Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Aviation Icon and American Hero: Chuck Yeager” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/chuck-yeager/.
Aviation Icon and American Hero: Chuck Yeager
- Thread starter Mike H.
- Start date
Yep. don't make em like that anymore and if they did HR would destroy him for anyone with that drive is viewed as "mean"... Don't ask how I know, but I never was someone of his caliber with the get the mission done and count the cost later. A man for the time as I read his autobiography shortly after I learned to fly, actually have an autographed piece of aviation art hanging with others of his ilk during that time. All these young men forged under the fire of operating high powered war machines, in a time of anything believed possible. Makes one realize why in a time of all computerized flying machines, we still haven't returned to the Moon, in over a half of a Century. The Right Stuff now finds itself considered as overachieving and reckless, thus not in line with the participation trophy mindset. Anyone that pushes that hard is too aggressive, maybe they always be and that is a shame or is it... Rant complete as there will be others and will always be special, as trailblazing heroes.
I met General Yeager after he clocked a civilian motorcyclist going over 75 MPH in his corvette at Edward’s AFB. I was a Reservist Security Police Sergeant and took his statement as well as the motorcyclist. I am not sure what happened to the motorcyclist but he did want the General’s autograph.
The second time I met the General was at Edward’s AFB Small Arms Range. He was sighting in a Win 300 magnum for an upcoming elk hunt. This was during duty hours.
It’s good to be a “General”.
The second time I met the General was at Edward’s AFB Small Arms Range. He was sighting in a Win 300 magnum for an upcoming elk hunt. This was during duty hours.
It’s good to be a “General”.
Folks, there is NO SUCH THING as an ME-109! They were all made by the Bayerisch Fleugzug works, and are ALL
Bf-109s as a result. Later Messerschmitt models, like the ME-262, ME-163, etc. were made at OTHER factories than the BF werke, and were correctly called ME-whatever. I worked for General Yeager when he was Head of the Safety and Inspection Center back in, IIRC, 1972 - 1973. Hammer USAF SSgt; US Army CW4/SrAviator; INS/ICE/CBP, ret.
Bf-109s as a result. Later Messerschmitt models, like the ME-262, ME-163, etc. were made at OTHER factories than the BF werke, and were correctly called ME-whatever. I worked for General Yeager when he was Head of the Safety and Inspection Center back in, IIRC, 1972 - 1973. Hammer USAF SSgt; US Army CW4/SrAviator; INS/ICE/CBP, ret.
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I had the pleasure of working with General Yeager when he was advising us on the production of The Right Stuff. A real character with a great sense of humor. One of the ladies on the staff turned up with a new hairstyle. Chuck took a look at her and said, "Honey, you look like a god --, " and waited a long beat before adding, "--- damned dog!"
I enjoyed the read. Just some trivia….Bob Hoover was actually the first choice to fly first supersonic flight. They changed their minds and selected Yeager because they needed a test pilot with a mechanic’s background for better liaison with the engineering team since there were no computers back then.
Yeager and Hoover met after they had a mock dogfight. Yeager used to hang out over the airport after his test flight was finished and challenge incoming test pilots to “fight”. One day he challenged a P38 and lost. It was piloted by Hoover.
Yeager and Hoover met after they had a mock dogfight. Yeager used to hang out over the airport after his test flight was finished and challenge incoming test pilots to “fight”. One day he challenged a P38 and lost. It was piloted by Hoover.