Aces Wild: The Race for Mach 1

by Al Blackburn

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...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0842027327
• ISBN13: 9780842027328
• Release Date: November 1998
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Length: 282 Pages
• Weight: 1.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Nice work of Fiction

This is a work of fiction. There was no race. George Welch himself never claimed to have broken the sound barrier. His plane was busted on that alleged day so he couldn't even fly it. Blackburn created this false narrative to sell books and use Yeager's name to do so. Blackburn was going to give a talk at the Society of Experimental Test Pilots convention but canceled when he heard Robert Kempel was going to be there for the Q&A. Robert Kempel is an aeronautical engineer and historian who shows scientifically why it was impossible for Welch to break the sound barrier in the airplane he claims.

A superb historical "whodunit"

What a find -- a terrific read, an interesting poke at one of our most cherished icons, and a wonderful reminiscence about the "golden age of test flight." Mr. Blackburn presents two main ideas in this book -- first, the legendary Chuck Yeager may not have been the first person to pass through the equally legendary sound barrier, and second, the need for public support for flight research dictated the credits for this accomplishment. The author test piloted for North American Aviation, which produced the XP-86 Sabrejet (discussed later), so he has singular credentials and credibility. His research seems reasonably well done, with personal, primary, and backup sources.The first person to become supersonic may well have been North American test pilot George Welch, in the superb new XP-86 fighter prototype. Welch may have jetted past Mach 1 several times before Gen. Yeager's immortalized flight (this takes little away from Yeager, who doubtlessly never felt Welch was first. The author also pays the obligatory adulations to Yeager's skills, although I doubt Mr. Yeager has bought Mr. Blackburn many drinks to celebrate this book). The author gives three reasons to suggest Welch was first. To begin with, the XP-86 aircraft was certainly capable of Mach 1+ (in a shallow dive), and Welch's skill and aggressiveness were up to it, too. Second, although the government gave Welch's team strict orders to let Yeager's Air Force team go first, Welch often cared neither a fiddle nor a fig about such orders. Finally, witnesses heard Welch's sonic booms several times before Yeager's.So why didn't anyone investigate the legitimacy of the claims for Welch and the XP-86 when the flights were performed? The author implies things worked out as they did for three reasons. First, breaking the sound barrier became a vast potential gold mine of publicity, and the "powers that be" wanted this publicity mined for purposes they would determine. Supporters of the brand new Air Force wanted the prestige. Furthermore, tremendous effort had gone into developing specialized research planes like the X-1, and few wanted to see the experimental aircraft program be swept into insignificance by a relatively non-exotic fighter -- the sonic boom was to announce a revolution, not a progression. Even North American later joined that revolution with its own magnificent X-15. Second, about the time the sound barrier was "broken," aviation became very expensive, and progress depended upon public acceptance of the required effort. Therefore, aviation wanted a good publicist, and Yeager proved almost ideal. His confident charm seemed likely to pluck the funding right straight out of a politician's tight but awestruck fists. By contrast, George Welch was a fine young man and a superb pilot, but his speaking and social skills seemed, uh, marginal compared to Yeager's. Recruitment and public support for aviation probably benefitted from Yeager sitting atop the supersonic food chain. Finally, neithe

It's ALL true

I had first heard of the XP-86 beating the X-1 to Mach 1 thru a web site artical quoting this same book . I have a retired test pilot friend who I have known since the 1940's . We had never discussed the X-1 before . When I asked him what he knew about the XP-86 vs the X-1 he told me it was true from what he had heard in his many project stays at Edwards AFB. A second friend who is a retired navy pilot told me the following story: His squadron was flying FJ-1's (the navalized version of the F-86) and were given a tour of North American Aviation's production facility in 1955 to pre-view the up coming FJ-2's and 3's. One of the engineering guides made the comment about the XF-86 actually being the first to go supersonic and made the assurance that it was true . This is a superb book , hands down the best reading I've seen in a long time . It's even better when you have some other authoritive source that confirms some of it. The background history of how , thru politics and favortism, the Mach 1 and Mach 2 "firsts" were awarded to Bell Aircraft and Yeager is more than enough to make you wonder what else has been hidded from the general public !

Son of George Welch and Stepson of Lee Atwood

I first must say that I found out about this book from long time family friend, Neal Scott(NAA Eng., Muroc) and was presented a copy of the book by my cousin Blaine Murray (P-38 recon pilot Italy USAAF). My older brother, Giles gave "Blackie" of his time personal documents, testimonial, guest in my home...and that was that. There are as my brother laughingly said: "That's news to me!" when reading descriptions of my families personal life. I ask 1. What is Yeager's take on the book? 2. Yeager(Dad's junior) used to fly chase planes for Dad. So they must have exchanged conversation,yes...what was said? 3. As with the case with Pearl Harbor on Dec.7,1941 Both Dad and Ken Taylor went up at the same time. I was told by my Mother and Grandfather that Dad and Ken made an agreement for the survivor to take credit for the first air combat victory in the Pacific Theater in WWII

Excellent! Perhaps aviations greatest twist.

Blackburn reveals the other "side" of aviations greatest moment. Highly crafted account of the challenges and untold hero(s) race to mach 1.

The saga of George Welch, who beat Chuck Yeager to mach 1

This past summer, I had the good fortune to review "Aces Wild: The Race For Mach 1" for the publisher. To say that this book will generate controversy would be far too mild. This remarkable book will rock much of the old Air Force establishment back on their heels. What author and former test pilot Al Blackburn has done here is to shatter the fifty one year old cover-up that placed Chuck Yeager on an exalted pedestal and denied another, even greater hero, his due acclaim as the first man to fly through the sound barrier. Up to now, George Welch (heir to the grape juice fortune) has not received any credit for his bold feat. Welch managed to get airborne in his P-40 fighter at Pearl Harbor, shooting down four Japanese attackers, and would eventually be credited with 16 victories. In early October, 1947 Welch took up the North American XP-86 Sabre up on its maiden flight, and on his own, dove the Sabre prototype through the much ballyhooed sound barrier weeks before Yeager pushed the Bell XS-1 (X-1) past Mach one. Not only did Welch beat Yeager, he did it more than once before Yeager's mythical record flight.Blackburn weaves the stories of Welch and Yeager together with the excitement of the most dramatic era of aviation since the Wrights teetered off the launch rail at Kittyhawk. The reader is introduced to a facinating cast of characters and can feel the tension of the unofficial race for speed, won by Welch and the Sabrejet only to be buried as a political expedient by the Secretary of the Air Force. Even before being released, NASA and the Air Force are buzzing about Blackburn's book. If the aviation reader were to buy only one book this year, "Aces High" is that book. Don't miss it. It is this years best treat in aviation writing.