Legendary Chuck Yeager on Namibian safari
By: JANA-MARI SMITH


BRIGADIER General Chuck Yeager, the first pilot ever to fly faster than the speed of sound, is on a hunting safari in Namibia.
Yesterday, a Hunter’s Namibia Safaris spokesperson confirmed that Yeager has been in Namibia for the past nine days, enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Yeager will host an informal get-together at the Klein Windhoek Guesthouse at 18h00 Windhoek tonight, giving admirers a chance to meet the legendary pilot. At 24 years of age, Yeager achieved worldwide fame when he was the first pilot to break the sound barrier in 1947.
The much-admired pilot, who according to reports is “unquestionably the most famous test pilot of all time” arrived in Namibia on October 1. He returns to the United States tomorrow.
Yeager’s most famous achievement took place on October 14 1947.
Only days after he is said to have cracked several ribs during a horseback riding accident, Yeager was chosen to test the rocket-powered X-1 plane.
At the time, “no one knew if a fixed-wing aircraft could fly faster than sound, or if a human pilot could survive the experience” a report on Yeager states.
Nevertheless, Yeager bravely agreed to do the flight and was written into the history books when he broke the sound barrier.
Yeager went on to accomplish more feats in his career, one of which includes a flight in 1952 where he managed to set a new air speed record of 2 656 kilometres per hour.
Yeager occupied a prominent position during the space race from 1956 onwards, when he commanded the Air Force Aerospace Research Pilots School, a training ground for potential pilots for the space programme.
Yeager came close to death on numerous occasions during his eventful career. It is reported that in 1963, during a flight on the experimental Lockheed Starfighter, during which Yeager reached speeds more than twice the speed of sound, the engine shut off and Yeager was forced to eject from the aircraft. During his escape, Yeager’s compression suit was set on fire. He survived but required extensive skin grafts for his burns.
A significant cap in his feather, is his Second World War experiences.
Yeager was shot down in 1943 over enemy territory in France. With the help of the French resistance, Yeager escaped across the Pyrenees to neutral Spain.
He rejoined the war effort and managed to complete 64 combat missions during the rest of the war.

A true Hero! There aren't too many of those guys left and good that he's still out there doing what he loves.

I had the honor to meet Mr. Yeager once, he couldn't have been more kind. True American Legend.

I met him on numerous occasions while stationed in Germany. My NCOIC had worked for him previously. He would come by my office whenever he came through Ramstein and hide there and smoke cigars with Greg. (I don't think he was supposed to smoke.) He's a great guy with tons of stories to tell.

Yeah he's a legend alright - always keen for a chat!!

An interesting man to say the least. I sat in many F-104 Starfighters as a boy. They and my Dad were stationed at McGhee Tyson AFB until they moved south to FL during the Cuban missle fiasco. I played with sidewinder casings and 50 cal belts. Wish I still had those toys

Yeager is a legend. That ejection from the F-104 aqlmost got him. The aircraft was in a flat spin and he stayed with it too long. His bail out oxygen system somehow caught fire. He had fire in his helmet. That was a near miraculous survival. The guy has more lives than a cat.

And in his 80's and still hunting. What a life that man has lived.

He survived a shoot down, bailout and then escaped and evaded back to friendly lines in WWII and then went on to fly multiple combat missions in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. A true fighter pilot.

If you ever get the chance to read his autobiography do it. He's survived some unreal stuff in airplanes and one in a helicopter it is simply mind boggling what that guys has been through.

quote:

Originally posted by keithv35:
A true Hero! There aren't too many of those guys left and good that he's still out there doing what he loves.

+1

I met him at SCI convention several years ago. He did not know me from Adam, but visited like we were old friends. A true gentleman I will not soon forget.

One of the nice benefits of membership in SCI and the NRA is that I had the privilege of meeting Gen. Yeager and Gen./Gov./Commissioner Joe Foss.

Great to hear that Gen. Yeager is still living life to the fullest.

He is the real deal, a true American hero. Way to go General Yeager, in his 80's and still in there kickin.

My impression of Yeager from our few meetings is that he is hyper-competitive and loves nothing more in life than the opportunity to one up the next guy. Be it flying, fishing, fornicating, or hunting, he is all about doing it just a bit better than the anyone else. I like him.

I am glad that the General is doing well. I guess my buddies caught him on an off day in Reno several years ago. He was a real jerk.

http://www.facebook.com/album....=328830532827&ref=mf


Some photos of the General in Namibia.