News>‘Fastest man alive’ celebrates 65 anniversary with re-enactment
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Retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager prepares to board an F-15D Eagle from the 65th Aggressor Squadron Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. In a jet piloted by Capt. David Vincent, 65th AGRS pilot, Yeager is commemorating the 65th anniversary of his historic breaking of the sound barrier flight Oct. 14, 1947, in the Bell X-1 rocket research plane named "Glamorous Glennis." Yeager was awarded the prestigious Collier Trophy in 1948 for this landmark aeronautical achievement. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jason W. Edwards)
Retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager and Capt. David Vincent, 65th Aggressor Squadron pilot, taxi to the active runway in an F-15D Eagle Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Yeager and Vincent commemorated the 65th anniversary of breaking of the sound barrier by flying from Las Vegas to Edwards AFB in southern California. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)
Commemorative tire chalks bearing the names of Capt. David Vincent, 65th Aggressor Squadron pilot; retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager; and the F-15D Eagle's tail number sit in front of the aircraft used to fly Yeager for the 65th anniversary of his breaking the sound barrier at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Oct. 14, 2012. Yeager and Vincent flew over Edwards AFB, Calif., to mark this historic event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)
Retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager and Capt. David Vincent, 65th Aggressor Squadron pilot, taxi in under water fired from 99th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department trucks after the commemorative flight for the 65th anniversary of Yeager's breaking of the sound barrier Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Yeager was the first pilot to travel faster than sound in the Bell X-1 rocket research plane named "Glamorous Glennis." (U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)
Retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager is assisted in the cockpit of an F-15D Eagle by by Senior Airman Anthony Ewing, 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron dedicated crew chief, Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Yeager was commemorating the 65th anniversary of his breaking of the sound barrier flying with the 65th Aggressor Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)
Retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager and Capt. David Vincent, 65th Aggressor Squadron pilot, walk to an F-15D Eagle Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Yeager and Vincent commemorated the 65th anniversary of breaking of the sound barrier by flying from Las Vegas to Edwards AFB in southern California. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)
Retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager arrives at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Oct. 13, 2012. Yeager was the first person to pilot an aircraft faster than the speed of sound Oct. 14, 1947. Flying out of Nellis in an F-15D Eagle piloted by Capt. David Vincent, 65th Aggressor Squadron pilot, Yeager broke the sound barrier again at the age of 89. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)
Col. Barry Cornish, 99th Air Base Wing commander, and Col. Alex Grynkewich, 57th Wing vice commander, greet retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager upon his arrival Oct. 13, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Yeager was the first person to pilot an aircraft faster than the speed of sound Oct. 14, 1947. He broke the sound barrier again at the age of 89 in a 65th Aggressor Squadron F-15D Eagle. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)
Retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager talks with Col. Barry Cornish, 99th Air Base Wing commander, upon his arrival Oct. 13, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Yeager was the first person to pilot an aircraft faster than the speed of sound Oct. 14, 1947, and he broke the sound barrier again at the age of 89 in an F-15D Eagle from the 65th Aggressor Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)
Col. Barry Cornish, 99th Air Base Wing commander, and Col. Alex Grynkewich, 57th Wing vice commander, greet retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager upon his arrival Oct. 13, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Yeager was the first person to pilot an aircraft faster than the speed of sound Oct. 14, 1947, and he broke the sound barrier again at the age of 89 in an F-15D Eagle from the 65th Aggressor Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)
Senior Airman Anthony Ewing, dedicated crew chief, 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepares to marshal an F-15D Eagle Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager and Capt. David Vincent, 65th Aggressor Squadron pilot will fly the speed of sound marking the 65th anniversary of breaking of the sound. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)
Retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager and Capt. David Vincent, 65th Aggressor Squadron pilot, prepare to climb into an F-15D Eagle Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Yeager and Vincent are commemorating the 65th anniversary of General Yeager's historic breaking of the sound barrier flight Oct. 14, 1947, in the Bell X-1 rocket research plane. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jason W. Edwards)
Retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager settles into the back seat of an F-15D Eagle from the 65th Aggressor Squadron Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. In a jet piloted by Capt. David Vincent, 65th AGRS pilot, Yeager is commemorating the 65th anniversary of his historic breaking of the sound barrier flight. Yeager flew eight flights in the Bell X-1 rocket research plane before becoming the first pilot to break the sound barrier Oct. 14, 1947. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jason W. Edwards)
Capt. David Vincent, 65th Aggressor Squadron pilot, prepare for their flight in an F-15D Eagle Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Yeager and Vincent are commemorating the 65th anniversary of Yeager's historic breaking of the sound barrier flight Oct. 14, 1947, in the Bell X-1 rocket research plane named "Glamorous Glennis." (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jason W. Edwards)
