Rest in Peace Charles Elwood 'Chuck' Yeager
MAINJAFAD, listened to the link you provided and a new piece of information put up by Brown
NACA modified the XP-42 with an all flying tailplane March 1943 and made its first flight the same month in the hands of Langley test pilot John P. "Jack" Reeder. NASA photo.
Brown - On the question of the all moving tailplane, certainly the United States knew about it, but I've no evidence of them having actually flown a full scale flying tailplane, but I flew such a tailplane on a Spitfire in October/November 1944
I’m fortunate to live about a day’s drive from Oshkosh, so for many years now, my only holiday would be spent there (yes, pathetic, I know). As a participant in the Young Eagles program, I would attend a luncheon workshop, and Gen. Yeager would drop by, being the honorary chairman for a few years. He was quite willing to just hang out with us mere mortals. I was able to get his signature on my Young Eagles cap.
It was not uncommon there to have a forum with Gen. Yeager and Col. Hoover both on stage, doing their “there I was...” stories. We could have listened for hours longer than the forums lasted. Though the details are getting foggy, I thought I recalled a story that Hoover was slated to fly the X-1 flight, but did something to get himself in trouble. Yeager got the honor instead, and the rest is history. (Someone with better details please correct me.) I sensed they were keen friends, and also keen rivals. I got to meet Hoover when he flew his Shrike in the local airshow, and found myself several feet behind him in a concession line. As I was an air show volunteer, I approached him to make sure he was aware of the performers’ lounge. He said he was, but was also getting something for friends there. I told him his money was no good here, and bought his meal. He looked gobsmacked and genuinely thanked me, as if that had never happened before. Then he signed that same Young Eagles hat. He was quite a gentleman. I have great respect for them both, and for their courage to push the edge, but I do regard Hoover as the better pilot.
It was not uncommon there to have a forum with Gen. Yeager and Col. Hoover both on stage, doing their “there I was...” stories. We could have listened for hours longer than the forums lasted. Though the details are getting foggy, I thought I recalled a story that Hoover was slated to fly the X-1 flight, but did something to get himself in trouble. Yeager got the honor instead, and the rest is history. (Someone with better details please correct me.) I sensed they were keen friends, and also keen rivals. I got to meet Hoover when he flew his Shrike in the local airshow, and found myself several feet behind him in a concession line. As I was an air show volunteer, I approached him to make sure he was aware of the performers’ lounge. He said he was, but was also getting something for friends there. I told him his money was no good here, and bought his meal. He looked gobsmacked and genuinely thanked me, as if that had never happened before. Then he signed that same Young Eagles hat. He was quite a gentleman. I have great respect for them both, and for their courage to push the edge, but I do regard Hoover as the better pilot.
Hoover was slated to fly the X-1 flight, but did something to get himself in trouble. Yeager got the honor instead
Last edited by megan; 17th Dec 2020 at 02:17.
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he got caught flat-hatting trying to impress a girl and for his punishment was moved from the X-1 to the chase plane for the Mach 1 attempt
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Many thanks for that, interesting that no where does history, or the official accounts, comment on that story. More believable than the self promotional story Yeager tells. In away it makes sense, since Hoover had been assigned as project test pilot of the Me 163, so was knowledgeable about rocket operations, although the project was cancelled following glide flights