force Base was renamed Edwards AFB in his honor on Dec. 8, 1949. A plaque located in front of the Air Force Flight Test Center has a tribute to him. (Courtesy photo)
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Northrop YB-49 flying wing prototype bomber

The Northrop YB-49 flying wing prototype bomber. Capt. Glen Edwards was killed when a YB-49 crashed June 5, 1948. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Northrop YB-49

The YB-49 is photographed at the Northrop facility, Hawthorne, Calif., Dec. 23, 1948. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Convair X-F-92A

The Convair X-F-92A flies a test mission. The aircraft was a delta-wing concept demonstrator. (Courtesy photo)
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Boeing YB-52 lands in 1953

The Boeing YB-52 from North American lands on Rogers Dry Lake, Calif., in 1953. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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YB-52 in flight

The YB-52 flies a test mission in an undated photo. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Lt. Col Frank K. "Pete" Everest

Lt. Col Frank K. "Pete" Everest set the last low altitude world absolute speed record when he piloted the YF-100 to 755 mph, Oct. 29, 1953. He subsequently piloted the rocket-powered Bell X-2 to a record speed of Mach 2.87 or 1,900 mph in June 1956. (Courtesy photo)
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North American YF-100A

The YF-100A, the first aircraft to exceed Mach 1 on its first flight, flies over the North Base of Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on its first flight May 25, 1953. (Courtesy photo)
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North American YF-100

The first North American YF-100 built with the serial number 52-5754 lands with drag chute. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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D-558-2 Skyrocket launch

The D-558-2 Skyrocket just after launch from a P2B-1S, the U.S. Navy version of the B-29 Superfortress. (Courtesy NASA photo)
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D-558-2 Skyrocket

The D-558-2 Skyrocket is towed on the lakebed of Rogers Dry Lake, Calif. (Courtesy NASA photo)
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A. Scott Crossfield, test pilot

A. Scott Crossfield with the Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket after his record-breaking Mach 2 flight, Nov. 20, 1953. In 1993, NASA awarded him the Distinguished Public Service Medal for his contributions to aeronautics and aviation for 50 years. (Courtesy NASA photo)
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