Book Description
General Chuck Yeager, the greatest test pilot of them all -- the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound . . .the World War II flying ace who shot down a Messerschmitt jet with a prop-driven P-51 Mustang . . .the hero who defined a certain quality that all hotshot fly-boys of the postwar era aimed to achieve: the right stuff.



Now Chuck Yeager tells his whole incredible life story with the same "wide-open, full throttle" approach that has marked his astonishing career.  What it was really like enaging in do-or-die dogfights over Nazi Europe.  How after being shot over occupied France, Yeager somehow managed to escape.  The amazing behind-the-scenes story of smashing the sound barrier despite cracked ribs from a riding accident days before.



The entire story is here, in Yeager's own words, and in wondeful insights from his wife and those friends and colleagues who have known him best.  It is the personal and public story of a man who settled for nothing less than excellence, a one-of-a-kind portrait of a true American hero. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (46)

The Mark of Chuckie
This is a pretty good autobiography. Not a five star in my opinion as a 5 star book review leads to a timeless classic that will be read over and over again. Chuck Yeager is an interesting character one that probably doesn't get his full dues since the age of NASA.

Breakdown Review:
Storyline: 4 out of 5 It would have been good to hear some input from his children what they thought of their old man. I find it out that they had no commentary on the book.

Writing style: 4 out of 5 stars. The book is written well and in such a way as to make the book difficult to put down. Nothing creative or insightful into the writing style.

Depth: 3 out of 5 stars. It is fairly shallow in places.

Entertainment/Education value: 4 out of 5 stars. The writing is extremely biased and opinionated which would not make this a very good book for instructional purposes. If believe what is written there as being accurate, however, it is written in such a way as only to describe the facts from the eyes of Chuck despite the comments from his friends,wife, and co-workers.

easy reading
This book is mostly entertaining, it may be interesting to compair it with other pilot biographies, but it is definitely more a bestseller than a history book.

A great story that is easy reading.
Chuck Yeager's book was just fun to read. It is one of the books that I hated to put down once I started reading it.

Many of the reviews have called Chuck Yeager a hero. I believe that he is simple due to what he has accomplished through his military career. From humble beginnings in backwoods America to an enlisted man and then on to be a general. Yeager has shot down enemy planes in combat, been shot down and evaded being captured. He shot down a German jet fighter with a propeller drive fighter. Yeager shot down five enemy aircraft in one mission. He was the first person to break the sound barrier. He has flown most jet aircraft while in their testing phase where many pilots have died. I think that makes him a hero in that he took the risk of death over and over again while serving his country in peace and in war.

I have read a few reviews of the book that are unflattering. Maybe he had a racist background, maybe he didn't like people from India, maybe he was this or that. I never saw that in the book but I guess you can take out of it what you look for. Many great men in history both military and civilian were not perfect humans. Maybe Yeager was one of them but maybe he wasn't. This book is not about the Nobel Peace Prize, it is about a combat veteran and his exploits in the air.

If you are looking for a book an easy to read book of a true American experience that shows a man that faced death over and over while serving his country and lived to tell about it, then Yeager should be on your list.

Well Wriiten and Interesting Book
Yeager: An Autobiography

His book starts with his early life in West Virginia where he learned many activities from his father, grandfather, and teachers that would be important throughout his lifetime. The book then picks up around 1940 when he became involved with military aircraft, with which he was involved until he retired after he became a one-star general and before he became a two-star general when he could no longer fly high-performance aircraft. He became the best pilot in the AF, ready for any eventuality with old or new aircraft. Their were many sections written by his superiors, friends and his wife. He knew many aircraft-oriented people including Bob Hoover, Pancho Barnes, and Jackie Cochran. Chuck and Glennis retired to Grass Vally, California. It took a while for Chuck to adapt but adapt he did.

