https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55225903

First person to fly supersonic.

He had the right stuff, because he worked really hard to get it.

Met Chuck Yeager once at the Nevada County Airport near Grass Valley California. I had flown in with two friends for a wedding, and when we were prepping the plane to fly back to Boulder a bit of water was found in the fuel check. So we ended up hanging around the airport for several hours getting that handled.

Just so happened that the F105 exhibit at the airport was being moved that day (due to construction I think), and Mr. Yeager came to supervise the move. My pilot friend Steve recognized him and we all introduced ourselves and chatted for a few minutes.

His personality was vivid even in our short acquaintance. I think I had already seen the movie by then, and I also went out and read his autobiography "Yeager" shortly afterwards. He was an iconic man from an iconic age and he lived an amazing life. Sorry to hear of his passing.

quote:

He was an iconic man from an iconic age and he lived an amazing life.

Yes indeed.

I saw a Yeager quote on Facebook:

"The first jet I ever saw, I shot it down."

Not too many pilots can claim to have emerged unscathed from a fight with ME-262s.