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

X-1A on board film sequences (including Chuck Yeager's December 12, 1953 record breaking flight), roughly matched to mission audio.
Footage from other flights was used to cover release, landing and tracking views. Audio was edited and only parts with matching footage are shown.
Subtitles were added based on the audio transcript.
Audio and transcript from www.chuckyeage...
Research, editing, image cleanup and color correction by RetroSpace HD.
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Charles Elwood Yeager (February 13, 1923 - December 7, 2020) was a United States Air Force officer, flying ace, and record-setting test pilot who in 1947 became the first pilot in history confirmed to have exceeded the speed of sound in level flight.
Shortly after reaching Mach 2.44, Yeager lost control of the X-1A at about 80,000 ft (24,000 m) due to inertia coupling, a phenomenon largely unknown at the time. With the aircraft simultaneously rolling, pitching, and yawing out of control, Yeager dropped 51,000 ft (16,000 m) in less than a minute before regaining control at around 29,000 ft (8,800 m). He then managed to land without further incident.
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#chuckyeager #x-1a #mach

[@acb9896]

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

[@jessesimmons4503]

Titanium is the best metal.

[@neutraIdrop]

Titanium is extremely lightweight, idiots.

[@n7346e]

Titanium very light.

[@rivotrich7]

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

[@Flygio]

Came here directly from chuck book. Amazing

[@derekcoaker6579]

Same. I started with Bud Anderson's book a while back and thought he had some stories. Yeager's story is almost unbelievable. What amazing men.

[@fleafrier1]

Same also. It was General Boyd’s description of the flight recording that made me have to search for it. That was one tough aircraft to have not broken up. Tough pilot too.

[@mjproebstle]

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

[@RetroSpaceHD]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@EricIrl]

@@RetroSpaceHD Great stuff - I'd seen much of the footage but never heard the audio, which is eye opening. I like it when he said that, if he'd had a seat (ejector seat) he'd have been out of that plane.

[@DJScaleModels]

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

[@billofrightsamend4]

It was the G-Forces, it makes it difficult to talk. But, yeah sounds like he didn't want to fly it a 2nd time.

[@derekcoaker6579]

​@@billofrightsamend4 Wasn't just G-Force, he really thought he bought it that day. If you enjoy books, his Autobiography is an amazing read.

[@garyseven2798]

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

[@n7346e]

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

[@sushimamba4281]

That plane was engineered to withstand 18G!

[@reinhardt2002]

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.

[@reinhardt2002]

@@karlwithak. In fact, he entered the X-1 through a side hatch. And the time he was in serious danger, Yeager tried to the end to control the plane and didn't even mention jumping, as he was at a very high rate of descent.

[@reinhardt2002]

@@karlwithak. That's not what's in Yeager's bio. Sorry, but try to inform yourself instead of hammering things out of his head. Read this: Yeager an Autobiography by Chuck Yeager and Leo Janos .

[@hanzo3188]

​@reinhardt2002 this is the x-1A model. It didn't have a side hatch like the first one. It had a modified bubble canopy for metter visibility and it opened upward like a conventional fighter.

[@alan-sk7ky]

@@hanzo3188 And was bolted shut once the pilot had got in the the X1a after take off

[@basp-ef7jx]

Reading chucks book right now.

[@larryo6874]

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

[@rawnukles]

Oh, those guys where so dam right. I wondered what they had said. I was thinking they maybe said "don't try and roll it at the top" and he tried to roll it ... found out. Lucky they built it tough .

[@conorlauren]

That was why Yeager said those guys were “so right.”

[@SicilyJo]

Admiration for the “steady/Eddie” calmness of communications between Yeager and ground crew. Of course, that’s how they are trained. Wish that kind of keeping your head in crucial situations would overflow into society.

[@sinclairmarcus]

Incredible footage.

[@richdouglas2311]

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.

