Since its the 21st in Europe, I may as well mention it (before I forget). One this day, the 21st of August 1961, a Douglas Aircraft Company DC-8 became the first civilian operated aircraft ever to break the soudn barrier, as it reached Mach 1.012 in a controlled dive, to acheive flight data on an advanced airfoil leading edge. It remained intact, and was later delivered to Air Canada, whereit continued in operation its whole life, without any problems related to that flight.