Chuck Yeager dies at 97...

[PALADIN85020]

He was one of my heroes for a long time. Enlisted in the USAAF during WWII at 18, served admirably, rose to the rank of BG. Famous for being a test pilot for many advanced but as yet unproved aircraft. He died last night at age 97. Rest in peace, Chuck. You were one of our finest. A life well lived.

John

 

[max]

He was one of a kind. I enjoyed his book.

 

[CQB27]

Godspeed Chuck Yeager.......say hello to Jack Ridley for all of us.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I learned a relatively unknown story about Chuck's family today.

From Chuck's father, he inherited a stoicism toward violent death that became his hallmark as a pilot. When Gen. Yeager was not quite 5, his slightly older brother accidentally shot and killed their infant sister. Rather than erupting in hysterics, the elder Yeager calmly told the children, “I want to show you how to safely handle firearms.”

Great family blood lines!

John

 

[Puller]

I learned a relatively unknown story about Chuck's family today.

From Chuck's father, he inherited a stoicism toward violent death that became his hallmark as a pilot. When Gen. Yeager was not quite 5, his slightly older brother accidentally shot and killed their infant sister. Rather than erupting in hysterics, the elder Yeager calmly told the children, “I want to show you how to safely handle firearms.”

Great family blood lines!

John

A lesson a lot of folks should well learn that it's not the inanimate object's fault.

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

Balls of solid brass that man...he had an angel on his shoulder as he flew higher and faster, he soars with the angels now. RIP

 

[jpage]

As if December 7th wasn’t infamous enough ......

 

[Rodan]

Godspeed Gen. Yeager

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, – and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air…

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew –
And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

 

[MCorps0311]

Rest In Peace B.Gen.Yeager.

 

[M1A]

He picked a good day. He is among friends.

 

[4barrel]

I ordered this in my black powder days because he was on the cover. Still have it.

 

[Grayfox]

I read his book many years ago. One of the things that made him such a great fighter pilot in WW II was the fact that he had 20/10 vision. Remember this was before radar. He simply saw the other guy first.

 

[bigwheelzip]

God Bless him. He was one in a million.

My friend's husband that taught me to shoot, posted a photo on Facebook of him and the General.

 

[Truckman]

I read his book many years ago. One of the things that made him such a great fighter pilot in WW II was the fact that he had 20/10 vision. Remember this was before radar. He simply saw the other guy first.

He said he could focus his eyes out to infinity...When he saw a group of small dots at 20,000 feet he knew they weren't birds, so he led his group to a position above and behind them, then ambushed 'em......Ben

 

[Old cop]

I’m losing all my childhood heros.

 

[tripledipper]

Chuck Yeager

My mother took me to Idlewild Airport, NYC (now JFK) when I was around 10, think it was in 47, and Chuck Yeager was there with the Bell X-1 for a demonstration and he fired it up for the crowd. Just remembered this due to his passing. Distant memories!

 

[Grayfox]

 

[rwsmith]

You know.....

I think Dec. 7th would be an appropriate day.

 

[CQB27]

I read his book many years ago. One of the things that made him such a great fighter pilot in WW II was the fact that he had 20/10 vision. Remember this was before radar. He simply saw the other guy first.

Another thing he alludes to in his book that saved him more than once was his complete understanding of the airframe. He worked on airplanes as well as flew them and he had a complete understanding of the mechanical. As a result he was able to understand what was malfunctioning and while in flight properly troubleshoot and mitigate the adverse outcome in his favor.

When I decided to fly in the Army I really took that to heart. I dove into learning aircraft systems - airframe, engine, avionics, electrical, hydraulics, bleed air/pressurization, ALSE - far beyond what was required of a pilot. It served me well on more than one occasion.

Chuck Yeager was, and still is influencing military aviators and like Bolcke is to tactics....Yeager is to airmanship. I doubt his contributions and influence will ever fade from the current as long as men slip the surly bonds of earth. Like all the greats, he served more than just his day.