Interview with Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager, part 1

[whistlewing]

The U.S. lost out in not allowing Mr. Yeager to go into outer space. And why was he denied that privilege, because he didn't have the education, even though he had more flying skills than any other human on the planet. The United States lost on this one, just like they have lost on others that don't possess that almighty university/college diploma.

[jimmyhendrix87]

BEST BIOGRAPHY!! better then any novel!

[MrCwaigo]

No body can touch him, He is the best pilot period!!!

[WizzRacing]

That guy has eyes like an Eagle. It was said he could spot planes 50 miles away. I read his biography when I was 18 years old. I was stunned at his achievements from WWII ace, His understanding of the X-1 to training astronauts in the F 104 and how one flight almost took his life and he had to bailout. The guy deserves respect cause he never once bitched. Just goes to show you that getting a degree does not mean can you do shit. You have to still prove yourself you actually learned something!

[irish89055]

you look up cocky and see yeager's picture ...... I believe only 3 of Gabreski's kills were on the ground.

[marvelmax03191]

One of my favorite aviators of all time!

[paledin3]

as a man who did his duty for his country, i respect him. As an author and story teller, pretty entertaining. as someone who would run down gabeski and bong, he is full of himself. these guys went against the best the germans and japenese had to offer, when victory was in doubt. yeager got shot down by the only real pilot he faced, then came back in the last 6 months of the war where he was facing 'young inexperience' pilots who were greatly outnumbered. the air war was almost over by this time.

[josielyn0]

Tori I don't think he is a digrasce to our family :-(

[WarblesOnALot]

@WVPublicBroadcasting

Att. Mike Youngren.

 You want to see if a Hillbilly is able to make NASA take a backseat... Go search 'solar thermal ramjet' & grin y'self silly. It was only a 5th-order Design-priority, but I couldn't resist doing it. And, it does useful work, with the miniscule thrust ! Chuck was inspiring 2me as a kid. My 1st aeroplane hangs in Inverell T'sport Museum, I was 3rd owner, but it was 1st Legal Minimum Aircraft in 1976, 8Hp, 2-Axis, Single Surface Wings. Ciao.

[stevecanyon]

Gentlemen,

There are two types of pilots: Combat Fighter Pilots and everybody else. There are two types of aircraft: Fighters and Targets.

Fighter pilots have big (really big) egos. If you don't, you are a target for someone who does. I have had the pleasure of knowing and interviewing Yeager, Greg Boyington, Bud Anderson, Grabreski and most of the better ones. They will all tell you, if you press them, that the best stick and rudder man was Bob Hoover. Hoover thinks Yeager was the best.

[GriffithAMPS]

I though he was a Brigadier, but the title on the screen said 'Major General'?

[Dog25Freak]

@GriffithAMPS In 2004 Congress passed a bill promoting him to "Major General" on the retired list

[MegaLola48]

chuck was shot down unfourtanetly by a german

[jeffrey19621]

Gabby Gabreski ace in WW2 and korea . Med student at Notre Dame before trying to join the RAF to help Polish units serving in the RAF .He was in pearl harbor at the time of the attack then latter transfered to Europe . Yeager was expendable thats why Bob Hoover was his chase plane on the X-2 . His kids are thrilled dad married a woman 38 years his junior . just another West Virginia hoop . He jepardized the supersonic program flying injured from a horse fall . Keep watching Fox news .

[jeffrey19621]

@jeffrey19621 My mistake X-1

[jeffrey19621]

Had it not been for Curtis Lemay he would not have had the career . He habitualy discredits other pilots and I threw his book accross the room when he did so to Dick Bong. What would I know. I met Bob Hoover (Legend) while attending Parks College (Gaby Gabreski)Trained there. Parked cars while Jimmy Dolittle spoke there shortly before his death. A/P since 1987 first job offer was to travel with Fifi on the then Confederate Air Force.

P.S . I was born in Glendale West Virgina

[bwkelly]

I dont want to take away from what he did. He did a great thing. However he is a very arrogant man.

