Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Golfer on June 08, 2006, 07:49:09 PM
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Was at Landmark Aviation today...here's a letter I wrote to my mentor telling what happened:
I'm standing off to the side of the hall to let a large group of wealthy looking people pass (I was hoping if I bumped them a few $100 bills would fall on the ground) on their way to NBAA. Next thing I know there's a slight bump from the side...I turn to excuse myself for their mistake when it's none other than Bob Hoover! I couldn't believe my eyes. There's no figure higher to me in aviation as a pilot than Mr. Hoover. I quickly apologized and said it's an honor to 'bump' into you. He then shook my hand and we had a 7-8 minute conversation about hardly anything. I said how great the commander routine was, he asked what I'm flying, what I wanted to do and where I was from. We talked about airplanes, where he was going and about the Eclipse jet parked outside.
What a wonderful and genuine guy. I'd heard so many great things about him and he actually took the time to ask ME questions about myself. I couldn't believe it that Bob Hoover wanted to know about me! I really felt like the big cheese of the FBO. Basically all the pilots knew who he was and I caught many eyes peering our way as I made small talk with the great Bob Hoover. The other pilot I was with came over after he excused himself to hop on a Lear and ask what the heck I could talk with Bob Hoover about. There was another guy with him, and I can't pick out a name. He is a retired Brigadier General and P-51 Ace but for the life of me I couldn't and still can't come up with a name. I addressed him as General, he shook my hand and said he was surprised that someone would recognize him given present company. Hopefully he never finds out I'm blanking out on his name.
If you could help me out with the other guy...I absolutely recognized him. He has rather dark skin, dark hair and a squared off chin. Maybe 5'8 and obviously still alive.
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General Yeager
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Yeager has white hair.
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Originally posted by Wolfala
General Yeager
It wasn't Yeager. If it had you'd be hearing news reports about a young pilot getting into a fight with an old pilot, twenty two heart attacks happening to other pilots and the worlds greatest pissing match.
Oh...no I'm not a fan of Yeager.
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It was John Travolta.
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It was Voss.
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you should have poured iced tea on him
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Whats the matter with Yeager?
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Maybe due to the fact Yeager has taken credit for being the first pilot to break the sound barrier all these years, with full knowledge he was not the first pilot to do it.
All in the name of politics. I am with Golfer. For all Yeager's supposed accomplishments, this one fact will keep me from ever having one iota of respect for him.
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That's great Golfer. Interesting anecdote. Wonder if the General was Bob Cardenas. I think he's still alive. Worked on the X-1 and YB-49 projects at Muroc.
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maybe Bud Anderson?
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Rod Carew?
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Golfer, maybe Robin Olds?
I'd sure like to know the details regarding this Yeager/sound barrier thing.
culero
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Google George Welch.
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I guess Im new to the Yeager thing...I met him at an Air Force event back in the 90s. Shook my hand, chatted a while about lots of things...and i basically had the same impression Golfer had with Hoover.
So if he didnt bust the barrier, who did?
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Was the ME262 the first to break the sound barrier?
ME262 SOUND BARRIER (http://www.vho.org/tr/2003/1/Chelain69-71.html)
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Welch supposely broke the SB in an F-86 in a dive. He claimed it afterward and there was some evidence to suggest it happened. Yeager was the 1st to do it in level flight AND to do it with the proper telemetry AND to do it without disobeying orders not to AND to do it in a plane specifically designed for the purpose.
Hardly a reason to hate the guy.
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Welch Broke the barrier in a dive.
Yeager did it in level flight.
Big difference.
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That is true. But Welch's flight was still a controlled flight. And Yeager knew he broke it, but kept his mouth shut, and still will not own up about it. Bah. Politics. Bah.
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Ah, well...those that adore Neil Armstrong hate Yeager because he dissed him in the book (landed on a wet lakebed when Yeager told him they'd get stuck. They did!)
For what its worth, I admire Chuck none the less. Liked his book, second one sucked...seems like a great fella who started out with not much and worked his way up nicely.
If you wanna dislike the guy based on who said what...that's up to you. I tend to veer away from the hearsay on folks like that. He made a good impression on me and others who got to chat, sip some beers and listen to his stories.
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Originally posted by midnight Target
Welch supposely broke the SB in an F-86 in a dive. He claimed it afterward and there was some evidence to suggest it happened. Yeager was the 1st to do it in level flight AND to do it with the proper telemetry AND to do it without disobeying orders not to AND to do it in a plane specifically designed for the purpose.
Hardly a reason to hate the guy.
george welch was in the private sector at the time.
a lot of the stuff i see about yeager does specificly say he was the 1st "in level flight".
didn't the RAF "tall boy" bomb go supersonic in a dive?
they should have made a piloted version:noid :noid :noid
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Originally posted by LePaul
Ah, well...those that adore Neil Armstrong hate Yeager because he dissed him in the book (landed on a wet lakebed when Yeager told him they'd get stuck. They did!)
