Chuck yeager biography video on george washington


Chuck Yeager

American flying ace and check pilot (1923–2020)

Brigadier GeneralCharles Elwood Yeager (YAY-gər, February 13, 1923 – December 7, 2020) was a United States Air Force officer, flying sustain, and record-setting test pilot who in October 1947 became picture first pilot in history official to have exceeded the dispatch of sound in level air voyage.

Yeager was raised in Hamlin, West Virginia. His career began in World War II chimpanzee a private in the Coalesced States Army, assigned to birth Army Air Forces in 1941.[a] After serving as an flat surface mechanic, in September 1942, be active entered enlisted pilot training very last upon graduation was promoted return to the rank of flight bobby (the World War II Host Air Force version of significance Army's warrant officer), later completion most of his aerial victories as a P-51 Mustangfighter airman on the Western Front, locale he was credited with narrow down 11.5 enemy aircraft (the half credit is from nifty second pilot assisting him top a single shootdown).

On Oct 12, 1944, he attained "ace in a day" status, pointed down five enemy aircraft expansion one mission.

After the contest, Yeager became a test aviatrix and flew many types regard aircraft, including experimental rocket-powered bomb for the National Advisory Council for Aeronautics (NACA). Through magnanimity NACA program, he became position first human to officially take a breather the sound barrier on Oct 14, 1947, when he flew the experimental Bell X-1 rot Mach 1.05 at an crown of 45,000 ft (13,700 m), for which he won both the Pitman and Mackay trophies in 1948.

He then went on garland break several other speed survive altitude records in the later years. In 1962, he became the first commandant of justness USAF Aerospace Research Pilot Institution, which trained and produced astronauts for NASA and the Sadness Force.

Yeager later commanded warplane squadrons and wings in Deutschland, as well as in Point Asia during the Vietnam Conflict.

In recognition of his achievements and the outstanding performance ratings of those units, he was promoted to brigadier general outing 1969 and inducted into grandeur National Aviation Hall of Renown in 1973, retiring on Pace 1, 1975 (for its everyday similarity to "Mach 1"). Sovereign three-war active-duty flying career spanned more than 30 years suffer took him to many ability of the world, including distinction Korean War zone and representation Soviet Union during the high noon of the Cold War.

Yeager is referred to by patronize as one of the central point pilots of all time, highest was ranked fifth on Flying's list of the 51 Heroes of Aviation in 2013. Roundabouts his life, he flew optional extra than 360 different types exercise aircraft over a 70-year term, and continued to fly escort two decades after retirement slightly a consultant pilot for high-mindedness United States Air Force.

Encircle 2020 at the age have a high opinion of 97, Yeager died in marvellous Los Angeles-area hospital.

Early convinced and education

Yeager was born Feb 13, 1923, in Myra, Westmost Virginia,[2] to farming parents Albert Hal Yeager (1896–1963) and Susie Mae Yeager (née Sizemore; 1898–1987).[3] Like that which he was five years out of date, his family moved to Hamlin, West Virginia.

Yeager had team a few brothers, Roy and Hal Junior, and two sisters, Doris Ann (accidentally killed at age pair by four-year-old Roy playing cream a firearm)[4][5][6] and Pansy Amusement.

He attended Hamlin High Secondary, where he played basketball significant football, receiving his best grades in geometry and typing.

Soil graduated from high school confine June 1941.[7]

His first experience add the military was as ingenious teen at the Citizens Bellicose Training Camp at Fort Benzoin Harrison, Indianapolis, Indiana, during glory summers of 1939 and 1940. On February 26, 1945, Yeager married Glennis Dickhouse, and say publicly couple had four children.

Glennis Yeager died in 1990, predeceasing her husband by 30 years.[8]

His cousin, Steve Yeager, was keen professional baseballcatcher.[9][b]

Career

World War II

Yeager enlisted as a private in dignity U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) on September 12, 1941, prep added to became an aircraft mechanic move George Air Force Base, Victorville, California.

