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Post by oldcajun123 on Dec 8, 2020 9:44:01 GMT -5
He passed at 97. My daughter was his chauffeur for a while, he heard of my service and I got a Flag that was struck over the Arizona, ball caps, pins, she adored her, texted her this morning about him. He was a legend.  |
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Post by sperrytops on Dec 8, 2020 13:54:23 GMT -5
Chuck Yeager lived not far from me before he moved into a house on his daughters property. She was a realtor. I actually looked at his house about 20 years ago when it was on the market. That was when I moved into my own home. He had substantial acreage, a stream and bridge. Quite nice, out of my price range. I also sat next to him on a flight back to Sacramento. We were next to each other in first class seats. Upgrades in the day were great. We chatted and he chewed me out for drinking at altitude. He was a local legend in the Sacramento area, a local boy who lived nearby in Grass Valley. Even had the bar at the local Holiday Inn named after him with a full size reconstruction of one of the planes he flew suspended above it. I remember many years go my father, who was an Air Force pilot, telling me how angry Chuck Yeager was when he was passed over for the Astronauts program. He wanted to be the first man in space. But he was just too old. A real American icon.
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Post by Ronv69 on Dec 8, 2020 14:21:21 GMT -5
He had the Right Stuff. And now he's flying higher than he ever went before. They say there are old pilots, and bold pilots, but no old, bold pilots. He's the exception.
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Post by toshtego on Dec 8, 2020 15:17:27 GMT -5
About 1994 I had occasion to pass through the lobby of a hotel in Eureka CA. General Yeager was giving a motivational speech to a local business group. I heard his voice and walked in to listen. He was great that day!
Started as a Private in the US Army Air Corps in 1941. Retired a General. Rode the fastest planes first and before anyone else.
That was a man!!!!
We may not see the like of him again for a long tim.
RIP, Sir!
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Post by simnettpratt on Dec 8, 2020 15:26:01 GMT -5
These personal stories are great. An American icon.
WTH?? You weren't driving!
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Post by trailboss on Dec 8, 2020 15:34:14 GMT -5
For as great as he was, he seemed like he was a humble man.
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Post by puffy on Dec 8, 2020 15:45:41 GMT -5
Some of the things he did were pretty risky,but he did them anyway..He had a lot of nerve.
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Post by simnettpratt on Dec 8, 2020 15:54:03 GMT -5
Along with being the most famous test pilot of all time, some folks don't know on October 12, 1944, he became the first in his group to become 'ace in a day', by downing five enemy aircraft in his P-51.
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Post by sperrytops on Dec 8, 2020 16:32:39 GMT -5
These personal stories are great. An American icon. WTH?? You weren't driving! I respectfully listened to him lecture me about the dangers of mixing alcohol and flying. I don't think it mattered to him that I wasn't behind the wheel. |
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Post by simnettpratt on Dec 8, 2020 17:23:27 GMT -5
Ha. Yeah, I'd have done the same thing.
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jay
Junior Member
Edward's Pipes....only Edward's pipes....and Buccaneer in the bowl
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First Name: Jay
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Post by jay on Dec 8, 2020 22:37:58 GMT -5
He was one of those American heroes from the time that I was born. Every time one of those men or women passes, I feel just that little bit older.
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