With one thunderous cracking sound across the sky, Chuck Yeager achieved his goal of reaching ultimate speed. Manning the pilot's seat of the supercharged X-1 in 1947, Yeager broke the sound barrier and soared higher than any pilot before him. Superfast Planes is the story of Yeager and other champions of the air who design and build planes to go faster and higher. Thrill-seeking readers will meet the great men and women of aviation, learn the history of manned flight, and discover the mechanics and engineering of the world's fastest planes. Full-color photographs, a labeled diagram, and compelling narratives of real pilots in action guarantee to capture students' attention.