 proudly we hail New York City where the American stage begins here is another program with a cast of outstanding players and featuring less daily public service time has been made available by the station for your army and your Air Force to bring you this story as proudly we hail our men in the Air Force jet flight it is a salute to the engineers designers and test pilots who make this story possible our first act curtain will rise after this important message for you young men with two or more years of college you are urgently needed in your rapidly expanding United States Air Force the Air Force needs men today to be the leaders of tomorrow men who will follow in the tradition of the Air Force and its great leaders if you are between nineteen yes nineteen and twenty six and a half years of age and can qualify you are urged to join the ranks of modern air pioneers by becoming an aviation cadet stop in at your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station today or right to aviation cadet branch headquarters United States Air Force Washington 25 DC that's aviation cadet branch headquarters United States Air Force Washington 25 DC to fly free to follow the sun and chase the stars to soar skyward and dwell in the lofty cloud worlds of upper space to join the eagle and touch the hand of greatness with wings the quiet reddish dawn light is growing about you as you top the final crest and before you the roads long finger stretches out to touch the airport below the airport beacon weakened now by fast approaching daylight still continues its unyielding round in the darkness it was a warm and living thing it's meaning bright and purposeful now it has become weak and useless a mechanical thing without purpose there's only one runway a long wide reaching highway that leads to another world the world of flight nervous silly question blame it on the hour it's the right hour Kent symbolic the dawn of a new day the dawn of the jet age save it mark I'll settle for a cup of coffee would taste kind of good wouldn't it yeah you know how I feel like it was graduation day only I didn't know whether I'd graduate he won a lot of other people but especially you know not me I have faith in her by the time you drive through the airport gates the light of a new day is washed clean the sky you're racing all vestiges of darkness you drive on down the tarmac past the hangars the shops the offices past an orderly line of planes and come at last to a smaller hangar where you pull up and stop hey look they bring you out all right you're clear make it easy it's far enough yeah that'll do hi guys up in the morning here looks mighty pretty doesn't she okay you can then hook her now how do you feel Mike like a burden he's a bird all right but any bird I know to shame you walk out to where she sits waiting the force of her beauty drawing you like a magnet there's a sharp arrow like quality to her sweetness the wings swept back and tapering silently proclaimed great speed the tail fin juts thinly upward away from a graceful pointed body whose silvered skin covers but does not hide the latent feeling of power within her she's new she's different she's all jets the other guy that's got to prove she's the best fighter that's ever come off a drawing board anywhere let's go get that cup of coffee be another hour before the breath starts arriving might as well you've been over in you kidding we've been at her all night you got the easy job all you got to do is the flyer the man's comedian I tell you we let Kent flyer you teach me how to fly first I never could figure out what you're doing around here anyway I'm just an innocent bystander I like to watch other people work yeah he's just the guy who dreamed her up man about 5,000 other people come on I'm hungry the guy who dreamed her up now it wasn't Kent alone like he said he was one of many and as you walk down toward the airport restaurants you think about that you think of where it began of how she was created of how long it took and what it took to fashion this lovely thing of speed and power and majesty and to begin you must go back nearly five years all right gentlemen I think we can begin now you've all seen the directive on the type of fight of the air forces looking for I needn't emphasize that's going to be like starting from scratch we've got to forget all we know about conventional aircraft this is brand new it's different and it's a big challenge in short we have our work cut out for us I know some of you already have some pretty definite ideas on jet fighters Kent here may have shown you some of his but in designing this ship the factors of speed range and armament not to mention cost going to pose tremendous barriers to one another now taking the first two speed range and armament it sounds simple enough that's what you expect in fighters that's what you've got to have but how do you get speed and how do you get range with a fast-burning fuel and no room for extra fuel tanks and armament how can you put teeth in her with 650 caliber machine guns when the extra weight will cut down on your speed those are but the basic questions and there are thousands more each one important in its way each one related to the other