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Sir Frank Whittle's work on the jet engine continued after World War 2 and was mirrored by a number of other companies around the world. Soon the race was on to build the first jet aircraft that could break the speed of sound - about 1,225 kph (761 mph) at sea level, but only 1,062 kph (660 mph) at 6,096 metres (20,000 feet).

In November 1945 the Gloster Meteor became the first aircraft to fly faster than 600 mph (965 kmph). In 1946 another British aircraft - the De Havilland Swallow - was also preparing for an attempt on the sound barrier. However, the milestone was finally reached in October 1947 by an American aircraft, the Bell X-1.

In this clip a reporter describes the experience of flying in a Gloster Meteor as it approaches the speed of sound鈥nd although it turns out that the sound barrier has not in fact been broken it is, at least, the fastest recording then made!

The images show Gloster Meteor aircraft from the 1940s.

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