Page "George Welch (pilot)" Paragraph 12

In his Aces Wild: The Race for Mach 1 ( 1998 ), test pilot and author Al Blackburn claimed Welch broke the sound barrier two weeks before Yeager.

Blackburn bases his contention on interviews of eyewitnesses, former North American employees and access to contemporary historical accounts.

The story had also circulated at the time, amongst the Muroc personnel.

Robert Kempel, author of The Race For Mach 1 contradicts the claim, contending it was impossible for Welch's aircraft to break the sound barrier with an underpowered engine.

Bob Hoover, chase pilot for Welch and Yeager, has also gone on record to debunk the Welch story.

Kempel contends that due to the very early stage of North American ’ s flight test program, the aircraft was simply not ready for high-speed flight due to the limited airframe flight time and clearance.

He notes that the XP-86 airframe was capable of transonic flight, but the interim low-power J35-C-3 limited its performance.

The highest Mach number reached by Welch in 1947, as indicated by official flight test records, was about 0. 93, in a maximum power dive from with the engine at 100. 8-percent Military RPM ( i. e. maximum power ).

North American conducted this test, their “ High Mach Number Investigation ”, on November 13.

The USAF verified all North American results and this test Mach number in their own Phase II tests conducted in December 1947.