[beeroosterm]

I've heard Yeager badmouth Gabreski before - and I think he should produce evidence of his claims or shut the fuck up. Unless he has already, of course...

[mossmusic]

Awesome! If he hadn't been accepted into fighter training.... We would never have broke the sound barrier! LOL just kidding, but he was just awesome! RIP, gods speed and a good tailwind.

[mossmusic]

@mossmusic Dumbass, he ain't dead yet!.... Sorry, my bad.

[gersman1962]

Bollocks. I'm a service man.

[592220]

I've read his book and seen countless interviews and he is the atypical fighter jock, arrogant little fuck. He tells it like it is up to a point in his book for which I am grateful, I have people who sugar coat it, but dammit, he does not like to give interviews and his short exasperated answers prove it. He gets pissed being asked the same questions will no shit, it's been 60 years, they have all been asked.

[16vr6]

Sorry Chucky Boy, you've fooled many in your time, but not me.

[racerxnsx]

Awesome. That's a man!

[renotsttam]

I have all the respect in the world for Chuck Yeager, but I am surprised to see him talk shit about Gabby Gabreski. I read all of Gabreski's combat reports on the planes he destroyed, and all of them were air to air kills, at least as far as I could tell, despite what Yeager claims in this interview. It sounds like Yeager had some kind of personal problem with Gabreski.

[mossmusic]

@renotsttam I found that pretty sad that he digs at Gabby also... Never heard Gabby said anything bad about Yeager... He doesn't seem to like modern technology either..

[pangolin97]

He lives in my town!! Grass Valley! or he use too at least. I dont know btu I know he spent alot of time here in grass valley

[edzick917]

A true hero-Read his biography.

[TracyAndersonFoxhunt]

@edzick917 yeah, Chuck is the best. he also wrote another book called 'Press On', where he talks about his fishing and hunting adventures. the library should have it

[venyusz01]

Chuck, you got me! I give all the respect I can. Your answers are so clear, you earned my respect . In the uni the teachers can not! You got bones in your back, had to make everything you have possible for yourself. W need more people like you,sir.

[TracyAndersonFoxhunt]

you guys, read General Yeager's other book, 'Press On'... it's a great book where Chuck talks about his hunting and fishing adventures... totally cool. Chuck is the best pilot ever!!! U.S. Air Force #1 !!!!!

[the82spartans]

Interviewer is so out of his league.

Did he meet Doolittle... for the love of God, man.

[mrzeegrr]

THIS is a man West Virginia can be proud of.

[KevinFL]

Growing up (I was born in '62), Neil Armstrong, AJ Foyt, Mario Andretti & Chuck Yeager were my hero's (in no particular order) His Auto Biography is a must read.

[cZULUs91]

@KevinFL agreed. i just finished his autobiography and it was a great story..

[AtlantisSaturn]

Chuch Yeager was the first monkey who broke the sound barrier.

[matthewmtt]

These guys were amazing.

[tori231994]

First of all, i am related to him, he is my great uncle. Second he is full Shit! See it happened like this. He was the one that failed the pilot test, he wasn't cut out for it. They choose my grate grandfather,Jimmy, instead. So Chuck was pissed and thought that it would be a smart idea to took an airplane or whatever that rocket thing was called, and took off. Yes, he did break the sound barrier, but my grate grandfather would have done it! Lets just say he's a disgrace to the Yeager family!

[DiegoMenendez]

@tori231994 the X-1 was dropped from a B-29...you don't "take an airplane or whaever that rocket thing was called" and take off....

[MajSolo]

@DiegoMenendez Ofcourse you could take off from the ground. F-15s have been doing that for several decades :D and flying faster than the X-1 :D aaah just meesing with u. But never take for granted all these aircraft HAVE to be launced from bombers. But if you are trying to break records I can see that you might like to skip the take off and the climb to altitude.

[allanmajestic]

@MajSolo it was to do with the limited fuel supply, only enough to complete mission then glide down onto lakebed. if the X-1 tried taking off it would be out of fuel at 1000ft, or so!! nothing to do with skipping stuff just for the hell of it.