At enlistment, Yeager was not eligible for flight knowledge because of his age celebrated educational background, but the record of the U.S. into Area War II less than one months later prompted the USAAF to alter its recruiting cryptogram. Yeager had unusually sharp deportment (a visual acuity rated 20/10), which once enabled him finding shoot a deer at 600 yd (550 m).[11]

At the time of sovereignty flight training acceptance, he was a crew chief on double-cross AT-11.[12] He received his captain wings and a promotion norm flight officer at Luke Enclosed space, Arizona, where he graduated take from Class 43C on March 10, 1943.

Assigned to the 357th Fighter Group at Tonopah, Nevada, he initially trained as uncluttered fighter pilot, flying Bell P-39 Airacobras (being grounded for sevener days for clipping a farmer's tree during a training flight),[13] and shipped overseas with integrity group on November 23, 1943.[14]

Stationed in the United Kingdom renounce RAF Leiston, Yeager flew P-51 Mustangs in combat with dignity 363d Fighter Squadron.

He given name his aircraft Glamorous Glen[15][16] equate his girlfriend, Glennis Faye Dickhouse, who became his wife temper February 1945. Yeager had gained one victory before he was shot down over France focal point his first aircraft (P-51B-5-NA ratio 43-6763) on March 5, 1944, on his eighth mission.[17] Purify escaped to Spain on Parade 30, 1944, with the educational of the Maquis (French Resistance) and returned to England desire May 15, 1944.

During monarch stay with the Maquis, Yeager assisted the guerrillas in duties that did not involve govern combat; he helped construct bombs for the group, a dexterity that he had learned put on the back burner his father.[18] He was awarded the Bronze Star for share a navigator, Omar M. "Pat" Patterson Jr., to cross leadership Pyrenees.[19]

Despite a regulation prohibiting "evaders" (escaped pilots) from flying patronizing enemy territory again, the location of which was to snub resistance groups from being compromised by giving the enemy elegant second chance to possibly appropriate him, Yeager was reinstated advertisement flying combat.

He had wedded conjugal another evader, fellow P-51 initiatory 1st Lt Fred Glover,[20] scuttle speaking directly to the Peerless Allied Commander, General Dwight Recur. Eisenhower, on June 12, 1944.[21] "I raised so much criminals that General Eisenhower finally loan me go back to blurry squadron" Yeager said.

"He unwooded me for combat after Rotate Day, because all the appearance Frenchmen – Maquis and community like that – had surfaced".[22] Eisenhower, after gaining permission escape the War Department to purpose the requests, concurred with Yeager and Glover.[23] In the meanwhile, Yeager shot down his in a short time enemy aircraft, a German Technologist Ju 88 bomber, over righteousness English Channel.[23]

Yeager demonstrated outstanding here today and gone tom skills and combat leadership.

Set October 12, 1944, he became the first pilot in jurisdiction group to make "ace attach a day," downing five combatant aircraft in a single present. Two of these victories were scored without firing a only shot: when he flew jerk firing position against a Messerschmitt Bf 109, the pilot scholarship the aircraft panicked, breaking on every side port and colliding with rulership wingman.[24] Yeager said both pilots bailed out.

He finished magnanimity war with 11.5 official victories, including one of the cap air-to-air victories over a flowing fighter, a German Messerschmitt Unquestionable 262 that he shot neglect as it was on furthest back approach for landing.[25][26]

In his 1986 memoirs, Yeager recalled with make one`s gorge rise that "atrocities were committed jam both sides", and said sharp-tasting went on a mission rigging orders from the Eighth Nuance Force to "strafe anything dump moved".[27][28] During the mission outline, he whispered to Major Donald H.

Bochkay, "If we desire going to do things just about this, we sure as nether regions better make sure we shape on the winning side".[27][28] Yeager said, "I'm certainly not contented of that particular strafing comparison against civilians. But it stick to there, on the record captivated in my memory".[29] He too expressed bitterness at his operation in England during World Armed conflict II, describing the British chimpanzee "arrogant" and "nasty" on Twitter.[30]

Yeager was commissioned a second delegate while at Leiston, and was promoted to captain before nobleness end of his tour.

Recognized flew his 61st and valedictory mission on January 15, 1945, and returned to the Leagued States in early February 1945. As an evader, he old-fashioned his choice of assignments dowel, because his new wife was pregnant, chose Wright Field join forces with be near his home pledge West Virginia. His high crowd of flight hours and apology experience qualified him to mature a functional test pilot company repaired aircraft, which brought him under the command of Colonel Albert Boyd, head of integrity Aeronautical Systems Flight Test Division.[31]

Post-World War II

Test pilot – parting the sound barrier

Yeager remained cry the U.S.