For what its worth, I admire Chuck none the less. Liked his book, second one sucked...seems like a great fella who started out with not much and worked his way up nicely.
If you wanna dislike the guy based on who said what...that's up to you. I tend to veer away from the hearsay on folks like that. He made a good impression on me and others who got to chat, sip some beers and listen to his stories.
It's not based on 'who said what'. Just FYI. It is documented in the Smithsonian as an historical fact.
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Originally posted by culero
Golfer, maybe Robin Olds?
I'd sure like to know the details regarding this Yeager/sound barrier thing.
culero
Robin Olds has been mostly grey since the late seventies.
Welch and the sound barrier (http://home.att.net/~historyzone/Welch2.html)
On Yeager I'm neither hot nor cold. No doubt he deserves a lot of credit, however I think he gets more attention for some things than he should, while others get somewhat ignored.
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Originally posted by Skuzzy
It's not based on 'who said what'. Just FYI. It is documented in the Smithsonian as an historical fact.
The fact is that his flight was never recorded with required/accurate instruments.
So it's all hearsay.
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See Rule #4, #5
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welch's experiencing "Mach jump" before anyone had predicted it is considered by many as particularly good evidence:noid :noid :noid
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Yeager is shaving money problems with is family.
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Originally posted by Mr Big
The fact is that his flight was never recorded with required/accurate instruments.
So it's all hearsay.
Just from this, it is obvious you have not taken the time to read the records the Smithsonian has. They published them in Air & Space. I'll take the word of the Smithsonian as they did a good job of presenting the data, and providing backup to it.
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No, I have not read it. Have a link?
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I don't think Air & Space is published online. I have the magazine.
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Cool,video of Bob Hoover's routine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZBcapxGHjE&search=aviation%20aerobatics
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Originally posted by Golfer
Was at Landmark Aviation today...here's a letter I wrote to my mentor telling what happened:
I'm standing off to the side of the hall to let a large group of wealthy looking people pass (I was hoping if I bumped them a few $100 bills would fall on the ground) on their way to NBAA. Next thing I know there's a slight bump from the side...I turn to excuse myself for their mistake when it's none other than Bob Hoover! I couldn't believe my eyes. There's no figure higher to me in aviation as a pilot than Mr. Hoover. I quickly apologized and said it's an honor to 'bump' into you. He then shook my hand and we had a 7-8 minute conversation about hardly anything. I said how great the commander routine was, he asked what I'm flying, what I wanted to do and where I was from. We talked about airplanes, where he was going and about the Eclipse jet parked outside.
What a wonderful and genuine guy. I'd heard so many great things about him and he actually took the time to ask ME questions about myself. I couldn't believe it that Bob Hoover wanted to know about me! I really felt like the big cheese of the FBO. Basically all the pilots knew who he was and I caught many eyes peering our way as I made small talk with the great Bob Hoover. The other pilot I was with came over after he excused himself to hop on a Lear and ask what the heck I could talk with Bob Hoover about. There was another guy with him, and I can't pick out a name. He is a retired Brigadier General and P-51 Ace but for the life of me I couldn't and still can't come up with a name. I addressed him as General, he shook my hand and said he was surprised that someone would recognize him given present company. Hopefully he never finds out I'm blanking out on his name.
If you could help me out with the other guy...I absolutely recognized him. He has rather dark skin, dark hair and a squared off chin. Maybe 5'8 and obviously still alive.
Was it this guy BG Reg Urschler USAF ret.? Flys P-51D "Gunfighter" paint of 343rd squadron WWII.
http://www.bestiowatown.com/city_2002/FlyIowa/Plane%20Info/BrigGenUrschler.jpg
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tiger destefani?
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nice Golfer :)
I also have met him once, chatted for a few, and he signed my shirt .. have seen him fly his show in Old Yeller and the Commander more than once.. first time ever was 1968 at Deer Valley airport here in Phx.
Just amazing.
He is the genuine article.. an aviation icon.. a real shame he got winged by a great deflection shot and put out of the running for ace status in WW2.. and loved readin about his stint in russia as part of US Aerobatics team.. awesome stuff.
I useda dream of flying like he did.
-GE
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Mate of mine encountered Yeager once in a fairly day-to-day situation and was, shall we say, not impressed.
Glad to hear Hoover's still going strong - to hell with these mortal coils.
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I wouldn't say he's "going strong" but he's going.
It also wasn't Urschler. It's driving me crazy I can't think of the name. He's been interviewed on the History/Discovery Wings channel before and for crying out loud it's getting annoying.
But hey...I met Bob Hoover :D