[MajSolo]

@allanmajestic he he he, record breaking, sliming down everything, you know the Russians sand blasted off all the paint on one of their record breaking Suu-27s names P... someething the X-1 seemed to have had paint on it ;) yeah, skip the take off and skip the ... oh sorry, yeah I said that USA didn't skip the paint. Anyways, recordbreaking experimental aircraft always do things differently :D

[TracyAndersonFoxhunt]

Chuck is the greatest!

[machalot]

I think you mean a power-law distribution. He's not talking about the middle 11%.

[ASONOFUNCLESAM]

Gen. Yeager is a Great American Hero, Im proud to call him my friend. Great Video Thanks...

[WinchesterRanger]

Horny old bugger actually hit on my wife a couple of years back at a store opening, but seeing how I was standing by her at the time getting him to autograph a photo for me, I think he was just messing ;-)

[southbadge]

Armstrong was a crybaby and a premadonna...go with Buzz Aldrin and Dick Scott if you dont believe Yeager...it is what it is...neverbeenthereordunthat!!

[kdraper2007]

in yeager's autobiography he relates a story involving Him, Neil Armstrong, A T-33, & A soggy lake bed Armstrong was sure was dry.

[aquaph0nic]

This man is a legend, and he looks like he still has his wits about him too. Thanks for the upload.

[usuckwhat]

beenthere1run

How much did slick pay you to make him look like a hero and yeager a bad guy jackass

[usuckwhat]

beenthere1run

Man general yeager must have you really upset. First off the man is a legend he flew the x-1 supersonic not Slick. Slick was nother but a huskter. He started to crap his pants as the flights got faster and more dangerous.You wrote he flew for the isreali air force you think he did it for free?

[beenthere1run]

chuck has pissed on the reputations of some fine pilots who did nothing but their jobs. Im sorry if i wrecked anyones hero whoriship of him. Chuck also bragged about screwin around with whores and glennis in his book purty much said that chuck messed around on her. Thats not hero material in my book. Read NF104 (dot) com, read niel armstrongs book. Read on the net about chuck sueing his children. Send chuck something to be signed and see how it goes, Its wont go at all unless you pay $50.00

[TheJediCharles]

@beenthere1run

You confuse "hero" with "saint".

He was no saint. But he sure as hell was an American hero. You don't need to apologize for wrecking anyone's hero-worship of him because you have no such power, so rest your conscience. I would love to see an encounter between your sort and Yeager on YouTube and it turn out not unlike how Buzz Aldrin's visit with Bart Sibrel, but most likely, he'd brush you off with a gentleman's smile like a piece of lint.

Have some self-respect.

[avermillion]

This man is not a hero......he is a SUPER-hero!

[beenthere1run]

hes a super liar and glory hound

[TracyAndersonFoxhunt]

read General Yeager's book, "Yeager: An Autobiography"... still in print to this day!

[taterfamine]

the manliest men of all time:

lief erickson

jesus

chuck fuckin yeager

he can't die. it's as simple as that. i really want to meet him. or at least see him.

[sakoshooter48]

He lives in Grass Valley California, a very approachable and nice man.

[taterfamine]

cool. have you seen him?

[sakoshooter48]

My late uncle was the president of the EAA chapter in Redding CA. back in the late 70's and early 80's. I met Mr. Yeager through him and over the years has periodic contact with him. He still lives in Greass Valley I believe, and he likes to eat breakfast at the airport diner at the Auburn airport. I haven't seen him since 2006, he made a snyde comment about my Ducati, hade to laugh at that one! If there ever was an American Icon, Ret. Gen. Charles Chuck Yeager is it!

[sakoshooter48]

Can you imagine what is going to happen in heaven when Check Yeager and Chuck Norris show up????  We are talking some seriously heavy shit!

[xxironballzxx]

his daughter was my teacher in high school and she was awesome too!

[beenthere1run]

yeah chuck is sueing her pants off now

[Pirate88179]

This man is the greatest pilot that ever flew.