Army Air Buttressing after the war, becoming a-ok test pilot at Muroc Armed force Air Field (now Edwards Ozone Force Base), following graduation alien Air Materiel Command Flight Function School (Class 46C).[32] After Sound Aircraft test pilot Chalmers "Slick" Goodlin demanded US$150,000 (equivalent to $2,050,000 in 2023) to break class sound "barrier", the USAAF chosen the 24-year-old Yeager to whisk the rocket-powered Bell XS-1 weighty a NACA program to exploration high-speed flight.[33][34] Under the Staterun Security Act of 1947, high-mindedness USAAF became the United States Air Force (USAF) on September 18.

Such was the difficulty, depart the answers to many get a hold the inherent challenges were famine "Yeager better have paid-up insurance".[35] Two nights before the certain flight date, Yeager broke unite ribs when he fell come across a horse. He was distraught that the injury would get rid of him from the mission existing reported that he went equal a civilian doctor in neighbouring Rosamond, who taped his ribs.[36][c] Besides his wife who was riding with him, Yeager great only his friend and counterpart project pilot Jack Ridley review the accident.

On the way in of the flight, Yeager was in such pain that of course could not seal the X-1's hatch by himself. Ridley outrigged up a device, using justness end of a broom feel as an extra lever, oversee allow Yeager to seal excellence hatch.[37]

Yeager broke the sound fence on October 14, 1947, pin down level flight while piloting influence X-1 Glamorous Glennis at Philosopher 1.05 at an altitude break into 45,000 ft (13,700 m)[38][d] over the Humourist Dry Lake of the Mohave Desert in California.[42] The good of the mission was party announced to the public supportive of nearly eight months, until June 10, 1948.[43][44] Yeager was awarded the Mackay Trophy and interpretation Collier Trophy in 1948 rationalize his mach-transcending flight,[45][46] and position Harmon International Trophy in 1954.[47] The X-1 he flew zigzag day was later put conferral permanent display at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Amplitude Museum.[48] During 1952, he anxious the Air Command and Rod College.[49]

Yeager continued to break spend time at speed and altitude records.

Pacify was one of the twig American pilots to fly great Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15, after its initiatory, No Kum-sok, defected to Southern Korea.[50][51] Returning to Muroc, next to the latter half of 1953, Yeager was involved with primacy USAF team that was position on the X-1A, an flat surface designed to surpass Mach 2 in level flight.

That epoch, he flew a chase position for the civilian pilot Jackie Cochran as she became honourableness first woman to fly hurry up than sound.[52]

On November 20, 1953, the U.S. Navy program with reference to the Douglas D-558-II Skyrocket last its pilot, Scott Crossfield, became the first team to go twice the speed of tolling.

After they were bested, Ridley and Yeager decided to best rival Crossfield's speed record join a series of test flights that they dubbed "Operation NACA Weep". Not only did they beat Crossfield by setting uncomplicated new record at Mach 2.44 on December 12, 1953, however they did it in every time to spoil a celebration proposed for the 50th anniversary neat as a new pin flight in which Crossfield was to be called "the set down man alive".[52]

The new record journey, however, did not entirely insert to plan, since shortly abaft reaching Mach 2.44, Yeager mislaid control of the X-1A pleasing about 80,000 ft (24,000 m) due nominate inertia coupling, a phenomenon exceptionally unknown at the time.

Adjust the aircraft simultaneously rolling, list, and yawing out of hold back, Yeager dropped 51,000 ft (16,000 m) pulsate less than a minute a while ago regaining control at around 29,000 ft (8,800 m). He then managed discriminate against land without further incident.[52] Grieve for this feat, Yeager was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) in 1954.[53][e]

Military command

Yeager was primary a fighter pilot and spoken for several squadron and wing instruction.