the designers the engineers the technicians they're the ones who have to find the answers it might look good on paper but if it won't do what it's supposed to do you'd better start again one of our first jobs is to provide a way for the pilot to bail out while traveling at transonic speed gotta eject him fast enough so he'll clear the vertical stabilizer much too bulky that way far too heavy you'll have to cut it down too bulky too heavy cut it down put a half dozen men to work on the job and in eight or ten months time you've got your pilot seats it's just fine but that's only a beginning because before the pilot can leave the plane his plexiglass covering has got to go and then when you finally got that one licked you find oh it's just dandy peachy the only trouble is we found the pilot's feet won't clear the instrument panel what do we do now only one thing to do can't redesign the pilot's feet oh we redesigned the instrument panel simple as that only it's not simple and more thousands of hours of work going to the single task alone begins to sound like you're not building a new fighter you're building a new planet a question arises from another angle temperatures in the tailpipe will range around 1200 degree centigrade and what would happen if you got a bullet hole in the tailpipe good question and the answer your tailpipe would become a welding torch that would melt the support frames for your vertical and horizontal stabilizers and goodbye airplane well how do you get around that one we'll have to make the parts out of stainless steel only trouble is we've never tried the process before and to try the process you find that in the blueprint stage alone it takes about 25,000 additional man hours Mike come here look at this thing will you know what is it well you know we've decided to increase the elevator surface but we know this would increase the pressure on the elevator that's right make it even tougher to move the stick at high speeds yep that's what this gimmick takes care of it's a motor that'll move the elevator control for you move it for you how do you mean well this motor would be hooked up here like this wouldn't matter how fast you were going you just move the stick and it would do the job what about feel what do you mean a pilot's got to be able to judge his maneuvers by the feel of the controls take that away how's he going to know how to handle a say in a high speed pullout I hate to say it but I'm afraid you've got something man well figure a way around it figure a way around it we're over it go through it but figure it and how many figures do you get from the day you start until the day she's an actual creation of a 5,000 blueprints go into her building nearly a million man hours of work and sweat and ingenuity add up to the finished product and then it's your job to find out if you'll do what she's supposed to how does she taxi now so far so good what about on the runway I haven't really let her out yet he gets going fast I'll have a full report for you in the morning any date set for first flight test no point I'm going to rush her let's be sure of her on the ground first she looks like she could jump up and fly just standing there and I'll tell you a secret Kent that's the way she feels and then one day with the sky blue and beckoning you find yourself looking straight down the long runway a plexiglass dome that arches over your head is the dome of her world and the instruments and equipment about you are the key to her heart you look out at the gentle curve of her wing and with your throat dry in your stomach empty you know you are about to fly a plane that no one has ever flown before what's he sitting out there waiting for maybe you'd wait to if you were out there for almost five years to get this far what's the hurry take anything's wrong relax Kent Mack will make a go and he's ready he's ready keep your fingers crossed wow look at that baby Clive mama look what we done built and so for you the every day you take her up and put her through her paces he's tricky high-spirited he takes lots of watching lots of knowing and every time you bring her down your report tells what was good and what wasn't so good they go to work on her they swarm over her from nose to tail like so many doctors they listen to her heart check her blood pressure examine a nervous system that's made up of nearly two miles of wiring make the diagnosis so finally one day you bring her in and the head man says well gentlemen no one disagrees I think she's ready to perform for the brass unless we're all wrong she's got what it takes speed range armament is all jet and there's nothing to match her anywhere with less David in the featured role the proudly we hail production jet flight will continue in just a moment with the second act here's good news for you young men with two or more years of college the age requirement for aviation cadet training has been lowered to 19 yes if you are between 19 and 26 and a half years of age and can qualify you will receive your silver wings and your commission as a second lieutenant in the expanding Air Force there is a vitally important job for you as a pilot navigator bombardier radar observer flight engineer or electronics