Chuck Yeager, who first broke sound barrier with 'the right stuff', dies aged 97 Vale. An interesting character.

Sad. I'm a big Fan of the hillbilly Ace.
He had The Right Stuff !

R.I.P Chuck



The Libs and Labs could never build a plane. If they did, it'd be a rickety biplane made of recycled cardboard and it'd never leave the ground

Yes - a great fan of Chuck - my kind of guy...

Exceptional long distance sight allowed him to direct his fellow pilots into position long before the enemy spotted him.
Courageous or fool hardy - making a living as a Test Pilot.
Experienced a number of 'near death experiences' one of which he is heard accepting his death as the test jet plummets to the ground, over radio.
Did a cameo on the movie The Right Stuff which is basically a movie heavily associated with his life.
Was a Hillbilly Huckleberry Finn kinda guy and although the Airforce recognised his ability in the air, they had to help him through the 'educational' and paperwork side of Pilot life in the Military.
Helped innovate progress in Test Jets and Planes.
Was the USA's version of the Red Baron who also had 'superior eyesight' and thus benefited from it with much advantage. But it takes more than just good eyesight - it takes The Right Stuff to get there in the end.

I watched about 30 minutes of "The Right Stuff" online. Then I went to get a DVD copy of the movie. I still have not watched the movie. Something is really stopping me from watching it.

I am going to youtube the documentaries on Yaeger's efforts.

UnSubRocky wrote on Dec 31^st, 2020 at 4:59pm:

I watched about 30 minutes of "The Right Stuff" online. Then I went to get a DVD copy of the movie. I still have not watched the movie. Something is really stopping me from watching it.

The book is much better than the movie.  I wouldn't bother with the movie.

https://i.postimg.cc/bN4WtJPc/Chuck-and-BEll-X-1.jpg

Chuck and Bell X-1. Yes, the book is than the film, but reading is a too 20th Century for a lot of people.

issuevoter wrote on Jan 1^st, 2021 at 10:50am:

https://i.postimg.cc/bN4WtJPc/Chuck-and-BEll-X-1.jpg Chuck and Bell X-1. Yes, the book is than the film, but reading is a too 20th Century for a lot of people.

You might be surprised to find out how popular reading has been in the last 20 years.

Brian Ross wrote on Dec 31^st, 2020 at 9:03pm:

UnSubRocky wrote on Dec 31st, 2020 at 4:59pm: I watched about 30 minutes of "The Right Stuff" online. Then I went to get a DVD copy of the movie. I still have not watched the movie. Something is really stopping me from watching it. The book is much better than the movie.  I wouldn't bother with the movie.

I agree with the Book. But I still think the movie made a good effort to give it justice and 'introduce' mainstream audiences to Yeager's life.

UnSubRocky wrote on Jan 1^st, 2021 at 1:14pm:

issuevoter wrote on Jan 1st, 2021 at 10:50am: https://i.postimg.cc/bN4WtJPc/Chuck-and-BEll-X-1.jpg Chuck and Bell X-1. Yes, the book is than the film, but reading is a too 20th Century for a lot of people. You might be surprised to find out how popular reading has been in the last 20 years.

Reading books has increased in sales during 2020 like never before since 1984.

Alcohol sales and dvd watching has taken off in 2020 like you would not believe. And were were not in lockdown in Qld.

Enlisted as an aircraft mechanic, and progressed to being a Warrant Officer pilot of fighters, often leading wings on operations.  Shot down over Occupied Europe and made his way back to England, and was reinstated to flying since the Allies had over-run the area in which he was shot down and assisted by the Underground.

Shot down, from memory, two Me-262s and also five German aircraft in a day once.... brilliant eyesight apparently.

Broke the sound barrier 'accidentally' while doing a routine run up to near the required speed.... not quite like the movie. In fact - not at all.  He DID bail out at some phenomenal height and copped the ejector seat in the face, burning him badly, when his engine flamed out at serious height...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=nYEKSqa41q8