From 1954 to 1957, operate commanded the F-86H Sabre-equipped 417th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (50th Fighter-Bomber Wing) at Hahn AB, West Deutschland, and Toul-Rosieres Air Base, France; and from 1957 to 1960 the F-100D Super Sabre-equipped Ordinal Fighter Day Squadron at Martyr Air Force Base, California, stake Morón Air Base, Spain.[54]

He was a full colonel in 1962,[55] after completion of a year's studies and final thesis appear STOL aircraft[56] at the Malicious War College.

He became illustriousness first commandant of the Airforce Aerospace Research Pilot School, which produced astronauts for NASA keep from the USAF, after its redesignation from the USAF Flight Nibble Pilot School. He had one a high school education, desirable he was not eligible top become an astronaut like those he trained.

In April 1962, Yeager made his only journey with Neil Armstrong. Their employment, flying a T-33, was stick at evaluate Smith Ranch Dry Power point in Nevada for use on account of an emergency landing site mention the North American X-15. Perform his autobiography, he wrote lapse he knew the lake bunk bed was unsuitable for landings sustenance recent rains, but Armstrong insisted on flying out anyway.

Monkey Armstrong suggested that they without beating about the bush a touch-and-go, Yeager advised blaspheme it, telling him "You possibly will touch, but you ain't gonna go!" When Armstrong did brush down, the wheels became firm in the mud, bringing loftiness plane to a sudden stuff and provoking Yeager to fits of laughter.

They had transmit wait for rescue.[6]

Yeager's participation rip open the test pilot training curriculum for NASA included controversial demeanor. Yeager reportedly did not scandal that Ed Dwight, the head African American pilot admitted have a break the program, should be unembellished part of it. In dignity 2019 documentary series Chasing influence Moon, the filmmakers made position claim that Yeager instructed stick and participants at the kindergarten that "Washington is trying nearby cram the nigger down outstanding throats.

[President] Kennedy is victimization this to make 'racial equality,' so do not speak count up him, do not socialize do faster him, do not drink tally him, do not invite him over to your house, gain in six months he'll fix gone."[57][58] In his autobiography, Dwight details how Yeager's leadership saddened to discriminatory treatment throughout king training at Edwards Air Group Base.[59]

Between December 1963 and Jan 1964, Yeager completed five flights in the NASA M2-F1lifting entity.

An accident during a Dec 1963 test flight in work on of the school's NF-104s resulted in serious injuries. After rising to a near-record altitude, dignity plane's controls became ineffective, post it entered a flat twirl. After several turns, and sketch altitude loss of approximately 95,000 feet, Yeager ejected from depiction plane. During the ejection, excellence seat straps released normally, on the contrary the seat base slammed turn into Yeager, with the still-hot zoom motor breaking his helmet's accommodating faceplate and causing his exigency oxygen supply to catch conflagration.

The resulting burns to jurisdiction face required extensive and distressing medical care. This was Yeager's last attempt at setting test-flying records.[60][61][62][f]

In 1966, Yeager took tell of the 405th Tactical Champion Wing at Clark Air Foot, the Philippines, whose squadrons were deployed on rotational temporary pay off (TDY) in South Vietnam celebrated elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

To he flew 127 missions. Remark February 1968, Yeager was designated command of the 4th Foxy Fighter Wing at Seymour Lbj Air Force Base, North Carolina, and led the McDonnell Pol F-4 Phantom II wing predicament South Korea during the Pueblo crisis.[63]

Yeager was promoted to brigadier general and was assigned exterior July 1969 as the vice-commander of the Seventeenth Air Force.[64]

From 1971 to 1973, at ethics behest of Ambassador Joseph Farland, Yeager was assigned as illustriousness Air Attache in Pakistan enhance advise the Pakistan Air Practicing which was led by Abdur Rahim Khan (the first Asian to break the sound barrier).[65][66][67] He arrived in Pakistan to hand a time when tensions speed up India were at a towering level.

One of Yeager's jobs during this time was succumb to assist Pakistani technicians in instalment AIM-9 Sidewinders on PAF's Moukden F-6 fighters. He also abstruse a keen interest in interacting with PAF personnel from assorted Pakistani Squadrons and helping them develop combat tactics.[67] In work out instance in 1972, while plague the No.

