Somebody please shut Chuck Yeager up.

Many pay for sports figures signatures who make millions throwing balls. Now those are the real heros...:rolleyes:
 
bartmc said:
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I'm pretty proud of that one
 
Marauder said:
Read his book... The real Chuck comes through. Jimmy Doolittle was my man...
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That is really the thing. Different people handle fame in different ways. Some carry on like nothing ever happened. Some truly step up to being role models. Others let their true colors shine through. You see it most in sports stars, but like any mix of humans, you'll see it in historical figures as well.

Just look at Lindbergh. You can't take away his accomplishments or his contributions, but as much as I respect Lindy, everything I have read about him personally....well, he was not a people person.

Yeager did have his accomplishments, but his personality makes you truly appreciate guys like Jimmy Doolittle, Jimmy Stewart and Bob Hoover.
 
Chucky is just ****ed the Redbull Airforce turned down his application.
 
Getting old sucks. Some age better than others. A man of his accomplishments and stature as a general now relegated to the annals of history bitching about people selling his autograph. :mad2:

As a kid, CY was the man. Bigger than life.

I met him once at OSH, I was in awe. It was at a cocktail reception for young eagles. He was more interested in the cute hotties serving drinks than talking to me. Pretty smart guy. He did shake my hand and not charge me. :lol:

Never understood the autograph thing. :no:
 
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Note to self: People remember first the last thing you did.
 
Geico266 said:
Getting old sucks. Some age better than others. A man of his accomplishments and stature as a general now relegated to the annals of history bitching about people selling his autograph. :mad2:

As a kid, CY was the man. Bigger than life.

I met him once at OSH, I was in awe. It was at a cocktail reception for young eagles. He was more interested in the cute hotties serving drinks than talking to me. Pretty smart guy. He did shake my hand and not charge me. :lol:

Never understood the autograph thing. :no:
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I suspect he has always been a little full of himself, but it would be interesting to know how much of his recent behavior is influenced by the current Mrs Yeager. This is the same woman who came between the man and his own kids.
 
To keep some perspective, consider that Chuck has been hounded relentlessly for autographs, attention, and the like at nearly every aviation event he's attended for probably the last 30 years (since the AC Delco commercials) if not more. I'd guess that'd sour most peoples attitudes.

FWIW, my granddad, a WWII POW for 3.5 years, met Yeager several times and always told me that he thought Yeager was a really nice guy in person.
 
nddons said:
And frankly, being "Facebook friends" is a little stalkerish, don't you think? Yeager doesn't know the OP from Moses.

I'll never understand celebrity worship, and the inevitable fall from grace that happens when a larger than life person all of the sudden seems to have normal human flaws and frailties.
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I'm friends with him also, or more accurately, I "Like" him. There is no point in complaining about the terminology, it is what it is. Obviously they (and I) aren't friends with him in the pre-2004 sense of the word.

That said, he posts interesting things nearly every day about his past. If you can get past the terminology, it's pretty interesting to Like him.
 
l8evator said:
I have been searching the web and I can't find any information about Chuck Yeager's tax evasion. Do you have a link?
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Hmmm.

I NEVER said he didn't pay his taxes..:no: :nonod:....

Given the potential of famous people to sit at a card table and sign a couple of hundred autographs and accept nothing but cash is ripe for abuse and countless ball players, and other sports people having made 5,000 -10,000 $$$ or more a day in cash is well known...... And you can bet they did NOT report all the income during though autograph sessions..:no:..

Once again, to clear up my stance... Chuck is more then free to charge for his signature, and I would hope during a five grand, one day cash windfall, he would give the guv their 1,800 bucks share of the event.....

Time will tell........:rolleyes:
 
Dean V said:
No, you said since he charges for autographs he ripping off the tax payers by accepting the pension he earned and making baseless allegations that he is likely involved in tax fraud.
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Likely is your word.......... not mine...:no:
 
rwellner98 said:
I'm friends with him also, or more accurately, I "Like" him. There is no point in complaining about the terminology, it is what it is. Obviously they (and I) aren't friends with him in the pre-2004 sense of the word.

That said, he posts interesting things nearly every day about his past. If you can get past the terminology, it's pretty interesting to Like him.
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I "Like" SC Governor Nikki Haley on FB, but I'm prety sure I'm not on her "friend" list.
 
nddons said:
I "Like" SC Governor Nikki Haley on FB, but I'm prety sure I'm not on her "friend" list.
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Different Celebs have different ways of running their FB pages. Some have fans as actual 'friends' and others just do likes.

I'm a 'friend' of Jerry Jeff Walker, but while I have seen him several times at concerts, I've never met him personally.
 
A lot of so-called "celebrities" use facebook or other social media to just further their agenda, or get it out to an audience. I really wouldn't look too deeply into the issue as it may not accurately reflect the person. People I have "liked" on FB, if they get to be really annoying, I just put on ignore or delete. If they delete me for not following what they say to a "T", then that is their issue, not mine to dwell over.

