Chuck Yeager

Major General Charles Elwood "Chuck" Yeager (born February 13, 1923 in Myra, Lincoln County, West Virginia) is a former World War II ace and test pilot. He is most famous for being the first human to undeniably travel faster than sound.

The Right Stuff

Yeager was a primary subject of Tom Wolfe's book, The Right Stuff, and of the movie made from it. He has a short cameo in a scene as bartender who—as an in-joke because NASA didn't recruit him as an astronaut because he lacked a college education—wants to serve the NASA recruiters some Scotch and is puzzled when they only want a Coke. He was the prototype flier with the "right stuff", although the modest Yeager denied any such attribute, saying it was just a combination of "luck" and "knowing the airplane" (in his autobiography, Yeager states that he does believe in The Right Stuff). Romantic as his character appears to be, his portrayal in the movie is somewhat skewed; Yeager was actually partially responsible for the design of the X-1. In addition, when he crashed the F-104 Starfighter, he did not take the plane without authorization, as seen in the motion picture; he simply did not have authorization to attempt breaking the Russian record. He did, however, receive 3rd-degree burns on his head and hands from the rocket exhaust of the ejector seat.

Related Topics:
Tom Wolfe - The Right Stuff - NASA - Scotch - Coke - F-104 Starfighter - Ejector seat

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On February 26, 1945, Yeager married Glennis Dickhouse. They had 4 children. Nearly 13 years after her death, he married sometimes-actress Victoria Scott D'Angelo, 36 years his junior. Three of his children are currently suing for control of his holdings, claiming that D'Angelo married Yeager for his fortune. Yeager contends they simply want more money.

Related Topics:
February 26 - 1945

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There is a disputed claim by German pilot Hans Guido Mutke to be the first person to break the sound barrier, on April 9, 1945, in a Messerschmitt Me 262. As well, many contend that American pilot George Welch broke the sound barrier while diving an XP-86 Sabre two weeks before Yeager and again just 30 minutes before. In a period documentary, the USAF said that Yeager and the X-1 were the first to break the sound barrier "in level flight". This leaves the door open for claims of breaking the sound barrier in a dive before Yeager broke it in the X-1.

Related Topics:
Hans Guido Mutke - Sound barrier - April 9 - 1945 - Messerschmitt - Me 262 - George Welch - XP-86 Sabre

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