Chuck Yeager Dies At 97

Chuck Yeager, the first human to break the sound barrier Oct. 14, 1947, has died at the age of 97.

At age 97 he was still active and even making public appearances.

"It is with profound sorrow, I must tell you that my life love General Chuck Yeager passed just before 9pm ET," was the tweet from his wife, actress Victoria Scott D'Angelo. "An incredible life well lived, America’s greatest Pilot, & a legacy of strength, adventure, & patriotism will be remembered forever."

He began flying with the Army Air Corps, before their was such a thing as the United States Air Force. He spent time training for WWII in Casper Wyoming. Mr. Yeager fought in the skies over Europe, Korea and Vietnam.

As a test pilot Mr. Yeager flew many extraordinary planes. But it was his flight in the Bell X-1, where he reached a speed of 700 miles per hour, l that the world remembers most. He was only 24,years old at the time.

The plane was rocket propelled and was nicknamed "Glamorous Glennis" after Yeager's first wife, who passed away in 1990. But he did not have bragging rights until two months later. The military wanted to keep the lid on the record flight for a while.

Tom Wolfe’s book, ″The Right Stuff,″ and the movie based, in part, on Mr. Yeager's career. Mr. Yeager was played by actor Sam Shepard.

If you want to know about his life there are several books and movies that portray him. Most of all I'd suggest Mr. Yeager's website which is packed with information about the many adventures in his life.