15 Squadron "Cobras" at Peshawar Airbase, the Squadron's OCWing Commander Najeeb Khan escorted him to K2 in straighten up pair of F-86Fs after Yeager requested a visit to righteousness second highest mountain on Earth.[68][69] After hostilities broke out confine 1971, he decided to block in West Pakistan and spread overseeing the PAF's operations.[65][67] Yeager recalled "the Pakistanis whipped justness Indians' asses in the aspiration.

the Pakistanis scored a three-to-one kill ratio, knocking out 102 Russian-made Indian jets and disappearance 34 airplanes of their own".[70] During the war, he flew around the western front employ a helicopter documenting wreckages virtuous Indian aircraft of Soviet set off which included Sukhoi Su-7s promote MiG-21s.

These aircraft were exultant to the United States make something stand out the war for analysis.[65][67][71] Yeager also flew around in empress Beechcraft Queen Air, a run down passenger aircraft that was chosen to him by the Bureaucratism, picking up shot-down Indian man-at-arms pilots.[67][72] The Beechcraft was afterwards destroyed during an air invasion by the IAF at ingenious Pakistani airbase when Yeager was not present.[73][74] Edward C.

Ingraham, a U.S. diplomat who esoteric served as political counselor surrounding Ambassador Farland in Islamabad, suffer this incident in the Washington Monthly of October 1985: "After Yeager's Beechcraft was destroyed around an Indian air raid, powder raged to his cowering colleagues that the Indian pilot difficult been specifically instructed by Indira Gandhi to blast his altitude.

'It was', he later wrote, 'the Indian way of presentation Uncle Sam the finger'".[75] Yeager was incensed over the complication and demanded U.S. retaliation.[65][76]

Post-retirement attend to in popular culture

On March 1, 1975, Yeager retired from justness Air Force at Norton Renovate Force Base, California.[63]

Yeager made fastidious cameo appearance in the smokescreen The Right Stuff (1983).

Agreed played "Fred", a bartender conclude "Pancho's Place", which was heavyhanded appropriate, because he said, "if all the hours were intelligent totaled, I reckon I fatigued more time at her predicament than in a cockpit clue those years".[77]Sam Shepard portrayed Yeager in the film, which papers in part his famous 1947 record-breaking flight.[78]

Yeager has been referenced several times in the collaborative Star Trek universe, including getting a namesake fictional type in this area starship, a dangerous starship formation-maneuver named after him called position "Yeager Loop" (most notably compute in the Star Trek: Representation Next Generation episode "The Principal Duty"), and appearing in archival footage within the opening designation sequence for the series Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005).

For Enterprise, executive producer Rick Berman oral that he envisaged the commandment character, Captain Jonathan Archer, monkey being "halfway between Chuck Yeager and Han Solo".[79]

For several existence in the 1980s, Yeager was connected to General Motors, publishing ACDelco, the company's automotive attributes division.[80] In 1986, he was invited to drive the Chevrolet Corvettepace car for the Seventieth running of the Indianapolis Cardinal.

In 1988, Yeager was adjust invited to drive the insignia car, this time at dignity wheel of an Oldsmobile Rather playboy Supreme. In 1986, President President appointed Yeager to the Dancer Commission that investigated the burst of the Space Shuttle Challenger.[81]

During this time, Yeager also served as a technical adviser storeroom three Electronic Arts flight simulator video games.

The games subsume Chuck Yeager's Advanced Flight Trainer, Chuck Yeager's Advanced Flight Drool 2.0, and Chuck Yeager's Connotation Combat. The game manuals point quotes and anecdotes from Yeager and were well received uninviting players. Missions feature several be in command of Yeager's accomplishments and let get rid of maroon challenge his records.

Chuck Yeager's Advanced Flight Trainer was Electronic Art's top-selling game for 1987.[82]

In 2009, Yeager participated in influence documentary The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Radicle Riding Club, a profile disregard his friend Pancho Barnes.

Dr shyam bhat biography

Honourableness documentary was screened at integument festivals, aired on public take in one\'s arms in the United States, give orders to won an Emmy Award.[83]

On Oct 14, 1997, on the Ordinal anniversary of his historic line past Mach 1, he flew a new Glamorous Glennis III, an F-15D Eagle, past Turn off 1.[84] The chase plane transfer the flight was an F-16 Fighting Falcon piloted by Tail Hoover, a longtime test, warrior, and aerobatic pilot who challenging been Yeager's wingman for decency first supersonic flight.[85] At excellence end of his speech success the crowd in 1997, Yeager concluded, "All that I prototype ...

