The X-1 Rocket Plane was a pioneering aircraft developed in the 1940s to test the limits of supersonic flight. It was the first plane to break the sound barrier, achieving this milestone on October 14, 1947, piloted by Chuck Yeager. The design featured a rocket engine and a streamlined fuselage, allowing it to reach speeds exceeding Mach 1. The X-1 was part of a series of experimental aircraft funded by the United States Air Force and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Its successful flights provided valuable data that contributed to the development of future supersonic and hypersonic aircraft, shaping modern aviation technology.