Chuck Yeager, Air Force pilot who first broke speed of sound, dies at 97 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...who-broke-speed-n1250322?cid=eml_nbn_20201207 RIP.......You did GOOD and will be remembered ....with respect and admiration.
No college degree No consideration to be an astronaut. Or was it really his refusal to be spam in a can? Moi
You might like this bio of John Boyd. It's one of the most fun books I've read in awhile. It's got 3 sections: Fighter Pilot, Engineer and Scholar. The 1st was the best read for me, but at least it didn't bog down in the next 2 so much so that I couldn't finish it.
The best illustration of what Yeager's famous "Right Stuff" was supposed to be was from a cartoon. Two pilots are looking at a Mountain Goat which is directly in their viewscreen and which is looking back with a rather surprised expression "Gee, that's not supposed to be up here at all" one is saying rather calmly.
My father-in-law (RIP) was Yeager's commander for a time after WW2. He said Yeager was the "real deal"--an excellent pilot and great guy. My father-in-law (a test pilot himself) and Yeager were both farm boys and examples of the best this country has to offer. Chuck Yeager ... a life well lived. Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart
Well it was more of the right place at the right time sort of thing. If it wasn't him then someone else would have done it. It's not like it took something extra special to sit in that seat.
One can think he did something, like found out about vaccine or peniciline, designed a computer or built a rocket company to take people to mars. But he was just another person behind a stick. No big deal overall...
That is from a Far Side comic strip. One of my favorites. I don’t know which was funnier, the calm observation from the co-pilot or the calm expression on the mountain goat’s face just a split-second before disaster.