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American Innovations

Breaking The Sound Barrier | Sonic Boom or Bust | 2

American Innovations

Wondery

Steven Johnson, History, Kids & Family, Education For Kids, Science

4.64.1K Ratings

🗓️ 15 April 2021

⏱️ 43 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

With each test run, pilot Chuck Yeager is getting closer to taking the top secret Bell X-1 plane past the speed of sound. But just before a critical flight, an accident on the ground jeopardizes his chances of success.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Hey, prime members, you can listen to American innovations, add free on Amazon music.

0:05.8

Download the app today.

0:16.6

It's September 1947 at the Mojave Desert Dive Bar known as Poncho's Fly-In.

0:23.3

For pilots at the nearby Nurek Airfield, the fly-in isn't just the best saloon for miles

0:29.4

around, it's the only one.

0:31.7

The regulars whoop their halos as Chuck Yeager centers in with his friend and engineer, Jack

0:36.9

Ridley.

0:37.9

Fresh from another successful test run of Murak's fastest plane, the X1.

0:43.8

For Yeager and anyone else working on top secret often life-risk test flights, this

0:49.0

is the place to blow off some steam and build their nerve back up.

0:53.1

And they couldn't do it without the fly's legendary owner and bartender, Miz Poncho Barnes.

1:00.0

She pours a couple of glasses of scotch for Yeager and Ridley, as they belly up to the

1:04.2

bar.

1:05.2

Yeager, once you cross that sound barrier, you better find a way to take me for a spin at

1:09.2

Mach 1.

1:10.2

I want to feel the rumble of those rockets.

1:12.2

Must be like riding a comet.

1:14.2

Heh, Poncho, I'd feel a hell of a lot better up there if you were with me.

1:18.4

Ridley laughs.

1:19.6

I wouldn't.

1:20.6

I've got my hands full with Yeager on that plane.

1:23.1

I don't need another outlaw up there with him.

...

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