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In 1953, Jacqueline Cochran became the first woman to break the sound barrier. She achieved this feat flying an F-86 Sabre jet aircraft, reaching a speed of Mach 1.012 (767 mph). Cochran was a renowned aviator and held numerous world records for speed, altitude, and distance. Her groundbreaking achievement in breaking the sound barrier paved the way for women in aviation and inspired generations of pilots.