RIP Chuck Yeager

[MacGyver]

One of last of a generation has died - Chuck Yeager has passed at 97.

He was truly an American hero - an icon. Over the course of his career, he logged more than 10,000 hours in 361 types of aircraft.

If you have not read his autobiography, you’ve no one to blame but yourself - and should remedy that just as soon as possible. You don’t need to break any speed records to get it. Just call your local library. They’ll have it and will probably even walk it right out to the curb for you.

He lived quite a life.

Spurs to her, General. 

[DaveTN]

Man, that is too bad. I saw an interview of him where he talked about breaking the sound barrier (which was not supposed to happen). It was interesting and funny.

[MacGyver]

2 minutes ago, DaveTN said:

Man, that is too bad. I saw an interview of him where he talked about breaking the sound barrier (which was not supposed to happen). It was interesting and funny.

They don’t even know exactly how fast he went that day because the gauge didn’t go that high. 

[TripleGGG]

Incredible man, incredible life. Met him many many years ago. Super nice and humble man. One of my highlight moments. He truly was one of my heroes. 

[Omega]

May he RIP.  I watched a Discover(?), channel show were they showed some of his test flights, including where the sound barrier was broken, that would have scared the poop out of me.  I've heard the sonic booms in the desert when one of the fast movers went overhead, thought someone had lobbed one at us.

[Quavodus]

1 hour ago, Omega said:

May he RIP.  I watched a Discover(?), channel show were they showed some of his test flights, including where the sound barrier was broken, that would have scared the poop out of me.  I've heard the sonic booms in the desert when one of the fast movers went overhead, thought someone had lobbed one at us.

Oh yeah, they dropped him and the plane, and he ignited the rocket boosters. WOAH! I heard on the radio last night on the way home from work. Sorry to hear of his passing.

[deerslayer]

A true badass.  

[hipower]

14 hours ago, DaveTN said:

Man, that is too bad. I saw an interview of him where he talked about breaking the sound barrier (which was not supposed to happen). It was interesting and funny.

Yes, IIRC, Chuck was not to push the X-1. It was just to be a test run of the craft.

I may be wrong, but I thought I heard him in an interview once say that he just thought...WTH let's do it! Which as I understand was pretty much his lifestyle.

Chuch Yeager was one of my boyhood heroes. May he fly high with the angels forever.

[Grayfox54]

i read his book many years ago. One of the reasons he was such a good fighter pilot in WW II was that he had 20/10 vision. This was before radar. He just saw the other guy first and took full advantage of it. 

[Grayfox54]