He & Bob Hoover were the best of the best, when it came to pilots. It was almost as if they strapped on whatever the airplane they were flying, & it became a natural part of them.
Chuck Yeager, a great and humble giant in avionics. A nice remembrance in today’s strip. Will the two of you be doing a David Lander tribute in the future as he did play a Ferengi in Next Gen. Just asking…
The devastating thing is that most people in the world below the age of thirty-four will never know his name or his works.
And yet only sixty years ago, Chuck Yeagher broke the speed of sound and lived to land the airframe, which would lead to a manned space program down the line…
…and from there would come SpaceX and everything else that touched the sky in recent memory. (Reminds me of that “Mom” episode, “Astronauts and Fat Trimmings”.)
Colonel Chuck Yeagher, Zichrono Livochro. (May his memory be a blessing.)
Just to clarify the line about fear of heights. I am terrified of heights, it has nothing to do with flying. Standing near a ledge I am part of this earth and could fall; soaring in an airplane I am separate, I am of the air.
He had phenomenal eye sight, and could see enemy fighters at close to twice the distance that the men he was flying with could. At first they though he was crazy, but quickly came to rely on him.
After being shot down over France, he was (with help from the French underground) able to make it to Spain and then back to England. That should have ended his missions over Europe (so that if captured he could not identify the French who helped him), but he was persistent and allowed to fly again. That by itself makes a pretty good story.
He certainly had courage by the bucket. Being a test pilot was a dangerous thing. A lot of good pilots died testing aircraft.
allen@home almost 4 years ago
Oh you missed by way more than that.
Big D almost 4 years ago
Channeling Maxwell Smart…
eromlig almost 4 years ago
Chuck Yeager R.I.P. Thanks, Scott.
charliefarmrhere almost 4 years ago
He & Bob Hoover were the best of the best, when it came to pilots. It was almost as if they strapped on whatever the airplane they were flying, & it became a natural part of them.
dcstud Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Get Smart reference?
richardzimdars almost 4 years ago
Chuck Yeager, a great and humble giant in avionics. A nice remembrance in today’s strip. Will the two of you be doing a David Lander tribute in the future as he did play a Ferengi in Next Gen. Just asking…
cdward almost 4 years ago
A test pilot is no ordinary pilot. Chuck Yeager was no ordinary test pilot.
Michael Thorton almost 4 years ago
The devastating thing is that most people in the world below the age of thirty-four will never know his name or his works.
And yet only sixty years ago, Chuck Yeagher broke the speed of sound and lived to land the airframe, which would lead to a manned space program down the line…
…and from there would come SpaceX and everything else that touched the sky in recent memory. (Reminds me of that “Mom” episode, “Astronauts and Fat Trimmings”.)
Colonel Chuck Yeagher, Zichrono Livochro. (May his memory be a blessing.)
davanden almost 4 years ago
Maxwell Smart?
JDP_Huntington Beach almost 4 years ago
But he did chew Beeman’s.
Nala the Great almost 4 years ago
Re: Get Smart I used to watch the show to look at “99”! What a looker! The actress also did the Brylcream commercials.
Nala the Great almost 4 years ago
I had forgotten her name: it was Barbara Feldon.
P51Strega almost 4 years ago
Just to clarify the line about fear of heights. I am terrified of heights, it has nothing to do with flying. Standing near a ledge I am part of this earth and could fall; soaring in an airplane I am separate, I am of the air.
TheBigPickle almost 4 years ago
I have no idea what’s going on in this strip… I have a hard time understanding what people are saying with masks on…
Nyckname almost 4 years ago
He had phenomenal eye sight, and could see enemy fighters at close to twice the distance that the men he was flying with could. At first they though he was crazy, but quickly came to rely on him.
Cannoneer almost 4 years ago
He did pretty well for a poor kid from Appalachiaa who joined the Army to learn some skills and escape poverty.
NWdryad almost 4 years ago
I have a coworker who always wanted to be a fighter pilot but his sight wasn’t good enough. He would’ve been a great pilot, though.
Baslim the Beggar Premium Member almost 4 years ago
After being shot down over France, he was (with help from the French underground) able to make it to Spain and then back to England. That should have ended his missions over Europe (so that if captured he could not identify the French who helped him), but he was persistent and allowed to fly again. That by itself makes a pretty good story.
He certainly had courage by the bucket. Being a test pilot was a dangerous thing. A lot of good pilots died testing aircraft.
Durak Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Surprised at how few comics mentioned Yeager’s passing. Thank you.