The Write Stuff-Definetly
This is an outstanding book on several levels. It is a compelling presentation of the development of supersonic jets and the race to break the sound barrior. It is also the story of perhaps the best pilot ever to fly a plane and the Alpha of all Alpha males. If you like the movie "The Right Stuff" then you should really enjoy the story behind one of the main story line of that movie. ... Read more

Book Description
Each year, millions of visitors flock to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum to look at the Bell X-1 aircraft-the vehicle in which Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier on October 14, 1947. This in-depth look at the legendary aircraft tells the story of this momentous achievement-how the technology was developed, conflicts were resolved, and Yeager and his fellow pilots became the heroic figures depicted in The Right Stuff. A wealth of historical photographs of the Bell X-1 enriches the text, which includes such fascinating material as Yeager's official memo about the historic flight. This is as close as readers will ever get to being inside the aircraft that paved the way for supersonic flight, thus ushering in the era of space exploration. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A 10!Inside story of 1 of world's greatest feats in aviation
For the first time, the exciting inside story of the breaking of the sound barrier as told by Chuck Yeager and his X-1 team members. World renowned stunt pilot Bob Hoover was Yeager's chase pilot that fatefull morning. It is a beautifully illustrated book with 125 photos, many from the authors private collections that have never been seen by the public or published before. It also includes a chapter on famous aviatrix and motion picture stunt pilot Pancho Barnes and her Happy Bottom Riding Club. Pancho offered a free steak to the first man to break the sound barrier (Mach One) and Yeager collected that steak on Oct. 14th 1947. Pancho's Club was the fraternity house for the test pilots, where they could share lessons learned in flying the new jets and to celebrate surviving for one more day

It is a brilliant saga of dedication to duty, team work, camaraderie, technical brilliance, unmatched flying skills and heroism. These men are true heroes and role models for todays youth. ... Read more

Book Description
Chuck Yeager is called the guy with the right stuff for being the first to shatter the sound barrier myth. From his earliest days as an aircraft mechanic in the Air Corps he set out to do the best job possible and to learn as much as he could about whatever he was doing. Eventually, that determination led him to be a fighter and test pilot. Chuck loved to fly. He flew as often as he could in any craft he could. Eventually, he became the expert on military aircraft. He knew just what each plane could do, and more importantly, what it couldn't. As important as knowing how far he could push a plane, he also knew when to pull back. His pioneering efforts made modern aviation and space exploration possible. Accomplishments aside, we can all agree on one thing—Chuck Yeager is an American hero. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Older outdoorsman
I thoroughly enjoyed Chuck's fishing and backpacking trips in the High Sierras.In fact I planned a trip using his book as a guide for my brother and nephew from Ms. and myself from Atlanta.We had a great time, caught a lot of Golden trout and saw some fantastic scenery.Even though we were 20 years younger than Chuck we couldn't handle nearly the pack weight on our back as he did.I plan on using Chuck as a role model for my later years in the outdoors with my grandson.

The other side of a legendary flying ace!
Although areas of the general's military service are mentioned in this incredible story, the main focus is on Yeager's journeys into remote country regions.Most memorable are his jaunts with close friends andfamily members into the eastern Sierras of California.Yeager writes andrecalls these stories in a captivating style that makes you feel like yourright there on the trail.From catching and eating golden trout to walkingmiles of wilderness areas seeing sites rarely traveled by others, thereader gets the sense of what it was like to experience the true virtues ofour unspoiled wilds.General Yeager is a true naturalist and this book isa great offering of the existential side of a great American hero. ... Read more

Book Description
The life of one of America's greatest aviators has been a wild ride, from daredevil flight-training escapades, to escaping from behind enemy lines in World War II France, to breaking the sound barrier to become the world's first supersonic pilot. General Chuck Yeager's legendary exploits and strength of character epitomize "the right stuff." ... Read more

