![]() The event sought to inspire thousands of young Americans to pursue educations and careers in STEM fields. Secretary Kendall noted how appropriate it was that the ceremony mark the beginning of the largest STEM Expo in Air Force history. Cabana discussed a number of ongoing NASA research efforts that could pave the way for significant improvements to both military and civilian aviation. General Higer called on the audience to consider what STEM challenges face the country today and how they can contribute to meeting them. Brown, Jr., the Air Force Chief of Staff, spoke of the “Spirit that for 75 years has led to building and sustaining Air Force capabilities that dominate the skies.” He encouraged those listening to embrace the teamwork and drive to accelerate technological advancement and protect the nation’s populace and interests. The other major theme of the ceremony was the continued importance of the spirit that the X-1 team demonstrated. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall noted in a recorded message played at the ceremony that the supersonic flight on October 14th, 1947 marked the result of “years of effort by a committed team building on the efforts of those before them.” NACA was a partner in the project since its beginning. Robert Cabana, the Associate Administrator of NASA, pointed out that “Test is a team sport” and noted that NACA (NASA’s predecessor) had sent personnel to the Mojave Desert to participate in the X-1 program. The teamwork of those individuals was a recurring theme of the ceremony. With the families of several team members in the audience, Brigadier General Matthew Higer, Commander of the 412th Test Wing, renamed the High Altitude Supersonic Corridor to the Bell X-1 Supersonic Corridor, saying he did so “in honor and in memory of the team of Big-A Airmen, whose collective individual contributions coalesced into something much more powerful than they could have ever imagined.” The ceremony served to celebrate that accomplishment and mark the beginning of the Edwards Air Force Base STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Expo, Open House, and Air Show that ran over the weekend. On the ninth powered flight, the Bell X-1 surpassed the speed of sound (Mach 1) in level, controlled flight. The small team of engineers, pilots, and maintenance personnel came to the Mojave Desert to overcome the so-called Sound Barrier in 1947. 75 years to the day after the Bell X-1 proved that the Sound Barrier was only an engineering challenge, the 412th Test Wing hosted a ceremony to honor the contributions of the team behind that remarkable aircraft. ![]()
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