7 ms·

The Right Stuff. Go. Read it. Now. Shoo.

sizzzzlerz 8y ago
What he said!
hangonhn 8y ago
Another vote for this one. Also Chuck Yeager is the most badass pilot that ever piloted anything that flies. They also made a movie out of the book. It's decent but the book is amazing.
- matthewmcg 8y ago
  Second the recommendations. However for a counterpoint on Yeager’s role in the NF-104 crash described at the end of the book, see this account from a trainer involved in the program: http://www.kalimera.org/nf104/stories/stories_12.html http://www.kalimera.org/nf104/stories/stories_12.html
  - dctoedt 8y ago
    And this, about the investigation and a supposed cover-up of alleged pilot error by Yeager: http://www.kalimera.org/nf104/stories/stories_13.html http://www.kalimera.org/nf104/stories/stories_13.html (Although one never knows whom to believe when reading self-justifying finger pointing like this.)
    - mannykannot 8y ago
      Co. Smith's case appears to be well-documented.
    - CPAhem 8y ago
      Thanks, that is a great link. Here's his summary: "The facts are clear. Chuck Yeager proved incapable of doing the job. He was totally outside his element. He was a natural pilot who had learned by experience and feel, but never really understood stability, just ‘sensed’ how airplanes would act, but aerodynamics and space dynamics are night and day. If he was to fail, I expected it to be outside the aerodynamics region. But not even that can excuse his accident, which was his fault, alone and was an error of bad pilot technique during normal, aerodynamic flight. His shortcoming was inability to gain and maintain the 70 degree climb angle. That required strict and delicate airplane control. No more and no less."
- geoka9 8y ago
  Probably the most famous (rightly so). If you like Yeager, I highly recommend reading his memoirs - it makes The Right Stuff seem like an amateur hour aviation book.
  - JackFr 8y ago
    > it makes The Right Stuff seem like an amateur hour aviation book I doubt that. The Right Stuff is not simply a book about Yeager. And while Yeager is a fascinating and exciting man and truly a hero, Tom Wolfe is one of the greatest non-fiction stylists of the twentieth century. I would be very surprised if Chuck Yeager could write, or commission a ghost writer, with one tenth the chops of Tom Wolfe.
    - geoka9 8y ago
      > one of the greatest non-fiction stylists Sure, if all you're looking for is style. As a person interested in aviation (and a good story), 'Yeager' is my favorite. The Right Stuff was a good experience, but I probably won't re-read it again.
  - CPAhem 8y ago
    Yes, for tech readers, The Right Stuff will be disappointing, it covers how people feel and the politics, not much about the technical side of the Mercury or X-1, X-2 or x-15 programs.
mongol 8y ago
It is the only one I read. It is GOOD.

What he said!

Another vote for this one. Also Chuck Yeager is the most badass pilot that ever piloted anything that flies. They also made a movie out of the book. It's decent but the book is amazing.

matthewmcg 8y ago
Second the recommendations. However for a counterpoint on Yeager’s role in the NF-104 crash described at the end of the book, see this account from a trainer involved in the program: http://www.kalimera.org/nf104/stories/stories_12.html http://www.kalimera.org/nf104/stories/stories_12.html
- dctoedt 8y ago
  And this, about the investigation and a supposed cover-up of alleged pilot error by Yeager: http://www.kalimera.org/nf104/stories/stories_13.html http://www.kalimera.org/nf104/stories/stories_13.html (Although one never knows whom to believe when reading self-justifying finger pointing like this.)
  - mannykannot 8y ago
    Co. Smith's case appears to be well-documented.
  - CPAhem 8y ago
    Thanks, that is a great link. Here's his summary: "The facts are clear. Chuck Yeager proved incapable of doing the job. He was totally outside his element. He was a natural pilot who had learned by experience and feel, but never really understood stability, just ‘sensed’ how airplanes would act, but aerodynamics and space dynamics are night and day. If he was to fail, I expected it to be outside the aerodynamics region. But not even that can excuse his accident, which was his fault, alone and was an error of bad pilot technique during normal, aerodynamic flight. His shortcoming was inability to gain and maintain the 70 degree climb angle. That required strict and delicate airplane control. No more and no less."
geoka9 8y ago
Probably the most famous (rightly so). If you like Yeager, I highly recommend reading his memoirs - it makes The Right Stuff seem like an amateur hour aviation book.
- JackFr 8y ago
  > it makes The Right Stuff seem like an amateur hour aviation book I doubt that. The Right Stuff is not simply a book about Yeager. And while Yeager is a fascinating and exciting man and truly a hero, Tom Wolfe is one of the greatest non-fiction stylists of the twentieth century. I would be very surprised if Chuck Yeager could write, or commission a ghost writer, with one tenth the chops of Tom Wolfe.
  - geoka9 8y ago
    > one of the greatest non-fiction stylists Sure, if all you're looking for is style. As a person interested in aviation (and a good story), 'Yeager' is my favorite. The Right Stuff was a good experience, but I probably won't re-read it again.
- CPAhem 8y ago
  Yes, for tech readers, The Right Stuff will be disappointing, it covers how people feel and the politics, not much about the technical side of the Mercury or X-1, X-2 or x-15 programs.

mongol 8y ago

It is the only one I read. It is GOOD.