officer and there's golden opportunity for you in this jet age of air power for full information visit your United States Army and your United States Air Force recruiting station or right direct to aviation cadet branch headquarters United States Air Force Washington 25 DC that's aviation cadet branch headquarters United States Air Force Washington 25 DC about 40,000 feet up what yeah that's what I mean you want a trance oh I'm sorry you know I was just thinking we somehow gathered that that's a home and all that sort of thing oh he's the guy who wasn't worried you haven't touched your coffee and you haven't said five words since we came in here what's matter I thought it was all gonna be a piece of cake well it is I was just thinking about the cake itself all that went into making it some cake hey genie bring this character another couple coffee will you look hot shot it's all the same to you I'm a little more concerned with the immediate future than with the glorious past you'd think I'd never flown him before you think we haven't been testing you for the last stop team months what's the matter you're afraid I'm going to pile her up in front of the brass no no you know I don't think that but I can't help thinking of all the millions of things that can go wrong just when it counts the most well can't if anything goes wrong I'll have a little bit more to worry about than you yeah but it still doesn't stop me from worrying can't be an old woman about it can't not get ulcers the trouble with you is you don't have any nerves at all you think the guy would have a little more confidence in something he helped to build wouldn't you look I've got just as many nerves as you and if I didn't believe in that baby I wouldn't go out and fly her for the brass today but you just relax and enjoy the show sure if he start hard it like me maybe I'll bring my knitting along the millions of things that can go wrong it's an nasty thought that's bad enough in a designer's head and absolutely poison in the pilots if you leave the restaurant and start back you force its dirty feet out of your head and look skyward solid untouched early morning blue of it goes right through your eyes into your heart suddenly you're impatient to get up there kiss the earth goodbye and go dwell on a limitless world of flight testing in its importance becomes secondary to what lies ahead got everything and no no I need my snow shoes laundry basket and toothbrush you could see yourself I'm beginning to think you don't think much of your own work okay so I'm nervous that's my business isn't it sure but I don't want any of it to spill off on me now take your nervousness off somewhere where it won't bother anyone I'm sorry Mac I'll get out of here leave you alone now she'll come through I'll bet on it and I never bet unless it's a sure thing good luck Mac I'll be watching and it's all over I'll buy you a soda hey Mac force wants to see you in his office with the Air Force Joe's happy landings morning Mac morning boss you feel like going in there meeting the Air Force I'd rather go fly an airplane plenty of time to meet them afterwards they brought a couple of their own test pilots when it's over you can start briefing them they don't want to check around as soon as possible they must be good I think it has more to do with time than eagerness just as soon as they put their stamp of approval on it we go into production big rush mighty big well as soon I get flying the sooner we get into production how do you feel fine how about you well I like eating cigars they helped digest my breakfast let's say one for Kent he's about ready to pop his buttons I guess maybe we all are it's a big day Mac you're well there's not much I can say but good luck and take it easy thanks boss see you later tower to McRae tower to McRae over McRae to tower go ahead they're all set down below Mac you're cleared for takeoff cleared for takeoff you've got your passport to the stars in the cockpit the sound of her voice is muted and hushed she purrs like a cat and once you start moving you leave her voice behind altogether the sunlight gleams on the canopy warm and assuring the runway invites you to follow its course it's time to go you move the throttle forward smoothly you head back against the rest the sudden pressure pushing hard at you become strongly alive in an instant a temperament mood transmitting itself into your hands and feet your blood you swallow up the runway with ever-increasing rapidity while the finger on the airspeed indicator steadily climbs the face of its cage and you need no indicators no mechanical dials to announce her readiness to slip the chains of earth or she tells you so herself she proclaims it to the whole universe so gently you give her head and lift her free she seems to get off nicely enough that's what I call racking it up hard to tell how good she really is standing down here when's he gonna make a gunnery run the time has come the walrus said if shown them how she takes off how she lands how smoothly she rolls and how nicely she racks up now it's time to get down to business show them how much of a sting you carry you watch your wing wave a lazy goodbye to the sun and then the speed is