1923 - 2020
Chuck Yeager was an American pilot and United States Air Force officer, best known for being the first person to break the sound barrier on October 14, 1947, while flying the Bell X-1 aircraft. A fighter ace during World War II, Yeager had a distinguished career in aviation, earning numerous accolades and becoming a test pilot and a key figure in the development of supersonic flight. He remained an influential figure in aerospace history until his death on December 7, 2020.