Today In History:  20 August  [1947]   --  Skystreak sets new aircraft speed

Conceived as a joint NACA/US Navy research program for transonic and supersonic flight, Turner Caldwell uses the Douglas Skystreak D-558-I to set a new aircraft speed record of 1131 km/h (640.744 mph).   This was recognised as an official world air speed record, as the WW2 German Me 163B V18 Komet rocket fighter prototype that was claimed to have reached 1,130 km/h (702 mph; 610 kn) in July 1944 did so in secrecy and not under the strict conditions that regulate official records.

PHOTO: A 1952 NACA High-Speed Flight Research Station inflight photograph of the Douglas D-558-1 #3 Skystreak. Even with partial cloud cover the white aircraft is easy to see.

See the Historical Aviation Film Unit website at http://www.aviationfilm.com to get a new history tidbit every day.


Photo Attribution:  Public Domain  via Wikimedia.