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reached a speed of Mach 2.345, or 2,604 km/h. This
was a new record, but it nearly cost Yeager his life. Af-
ter shutting down the rocket engine at an altitude of
approximately 80,000 feet (24,000 m), the aircraft be-
came highly unstable, and he was only able to recover
from the uncontrolled descent at 29,000 feet (8,800
m). He then managed to land safely at the base, but he
gave up testing rocket-powered aircraft.
At the same time, as a sound barrier test pilot, he
also participated in testing the MiG-15, captured during
the Korean War. He returned to the USAF and in the fol-
lowing years commanded several units equipped with
F-86 and F-100D aircraft. In 1962, he was promoted
to the rank of Colonel and became commander of the
USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School, which trained
future astronauts for NASA.
At the same time, he actively ew and tested new
USAF and NASA aircraft, such as the M2-F1 and NF-
104, with which he had a serious accident in December
1963. During a test ight attempting a record altitude,
he lost control of the aircraft, which went into a at
spin. After losing an incredible 95,000 feet, Yeager
nally ejected from the aircraft. The ejection, which
did not go entirely smoothly, caused the pilot to suer
severe burns. For Yeager, who was constantly pushing
the limits and ignoring prescribed procedures, this was
his last attempt at such a record.
In 1966, he commanded the 405th Tactical Fighter
Wing, with which he saw combat over Vietnam. In Feb-
ruary 1968, he assumed command of the 4th Tactical
Wing, equipped with F-4 Phantom II aircraft, which he
led in South Korea during the crisis involving the recon-
naissance ship USS Pueblo.
In July 1969, was Chuck Yeager promoted to the rank
of Brigadier General and became vice-commander of
the 17th EAF. From 1971 to 1973, he served as Air At-
taché in Pakistan, including during the Third Indo-Pa-
kistani War. During the conict and afterward, he not
only oversaw the ability of Pakistani Air Force person-
nel to use American weapon systems but also examined
the wreckage of Soviet-designed Indian aircraft, col-
lected data on them, and arranged for the transport of
the wreckage to the U.S. for further analysis.
On February 25, 1975, Chuck Yeager returned to Ed-
wards AFB to complete his nal ight in active duty
aboard an F-4C Phantom II. When he touched down that
day, he had logged 10,131.6 ight hours across approx-
imately 361 dierent aircraft types.
On March 1, 1975, he left his long service in the Air
Force and retired. He remained active even after that,
appearing in lms, and became part of lm culture
from the other side as well—a lm was made about him,
references to him appear in the Star Trek universe, and
he contributed to the development of computer simu-
lators.
He was active in the veterans’ community and partic-
ipated in projects to preserve the memory of his com-
rades-in-arms. He died on December 7, 2020, at the
age of 97.
The Bell X-1 in which Chuck Yeager broke the sound
barrier on October 14, 1947. Below: For his record
ight, Captain Charles Yeager received the Gold
Medal of the Fédération Aéronautique Internatio-
nale at ceremonies on Sept. 6, 1949. Right is Wil-
liam R. Enyart, who made the presentation, and left
is Yeager’s wife, ‘The Glamorous‘ Glennis Yeager.
Lt.Col. Charles E. Yeager in cockpit of Lockheed
NF-104A Starghter, 4 December 1963 Edwards AFB.
P-51D-15-NA, s/n 44-1488 ‘Glamorous Glenn III‘.
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