Product Description
The game is characterized for its good balance of an action laden gameplay which focuses on classical dog fights and a simple but still realistic flight model which justifies calling Chuck Yeager's Air Combat a simulation. Unlike in many other flight simulation games of its day, altitude and aircraft characteristics have a big influence on the behaviour of the game's simulated aircraft. Realism has been sacrificed to some degree to enhance gameplay however: E.g. a real fighter plane expends all of its ammunition after a few short bursts, while in Chuck Yeager's Air Combat the rate of fire has been reduced considerably, making dog fights longer.To assist a newcomer to the game several help features can be activated, such as unlimited ammunition or easier aiming. A virtual Chuck Yeager can be activated, who gives advice.Features six player-flyable aircraft: P-51D Mustang, F-86E Sabre, F-4E Phantom II, Fw.190A-8, the Soviet MiG-15 'Fagot' and MiG-21MF 'Fishbed'. Other featured AI-driven aircraft were: Me.109E, Me.110B, Me-163B Komet, Me-262 Schwalbe , P-47D Thunderbolt, Yak-9, MiG-17MF 'Fresco' and F-105D Thunderchief as opposing fighters and B-17E, B-29C, B-52 and L-5 as aircraft to either protect or shoot down, depending on the mission.Three different fly modes: Free Flight, which puts the user in a selected airplane in a non-hostile environment; Create a Mission, where the user can specify which airplane to pilot against a selected number of AI-driven aircraft of varying levels of difficulty; and Historical Flight, where user can select among three wars to fly in: World War II, Korean, and Vietnam.Historical MissionsAll missions are based upon actual missions ranging from the strafe attacks of WWII, the open dogfights of modern air warfare, and the combat missions of Vietnam, which included bomber escorts. However, large, famous battles in the wars are not included (for example, there are no D-Day, Pearl Harbor, or Battle of Britain missions). ... Read more

Book Description
Most lifting bodies, or “flying bathtubs” as they were called, were so ugly only an engineer could love them, and yet, what an elegant way to keep wings from burning off in supersonic flight between earth and orbit. Working in their spare time (because they couldn't initially get official permission), Dale Reed and his team of engineers demonstrated the potential of the design that led to the Space Shuttle.

Wingless Flight takes us behind the scenes with just the right blend of technical detail and fascinating detail (the crash of M2-F2 found new life as the opening credit for TV's “The Six Million Dollar Man”). The flying bathtub, itself, is finding new life as the proposed escape-pod for the Space Station. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Filled with great pictures too!
There's a great photo of the author holding the first flying model of the M2F1 he built and tested, standing next to the M2F1! That's just one of many. The paperback edition has an update from 2005; what a treat that a program from the 1960s has such an up to date publication. If you're a junky for experimental aircraft you have to have this one.

The Definitive Volume on the Subject!
I've studied these vehicles for years and thought I knew a lot about them.But Dale Reed was there and does a masterful job of melding the history time line with the results of the program.There are probably only ahandful of people who could have written this book which is as rich indetail and "colorful" stories as any reader could want.Ifyou've read the story of the X-15, this is the next logical step.If youhaven't, you need to to really grasp what was going on at Edwards duringthis time.Fascinating!

The definitive history of NASA lifting bodies to date.
A well written book from the engineer that was at the center of this small group of specialized aerospace vehicles.While detailed and somewhat technical, the author still manages to convey the sense of personalexcitement, accomplishment and, at times, frustration experienced byeveryone supporting these vehicles.A must-read for anyone interested inthese vehicles. ... Read more

Book Description
This unique electronic book on CD-ROM has the finest collection of documents, photographs, and resources available anywhere about the X-1 supersonic test airplane, the NASA lifting body test program, and two aviation and space pioneers, Scott Crossfield and Chuck Yeager. In addition, there is extensive coverage of the historic X-15 USAF/NASA rocket airplane program.

X-1 AIRPLANE: Beginning in 1946, two XS-1 experimental research aircraft (later redesignated X-1s) conducted pioneering tests at Muroc Army Air Field (now Edwards Air Force Base) in California to obtain flight data on conditions in the transonic speed range. These early tests culminated on October 14, 1947, in the first piloted flight faster than Mach 1.0, the speed of sound. The XS-1 was the first high-speed aircraft built purely for aviation research purposes. The model was never intended for production. The XS-1 was designed largely in accordance with specifications provided by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) [now National Aeronautics and Space Administration], paid for by the Army Air Forces, and built by Bell Aircraft Inc. The XS-1 #2 (serial number 46-063) was flight tested by the NACA to provide design data for later production high-performance aircraft. The research techniques used in the X-1 program became the pattern for all subsequent X-craft projects. The NACA X-1 procedures and personnel also helped lay the foundation of America's space program in the 1960s. The X-1 project defined and solidified the post-war cooperative union between U.S. military needs, industrial capabilities, and research facilities. The flight data collected by the NACA in the X-1 tests then provided a basis for American aviation supremacy in the latter half of the 20th century.