Col. Peter Ford, Adversary Tactics Group commander; retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager; and Capt. David Vincent, 65th Aggressor Squadron pilot, talk after Yeager's 65th anniversary commemoration flight landed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Oct. 14, 2012. Yeager flew in a 65th AGRS F-15D Eagle to mark his historic flight in the Bell X-1 rocket research plane. (U.S.Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)
Retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager poses for photographers after returning from his 65th anniversary of breaking the sound barrier flight aboard a 65th Aggressor Squadron F-15D Eagle piloted by Capt. David Vincent, 65th AGRS, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Oct. 14, 2012. Yeager became the first man to break the sound barrier Oct. 14, 1947, over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)
Senior Airman Anthony Ewing, dedicated crew chief, 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepares to marshal an F-15D Eagle Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager and Capt. David Vincent, 65th Aggressor Squadron pilot will fly the speed of sound marking the 65th anniversary of breaking of the sound. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)
Senior Airman Anthony Ewing, 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron dedicated crew chief, and retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager share a laugh after Yeager's 65th anniversary of breaking the sound barrier flight in a 65th Aggressor Squadron F-15D Eagle Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Yeager was the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound while a test pilot at Edwards AFB, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)
Retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager listens to a pre-flight briefing at the 65th Aggressor Squadron Oct 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Yeager was the first pilot to break the sound barrier in 1947, and commemorated the 65th anniversary of the event by flying in an F-15D Eagle with the 65th AGRS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jason Couillard)
Retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen.Charles E. " Chuck" Yeager adjusts his harness at the 65th Aggressor Squadron before his flight Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. When Yeager broke the sound barrier in 1947, he was flying the Bell X-1 rocket research plane named the "Glamorous Glennis" over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jason Couillard)
Retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager suits up at the 65th Aggressor Squadron before his flight Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Yeager, the first pilot to break the sound barrier,and is commemorating the 65th anniversary of his historic flight by flying in an F-15D Eagle. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jason Couillard)
Retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager signs out from the 65th Aggressor Squadron after his pre-flight briefing Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Yeager became the first pilot to break the sound barrier in 1947, and broke it again age 89 in an F-15D Eagle from the 65th AGRS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jason Couillard)
Capt. David Vincent, 65th Aggressor Squadron pilot, and retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager wait for end-of-runway inspections to be completed Oct. 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Yeager was here to commemorate the 65th anniversary of his breaking of the sound barrier in a Bell X-1 rocket research plane over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., at 10:24 a.m. Oct. 14, 1947. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jason Couillard)
An F-15D Eagle piloted by Capt. David Vincent, 65th Aggressor Squadron pilot, with retired United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager taxis to the runway before taking off Oct 14, 2012, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. This flight marks the 65th anniversary of Yeager's breaking of the sound barrier.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jason Couillard)
by Senior Airman Jack Sanders
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
10/15/2012 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager, the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound, celebrated the 65th anniversary of his ground breaking event with a re-enactment at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Oct. 14.
Yeager was serving as a test pilot and flying the experimental Bell X-1 named the, "Glamorous Glennis," Oct. 14, 1947, when he successfully broke the sound barrier.
"Up until that time we weren't able to do it," Yeager said. "Finally, in Oct. 14, 1947, we succeeded, and that opened up the doors of space to us."
Yeager's re-enactment flight began when he and the aircraft's pilot, Capt. David Vincent, 65th Aggressor Squadron pilot, flew an F-15D Eagle to 45,000 feet over Edwards AFB, Calif., and at 10:24 a.m. broke the sound barrier again.
"It was the greatest moment of my life so far," Vincent said. "It's like being with Christopher Columbus when he discovered the new world or like being with Orville and Wilbur Wright on the first flight."
Vincent said Yeager hadn't lost a step and pointed out landmarks over Edwards AFB.
"It was a smooth flight today," the general said. "I'm very familiar with the area and got a good view."
Yeager finished his day with a meet-and-greet with Nellis Airmen followed by a question and answer segment.
"I want to thank you all at Nellis," Yeager said. "The F-15 is my favorite airplane, and that's why I came here to fly it."
Yeager enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army Air Forces Sept. 12, 1941. Later he was accepted to flight training in the flying sergeants program and, upon completion, was promoted to flight. Yeager demonstrated his flying skill during World War II when he became an, "ace in a day" after downing five enemy aircraft in one mission.
"What I am, I owe to the Air Force," Yeager said. "They took an 18-year-old kid from West Virginia and turned him into who I am today."
Comments
10/15/2012 5:09:59 PM ET I had the privilege to meet Gen Yeager in 97 in Edwards. Very humble and impressive man.So proud that I attended his lecture and talked to him...
Stefan 'Sto' Santiago, Istres France
10/15/2012 2:39:33 PM ET Gen. Yeager has been one of my heros for over 45 years. He is an inspiration to many airmen. Would give up anything to shake his hand and salute him.
Clarence, Orlando Fl.
10/15/2012 8:49:57 AM ET An example and a model for everybody A life of inspiration for all the aviation enthusiast Thank you Gen. Yeager.
Riccardo Niccoli, Italy
10/15/2012 2:21:57 AM ET Greatest pilot of all time. Love to meet him.