Theodore von Karman had a distinguished career in research in aerodynamics. His research at the California Institute of Technology led to the development of the wind tunnel, so useful in research on the theory and design of air resistance of bodies moving at high speed. Von Karman headed the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory at Caltech, which later became known as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His work in World War II led to the development of the Bell X-1 airplane, the first plane to break the sound barrier.