Page 4 - Aerotech News and Review, February 5, 2021

YEAGER, from 3
Another thing sticking in Yeager’s craw arose from some of his workers, but owned the building, while the Air Force didn’t have a
dealings with the old National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics building but could pay staff. (Win/Win)
(NACA) which grew up to be the National Aeronautics and Space - Both NASA and Edwards AFB hit the jackpot for their missions
Administration (NASA). and budgets when the alliance approach reached the level of sharing
In media interviews over the years, Yeager complained that base infrastructure when there were gains to be achieved. That came
after his six years of running the astronaut school at Edwards, to apply to flight test radars and structures, communication wiring,
ending in 1965, 26 graduates he trained became NASA astro- aircraft interoperability and some pilot certification rules.
nauts. He criticized President Lyndon Johnson’s administration Szalai pointed out that NASA and the Air Force enjoyed suc-
for closing out the Air Force role in space programs and trans- cessful partnerships in flight tests for the X-15 and the wingless
ferring everything to NASA, “and it was a bureaucratic mess lifting body forerunners to the space shuttle program.
ever since.” He said, “The X-1 program is the reason the NASA Flight
Yeager was more ambivalent in comments about whether he was Research Center stands today, as a handful of NACA aeronauti-
shut out of possible selection as an astronaut because the Mercury cal experts from Langley, Va., headed by Walt Williams, joined
space program required a college diploma. He was reported to have the military and Bell staff in the assault on the ‘sound barrier.’
balked at applying because the action was coming from Cape Kenne- AFRC exists because of this first frontal attack to overcome com-
dy, and he was put off by the lack of involvement in technical plan- pressibility effects on controllability and performance of aircraft
ning and flight control by test pilot astronauts. The first astronauts at high speed.”
complained about having nothing to do in space capsules previously Air Force photograph Recalling Yeager’s many visits to the center, Szalai said Yea-
occupied by monkeys. Yeager was quoted as saying “I didn’t want Col. Charles E. Yeager, commandant of the U.S. Air Force ger flew with NASA’s Rogers Smith in an F/A-18 and gave high
to wipe the monkey crap on the seat before I sat down.” Aerospace Research Pilot School at the Air Force Flight Test compliments to Walt Williams and the NACA engineers. Szalia
By the time the second astronaut group was being selected, Yea- Center, Edwards AFB, Calif., poses with a model of the North said Yeager was “a national leader for the advancement of high
ger was over 40, and the question became moot. American X-15 high speed, high-altitude research aircraft. He speed, high performance military fighter aircraft. Before the hu-
A turning point in the relationship between Yeager and NASA holds a photograph of the Bell X-1 aircraft in which he became the man spaceflight program, he was the most recognizable pilot in
began around 1991 when General Yeager unexpectedly dropped first man to fly faster than the speed of sound on Oct. 14, 1947. the United States.”
by to visit NASA Dryden’s newly installed administrator, Kenneth Possibly because of his long life and career in the national
Szalai. Recognizing that Yeager was esteemed as “the nation’s chief spotlight, some of the Yeager lore and legend is filled with seem-
test pilot,” Szalai quickly cleared his calendar for what would be the to leverage and maximize their resources through cooperation and ing anomalies and contradictions. In one case, Yeager was criti-
first in a series of productive meetings pivotal to improving the work collaboration. cized for speaking harshly to a woman test pilot in the presence of
of both the Air Force and NASA. Remembering successful outcomes from the old general’s strate- her peers. In contrast to that incident Yeager actively supported
Yeager told Szalai his purpose for the visit was to offer NASA and gic wisdom, Szalai cites: Jacqueline Cochran, the first woman to break the sound barrier.
the Air Force some advice. Szalai remembers that with the economy - Maj. Gen. Richard L. Engle and NASA creating a joint facilities He was a mentor in the 1950s and 1960s, flying the F-86 chase
of words and clarity of messaging for which he was known, Yea- and infrastructure working group to collaboratively explore ways to plane for her flights prior to the supersonic dash, and flew as her
ger said his first two pieces of advice to both organizations were: share resources.” Turned out NASA and the Air Force had separate wingman in the record-setting flight.
“Cooperate and collaborate.” Expounding on that remark, Yeager contracts with the same services vendor, and the Air Force was pay- When Cochran, who died in 1980, was selected to be post-
added, “You guys are on the same field. You have a powerhouse ing more than twice as much as NASA. (Negotiated money-saving humously inducted into the Aerospace Walk of Honor Class of
here. Use it!” single contract.) 2006, Yeager volunteered to accept the award on behalf of the
Scroll forward a few years, and Yeager’s advice blossomed into - Working moms at NASA’s private non-profit child care center Walk of Honor’s first woman test pilot honoree.
a loosely formed alliance in which Air Force and NASA leadership asked if NASA and Edwards AFB could combine resources to offer Then, too, Chuck Yeager remained nimbly open to suggestion
put rivalry in the rearview mirror and searched for opportunities child care to military families as well. NASA wasn’t allowed to pay See YEAGER, Page 5

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