Bell XS-1 test pilots, 1947-8 C016 / 4330
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Bell XS-1 test pilots, 1947-8 C016 / 4330
Bell XS-1 test pilots. Left to right, alongside the Bell XS-1 supersonic aircraft are: Captain Charles (Chuck) E. Yeager (born 1923), Major Gus Lundquist (1919-2008), and Captain James Thomas Fitzgerald (1920-1948). Prototype number 46-062, nicknamed Glamorous Glennis after Yeagers wife, was flown by Yeager on 14 October 1947 to achieve the first manned supersonic flight. Lundquist directed the X-1 program and was one of the three test pilots. Fitzgerald was the second person to reach supersonic speeds after Yeager, doing so on 24 February 1948. He died in a landing accident in September 1948. Photographed in 1947 or 1948
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Media ID 9204677
© LIBRARY OF CONGRESS/US AIR FORCE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
1900s 1940s 1947 1948 Aeronautics Aeroplane Aircraft Airplane Aviation Aviator California Edwards Air Force Base Group Portrait Military Pilot Plane Portrait Record Breaking Rocket Plane Runway Speed Of Sound Test Pilot Transport Transportation Flight Suit Junior
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the legendary Bell XS-1 test pilots who fearlessly pushed the boundaries of aviation in the late 1940s. Standing proudly beside their supersonic aircraft, we see three remarkable individuals who played pivotal roles in shaping aeronautical history. On the left is Captain Charles (Chuck) E. Yeager, born in 1923, an iconic figure known for his groundbreaking achievement of becoming the first person to break the sound barrier on October 14th, 1947. His determination and skill propelled him into the annals of aviation greatness. Next to Yeager stands Major Gus Lundquist (1919-2008), a key figure in directing the X-1 program and one of its esteemed test pilots. Lundquist's expertise and leadership were instrumental in pushing forward this revolutionary project. Completing this trio is Captain James Thomas Fitzgerald (1920-1948), whose name may be lesser-known but whose accomplishments were no less significant. Fitzgerald became only the second person to reach supersonic speeds after Yeager, accomplishing this feat on February 24th, 1948. Tragically, he lost his life due to a landing accident just months later. This historic photograph captures not only these extraordinary men but also represents a milestone moment when human ingenuity triumphed over limitations. It serves as a testament to their bravery, dedication, and unwavering pursuit of progress within aerospace technology during that transformative era at Edwards Air Force Base. (Photo credit: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS/US AIR FORCE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY)
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