Gen. Chuck Yeager, pilot who broke the sound barrier, dies at 97

It's in the morning news in France also. Rest In Peace, a true legend.
His lifelong friend Clarence "Bud" Anderson is still alive, I believe.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/07/us/chuck-yeager-dead.html

Rgds

 

Chuck Yeager died today.

 

RIP, General Yeager.

 

Rip....met him many times over the years, his health was declining bad, especially after all the family drama the poor guy went through, and he used to drive a yellow Ferrari around town.. he and Bud Anderson used to hang out quite a bit, Bud was a bit more conservative though, and he is older and still alive and he is highest scoring living American fighter ace. Sad when history passes and not much more then a blip..RIP Chuck...

 

In 1995 I flew as number 4 at an airshow in Louisville. Chuck Yeager was 1, Bud Anderson was 2, A friend Brad Hood was 3 and I was 4.
Got several of the Aces to sign a page from my flight manual. Picture isn't that great since it was taken through the glass it is framed in. Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Yeah the thread title kinda made that point pretty clear....

RIP Chuck

Jedi

 

OMG!!! That's amazing, man!!! VERY cool stuff

Jedi

 

I used to fly around a bit with the late Larry Blumer that was a squadron mate and fellow training mate at Tonopah with Yeager, both flying P-39's. Blumer and Yeager were somewhat of the same kind. Blumer shot down 5 FW-190's in less than 15 minutes in his P-38 and Yeager did the same in other actions with a P-51. Blumer lacked Yeager's longevity and ended his days in relative obscurity in a small town in Oregon.

 

And "Pete" Peterson (Richard Allen Peterson) (357 FG also)...
Very nice. Keep it preciously.
Rgds

 

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I built this 104 two years ago. It is a replica of chuck yeagers 104 while based in Germany. It is 1/4 scale and is powered with a BF300 turbine blowing out 77lbs of thrust.

 

Is that an F-104C model, then, or an F-104A?

 

My effort to show a G model. This original is available. Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I spoke to General Yeager, once, and asked him about The Right Stuff and how the movie very much implies that he is the best pilot anyone had ever seen. I went on to ask, "Who's the best pilot you ever saw?" First telling me I watch too many movies, he then said, "Well, the way I see it, if you're a pilot, and you're still alive, you must be doing something right!"

 

Yeager hated being asked the same questions over and over, but get him going on WW-II and P-51s and he was happy to talk. Several of the astronauts were the same way, loved talking about what they had flown before they became astronauts. Met the general at the AF Command and Staff Gathering of Eagles in 1987, where I sponsored Ray Brooks.

 

I have to share this photo.
R.I.P General Chuck Yeager, an incredible life well lived, America’s greatest pilot, and a legacy of strength, adventure, and patriotism will be remembered forever.



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Bud is still active, I met him and Whitey Fightner last summer, but Whitey has passed on since then.