[@michaelbragg6903]

He never wanted to be an astronaut because there wouldn’t have been any real flying

[@richdouglas2311]

@@michaelbragg6903 That's not what I gathered from Tom Wolfe's "The Right Stuff" (the book, not the movie). Nor from Yeager's autobiography. It's was more of a fait accompli than anything else. But Yeager knew those NASA guys were heading right to the top of the pyramid, and I wonder if he'd gone just because of that. Speculation, I guess, without going back and re-reading those two books.

[@michaelbragg6903]

@@richdouglas2311 If something happened in a Mercury capsule as it was originally designed the astronaut would have relied on the calculations put into the capsule computer. There was no stick or chance to control the spacecraft. They eventually got controls in. That’s why Yeager and the other test pilots at Edwards and maybe Pax River never wanted to join the astronaut corps because they would be passengers in the capsule. The Spam in a can referenced in the book and movie. At least he had control of a plane and his life depended on his skills and the mechanics skills instead of a computer.

[@richdouglas2311]

@@michaelbragg6903 I believe they added those to Grissom's capsule, or perhaps Glenn's. It was more than just flying. Yeager recognized that these guys at NASA were going right to the top of the pyramid.

[@michaelbragg6903]

@@richdouglas2311 and helped the French resistance

[@themocaw]

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

[@kh40yr]

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).

[@rfletch62]

On the F104? The ejection seat fired downward, which made me wonder what the designers were drinking.

[@alan-sk7ky]

x1a canopy was bolted down...

[@tyjones5019]

I love John Wayne, but he was at the end of the day just an actor. Chuck is the most actual American badass that I can think of.

[@paaat001]

Yes he is. But if you talk to the men of that generation, you'll find many more. Unfortunately only about 1% are still with us.

[@petermcgill1315]

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

[@ockempson]

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

[@tomw6271]

This man lived to be almost 100 despite his dangerous life as a fighter ace and test pilot. The same for his friend Bud Anderson who lived to 102. Men just are not made like that any more.

[@bajajoes1]

Edwards AFB should rename Yeager-Edwards AFB!

[@maxwellwalcher1441]

cool ready for Apollo 11 launch please.

[@gmaglio]

Man, CY sounded scared af!

[@RetroSpaceHD]

Indeed. You can see from the footage that the situation is serious.

[@jamesfrangione8448]

Sounds harrowing. Yeager...balls of steel.

[@michaelmcgovern8110]

On 12 December 1953, Major Yeager flew the new rocket plane to 1,650 miles per hour (2,655 kilometers per hour), Mach 2.44, at 74,700 feet (22,769 meters). I looked it up. He fell from 75 to 25 thousand feet in HOW long?

[@gafoot5368]

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

[@RetroSpaceHD]

Indeed. After hearing this (and putting the footage together) I think it's incredible how he managed to recover from that situation!

[@gafoot5368]

@@RetroSpaceHD Only he could have pulled that off; Scott Crossfield said so.

[@scottyeager488]

Heard the story of this flight for years sitting around the campfire. It's unreal actually getting to hear the actual radio chatter.

[@RWBHere]

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

[@simonnomis5302]

this is after the x1` flight ...its not depicted in the film

[@chrisbrown7362]

@@simonnomis5302 They took this incident and the NF-104 crash and put them together in "The Right Stuff" film.

[@jamierife7789]

@@simonnomis5302 It's the X-2 flight in the film, where he cracked the canopy.

[@SWalker71]

@@simonnomis5302 Yes it is.

[@edwardpate6128]

Man the sky sure is dark up that high!

[@arcadeages3917]

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

[@billofrightsamend4]

Maybe he's talking about the fuel for the jet, because it had to burn at high altitudes. The space rockets used nitrous oxide?? Maybe it had some sort of fuel injector??

[@rfletch62]

Likely the reaction control thrusters. The air is too thin for wings to work up there. Thrusters for roll, pitch, yaw. As if the ship was in space.

