On October 14, 1947, the Bell X-1 became the first airplane to fly faster than the speed of sound.  Piloted by USAF Capt. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager, the X-1 reached a speed of 700 mph, mach 1.06, at an altitude of 43,000 feet.  Yeager named the airplane "Glamorous Glennis" in tribute to his wife.  Air launched at an altitude of 23,000 feet from the bomb bay of a Boeing B-29, (chase plane in background) the X-1 used its rocket engine to climb to its test altitude.