That being said, I think Yeager is an American hero who deserves respect for what he has done in the hey-day of the jet age. However, he does also come off as a crotchety old man who is living on the fumes of a glorious past career. He should really just sit back and keep out of the spotlight and not let his current reputation tarnish his past one. Just my opinion though.
 
nddons said:
I'll never understand celebrity worship, and the inevitable fall from grace that happens when a larger than life person all of the sudden seems to have normal human flaws and frailties. :dunno:
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We humans are primates, and operate most of our social structures along the same line as any primate. Most troupes or tribes of primates have a definite pecking order, with alpha individuals leading and largely characterizing the group.

Humans are no different, and our alpha individuals are people like Yeager, in addition to notable media personalities and politicians. That's why you'll shell out large amounts of money to go see a musician in concert when you could even more easily and inexpensively listen to his or her music at home. That's why our local stadium becomes filled when the President speaks at commencement.

I am no different. The only piece of Origami I ever had signed was done so by Joe Kittinger. It was of course my own design, my Origami meatbomb.
 
I talked with Chuck Yeager at the FBO in Van Nuys a couple of years ago. He was very personable and didn't try to sell me his signature.

I didn't even know who I was talking to until about an hour later.
 
steingar said:
We humans are primates, and operate most of our social structures along the same line as any primate. Most troupes or tribes of primates have a definite pecking order, with alpha individuals leading and largely characterizing the group.

Humans are no different, and our alpha individuals are people like Yeager, in addition to notable media personalities and politicians. That's why you'll shell out large amounts of money to go see a musician in concert when you could even more easily and inexpensively listen to his or her music at home. That's why our local stadium becomes filled when the President speaks at commencement.
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As famous Indian was alleged to have once said, "Who's this 'we'"?

I have better uses for my money than fan worship. My alpha personalities and I have not found any so far except my qualified bosses, definitely would not come from media, politics or athletics. ;)

Cheers
 
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Wow - what a greedy, selfish, heartless bastard:

Over the years, Yeager says, he has given his children more than $5 million, most of it funneled through Yeager Inc. The corporation was set up for the children by his first wife, after fame and dollars started pouring in when Sam Shepard played him in the 1983 film "The Right Stuff."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment...e-of-his-kids-doubt-2821681.php#ixzz2UhNlxxu6

Now, he wants to enjoy his elder years with someone who is younger than him, and I guess that's a problem too. He wants to keep the money he earned and that's a problem as well.

Amazing what one man can do for his country, family, and society as a whole - then get a bunch of shyte tossed at him from a pouty social media maven who didn't get enough nipple as a tot.
 
docmirror said:
Amazing what one man can do for his country, family, and society as a whole - then get a bunch of shyte tossed at him from a pouty social media maven who didn't get enough nipple as a tot.
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You really don't know that is the case any more than I do. What I do know is that there are two sides to every story.

Did Yeager really say that or was that what his wife came up with? Who really knows. Only reason I commented on the wife thing is that it is interesting that she seems to be the ruling force behind the Facebook account which makes me wonder. She wouldn't be the first celeb stalker turned wife.
 
X3 Skier said:
As famous Indian was alleged to have once said, "Who's this 'we'"?

I have better uses for my money than fan worship. My alpha personalities and I have not found any so far except my qualified bosses, definitely would not come from media, politics or athletics. ;)

Cheers
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You yourself regaled me with the story of how you met both Frank Whittle and Hans von Ohain. Believe it or not, that is another form of homage toward alpha individuals. Doesn't mean you're weak or stupid, just human.
 
Fearless Tower said:
You really don't know that is the case any more than I do. What I do know is that there are two sides to every story.
.
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Fine, but I'm not the one that got up on my stool and called him a racist and ****ed and moaned because he doesn't "like" me anymore on FB.

It's easy to fire cruise missiles at people from the safety of your own couch. Then, start firing them at people who defended this country, put his ass on the line at Mach 1 when it's never been done before, make a pile of money, and want to spend it however he sees fit and I have a problem with that.

I don't claim to know either side of it, but I can still respect or at a minimum leave someone alone who gave plenty to us so that we can enjoy our leisure years in peace. Come on here with op-ed about people and all you've got is some FB *****-whining, and an unfounded accusation about tax evasion and you're gonna get some blow back.
 
docmirror said:
Fine, but I'm not the one that got up on my stool and called him a racist and ****ed and moaned because he doesn't "like" me anymore on FB.

It's easy to fire cruise missiles at people from the safety of your own couch. Then, start firing them at people who defended this country, put his ass on the line at Mach 1 when it's never been done before, make a pile of money, and want to spend it however he sees fit and I have a problem with that.