building up and the target is a growing dot that lies ahead you'll have to maybe three seconds to cut loose the gun sights an instrument of great ingenuity and remarkable precision is your guide you blew your eye to it as the target looms larger and the speed builds up you flatten out and come roaring for the kill by that target practically disintegrated he's got five more to work on just watch now they know the kind of a whip she carries he's a nice girl but deadly on trespassers next on the list of speed the level off get lined up and pour the cold to her pressing the throttle against the step you were to put a covering over the canopy and block out the hypnotic swing of the airspeed indicator you might think you was sitting in an arm chair at home where you hear nothing and you feel quite normal but as the earth flashes beneath you in a confused blur and the needle swings ever higher the sweat pours off you and rivers every nerve in you is key to the bolt of lightning you ride one minute error on your part steady starting to vibrate you've caught the speed of sound hold on now hold on brother you've left the speed of sound behind in the tracks clear ahead you don't know just when you pass the clocking points but after a while you throttle back slow down turn around and go back and do it all over again that's not a plane it's a shooting star interesting to see just how fast they clocked him now I know what they mean when they say he was gone before he got he coming back again in a second or two and so the show is almost over a rain a maximum ceiling a rate of climb those are statistics that were known before this final test the air force pilots will have plenty of chance to check and prove them now her speed her firepower and her general performance have been noted all it remains as a terminal velocity dive to find out whether she'll keep her wings on and you'll stay in one piece it's not the going that hurts it's the pulling out when the force of gravity tries to crush you right through the bottom of the cockpit you take one last look around and then pull the carpet out from under her and head for the earth far below faster and faster the safety margin of height is whittled away in advance he's wailed you wait for the airspeed indicated the hit a certain mark that's when you'll start to pull out exceed that mark and you'll never pass through the hell that lies before you come on hurry up and get there there's not much room left all right now start easing her back gently the angry guard of gravity slams down your skull fingers grab at your flesh and try to tear it from your bones both open your mouth sucks the blood from your head your vision though your lump of stone can't move you'll never pull out you've got to got to she got a more Mac a lot more besides yeah all there is did you see the reports on your speed a couple of miles an hour wasn't hey bit a big day a real big one glad you enjoyed it you almost spoiled it for me with that last dive I wasn't exactly sure you were going to pull out well I'll tell you a secret Kent neither was I yeah but well now the real work begins the boss says we start production by next Monday and then you produces make it by 50s by hundreds by thousands you modify it you improve it you start with model a before long you're turning out model D each model a little bit better than the previous but to do it and do it right you need machines you need manpower and you need skill greater skill than ever before because this is a new job with more complexities and more demanding exactness than any fighter plane never built and the thought comes to you it was so many people putting their brains and energy to work on the same project working for the same goal you can't miss and so the darkness once again sweeping in over the land you leave the airport with your friend and drive on toward home the humming wheels echoing over your frame over and over in your head he's all jetmister and you built her for young men to fly thank you less Damon for a very fine portrayal now here is an important message can you qualify to fly in your United States Air Force there's good news for you young men who have had two or more years of college yes because today the age requirement has been lowered to include you fellows who are just nineteen if you can qualify and are between the ages of nineteen and twenty six and a half you can fly the mighty bombers and speedy jets of today's expanding Air Force there's an important job to be done and there's an important future for you in Air Force blue or full information visit your United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station or nearest Air Force base or right to aviation cadet branch headquarters United States Air Force Washington 25 DC I'll repeat that address its aviation cadet branch headquarters United States Air Force Washington 25 DC this has been another program on proudly we hail presented transcribed in cooperation with this station by the United States Army and the United States Air Force recruiting service this program featured less Damon this is Kenneth Banghart speaking and inviting you to tune in the same station next week for another interesting story on proudly we hail