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Lets just skip over the NF-104 mishap? Despite what people think, most of the astronauts/test pilots have done at least one not-so-smart thing in a jet. This w
by neurotech1 14y ago
Lets just skip over the NF-104 mishap?
Despite what people think, most of the astronauts/test pilots have done at least one not-so-smart thing in a jet. This was probably not Gen. Yeager's finest piloting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_NF-104A#Third_NF-104A http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_NF-104A#Third_NF-104A
Gen. Yeager was also somewhat bitter that he never made it into the Astronaut Corps.
- russell 14y agoIIRC (it was a long time ago) CY said he did not become an astronaut because he wanted to be a pilot and not just shot around on the end of a rocket. I took it at face value, not thinking that it might be sour grapes. Needless to say there was some amazing piloting in the Gemini and Apollo programs.
- neurotech1 14y agoHe didn't make Group 1/Group 2 requirements to the Astronaut Corps because he wasn't a college graduate. This was at a different time when not all officers had a 4-year college degree. He could have gotten a degree, if he really wanted to be an astronaut. During the late 50s, the designers had the plan that the capsule would be flown automatically, and this could have turned off Gen. Yeager from applying, despite his distinguished record.