Physics.org
Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles “Chuck” Yeager, the World War II fighter pilot ace and quintessential test pilot who showed he had the “right stuff” when in 1947 he became the first person to fly faster than sound, has died. He was 97.
Yeager died Monday, his wife, Victoria Yeager, said on his Twitter account. “It is w/ profound sorrow, I must tell you that my life love General Chuck Yeager passed just before 9pm ET. An incredible life well lived, America’s greatest Pilot, & a legacy of strength, adventure, & patriotism will be remembered forever.”
Yeager’s death is “a tremendous loss to our nation,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement. More
…it’s a shame that such a hero has passed, but on the other hand, the man DID get to be Chuck freaking Yeager for 97 years!
That’s more life than MOST people will EVER get.
He had a REAL good run, especially given what he DID on a daily basis in his younger years, and now he’s probably testing new wings for the Lord.
RIP Mr. Yeager, I only wish I was worthy enough to salute you.
Keep his family in your prayers, and may God bless them and comfort them…
You were one of a kind Chuck, may your family find comfort in the arms of the Lord. RIP 🕊️❤️🙏
My hero from grade school on.
RIP Sir
RIP Chuck Yeager, you indeed had the Right Stuff.
he was sharp as a knife on twitter for a few years, and seemed to cut back the last year.
“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 even 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.”
(John Gillespie)
A TRUE hero. Rest in Peace General Yeager.
He was on the same flight into New Orleans as I was. Both of us were headed to the SHOT Show ~1990. He flew coach, IIRC he got on in Denver. He was a real friendly guy.
Chuck Norris was afraid of Chuck Yeager…
RIP, General Yeager.
What a great man. I had the pleasure of hearing him speak at Oshkosh in 2005. I’ve never been so awe-struck and entertained at the same time. The Right Stuff indeed!
Invented “The Right Stuff “. Hero’s Hall of Fame!
A sad day, we’ve lost another true American hero with brass balls the size of grapefruits.
@Supernightshade: You ain’t just whistlin’ Dixie:
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/24/bc/62/24bc626b1c99ef81361e5b0f0491b866.jpg
😉
RIP, Gen. Yeager
Vietvet
DECEMBER 8, 2020 AT 11:21 AM
***Barbra Eden in her prime***
…yep, he had a REAL good run…
Don Imus told a story of meeting Chuck Yeager and saying to him that he (Imus) had a lot in common with him.
Yeager’s reply was, “The only thing you and I have in common is that we are on the same planet”.
RIP Mr.Yeager….You’re a man among men.
RIP General Yeager; the Right Stuff indeed!
I read a few of his books, they were so good. Down to earth guy that could fly like the wind.
And he was one of those rare individuals who had perfect vision to see things before anyone else could see them along with Ted Williams.
A true American hero. God bless his family as they mourn his slipping the surly bonds of Earth.
@ Toenex DECEMBER 8, 2020 AT 1:06 PM
Absolutely down to earth. Like I posted above, he was flying coach. We were int eh starboard two seats and he was right across the aisle from us. We had a real nice conversation.
RIP Col. Yeager! This is a passing breed of man, and the dying of a golden age of American greatness. Thanks to our liberal politicians who stole our vision of a space age in favor of funding a better future on earth, we now have a generation of stupid bastards that cannot even build a kitchen toaster. F*** politicians!
I guess he lived in Grass Valley, which is fairly close. It’s my understanding from a couple DCMA guys that well into his 80’s if he called an Air force Base and asked them to have a particular type of plane ready, they’d have it checked out, fueled, and on the tarmac waiting for him. Pretty amazing guy.
The brass supply just suffered a major loss…
He went goose hunting that famous morning and after he broke the sound barrier he went home and at the goose with the mrs.
True.
Rest in Peace, you American Greatness and EXCEPTIONALISM!!
A real guys guy and there dying on us…
The scene in the Right Stuff when he pushed the F-104 to the limits…and almost lost his life in the process.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQt579381OI
And of course breaking the sound barrier at 800 plus mph…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKGYm_jW60A
(go full screen and LOUD)
My brother who flew KC-135’s in Viet Nam said pilots would MIMICK, out of respect…his southern drawl!!!
This is THE F-104 crash vid released ONLY last year…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e32CPRXEZ7s
“Damn… he rode that 92% of the way down.”
-YT comment
Very crazy shit…
We had a couple of RA5 Vigilante photo recon jets on board the Kitty Hawk that did a Mach 1 or better fly by of the carrier once. All I remember was seeing them go from one end of the horizon to the other in the blink of an eye with a very loud sonic boom. It was quite impressive.