LIFTING BODY PROGRAM: Between 1963 and 1975, eight lifting-body configurations were flown at the NASA Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB. They varied tremendously from the unpowered, bulbous, lightweight plywood M2-F1 to the rocket-powered, extra-sleek, all-metal supersonic X-24B. Some configurations, such as the M2-F2, not only pushed the limits of both design engineers and test pilots but also were dangerous to fly. Film footage of the 1967 crash of the M2-F2, after test pilot Bruce Peterson lost control of this particularly "angry machine," was used about two years later as the lead-in to weekly episodes of a popular television series, The Six-Million-Dollar Man, which ran for about six years. Although the M2-F2 crash was spectacular enough to inspire the concept for a popular television series, it was the only serious accident that occurred over the slightly more than twelve years of lifting-body flight-testing. But danger has always lurked at the edge of flight innovation. All eight of these wingless wonders, the lifting bodies, were considered the flying prototypes for future spacecraft that could land like an airplane after the searing heat of reentry from outer space. The precursors of today's Shuttle, the lifting bodies provided the technical and operational engineering data that has shaped the space transportation systems of today and tomorrow

This CD-ROM is packed with over 14,000 pages reproduced using Adobe Acrobat PDF software - allowing direct viewing on Windows and Macintosh systems. There are over 240 image files with extraordinary photographs of the X-15, and 66 movie files in the MOV and MPG computer video formats. The Acrobat cataloging technology adds enormous value and uncommon functionality to this impressive collection of government documents and material.

Our news and educational discs are privately compiled collections of official public domain U.S. government files and documents - they are not produced by the federal government. They are designed to provide a convenient user-friendly reference work, utilizing the benefits of the Adobe Acrobat format to uniformly present thousands of pages that can be rapidly reviewed, searched by finding spe ... Read more

Product Description
This unique electronic book on CD-ROM has the finest collection of federal documents, photographs, and resources available anywhere about 20th century aviation and space pioneer Charles E. (Chuck) Yeager.Yeager enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1941 at the age of eighteen. He worked as an aircraft mechanic and pilot before going over the Atlantic to fight in World War II. Upon returning from war, he entered test pilot school and so impressed his superiors that he was selected to fly the X-1 from over 125 senior pilots. On October 14, 1947, Yeager broke the sound barrier over the town of Victorville, California. Six years later, on another test flight, Yeager pushed his plane, the X-1A, to new heights, but almost lost his life as his plane came within feet of crashing. During the fifties, he flew several experimental aircraft for the Air Force and investigated various accidents. In 1960 he was appointed director of the Space School at Edwards Air Force Base. He went to Vietnam as a wing commander in 1966 and flew over 120 combat missions. In 1986, Yeager was appointed to the Presidential Commission investigating the Challenger accident.This CD-ROM is packed with over 14,000 pages reproduced using Adobe Acrobat PDF software - allowing direct viewing on Windows and Macintosh systems. The Acrobat cataloging technology adds enormous value and uncommon functionality to this impressive collection of government documents and material.Our news and educational discs are privately compiled collections of official public domain U.S. government files and documents - they are not produced by the federal government. They are designed to provide a convenient user-friendly reference work, utilizing the benefits of the Adobe Acrobat format to uniformly present thousands of pages that can be rapidly reviewed, searched by finding specific words, or printed without untold hours of tedious research and downloading. Vast archives of important public domain government information that might otherwise remain inaccessible are available for instant review no matter where you are. This book-on-a-disc format makes a great reference work and educational tool. There is no other reference that is as fast, convenient, comprehensive, thoroughly researched, and portable - everything you need to know, from the federal sources you trust. ... Read more