Overview

They were in a two-man race to break the sound barrier. It was October 1947, a time before high-speed digital computers, when predictions of what would happen to fighter planes at such speeds were nebulous. Chuck Yeager and George Welch, two great fighter pilots from World War II, were about to explore the unknown in the bright blue sky over the Mojave Desert. Aces Wild: The Race for Mach 1 is the story of these two courageous men who dueled to become the first to fly at supersonic speed, Mach 1, in an aircraft. The book attempts to set the record straight as to who actually broke the sound barrier first. One pilot, the more celebrated of the duo, is still alive today. Aces Wild also tells the story of the other aviator, George Welch, who lost his life in 1954 while once again flying beyond the technological wisdom of his day over the Mojave Desert. Aces Wild traces the story of fighter planes from the start of World War II at Pearl Harbor through the transition to jets in the 1950s. The author reveals the views of supersonic flight before and after 1947 by pilots, scientists, engineers, business interests, the government, and the media. This dramatic tale will appeal to aviation buffs and all readers, especially those who enjoyed Tom Wolfe's The Right Stuff.

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9780842027328

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Reviews

Move over, Chuck Yeager. Take note, Tom Wolfe. Al Blackburn, an aeronautical engineer and former test pilot, says that George Welch belongs atop the ziggurat of the right stuff. The case is circumstantial but persuasive, filled with wonderful yarns. -- Alex Roland, Duke University Al Blackburn, a scrappy survivor of the legendary mid-century roster of top-rank test pilots, has put together a rememberance of his world that is full of intriguing surprises. Not least is his thesis that Chuck Yeager may not have been the first person to make a supersonic flight. This is a story with much wider implications than whether Yeager or George Welch deserves the accolades for initially penetrating the sound barrier. And it's told in a style that neatly blends gripping and colorful anecdotal sequences with technical explanations that lend the account a high degree of authenticity. -- Richard Witkin, former Aviation Editor, The New York Times A dramatic and historically accurate story. Midwest Book Review Fascinating. Flight Journal Sure to stir debate. Buffalo News A new voice has been added to the ranks of the great aviation writers. -- George C. Larson, editor, Air & Space Magazine A very interesting book recording how it was and who did what and to whom during the race to achieve manned supersonic flight. -- Vice Admiral Donald D. Engen, U.S. Navy (ret.), director, National Air and Space Museum Aces Wild does far more than simply entertain or inform. It thrills, it inspires, and it enlightens. Al Blackburn takes the reader on the wild ride to do what many had thought impossible: exceed the speed of sound. He introduces us to a myriad of unique characters, those free spirits who defied the conventional wisdom and pushed the performance envelope beyond reasonable limits of safety. -- Corey C. Jordan, editor, Planes and Pilots of World War II on-line magazine Aces Wild is a very readable and highly personal story of the growth in fight-testing history between adolescence and maturity, cowboys and engineers, manual and automated, fighter jocks and a new breed of scholarly test pilots (Blackburn being one). -- Jeeb Halaby, Federal Aviation Administrator, 1961-1965; CEO, Pan Am, 1969-1971 Blackie's love for flying comes through on every page. This book should appeal to all others who share that love. But it will be of even greater interest to those who appreciate the role that aviation has come to play in the modern world. -- John L. McLucas, former Secretary of the Air Force Simply superb! Aces Wild will set off a fire storm of argument as the case is made for the very real possibility that George 'Wheaties' Welch went supersonic in the XP-86 before Chuck Yeager's epic October 14, 1947, flight. -- Walter J. Boyne, chairman, Wingspan Air and Space cable television channel

Simply superb! Aces Wild will set off a fire storm of argument as the case is made for the very real possibility that George 'Wheaties' Welch went supersonic in the XP-86 before Chuck Yeager's epic October 14, 1947, flight.--Walter J. Boyne

Author Information

Al Blackburn is an aeronautical engineer and former test pilot.

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