9 Reasons You May Not Know Why He Was The “Right Stuff.”

In tribute to Chuck Yeager, who died on December 7, 2020 at the age of 97, we take a look at some of his greatest accomplishments. He left behind a legacy that will continue to inspire many for decades to come.

1. Yeager flew 61 missions during WWII, flying Glamorous Glenn a P-51 Mustang fighter. His last mission on January 15th of 1945
2. Yeager became a test pilot and was tapped by Bell Aircraft to fly the X-1 on its maiden test flight, paving the way for supersonic flight
3. During his deployment in Korea and the Vietnam War he commanded several squadrons and wings
4. He became the first commandant of the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School, which also trained astronauts
5. He made a cameo appearance in the film “The Right Stuff” which was based on test pilots involved in aeronautical research
6. Yeager was a technical consultant on the video game Chuck Yeager’s Advanced Flight Trainer released in 1987 for home computers, which allows the player to take control of a number of airplanes, including the X-1
7. Yeager was assigned by President Reagan to the Rogers Commission which was charged with investigating the 1986 Challenger disaster
8. In 1997 Yeager flew a new Glamorous Glenn III (an F-15D Eagle) past Mach 1 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of that first time in the X-1, and again in 2012, as co-pilot in an F-15 at the age of 89
9. Most recently, Yeager established a name for himself on Twitter for his quick wit and commentary meant to educate and inspire people

In tribute to Chuck Yeager, the following poem written by John Gillespie Magee, Jr seemed highly appropriate:

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, –and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of –Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air…
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew —
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
– John Gillespie Magee, Jr