Chuck Yeager on Facebook.

[-ammo-]

I'd start my list with Bud, then Bob Hoover (who signed my shirt at Reno long ago)
..but ..that's just me

-Frank aka GE

Bud Anderson should sit up there with you. 

I have met a few others that are notable.  Met Gabreski at the WB con in Raleigh - I believe it was 1999 but could have been 2000.  He was truly a nice guy.  I met Tex Hill in San Antonio at a modelling show.  I had recently built a 1:48 J2M and wanted to see if I would place - didn't even get a look:)  But Tex and a few other WW2 pilots were there and I was able to chat with them for over a half an hour.  Well worth my time.

[Grayeagle]

As for not being fit to criticise ..speak for yourself.

I call 'em as I see 'em.
Act a jack-tard and be treated as such.. don't care who you think you may be.

Doing something that makes you famous is far less important than being a reasonable human being.
But .. that's just me.

-Frank aka GE

[rpm]

As said before Hoover did it in a power dive. Yeager did it in level flight. Big difference. Just like Sheppard going into space and Gagarin going into orbit.
Apples and oranges.

[cpxxx]

Grayeagle I meant his pilot history, not his personality. My own view from reading his book is that he is rather less than modest. Some of it is frankly hard to believe. Particularly his so called 'combat vision' out to sixty miles.

He's not the only famous pilot who may have been not such a great person. Douglas Bader was another such I believe.

[-ammo-]

Grayeagle I meant his pilot history, not his personality. My own view from reading his book is that he is rather less than modest. Some of it is frankly hard to believe. Particularly his so called 'combat vision' out to sixty miles.

He's not the only famous pilot who may have been not such a great person. Douglas Bader was another such I believe.

In that note, I recently read Robin Olds book.  He is a leader I would loved to have worked for.  If you haven't read the book, I encourage you too.

[icepac]

I have 20/10 vision as tested by a flight surgeon upon entrance into the NAVcad program.

Luckily for pilots, you lose your close distance vision as you age if you start with 20/10 as a kid.

Sadly, for computer operators, mechanics, electronic technicians.....etc.....you will need reader glasses to see anything close and have to make sure you wear them only as needed.

[bozon]

Regardless if Welch went supersonic in a dive, he was still the first to break it and broke it again shortly before Yeager did it in the X-1.  The only difference was that Yeager had official monitors to monitor the flight while Welch didn't, even though the flight data from the XF-86 confirms Welch's breaking of the sound barrier.  If Welch's flight had official monitors, he would have been credited as the first, not Yeager.

Wasn't his supersonic boom heard all around? what other indicator is needed?

btw,
most hotshot pilots are total a-holes in person. There are a few which escape this pattern, but unfortunately most don't.

[warhed]

In that note, I recently read Robin Olds book.  He is a leader I would loved to have worked for.  If you haven't read the book, I encourage you too.

I just finished his book as well.   What a man

[GScholz]

But to be fair none of the rest of us are fit to be criticising Yeager or casting doubts on his achievements. He is a living legend. As is the British equivalent Capt. Eric Brown who but for the usual British cock ups, might well be the first man to go supersonic. I wonder does he have a Facebook page?

I don't know General Yeager personally so I can't say if he's a good man or not, but he certainly was a ruthless warrior, who shot German pilots in their chutes. I'm not saying that's wrong btw. just ruthless. Captain Brown I had the pleasure of meeting back in 2007, and I got to attend his seminar on the quest for speed during and after WWII. I recorded his presentation and can put it up on vimeo or something if anyone's interested?

[Ack-Ack]

Wasn't his supersonic boom heard all around? what other indicator is needed?

an official with a radar gun. 

ack-ack

[rabbidrabbit]

I recorded his presentation and can put it up on vimeo or something if anyone's interested?

Would be interesting.

[cpxxx]

In that note, I recently read Robin Olds book.  He is a leader I would loved to have worked for.  If you haven't read the book, I encourage you too.

Absolutely, he was the kind of guy who had the kind of situational awareness where he could see and have time to congratulate another pilot on his kill, while he was in the middle of his own furball. A real leader, that rarest of men.

[Plawranc]

Bud Anderson is an absolute legend. Owns his old mustang too. Still flies Old Crow as far as I know.

Chuck Yeager is quite rightly a great man, but his ego is a match to his status. Which while polite (I met him briefly at the Avalon International Airshow), you can tell an arrogant SOB when you see one, mind you he has every right to be considering his achievements. "A great man is seldom ever a good one"

Robin Old's however in my opinion is the finest American air combat leader that has ever been. In touch with his men, fights with them, and never puts their assses on the line unless he was there too.

[Ack-Ack]

Bud Anderson is an absolute legend. Owns his old mustang too. Still flies Old Crow as far as I know.

 

Bud Anderson doesn't own his own Mustang.

ack-ack

[SIK1]

Bud Anderson doesn't own his own Mustang.

ack-ack

Last I heard Jack Roush owns both "Old Crow" P-51's. A B with a Malcolm hood and a D.