Chuck Yeager dies at 97
December 7th, 2020, 11:16 PM
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Chuck Yeager dies at 97
My childhood hero! First pilot to break the sound barrier. X-1 , X-15 to near 1,000 mph (1,609 kph) at Edwards in October 2002 at age 79. A West Virginia Boy.
In 1988, Yeager was again invited to drive the pace car, this time at the wheel of an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. When the cars roar out of their last practice lap for the start of the race, Yeager will gun the Cutlass to 140 miles per hour - faster than the first 45 winners of the Indy - and head for the pits. Love this guy!
In 1988, Yeager was again invited to drive the pace car, this time at the wheel of an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. When the cars roar out of their last practice lap for the start of the race, Yeager will gun the Cutlass to 140 miles per hour - faster than the first 45 winners of the Indy - and head for the pits. Love this guy!
December 8th, 2020, 12:20 AM
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December 8th, 2020, 12:33 AM
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Found this. Flying F-15 planes, he broke the sound barrier again on the 50th and 55th anniversaries of his pioneering flight, and he was a passenger on an F-15 plane in another breaking of the sound barrier to commemorate the 65th anniversary.
Last edited by HighwayStar 442; December 8th, 2020 at 01:04 AM.
December 8th, 2020, 04:40 AM
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X1 is correct..... (close enough to X15) And he was out with his wife to be the day before the test flight and was thrown from a horse. He was injured badly enough that he couldn't raise his arm to close the canopy so he brought a shortened broom stick handle with him in the plane do he could close the canopy with his other arm.
Read "Yeager", his autobiography, the guy was amazing.
Last edited by allyolds68; December 8th, 2020 at 04:49 AM.
December 8th, 2020, 07:42 AM
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I had the pleasure by happen chance to talk with Chuck Yeager for about 20 minutes just him and I. That was about 15 years ago. What a everyday kind of guy I asked him if he was still flying and he said he had a friend who let him fly his P51 anytime he wanted just leave it full of gas. I met him in the Grass Valley Ca. area at a business I use to service and as far as I know he lived in that area till he died. Great man....Tedd
January 2nd, 2021, 02:56 PM
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The x15 was a Hyper Sonic Rocket powered plane developed in 1959. It had a top speed of 4,520 MPH. Chuck Yager was Co Pilot on the B52 that carried the X15 aloft but he never piloted it.
Check Yaeger did fly The SR71 Black Black Bird several times. There is a story about him being ask to fly the last Black Bird being retired to Washington DC from California to put on display at the National Air and Space Museum. Two Jet Fighter Chase Planes followed him across the country. One of the Chase Plane pilots in a later interview comented .
"That for a 65 YEAR OLD GUY, he made good time, but his turn signal was on all the way across the country."
Check Yaeger did fly The SR71 Black Black Bird several times. There is a story about him being ask to fly the last Black Bird being retired to Washington DC from California to put on display at the National Air and Space Museum. Two Jet Fighter Chase Planes followed him across the country. One of the Chase Plane pilots in a later interview comented .
"That for a 65 YEAR OLD GUY, he made good time, but his turn signal was on all the way across the country."
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