Chuck Yeager

Chuck next to the barrier breaking plane (http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/yea0int-1)

My hero is Charles Elwood Yeager. Formally known as Chuck Yeager, he was born in West Virginia on February 13, 1923. He grew up with his loving mother Susie Mae and father Albert Hal Yeager, along with two brothers and two sisters. He later graduated from high school in Hamlin, West Virginia. He married his love, Glennis Dickhouse, in 1945 and had four Children. Steve is uncle to the now famous baseball catcher Steve Yeager.

Chuck then left to go into the military, and enlisted in the United States Air Force as a flight mechanic. He was not accepted into flight school because of his educational background and age, but during World War Two, there was a desperate need for pilots and soon they disregarded everything and he was accepted. He quickly was on missions overseas, and on his eighth mission he was shot down over France, but with the help of the French resistance he got to Spain then back home.

Chuck Yeager day of flight (http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/yea0int-1)

Now aside from being a war hero I admire Chuck Yeager for his record setting flight on October 14, 1947 in the Bell X-1. Not only did he experience such great g-forces, two days before he broke two ribs riding a horse but insisted going on the assigned date. Even though the pain could not allow him to close the hatch on the plane he still went. So flying at 45,000 feet he reached a speed of Mach 1.07.

But this was not enough for Yeager; Scott Crisfield and his team reached twice the speed of sound, surpassing his speed by double. He then set out with Jack Ridley and together on December 12, 1953 reached Mach 2.44 at 80,000 feet. On that flight he lost control and quickly dipped to 29,000 feet almost ending his life until he was able to regain control and safely land, once again setting a new record for the books and in the aviation industry.

Chuck Yeager and his wife Glennis (www.wingsandstars.com)

Charles Elwood Yeager is my hero because he has shown real commitment to what he does and he will do whatever it takes even if it means to fly with two broken ribs at mach 1! Even after being surpassed by others he still rose above the standard and blew away the competition to be in my opinion the best aircraft pilot there was. He will remain a man of great bravery and courage and my personal hero.