Fri Sep 14, 2007 8:33 pm
people have quirks.... whether royalty or normalty. i have to sympathsize with celbrities like yeager & the like, their head isn't on a swivel, they have headaches, pressure etc, always to perform, it gets old to any human being.
Sat Sep 15, 2007 1:02 am
Put yourself in his shoes.
Sat Sep 15, 2007 10:56 am
Mr Michel Sir...in answer to your query as to whether one has met a fighter jock who was not cocky...yes, I have met a couple who did not bristle the way Yeager does if you do not humble yourself in front of him. Col Bud Anderson IIRC had more kills in WWII and is a perfect gentleman who talks freely with everyone he comes in contact with. Gen Robin Olds seemed to be much more playful and outgoing. And finally, Gen Guenther Rall is another very humble gentleman (even with 275 kills).
As others have stated, Yeager does deserve some level of respect for being a veteran alone. However, he does not need to be a pompous ass to get across the point that he was a good pilot.
(Can't forget the fact that one of our own here, Randy Haskin, seems to be a darned nice fella also and I can't wait for the chance to meet him! )
As others have stated, Yeager does deserve some level of respect for being a veteran alone. However, he does not need to be a pompous ass to get across the point that he was a good pilot.
(Can't forget the fact that one of our own here, Randy Haskin, seems to be a darned nice fella also and I can't wait for the chance to meet him! )
Sat Sep 15, 2007 12:21 pm
Put yourself in his shoes.
Yes, being given free lodging, food, transportation to every event in the country, getting paid to show up at all for the major events, and being forced to fly every exotic aircraft in the USAF inventory...no wonder he is bitter.
Truthfully I think he has been thanked plenty for the service he has given, and probably milked it more than any person in history. From the beginning of this thread I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt (regardless of the fact that I have heard nothing but bad about him my entire life) because I have never had much personal experience with him but the more I read the more I am convinced that he has absolutely no tact or class. I trust Chris and those have had good experiences with him but truly a measure of a person isn't how they treat a select few but how they treat the average person who they have never met, and may never see again. That will tell you what they are really made of.
I have known a lot of cocky fighter pilots throughout the years but it sounds like this guy is on his on planet of ego.
Sat Sep 15, 2007 4:01 pm
After wading through most of this thread I'm beginning to wonder of the General isn't bi-polar.
Sat Sep 15, 2007 5:21 pm
So how much does a Randy autograph go for these days?
Sat Sep 15, 2007 5:31 pm
Paul Krumrei wrote:Put yourself in his shoes.
okay, now my feet hurt. Now what?
Sat Sep 15, 2007 6:21 pm
rwdfresno wrote:Put yourself in his shoes.
Yes, being given free lodging, food, transportation to every event in the country, getting paid to show up at all for the major events, and being forced to fly every exotic aircraft in the USAF inventory...no wonder he is bitter.
Truthfully I think he has been thanked plenty for the service he has given, and probably milked it more than any person in history. From the beginning of this thread I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt (regardless of the fact that I have heard nothing but bad about him my entire life) because I have never had much personal experience with him but the more I read the more I am convinced that he has absolutely no tact or class. I trust Chris and those have had good experiences with him but truly a measure of a person isn't how they treat a select few but how they treat the average person who they have never met, and may never see again. That will tell you what they are really made of.
I have known a lot of cocky fighter pilots throughout the years but it sounds like this guy is on his on planet of ego.
Well said Ryan. IMO Chuck's a W. Virginia country boy that made good and just got too much d*mned attention. In his later years, he put himself out there as a commercial brand of sorts. When a person pursues a path that knowingly magnifies their celebrity, they have to take the good and bad that comes with that. I've met many of his piers such as Robin Olds and Bud Anderson and they're proof you can be an accomplished fighter pilot, have class, be friendly and not expect the world to kiss your a*s at every turn.
Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:48 am
sorry Chuck, George went first!
Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:55 pm
Oh well...
Seems some here have had very different experiences meeting Gen. Yeager than I had...
I can only speak from my own experience, albeit limited.
Seems some here have had very different experiences meeting Gen. Yeager than I had...
I can only speak from my own experience, albeit limited.
Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:33 pm
One experience only
Flew as number four with him as lead two times at an airshow in 95.
Afterwards he treated me badly and treated a friend of mine worse, a man I consider one of the most accomplished Mustang pilot's in the world.
Then he settled down when Mr Anderson had a talk in his ear.
I do not mention him to my son in the same terms as Hoover, Robert Scott, Bud Anderson. Etc. All great pilots but the legacy may be a little different.
He has a right to be who he chooses. I make sure to use the above mentioned pilot's as my role model for public behavior, especially at airshows where Warbird's are involved.
I think if he was able to see himself as we sometimes see his actions he may re-think what he is doing.
Flew as number four with him as lead two times at an airshow in 95.
Afterwards he treated me badly and treated a friend of mine worse, a man I consider one of the most accomplished Mustang pilot's in the world.
Then he settled down when Mr Anderson had a talk in his ear.
I do not mention him to my son in the same terms as Hoover, Robert Scott, Bud Anderson. Etc. All great pilots but the legacy may be a little different.
He has a right to be who he chooses. I make sure to use the above mentioned pilot's as my role model for public behavior, especially at airshows where Warbird's are involved.
I think if he was able to see himself as we sometimes see his actions he may re-think what he is doing.
Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:39 pm
Hey Mike, I forgot all about Bob Scott. I met him many years ago (mid 90's at latest) at one of Sam Lyons' Christmas Parties in Kinnesaw GA. I talked to him for a few hours and all I can say is that he may well give Bob Hoover a run for his money for "most gentlemanly" pilot. Heck, he was close to 90 then and just was great to talk to.
Mark H
Mark H
Wed Sep 19, 2007 2:38 am
The man is famous for being an amazing fighter and test pilot and should be judged in that light. He may or may not be a saint, but being a public figure he is certainly more scrutinized than most of us, and as humans we all have our bad days.
Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:20 pm
I met CY at Oshkosh many years ago, also met Pappy and George Gay back then. Gay was by far the best. The other two seemed pre-occupied with making money and getting out of there. They weren't bad to me, but I saw a few that they did treat unfair. But I was too young to care at the time.
I wonder if CY reads any of our posts here? Interesting to get some feedback from CY himself.
Glad it's not me you guys are talking about in this thread .... Ouch!!!
I wonder if CY reads any of our posts here? Interesting to get some feedback from CY himself.
Glad it's not me you guys are talking about in this thread .... Ouch!!!
Re: ????
Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:55 am
Jack Cook wrote:I can only hope to do this also one day with Mr. Yeager...
You better say Gen Yeager, Sir or else you might be on the receiving
end of something direct and colorful
I call any one Sir that I respect so I do the same when I talk to him.