The Right Stuff

There was a demon that lived in the air.

They said whoever challenged him would die.

Their controls would freeze up.

Their planes would buffet wildly...

...and they would disintegrate.

The demon lived at Mach 1 on the meter...

750 miles an hour...

...where the air could no longer move out of the way.

He lived behind a barrier through which they said no man could ever pass.

They called it the sound barrier.

Then they built a small plane...

...the X-1, to try and break the sound barrier.

And men came to the high desert of California to ride it.

They were called test pilots...

...and no one knew their names.

Okay, uh, Whiskey Kilo 28, prepare to drop.

Roger, Control. This is Whiskey Kilo 28...

...lowering and launching now.

Mach 0.92.

Point nine-three.

Point nine-four.

Hit a mild buffet there.

Mach 0.95.

Point nine-six.

Point nine-seven.

Point nine-eight.

Point nine-nine.

Whiskey Kilo 28, do you want to declare an emergency?

Negative. Whiskey Kilo 28 is not declar--

No.

Go away.

No.

Lord, guard and guide the men who fly

Through the great spaces

In the sky

Be with them always

In the air

In darkening storms

Or sunlight fair

Oh, hear us

When we lift our prayer

For those in peril

In the air

Amen

- Hey, Pancho? Hmm?

I was looking at the pictures on your wall.

How come a fancy pilot...

...like Slick there doesn't have his picture up there?

What do you have to do to get your picture up there?

You have to die.

Well, Yeager, you old bastard.

Don't just stand in the doorway like some lonesome sheepherder.

Get your ass over here and have a drink.

I got you something.

Mm.

Come here.

Look, Slick.

You could be the first.

The man who breaks the sound barrier will be on top.

You'd be the one they remembered.

You're the best civilian pilot around.

Afternoon.

You get that helmet?

- Yeah. You're our first choice.

It might work.

I'll look like the Galloping Ghost.

Some people say the sound barrier can't be broke.

An engineer will tell you it's an absolute...

...like the firmness of the earth.

The sound barrier is a farm you can buy in the sky.

The controls will freeze up. You can't budge the stick.

Anybody tries to break it will auger in.

Well now, maybe it can't be broke.

Then again...

...maybe it can.

Maybe it can only be broke for a specified sum.

How much?

One hundred and fifty thousand.

Come on, Slick, give us a break.

Non-negotiable, as usual.

What do we do now?

That guy in the corner. Yeager is his name.

Some kind of a war hero.

Shot down five Germans in one day.

He's a natural-born stick and rudder man.

As press liaison man for the Air Force, I think--

Any problems with him?

- Only one. - What's that?

Holding him back.

Major.

- Yeager. - Sir.

We were just talking to, uh, Slick about the sound barrier.

That right?

The X-1 is ready to have a go at it.

The X-1's got the answer to go beyond Mach 1.

If there is any beyond.

So, what do you think?

Half these engineers never been off the ground.

They might say the sound barrier's a brick wall.

It'll rip your ears off if you try to go through it.

I don't believe the damn thing even exists.

A drink for Mr. Yeager.

No thanks, I got one.

You want to have a go at it?

I might.

But, uh, since, as you say, this sound barrier doesn't really exist...

...how much--

How much you got?

Just joking. The Air Force is paying me already. Right?

Why, sure, Yeager, but--

So when do we go?

Tomorrow morning?

I'll be there.

See you there.

How much are you paying him?

I think it's $283.

A week?

A month.

Well, that's not bad. Not bad.

First fellow to break the sound barrier...

...gets a free steak with all the trimmings.

I'll have mine medium rare, please.

Honey, you ever been caught on the desert alone?

I never have.

I don't think I ever will.

Never met the man who could catch me out there.

I'm half jackrabbit.

Forget it, flyboy.

You'd never catch me.

I believe I will.

Can't be done.

Could I ask you something?

Forget it, sweetie.

She's his wife.

Come on, baby. Come on, baby.

Yeah. Come on. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Come on, come on, come on. Yeah. Go on.

- Come on. Glennis! I'm gonna get you!

I'm gonna get you.

Come on back here!

Glennis!

Come on. Come on, come on, come on. Run, run, run. Go on.

Can't hide from me, girl!

Hey! Ha-ha-ha.

Come on, come on.

Come on, tsk, tsk. Hyah, hyah. Come on, come on, come on. Go.

I'm gonna get you now, girl.

Oh. Oh.

Oh, no.

Morning, tiger.

What have you two been up to?

Where's Ridley?

Over there waiting on you.

Ridley.

Can I talk to you?

Morning.

I got a little problem.

A horse threw me last night and I dinged up my goddamn ribs.

How bad you dent them?

I feel like I broke a couple of the sons of bitches.

I won't be able to lean over to shut the door. Got any ideas?

- Your left side okay? - Yeah.

If these guys find out, they'll use somebody else to fly this thing.

- I'll try to fix you a handle. - Thanks.

Mr. Russell?

Can you help me out? It's an emergency.

I need to borrow your broom handle. Just hold this right here.

I think that'll work.

Thank you, sir.

Punch a hole in the sky.

I'll be right back.

- Morning. - Morning, sir.

How are you feeling?

Oh, just about right.

Mrs. Yeager.

There she is, all bridled, saddled and ready to go.

You got any Beemans?

Yeah, I got a stick.

Loan me some. I'll pay you back later.

Fair enough.

Hey, look.

Whang this in the handle with your good arm.

Okay, thanks buddy.

Pre-drop checklist complete.

Ten, nine...

...eight, seven, six...

...five, four, three, two...

...one

Drop!

There you go.

Put your spurs to her, Chuck.

All right, here we go. Mach 0.91.

Point nine-two.

Point nine-three.

Hit a mild buffet there.

Just the usual instability.

Ridley, make a note here, would you...

...if you got nothing better to do. Elevator effectiveness regained.

Point nine-five.