General Chuck Yeager, at the ripe old age of 89 years, boards an F-15 Eagle at Nellis AFB as part of an honor flight. The flight was conducted in recognition of the first manned supersonic flight 65 years prior, when Yeager broke the sound barrier in an experimental Bell X-1 aircraft on October 14, 1947. Filmed on October 14, 2012.
Amazing.
For those who don’t know, Chuck Yeager is the man who first broke the supersonic flight sound barrier on October of 1947 at California’s Muroc Desert Test Center (now known as Edwards AFB) with a speed of 660 mph at 35,000 feet, in the Bell XS-1 rocket-powered aircraft named “Glamorous Glennis” (after Yeager’s wife). With enough fuel for a 2 1/2 minute flight, technicians and engineers were unsure just what would occur at the sound barrier. Would the wings fall off? Could the human body take the stress or would the transition to supersonic speed kill the pilot? No one knew.
Yet there he is, at the age of 89 in the year 2012, strapped into the back seat of a McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Eagle, a twin-engine fighter first introduced into USAF service in 1976, in order to commemorate the 65th anniversary of Yeager’s having broken the sound barrier.
I’m sure a number of AF officers were thinking: “oh please, don’t let General Yeager get killed on my watch.”
Still and all, an amazing feat.
Brigadier General Yeager, 93, lives with his second wife Victoria, 57, in Penn Valley, California, just off Highway 20 and west of Grass Valley. Beale AFB, former home of the SR-71 and current home of the TR-1, is nearby.
BZ
The man is full of himself. I’ve met him in person two times. Once when he was gust speaker at our air museum. I won’t get into all the details of his behavior prior to and during the event but the most upsetting to me was when he acted like a total prick to children at a meet and greet the next day.
The 2nd time was at a celebration at Edwards. Again, completely prickish behavior. He was not invited back.
So I have heard. But I don’t diminish the man’s accomplishments. Plus, age doesn’t make you filled with fewer aches and pains. In any event, thanks Rick for reading, and thanks for taking the time to comment.
BZ
I didn’t realize he was still alive. He accomplished much and gets great credit for surviving to this age. We will always need warriors who are willing to stand in harm’s way. Thanks for posting this story.
Sadly, Rick is correct. But that doesn’t take away from what he did.
He had *The RIGHT Stuff*…
He might be a bit *full of himself*, if you’d done the things HE did you might be too..
No disagreement there.
BZ
I did not intend to demean his accomplishments. I respect him for those and I have said and will say that to anyone.
But consider Bob Hoover, as one of many examples of others who also achieved great accomplishments. Mr. Hoover has been the consummate gentleman.
Anyway, it is difficult to get past the guy for making young boys and girls react in astonishment then anger at the shameful behavior of a man they had looked at as a hero. One of my nephews cried because he was so overwhelmed by the emotions of finally meeting his hero only to find the man is a real jerk. Meanwhile he loves to talk himself up and will gladly take all the gratuities of it. He puts himself in front of the public then acts like? Better that he just lay low.
I actually met Bob Hoover VERY briefly when he was flying his Aero Commander in the 80s. You’re right. Very nice guy. At least to me at that moment.
Bought his book later.
Recommend the book: http://www.amazon.com/Forever-Flying-High-flying-Barnstorming-Autobiography/dp/067153761X
BZ
Bob Hoover put on a great show. Have yet to see anyone else do a loop with a Shrike Commander without power to both engines. Great bit of flying.
By the way, Bob Hoover is 94 and still around. God bless him.
BZ