I don't claim to know either side of it, but I can still respect or at a minimum leave someone alone who gave plenty to us so that we can enjoy our leisure years in peace. Come on here with op-ed about people and all you've got is some FB *****-whining, and an unfounded accusation about tax evasion and you're gonna get some blow back.
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Tell the truth: You would have done it too...and for FREE, if given the opportunity.:yes:
 
steingar said:
You yourself regaled me with the story of how you met both Frank Whittle and Hans von Ohain. Believe it or not, that is another form of homage toward alpha individuals. Doesn't mean you're weak or stupid, just human.
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Hans was one of my bosses. Sir Frank could have been. Neither came from media, politics or entertainment. ;)

Respect and homage are two different things to me but I'm just an engineer. I have respect for a lot of people but I don't pay homage to them or consider them the alpha male/female of the local pack/herd/flock/gaggle. I had a lot of respect for those who worked for me for that matter. :D

Cheers
 
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X3 Skier said:
Hans was one of my bosses. Sir Frank could have been. Neither came from media, politics or entertainment. ;)

Respect and homage are two different things to me but I'm just an engineer.
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Homage usually issues from respect, sometimes lineage, sometimes achievement, sometimes ability. It is only human to recognize such. I try not to be affected by this sort of thing myself, and fail. I would have loved to have seen Cliff Robertson's talk at Airventure. It was a real thrill meeting Joe Kittinger. The emotional content of these meetings had nothing whatsoever to do with respect, or anything else. It was my primate programming rewarding me for being in contact with alpha individuals.

Moreover, just because one person doesn't ascribe themselves to it doesn't mean everyone else doesn't. Got to any concert and listen to the screaming fans. See how people flock to red carpet premiers just to catch a glimpse of the stars. See how much folks will fork out to have dinner with the POTUS. It is part and parcel in our wiring.
 
It's like the Darwin Award legend of the Chevy Impala with the JATO rockets discovered embedded 300 feet up the side of a bluff. Inevitably someone has to introduce logic and common sense, like bringing a wet blanket to a slumber party, to disprove it and ruin the whole story.

Believe in Chuck Yeager the legend and idolize that image if you want but don't aspire to be a phony FB "friend" or drool over an autographed picture. Don't go poking and prodding to dig up the truth and then poo-poo when you find it.
 
I don't care if he bangs a chick half his age, is a capitalist, or has a Facebook page. I'd still buy the SOB a beer.
 
pbramlett said:
I don't care if he bangs a chick half his age, is a capitalist, or has a Facebook page. I'd still buy the SOB a beer.
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Hell, I would buy him a beer for the first part of your sentence..

That said, shook hands with General Yeager and Pappy Boyington too... Didn't talk to either of them long enough to form an opinion, but I did thank them for thier service and their stories... all which are great entertainment..
 
ElPaso Pilot said:
79 eBay folk trying to cash in on Yeager ink today.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sop=16&_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=autographed chuck yeager&_fscr=1


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If you give someone a dollar and they win $1000 off a lottery ticket they bought with it, should you be upset? If you give someone your signature and they find someone willing to pay $1000 for it, is it any different? I think it it and it's because nobody is going to pay more than a $1 for your dollar bill. It's only worth a dollar. A signature is worth as much as some fool will pay for it, and Chuck gave them away. If he thinks he can make a small percentage of the sale on the front end by charging for his signature then good luck to him. He looks like a jerkwad doing it, but I suppose he's entitled to whatever he gets from public opinion.
 
If he is worried about the money and smart he would be signing old jet junk and ebaying them off himself through an alias/agent. Fighter pilots are dumb.:lol:
QuiQuog said:
If you give someone a dollar and they win $1000 off a lottery ticket they bought with it, should you be upset? If you give someone your signature and they find someone willing to pay $1000 for it, is it any different? I think it it and it's because nobody is going to pay more than a $1 for your dollar bill. It's only worth a dollar. A signature is worth as much as some fool will pay for it, and Chuck gave them away. If he thinks he can make a small percentage of the sale on the front end by charging for his signature then good luck to him. He looks like a jerkwad doing it, but I suppose he's entitled to whatever he gets from public opinion.
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Silvaire said:
but don't aspire to be a phony FB "friend"
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As I said earlier, it isn't about being a phony friend. That is just the FB terminology. Some celebs have pages you 'like' and others have their own fan pages where you 'friend' them. It is just up to the celeb how they want to run their page. It isn't about pretending you are actually their friend - it is about following their news. While there are certainly nut jobs out there, for the most part, people 'friend' celebs to follow their updates, tour schedules, album or movie annoucnements...etc.
 
Inverted said:
Get off the bandwagon. You don't see any other famous aviators from that time, or others, cashing in on autographs, and making outlandish statements on naming rights etc. He deserves his pension for his military service. He deserves nothing else because of his horrible outlook on life.
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Sorry, I disagree.
I was going to post a list of pilots, American, British, and German, that I know personally, who are legends, and card carrying jerks. But I decided not to.
I'll just say that I know\knew a couple of dozen jerks for every genuinely nice guy.
You don't live long as a test\combat pilot unless you believe, at a subatomic level, that you are the best of the best, and everyone else is there to keep your shoes from getting muddy. They hung it all out in the wind and lived to tell about it. I wish every single one of them could have lived to be 150 and been a PIA every single day of their lives. Except Robert Scott (God Is My Co-pilot). That s.o.b. can burn in Hell. He f'ed with my father during WWII, and then with me while I was in the Air Force.

Glenn
 
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