[@keithammleter3824]

The rocket motors were liquid fueled. To pump the fuel into the combustion chamber, high pressure nitrogen gas ran a turbine.

[@pasodeminick]

Step into prototypes, push them to the limit, try to control and solve any situation, keep calm while you break the G-meter. Balls of steel.

[@timsparks1858]

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.

[@michaelmcgovern8110]

4:12 - what do YOU hear: [chuckling]"I think you'll have to run a structural demonstratin' on this damn thing."

[@SingaporeSkaterSam]

“I don’t think you’ll have to run a structure demonstration on this damned thing!” Per official transcript

[@billofrightsamend4]

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.

[@1987VCRProductions]

He would have made a great astronaut.

[@tomt373]

I think the USAF was afraid they might have lost their best test pilot to some NASA screw-up.

[@VernCrisler]

Apparently, he didn't fit the profile. Bureaucracy for you.

[@jimshoe402]

@@VernCrisler CORRECT no COLLEGE ..

[@shawnmclean7932]

Spam in a can.

[@campbellmays9900]

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

[@derekcoaker6579]

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

[@PhilipBooth-qj9dk]

October 14th 1947. RIP Mr Yeager.

[@kennethruehl8299]

So surreal Seriously

[@ken-km7kk]

Awesome post 👍

[@RAINBOW24S]

He is the cousin of my grandmother Edith Ione Posey

[@carlosbrites8201]

QEPD,CHUCK.

[@betterthanyou3145]

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”

[@ted3020]

Several years ago at Oshkosh, they were honoring Scott Crossfield. Someone asked Yeager if Scott was a good pilot and he said - no. Yeager always gave his opinion to every question..

[@jimshoe402]

@@ted3020 TOOOO many Risks that's why he Died. Read up

[@privateer0561]

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

[@derekcoaker6579]

Fuckers were made of Unobtanium. 😂

[@blackproject5677]

Pro.....

[@RAINBOW24S]

Edith Ione Yeager was her birth name

[@jakobwooten4328]

yeah

[@guitarshredddddder91]

Lockheed always built a good aircraft. Kudos for bringing another Hero back home

[@stevetobe4494]

The X-1A was made by Bell.

[@guitarshredddddder91]

@@stevetobe4494 Bell is owned by Textron Inc. & is a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky. So, ya I'd like to thank you for playing. 🙏👍

[@stevetobe4494]

@@guitarshredddddder91 Not back then.

[@guitarshredddddder91]

@@stevetobe4494 we don't live back then.

[@stevetobe4494]

@@guitarshredddddder91 It was strictly a Bell Aircraft design back then and Lockheed had nothing to do with it.

[@airplanes42]

Yeager almost destroying another program (like the NF104) by chasing another record and contributing nothing to research.....

[@greebel1]

That's actually not true. It was not a personal grudge match. Yeager didn't just up and decide he needed to break Crossfields record, the govt program now knowing Mach 2 was possible, wanted to see how much faster they can keep going. And at every step of the way, once proven for the first time, other pilots and engineers can be taught from it. And then their job is push it more. What else is capable. The x1a was designed to go faster the Mach. 2. And one problem at those speeds is intetia coupling. Which killed another great Edward's AF pilot at the time, Mel Apt. It was a phenomenon at those speeds and there wasn't a solution to overcome it. Yeagers accident wound up proving it could be overcome. So new pilots and new planes could be built to try and test how best to overcome IC.

[@jaykay6387]

@@greebel1 The truth is probably someplace in the middle. I read Yeager's autobiography, and he even admits that at least part of the reason he did this was to show up NACA(the forerunner to NASA) that were the first to break Mach 2, which had just been achieved by Crossfield(flying for NACA). He even dubbed it "Operation NACA Weep". His plan was to go beyond Mach 2 as a way to embarrass NACA, who had planned to hold some kind of ceremony to celebrate achieving Mach 2.

[@ludwigsamereier8204]

To hell with that annoying music!!!