PILOT Chuck Yeager – the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound – died on Monday aged 97.

The legendary US Air Force General died at home just before 9pm, a tweet posted from his account said.

It read: "It is w/ profound sorrow, I must tell you that my life love General Chuck Yeager passed just before 9pm ET.

"An incredible life well lived, America’s greatest Pilot, & a legacy of strength, adventure, & patriotism will be remembered forever."

Gen Yeager was widely regarded as a aeronautical pioneer – becoming the first pilot in the world to break the 767mph sound barrier.

He flew the experimental rocket-powered Bell X-1 – which he named Glamorous Glennis after his wife – at the supersonic speed 806mph in October 1947.

The success of the test flight over the Mojave Desert was not made public until eight months later due to the secrecy of the experiments.

More to follow…

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