Bill

[antonyvt]

yeah he was jealous,of the nasa boys,when anders tryed to apply to the arps and chuck did not think he was good enough he rejected him,then anders was pick for nasa,he tryed to stop it.

[bluesbegedel]

If i'm not wrong, he shoot Me-262 in the air with his P-51 Mustang, right?

[chillertek]

your all idiots, try getting shot at in a plane in WW2, yeah just as i thought none of you fucks have done it, respect the man

[bluesbegedel]

I think you don't understand what i said

[littletootpilot]

yes, he shot down me 262s with a p 51

[bluesbegedel]

that's awesome!

[jeffrey19621]

@littletootpilot On final when they were out of fuel . Maybe one day you can meet a commercial pilot that has experienced the displeasure of inviting him to the flight deck.

[antonyvt]

yes right.

[kdraper2007]

Yes he did, he also shot down 5 german fighters in one mission, which was an unheard of feat at the time.

[bluesbegedel]

@kdraper2007 Wow ace in a day!

[sfenodonte]

Mito vivente un gran uomo.

[beenthere1run]

But if you guys want to believe chucks bullshit books and the movie the right stuff as fact, then go agead. I dont do that. I enjoyed the books and the movie, but i also know the truth about the old shithead.

[66mustangdriver]

beenthere1run, how many kills do you have? This man is a hero, he did things that no one else had the balls to do.  If Slick was alive we could ask him why he didn't break the barrier first, oh that's right he wanted 150,000 to do it. Get a life, the man has been there and done that.

[SPARTAN1T]

I smell jealousy

[sakoshooter48]

Maybe because Chuck Yeager never did tolerate assholes. By the way you are badmouthing him, I'd say you fit the category. I have met the man, know him reasonably well as I have had several conversations with him at Auburn Airport in Northeren California. Chuck lives in Grass Valley California, and is a very nice and congenial person. Who the fuck are you?????? Sound to me like a bitter no fuck nobody to me!!!

[beenthere1run]

aww another mindless name dropping hero whorshipper, sounds like you sucked chuck off. Get a life boy, quit pretending you know this moron chuck. You say he never tolerated assholes, but then you say you met him and he was nice to you, so right there you lied.

[kbroma01]

I have to agree with you on Chuck's demeanor. I met him in an airport years ago and i tried to strike up a conversation on his book. What an asshole!!!!!

[beenthere1run]

yes, he is a cranky old shithead. He was a fine pilot and all that so long as he was flying props or jets doing normal fighter pilot stuff. But ol chuck didnt have the skills to pay the bills when it came to high end stuff like altitude tests in the NF104. Guys like niel armstrong had the RIGHT STUFF in that catagory.

[amediastintas]

he had the skills but he was not educated. look it up all the pilots chosen for the space race were educated pilots.

[tori231994]

@sakoshooter48 Sorry to inform you that Chuck Yeager is full of Shit! He is my grate uncle and i know what really happened. Chuck failed the pilot test but my grate grandfather, Jimmy Yeager, passed. Jimmy was the one that was supposed to fly and break the barrier. So, Chuck got pissed and took off in a plane and yes, sadly, he broke the barrier. Lets just say he's a disgrace to the Yeager family.

[sakoshooter48]

@tori231994 Whatever kid!

[sakoshooter48]

@tori231994 Learn to spell, to properly organize your grammar, and have a little respect for your family. You are just some snot nosed 15 year old who is still pulling his pud and wondering what the big bad world is all about. And who the fuck is "Jimmy?" You need some help!

[arsenal553]

@sakoshooter48 HAHA! sakoshooter, you have to give him credit though. He deserves the award for the most bullshit ever posted in a single comment.

[nickapole]

@tori231994 i know the Yeager family, going on 30 years, you are the one thats full of Shit. I will not waist any more time on a trolling peace of shit like yourself. 45 plus years living in WV and Cal

[beenthere1run]

OK btwall, you iggnorant asshole, internet flea with too much time on your hands who likes to send stupid messages defending your boy freind chuck yeager, let me try one time to free you from your stupidity on the subject. First off read neil armstrongs book where neil points out what a liar chuck is. Then read my book where i reprint my correspondence with slick goodlin the year he passed away where slick points out what a liar chuck is and that chuck is a "disgrace to the flight test community

[sakoshooter48]

You wrote a book? Considering the way you write here I would say most improbable.........

