Warbird Information Exchange

Since this led into a heated debate, and I don't want to take over another person's thread, I made one for this. I have had the honor of talking to the Gen. on the phone, meeting him and his wife in person several times, and doing an article about him in the NMUSAF magazine. I can only say nice things about him and his wife. They have treated me nothing but nice. I for one make decisions on how someone is based on how they treat me. I would give any of you on here the same chance. Most of the gripes here are about people pissed off because he wouldn't sign an autograph. Well I have seen people get an autograph from these guys, turn around and sell it to someone right infront of the guy that just signed it. How is that right? This guy flew 208 different types of aircraft over his career, fought for our country in WWII, broke the sound barrier, when no one else could, was an active pilot until just a few years ago, and he is not a cool guy because he wouldn't sign something for you? Gen. Yeager and I have gotten along just fine, and you know why? Because I respect him, and don't bug him for crap. Could he have signed an autograph for your kid? Sure, but who knows what other event just happened in his life with autographs that might have put him off. In regards to his comments about Crossfield, remember that Scott Crossfield to him was a co-worker, not a legend like he is to us. And were his comments wrong? Is it wrong to call something what it is, even though others might not like it.
I think that people are far too rough on these guys. They are fighter pilots, not saints.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Ditto with what Mustangdriver said. I've heard Yeager can be arrogant (this from a long time neighbor of mine that is a retired test pilot that flew SR-71's among other types), but I don't give a darn! Yeager stuck his neck out for this nation time and time again and why? And did he get big bucks? Nope. He earned nothing more than captain's pay when he broke the sound barrier. And this was after many respected scientist told him he'd get killed trying to break the sound barrier like others before him.

Why did he do this? Only Yeager can really fully answer that question. But I suspect it was because it was his job as a military pilot. And i'm sure it's the same answer for all the other high risk assignments he partook in including being in combat in WWII and Vietnam. Yeager has always been a hero to me because of these things. There are many other aviation heroes out there. Yeager just happens to be my personal favorite.


And that's my dos centavos

I wonder what Pappy thought of Yeager!??

edit: and no...not that Jager! HAHA

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Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!!

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Trae

I saw both sides of the General during his trip out here in March. He lives his life very straight down the line and has his opinions. Yes, we might not be happy about what he said about Crossfield, but who here hasn't had a bad opinion about someone? He's just not afraid to voice his thoughts in public. It's also well known that he doesn't like Armstrong either. But if you ask him about Hoover or Anderson you'll get different opinions. It's very confronting, but it's his way.

My first reaction on speaking with him about it was that it was parochialism: they worked for NACA he was with the Air Force. His opinions that the NACA pilots weren't much chop led me to draw this conclusion. But then he gave me reasons, examples and anecdotes to back-up every opinion. Oddly, he had a high opinion of the NACA CO. He just thought the pilots were a crook lot.

On the autograph side of things, I watched him sign an autograph for a woman in a Melbourne hotel free of charge, then demand $50 to sign a photograph for someone at Avalon. There is a real danger that signed paraphenalia will end up being sold on e-Bay. I don't think I'd like it if it was me.

Walrus

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One crowded hour of glorious life
Is worth an age without a name

Probably 20 years ago while I was still in the CAF, I was flying co-pilot for Jack Skipper on the PBJ Devil Dog for a photo shoot in which Chuck Yeager was flying the Glamourous Glennis P-51 along with a blue-nosed P-51 and the CAF P-51 Red Nose. We had the CAF photographer Bill ? in our open tail position. While just boring along waiting for everyone to catch up and formate on us, I casually glanced out the side window and what do I see but Yeager formating on us just outside our prop arc! I must have had a startled look on my face because he broke out in a big grin and casually flipped me the bird so I acknowleged him by flipping him one back! Nothin like giving a General the bird. The shoot went fine and now I wish I had one of Bill's pictures or I had snapped one of my own!

Of course we all briefed the mission beforehand and I got to meet him so we weren't exactly strangers. A really good guy and as we all know, an excellent pilot.

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It's what you learn after you think you know it all, that counts.

I've loved seeing Yeager and Anderson flying re-creations of their wartime Mustangs. To see two old warriors flying Mustangs over 60 years after WWII ended is quite impressive.

I asked Gen. Yeager to sum up his sound barrier flight in one word. he used the word "Duty". He said that the USAF was paying him to do it. He was also in charge of several other test flights while he was doing the X-1 flight.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

I saw him at a museum in Ft. Worth and he signed my copy of his book...no problem...no cost....was pleasant enough.

Z

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Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
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If these men are a little "cocky" or nose up, they have every right to be in my opinion. It takes a hell of a lot of guts and dedication to become the top notch of pilots which they are,god knows I wish I was one of them. Dealing with the public is a pain in the arsss. I can't blame them for being a little tired of some peoples types. Refusing a little kid a signature seems a little stiff, but warbird groopys would drive me nuts after a while. Cut these guys some slack, they'll only be withus a few more years. Its sad but true..later,cameron..

Well, I don't know Yeager and have no opinion since I have not really had too many interactions with the man but I can tell you exactly why he was willing to stick his neck out for breaking the sound barrier among other daring tasks. The spirit of competition and good old fashioned ego. I am not knocking it at all. If it wasn't for guys like him there would be no conquering of most things. I have known my share of top notch fighter pilots, Army Rangers, Navy Seals, deep sea divers, and I am even related to some and all I can tell you is almost everyone one of them are type A personality, competitive, cocky, and even arrogant and I don't find a thing wrong with it. It takes all kinds gentleman and your average Joe isn't going to hop on lit rocket and try and break the sound barrier. It takes someone who wants to be the FIRST and wants to be the BEST. Whatever personality trait that makes you do what others have died attempting is not the same trait that makes you a lovable fuzzball. I thank God for the competitive, egotistical people that are willing to strap on a rocket, jump out of an airplane, swim to the bottom of the ocean all in the name of progress. I don't expect them to give me a bear hug and blow smoke up my rear end just because I decide to grace them with the opportunity to sign my T-shirt.

Ryan

Bill Crump....

Lynn

Like I said, I have nothing but good things to say about the both of them.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

There is considerably more controversy surrounding Chuck's wife than Chuck himself. I don't know either of them well enough to speculate, but much of the broohaha over Victoria is a matter of public record.

Personally, I hope I never get famous. It seems to bring nothing but trouble. Fortunately, there is little danger of it happening to me

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What is red, furry and on your six?

Never met the man, although I admire him a lot and hope I do meet him sometime.

I can only imagine what it's like to be that famous and not be able to have a meal in a restaurant or just walk down the street without some idiot interrupting me to scribble my name on a napkin. Not my cuppa tea, no matter how much money there might be in it.

General Yeager has given about as much as one could give to his country without actually dying or being tortured in a Japanese prison/labor camp.
If he gets a little testy sometimes or seems to be arrogant, he's earned every right to be that way.

If I had the stones that Patriots like Chuck Yeager have, I'd probably be one arrogant SOB with a dried up Sharpie.

Dave

Anybody know the story behind Jack Roush changing the name on his P-51 that Yeager used to fly with Col Bud Anderson in Old Crow?

I have met both Yeager and Col Anderson and in my personal opinion, Col Anderson is much more of a gentleman than Yeager will ever be.

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Earn my respect and never lose it.
Demand my respect and never gain it. -Me

...just another plane dreamer.