Synopsis

For decades, the sound barrier stood as an apparently insurmountable obstacle to manned flight, generating shock waves that violently shook any plane attempting to approach the speed of sound. Scientists believed this barrier unbreakable—until the advent of jet technology and powerful rocket fuel toward the close of World War II. This is a compelling narrative, recounted through the voices of those who lived it, detailing the efforts culminating in October 10, 1947, when the 24-year-old test pil