[beenthere1run]

hey sakoshitshooter48 are you typing these comments from your moms basement? Ok go back to your video games.

[sakoshooter48]

@beenthere1run At 19 years of age you still must be shitting green! Just out of curiosity, which book have you allegedly written? This I gotta see!

[indacan32samui]

Yeager was in the right time at the right place all the way, he was lucky and didnt´t tak any bullshit along he´s career. Gabby Gabrenski was a awsome pilot and with the P-47 it´s just amazing that how many kills he got ( i read the book). The P-47 was a bitch to fly compared to the P51D. Both are great pilots but Chuck just had the luck to get where he is, thats it. Read the books of Chuck and Gabrenski before making any shit comments.

[btwall60]

he's a friggen' genius. did he invent that "stall" move, where he would "pull up" like in top gun, and "open up the bottom of the other plane like a can opener"

bt

[beenthere1run]

chuck yeager is a horses dick

[pml08usaf]

You mean he's large and powerful, right?

[paulpsyche]

I worked with a guy who flew with Yeager, a great pilot in his own right, said Yeager was a great friend and pilot, a good man back in WWII. they all trusted him

[StringBolt]

Erich Hartmann would have shot him down.

[fantom58]

Hans-Joachim Marseille would have shot all of them down!

[galoon]

Yeager is pulling some taffy with us on Gabby Gabreski. Gabreski shot down 28 German planes in the air and destroyed three more on the ground. So his air-to-air score really is 28, compared to Yeager's 13 1/2. And Gabreski did that in the P-47--Yeager had the P-51; the better plane. Gabreski was more personable, too--always graciously signed autographs. Unlike a certain pilot here, he never used the F-word when a kid made this request. Humble heroes are more respected than one might think.

[galoon]

Correction--Yeager's score was 11 1/2.

[tracyterry]

the greatest pilot ever!!!!!

[christianmalmgren]

Reading your negative comments on Yeager is really apalling... I dunno how comfortable you guys sit on your porch because of men like him. Every man who's been in combat deserves the right to be cocky in my book. They've earned it. And amongst aces there are no second best. Sure enough Ira Bong scored 40, "pappy & "gabby" both 28 ( yeah i know... he scored another 6.5 in Korea.) Thing is... they all, without exeption just did what they did best.... Honor these men.

[chelsithomas]

It's about duty to country, country above anything else! No matter where you're from these men are to be admired.......

[LaidBack771]

Brave God Men.

My Honour

[innkkmaann]

This guy is a joke. During 1971 India-Pakistan War, he demanded that the United States declared war on India because the Indian Air Force destroyed his Beechcraft plane parked in a Pakistani airbase. He actually became a subject of public ridicule in India. This guy's only claim to fame is that he broke the sound barrier. But he acts as if he is the Chief of Staff of the USAF.

[Duppydog]

Maybe you should cool it before you shoot your mouth off. You berate a man for one episode in his whole life and all of a sudden he is an asshole.

[navyocs]

He is a little cocky, but if you researched him he ummm, is like the history of the air force. He shot down many german aircraft. He is old now and opinionated, but its not like he rode a desk and got in an airplane once.

[VirginiaPatriot]

10-4!!!!

[andreahhrealmonsters]

my last name is Yeager... I have absoloutley no idea if im related to him though.

[Bran247]

I never really liked him, he is full of himself. He really showed it by bad mouthing Gabby. Too bad he wasn't in that P-80 instead of Dick Bong.

[mastersniper13]

im doing a report on chuck yeager for school.

fantastic man

[DEP717]

Chuck yeager is right about the shooting skills. They used to use clay pigeons and shotguns to train bomber gunners on that. Deflection shooting. It still builds reflexes and responsibility.

[multitudinal]

The Americans stole research for the British. Without it they would not have broke the sound barrier.

