Today marks the 99th birthday of the legendary test pilot, Chuck Yeager, who made his final "flight west" in 2020. Yeager was a World War II double ace - 13 kills - and a notable test pilot we best remember for one landmark achievement in aviation. On October 14, 1947. he flew his Bell X-1 beyond the sound barrier and into history on the shoulders of scores of aerospace pioneers who helped him reach that speedway in the sky.
Thanks to my interest in aviation history I had several opportunities to attend Yeager's presentations at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and actually talked with him a few times. He was always confident, friendly and entertaining with his common sense personality punctuated by humor that boiled up frequently. In addition, he dealt with fame well, being comfortable with his achievement and its accompanying limelight. At the same time, genuine or not, you always got the feeling he could be equally happy in a rocking chair on someone's front porch. Regardless, he certainly earned the right to rock or rocket.
Readers can learn more about the man and the early years of the nation's military aviation and aerospace history in Yeager: An Autobiography, an outstanding read originally published in 1985. A valuable companion book providing context and additional history on the nation's early manned space program is Tom Wolfe's 1979 classic, The Right Stuff.
Sources
Photos and Illustrations:
Cover photo, Yeager: An Autobiography, General Chuck Yeager and Leo Janus, Bantam, 1985.
Text:www.wikipedia.com
www.chuckyeager.com
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