Warbird Information Exchange

I'm VERY surprised to hear you say Crossfield had an attitude problem. While many test pilots have big egos, Crossfield was notoriously kind and generous to those seeking his autographs over the years. I mailed him a photo a couple months before his unfortunate passing and he kindly signed it for free...something I proudly display today.

In fact, I never heard a bad word about Crossfield until I read your post. Yeager, on the other hand...

mjanovec, I totally agree with you.

Mr. Crossfield was always modest & self-deprecating in any of his public appearances I attended and most kind whenever I was fortunate to be able to speak with him. I respected Mr. Crossfield as a person and as a pilot.

I respect Mr. Yeager as a pilot.

i don't know........ maybe he had a bad night, i simply asked him for an autograph, & he was put off by my request. i can read between the lines of body language & communication, he just wasn't friendly. i'm sure he was a nice guy, but we all have our moments.

_________________
tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

I sat with him at the EAA gathering of eagles.. The subject came up and he said that he would sign all of the stuff and it would end up on Ebay for $100.00.. He will do autograps but it will cost you $50.00. The money goes to the Chuck Yeager foundation.. He is a very nice guy and has done alot for aviation! I had no problem paying it! Great guy who's legacy will continue after he is gone..!

MISSION STATEMENT
The General Chuck Yeager Foundation supports programs which teach the ideals by which General Yeager has lived his life: honor, integrity and courage in our daily conduct, a strong sense of public service and duty to our country, excellence, and an intellectual curiosity.

WHAT WE DO
General Yeager flies Young Eagles and Make-A-Wish Foundation children, participates in fundraisers for Down Syndrome and Autistic Folks in Abilene, Texas, schools; conservation; Women in Aviation International, Paralyzed American Veterans, Disabled Veterans, and other programs
he want We give copies of the books Yeager, an Autobiography, The General Chuck Yeager Story, a children's version, and Edwards Air Force Base History Office's documentary of General Chuck Yeager's life to schools, Civil Air Patrol, Children's Hospitals, the FAA education program, and others.

We currently have endowment funds for scholarships at Women in Aviation International, Marshall University's Yeager Scholars, a four-year full scholarship that includes a semester abroad and a summer course at Oxford University, and EAA's Young Eagles' Air Academy HISTORY
The Foundation was incorporated in California on March 1, 2002. It is a qualified tax-exempt organization under Section 501 (c) 3 of the IRS Code.

The General Chuck Yeager Foundation has given $50,000 to EAA's Young Eagles and helped to accomplish the mission of getting one million kids to fly at the controls by December 17, 2003: the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight. The General Chuck Yeager Foundation gave $50,000 to Marshall University's Yeager Scholars, $20,000 to Women in Aviation International GOALS
To continue to teach General Chuck Yeager's history so it may serve as an inspiration and role model to all, especially young people.

To raise a $5 million endowment fund.
FINANCE
Less than 1% of donations is spent on operations and administration costs. You too can help the mission of the General Chuck Yeager Foundation by sending your donation to: General Chuck Yeager Foundation, P.O. Box 579; Penn Valley, CA 95946

I don't have any problem with Yeager's autograph policy and the price he charges. I do have a problem with some of the comments he made when Scott Crossfield passed away, however. No class...

He is an old guy , sometimes at that age the mind can take a leave of absense.. I heard the comonts to but let it go.

You guys have to remember that to us it was Scott Crossfield, but to Yeager it was just one of the other pilots. I think that all of you would agree that if you did not know the name of the pilot, and were just told that a guy flew a Cessna into a thunderstorm that you would right away say that, "Wow that was a bad move." But we didn't say that because to us that was a legend. I agree, at first I was stunned, but then I realized that Crossfield was a sort of like a co-worker to him. I for one would rather see honesty, then someone pretending to care like they do in Hollywood.

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I see your point. Unfortunately, I don't think Yeager viewed any of the NACA test pilots as co-workers on an equal level. He has a long history of trash-talking any pilot not wearing a USAF uniform.

The Crossfield comments are an echo of his comments regarding the death of Joe Walker in 1966 (bringing us back to the XB-70 crash), back when Yeager wasn't an "old man." And, in fact, he has bad-mouthed Crossfield on many occaisons. The fact that he chose to do it (yet one more time) the day of Crossfield's death was in poor taste.

As I said, I admire Yeager for some of his contributions. I just wish he displayed more tact.

Yeah I see what you mean about the USAF test pilots and the NACA pilots.

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager