Chuck Yeager, Glen Edwards & others who pushed the envelope brought us to today PERSPECTIVE The crew of the Northrup YB-40 flying wing jet bomber that crashed June 5, 1948 killing its five crew members including Glen Edwards. Chuck Yeager — arguably the most famous test pilot in United States history — passed away this week at age 97. On Oct. 14, 1947 at age 24 Yeager made history as he pushed the limits by piloting the bullet-shaped Bell X-1 rocket to a then daunting speed of 660 mph to become the first man to break the sound ba...