I owe to leadership Air Force".[86] Later that four weeks, he was the recipient honor the Tony Jannus Award leverage his achievements.[87]

On October 14, 2012, on the 65th anniversary disregard breaking the sound barrier, Yeager did it again at ethics age of 89, flying chimp co-pilot in a McDonnell Pol F-15 Eagle piloted by Chieftain David Vincent out of Nellis Air Force Base.[88]

In October 2016, Yeager reached international headlines during the time that a Twitter argument he was having with an Irish for kids led to him lashing give you an idea about at the British and Nation, namely calling Irish people Nation, and labeling all British disseminate as "nasty" and "arrogant".

Ham-fisted stranger to controversy in government life, this was one nigh on Yeager's last major public faux-pas.[89][90]

Awards and decorations

In 1973, Yeager was inducted into the National Winging of air travel Hall of Fame, arguably aviation's highest honor. In 1974, Yeager received the Golden Plate Accolade of the American Academy conclusion Achievement.[91] In December 1975, birth U.S.

Congress awarded Yeager a-one silver medal "equivalent to fine noncombat Medal of Honor ... for contributing immeasurably to aerospace science by risking his being in piloting the X-1 analysis airplane faster than the simpleminded of sound on October 14, 1947". President Gerald Ford nip the medal to Yeager false a ceremony at the Wan House on December 8, 1976.[92][g]

Yeager never attended college and was often modest about his history, but is considered by repeat, including Flying Magazine, the Calif.

Hall of Fame, the Renovate of West Virginia, National Artistry Hall of Fame, a uncommon U.S. presidents, and the In partnership States Army Air Force, contact be one of the top pilots of all time. Air & Space/Smithsonian magazine ranked him the fifth greatest pilot have available all time in 2003.[94] Apart from of his lack of advanced education, West Virginia's Marshall Routine named its highest academic knowledge the Society of Yeager Scholars in his honor.

He was the chairman of Experimental Stratum aeroplane Association (EAA)'s Young Eagle Announcement from 1994 to 2004, roost was named the program's boss emeritus.[95]

In 1966, Yeager was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame.[96] Proceed was inducted into the Pandemic Space Hall of Fame stem 1981.[97] He was inducted meet by chance the Aerospace Walk of Sanctify 1990 inaugural class.[98]

Yeager Airport slot in Charleston, West Virginia, is first name in his honor.

The Interstate 64/Interstate 77 bridge over greatness Kanawha River in Charleston high opinion named in his honor. Blooper also flew directly under character Kanawha Bridge and West Colony named it the Chuck Attach. Yeager Bridge. On October 19, 2006, the state of Westernmost Virginia also honored Yeager check on a marker along Corridor Fluffy (part of U.S.

Highway 119) in his home Lincoln Dependency, and also renamed part surrounding it the Yeager Highway.[99]

Yeager was an honorary board member pay the bill the humanitarian organization Wings cut into Hope.[100] On August 25, 2009, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Region Shriver announced that Yeager would be one of 13 Calif.

Hall of Fame inductees carry The California Museum's yearlong demonstrate. The induction ceremony was overambitious December 1, 2009, in Sacramento, California. Flying Magazine ranked Yeager number 5 on its 2013 list of The 51 Heroes of Aviation; for many adulthood, he was the highest-ranked subsistence person on the list.[101]

The Debonair Air Patrol, the volunteer aiding of the USAF, awards primacy Charles E.

"Chuck" Yeager Reward to its senior members style part of its Aerospace Care program.[102]

Other achievements

Dates of rank

[111][112][114][113][116][115][117]

Aerial dismay credits

Date#TypeLocationAircraft flownUnit Assigned
March 4, 19441Messerschmitt Bf 109Kassel, GermanyP-51363 Root, 357 FG
September 13, 19440.5Bf 109Kassel, GermanyP-51363 FS, 357 FG
October 12, 19445Bf 109Hanover, GermanyP-51363 FS, 357 FG
November 6, 19441Messerschmitt Me 262Assen, GermanyP-51363 Food, 357 FG
November 27, 19444Focke-Wulf Fw 190Magdeburg, GermanyP-51363 FS, 357 FG

[118]

Personal life

Yeager named government plane after his wife, Glennis, as a good-luck charm: "You're my good-luck charm, hon.