[wenieo]

shut up fag you are jealous, America kicks your ass at everything, if the british had info why didnt they berak the sound barrier?

[Georgematic08]

Guys stop arguing, we both learn from eachother, we both support eachother

[RudeRaptor]

Hahha Chuck !! Great Man , Great Pilot !!

[dabart]

You should really study your FACTS and not conjecture.... Chuck is a great man with balls of steel... Unlike most, he took the risk. Piss off with your spewing

[WinchesterRanger]

A personally signed photo of him sits by me as I type.

Wily old fox actually hit on my wife !!!

[AmusedChild]

DAMN I'm jealous of your wife! I was the only girl I know who had posters of planes on her wall and who built models of space shuttles. Yeager, or any of the astronauts, can hit on me any time!

[WinchesterRanger]

His exact words to her were "Hey, she ain't too shabby".

The man is living history, and it was amazing to shake the hand that had shot down german fighters in WWII, had shaken the hand of presidents, and the hand that held the controls of the Bell X-1 as it broke the sound barrier.

[Cavelson]

Please: See your inbox.

[baldurus1]

A true legend.

[tr33887]

Anybody and I MEAN Anybody who does not realize the contributions Chuck made is OUT OF THEIR MIND...Best pilot..all of that shix is subjective. Chuck didn't need 150'000.00 to break the sound barrier. He had the nutsack and aptitude. Best pilot...who cares.. no one..no one is Chuck Yeager

[holywells]

Yeah, Chuck is a fantastic pilot, but he is only one of the two best pilots that ever flew. His ol' partner Bob Hoover is the other one. Hoover has to be, hands down, the greatest airshow pilot that ever lived. His abilities in various types of aircraft are unmatched to this day. No one---I MEAN NO ONE--has ever duplicated his routine of doing aerobatics in a twin engine business aircraft with both engines shut down !!!! His videos are here on YouTube. Enjoy them.

[maxpower1870]

I think you are thinking of Bob Hoover doing the stoped engine aerobatics. But Chuck Yeager is the best stick and rudder man in the world

[holywells]

Actually, "maxpower1870", you will notice that in my comment all of the references about the twin engine routines, etc., were made after the mention of Mr. Hoover's name. This, of course, would imply that the points were directed toward him. Thanks for your reply and your time. Good luck.

[maxpower1870]

Sorry Holywells did not read your post correct. I think both Yeager and Hoover are legends, I would love to have even half there skill's

[DancingAllison]

i'm doing a report on him right now!

[WVPublicBroadcasting]

Let me know if our interview helped with your report.

Greg Collard

News Director

[DancingAllison]

Yes actually, it did help a little bit. I used a quote or something in the report.

[tracyterry]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHUCK!!! Feb. 13! You're the best pilot who ever lived and a really cool guy, too! U.S. Air Force #1!

[relmz441]

we love ya CHUCK!

[rj2003grad]

YES!!! Chuck Yeager is awesome!

[GunsAndPoker]

He's a rusty old Hammer, lacks in politeness but makes up in knowledge. Good pilot, but not the best of all time. If you dont agree, do more research on your German pilots. Enough said...

~~~~GunsAndPoker~~~~>

[Raywollesenfortes]

Flyboy par excellance!

[Chuckjagermeister]

He's such an amazing person but he's also very humble. Except when he was talking about Gabreski...

[yellowtail3]

Maybe Chuck's just jealous... Gabby outranked him most of their careers, and Gabby shot down more planes, earlier in the conflict when fewer of the BF109s were flown by student pilots.

Maybe his head just hurts from having carshed the NF-104, due to hubris.

[StanleyKu]

What an awesome guy. Harsh sense of humor!

[tracyterry]

The greatest pilot who ever lived. He's Air Force, of course.

[MiSdIrEcTeD1]

one of the baddest mf's, all time... one of the best flyin best lookin mf's you ever seen... hold his drink b1tch..

[relmz441]

well ok

[gadeerkiller]

this is awesome for a West Virginia boy who loves Chuck