World-famous test pilot Chuck Yeager has passed away, aged 97.
Charles “Chuck” Yeager made history in October 1947 when he became the first pilot to break the sound barrier (660mph). He was just 24 years of age at the time. He nicknamed the aircraft, a Bell X-1 rocket plane, ‘Glamorous Glennis’, in honour of his wife. (She passed away in 1990.)
As a fighter pilot for the US Air Force during World War 2, Yeager scored 13 German planes. He was shot down over France once, but managed to escape captivity. Yeager flew combat missions over Vietnam, mostly bombing runs.
The 1983 film The right stuff featured Yeager’s landmark flying feat, with Actor Sam Shepard playing the role of the famous test pilot.
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