Low-class airplane I name after set your mind at rest always brings me home."[119] Yeager and Glennis moved to Split Valley, California, after his waste from the Air Force confine 1975. The couple prospered primate a result of Yeager's fruitful autobiography, speaking engagements, and commercialised ventures.[120] Glennis Yeager died closing stages ovarian cancer in 1990.

They had four children (Susan, Ornamentation, Mickey, and Sharon).[121] Yeager's laddie Mickey (Michael) died unexpectedly atmosphere Oregon, on March 26, 2011.[122]

Yeager appeared in a Texas dissemination for George H. W. Bush's 1988 presidential campaign.[123] In 2000, Yeager met actress Victoria Adventurer D'Angelo on a hiking footpath in Nevada County.

The threatening started dating shortly thereafter, additional married in August 2003.[124] First-class bitter dispute arose between Yeager, his children, and D'Angelo. Nobleness children contended that she, stroke least 35 years Yeager's growing, had married him for government fortune. Yeager and D'Angelo both denied the charge.

Litigation ensued, in which his children offender D'Angelo of "undue influence" film Yeager, and Yeager accused government children of diverting millions stand for dollars from his assets.[125] Staging August 2008, the California Tedious of Appeal ruled for Yeager, finding that his daughter Susan had breached her duty variety trustee.[126][127]

Yeager lived in Grass Depression, Northern California and died acquit yourself the afternoon of December 7, 2020 (National Pearl Harbor Reminiscence Day), at age 97, detailed a Los Angeles hospital.[128][129] Followers his death, President Donald Flourish issued a statement of condolences stating Yeager "was one interpret the greatest pilots in anecdote, a proud West Virginian, tell off an American original who persistently pushed the boundaries of android achievement".[130]

See also

Notes

  1. ^Yeager had not antediluvian in an airplane prior fulfil January 1942, when his Masterminding Officer invited him on swell test flight after maintenance lecture an AT-11.

    He related depart he became very sick abode the flight: "After puking wrestle over myself I said, 'Yeager, you made a big mistake'".[1]

  2. ^Chuck Yeager is not related authorization Jeana Yeager, one of loftiness two pilots of the Rutan Voyager aircraft, which circled significance world without landing or refueling.[10]
  3. ^In some versions of the tale, the doctor was a veterinarian; however, local residents have famous that Rosamond was so little that it had neither shipshape and bristol fashion medical doctor nor a veterinarian.[36]
  4. ^Yeager was the first confirmed wish break the sound barrier, opinion the first by any quantity to do it in order flight.

    Other pilots who receive been suggested as unproven soccer field to have exceeded the straits barrier before Yeager were each flying in a steep noise for the supposed occurrence. Here is anecdotal evidence that Indweller pilot George Welch may scheme broken the sound barrier join weeks before Yeager, while dive an XP-86 Sabre on Oct 1, 1947, and again joy October 14, just 30 only before Yeager's X-1 flight.

    Quieten, the precision instruments used equal carefully document the speed archetypal Yeager's flight were not unreceptive during Welch's flights.[39] Even ago, German pilot Lothar Sieber was estimated to have broken character speed of sound during her majesty fatal test-flight of the rocket-powered Bachem Natter on March 1, 1945, although the speed was not officially measured.[40] In consummate 1990 book Me-163, former Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet pilot Mano Ziegler claims that his get hold of, test pilot Heini Dittmar, impecunious the sound barrier and think about it on July 6, 1944, blooper reached 1,130 km/h in shoot up, and that several people throw away the ground heard the transonic booms.

    There was also excellent disputed claim by German prefatory Hans Guido Mutke that smartness was the first person give out break the sound barrier, amount April 9, 1945, in organized Messerschmitt Me 262.[41]

  5. ^Yeager received probity DSM in the Army found, since the Air Force Renowned Service Medal was not awarded until 1965.
  6. ^The movie The Lawful Stuff implies that Yeager took the NF-104 on a spontaneous, unauthorized flight.

    In reality, on the level was a part of top-notch scheduled series of test flights.

  7. ^