IV
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 173
Honoring the accomplishments of the many Americans who contributed to
the development of supersonic flight technology.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 22, 1997
Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas submitted the following concurrent resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on Science
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Honoring the accomplishments of the many Americans who
contributed to the development of supersonic flight tech-
nology.
Whereas on October 14, 1947, United States Air Force Cap-
tain Charles E. ‘‘Chuck’’ Yeager’s flight in the Bell XS–
1 rocket-propelled supersonic research aircraft was the
first to exceed the speed of sound;
Whereas a diverse group of agencies and organizations co-
operated effectively and creatively to make this flight pos-
sible;
Whereas the United States Air Force, the National Advisory
Committee for Aeronautics, and the Bell Aircraft Cor-
poration made particularly notable contributions to the
efforts to develop supersonic flight technology;
•HCON 173 IH
Whereas many individual Americans selflessly gave their
time, energy, and expertise to achieve the technological
breakthrough in aeronautical science that supersonic
flight represented;
Whereas the individuals who devoted themselves to achieving
this breakthrough and to the overall improvement of air
and space flight include—
Charles E. ‘‘Chuck’’ Yeager, Air Force Bell XS–1
test pilot and the first pilot to exceed the speed of sound;
Jackie Ridley, Air Force test pilot and flight test
planner for the Bell XS–1 aircraft’s supersonic research
missions at Muroc Dry Lake, California;
Albert Boyd, Air Force general and flight test ad-
ministrator at the Air Force Material Command, Wright
Field, Ohio;
Ezra Kotcher, Air Force engineer who developed the
design requirements for the Bell XS–1 aircraft and who
was a tireless advocate for the procurement of supersonic
research aircraft;
John Stack, National Advisory Committee for Aero-
nautics research scientist and visionary pioneer of the su-
personic research aircraft concept;
Walter Williams, National Advisory Committee for
Aeronautics flight test administrator who managed and
directed the efforts to develop the Bell XS–1 aircraft in
Muroc Dry Lake, California;
Robert Woods, Bell Aircraft Corporation chief engi-
neer who took on the challenge to build a supersonic air-
craft and who assembled the design team that made its
construction possible;
Jack Woolams, Bell Aircraft Corporation test pilot
who first proved the reliability of the Bell XS–1 aircraft
•HCON 173 IH
and who championed the aircraft until his tragic death
in an air racing accident;
Chalmers Goodlin, Bell Aircraft Corporation test
pilot who validated the design of the Bell XS–1 aircraft
during its contractor flight tests; and
Robert Frost, Bell Aircraft Corporation test pilot
and engineer who provided technical instruction, guid-
ance, and counsel to the Bell XS–1 aircraft test team as
it approached ever-higher speeds in pursuit of the goal of
supersonic flight; and
Whereas these Americans and many others brought to the
world a new era of high speed flight that made possible
the tremendous advances in international air transport
that followed: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress—
(1) honors the accomplishments of the many
Americans who worked to develop supersonic flight
technology; and
(2) concludes that the example of those who
worked to develop supersonic flight technology serves
as both an inspiration and challenge to Americans
today as they stand poised on the threshold of a new
century of flight.
Æ