1. Chalmers Hubert "Slick" Goodlin was the second test pilot of the Bell X-1 supersonic rocket plane, and the first to operate the craft in powered flight.
19 Facts About Chalmers Goodlin
1. 2.
Chalmers Goodlin began learning to fly at the age of 15, and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1941 on his eighteenth birthday, inspired by the tremendous air battles over the English Channel in early World War II, but was unable to participate as part of the American military since the US had not yet entered the war.
3.
Chalmers Goodlin became the youngest commissioned officer in the RCAF and entered the European theater in 1942.
4.
Chalmers Goodlin was released from active duty and found employment with Bell Aircraft as a test pilot in December 1943.
5.
Chalmers Goodlin became one of the first certified jet pilots in the United States.
6.
Chalmers Goodlin was the second pilot to fly the X-1.
7.
Chalmers Goodlin flew the X-1 a total of 26 times, pushing it near the sound barrier.
8.
Chalmers Goodlin joined the "Caterpillar Club" two times after bailing out of aircraft during test flights.
9.
The X-1 program was taken over by the United States Air Force after Chalmers Goodlin demanded $150,000 and additionally demanded hazard pay for every minute spent over Mach 0.85.
10.
Chalmers Goodlin later denied ever making the demand for extra pay.
11.
Chalmers Goodlin stated that he had made a deal with Bob Stanley of Bell to make the first supersonic flight before turning the plane over to the United States Air Force, but they wanted a man in uniform to make the flight for the sake of better publicity.
12.
In 1948 Chalmers Goodlin served as a Mahal pilot in the newly formed Israeli Air Force, and fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
13.
Chalmers Goodlin later became the chief test pilot for the IAF.
14.
Chalmers Goodlin continued his career in aviation, owning Seychelles-Kilimanjaro Air Transport, and other companies supplying parts and aircraft to various airlines and other concerns.
15.
Chalmers Goodlin was a proponent of "lifting fuselage" aircraft designs, whose proponents argue create far safer airliners.
16.
Chalmers Goodlin enjoyed memberships in the Royal Aero Club, the Quiet Birdmen, the Caterpillar Club, the OX-5 Club, The Greater Miami Aviation Association as a Senior Member and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
17.
Chalmers Goodlin died on October 20,2005, in Palm Beach, Florida.
18.
Chalmers Goodlin had two brief marriages one to Eleonore Zak and one to actress Wendy Waldron.
19.
Chalmers Goodlin was portrayed by William Russ in the 1983 film version of The Right Stuff.