Page 8 - Aerotech News and Review, February 5, 2021

Memories of Chuck Yeager

Army Air Corps as an aircraft mechanic, which later led to an
by Cathy Hansen the nose, named for his late wife Glennis and Anderson called his opportunity to be a part of the “flying sergeants” program where
special to Aerotech News P-51, “Old Crow,” after the whiskey. he attended flight training.
Al’s sister, Maude Ann, went to college with Bud’s wife, El- Just a note to anyone out there who has a tendency to become
When I look at this picture of my husband Al with General eanor. She introduced them to the Hansen family’s wild land, air sick when flying; Chuck Yeager would become severely air
Chuck Yeager, it brings back fond memories of the Edwards Air north of Mojave. Yeager and Anderson were avid outdoorsmen sick on his first few flights. He made a conscious effort to over-
Show in October 2002. and relished in the untamed beauty of this rugged land. come the urge to be sick and went on to become the best pilot in
Al flew his Canadair F-86E out for static display and I flew Chuck Yeager is of Dutch and German descent and Yeager the group!
backseat in a Canadair CT-133 (T-33 Thunderbird) that belongs means “hunter.” He lives up to his name. I overheard Chuck say Early on, at the tender age of seven, Yeager had a knack for
to Charlie Wallasch. to Al, “That ranch has the best hunting of anywhere I have ever pin-point shooting when he shot the head off of a tree squirrel
It only takes a couple of minutes to fly from Mojave Airport been.” before going to school. (Just for the record, that squirrel didn’t
to Edwards AFB, but the preparation time of getting clearances, go to waste, it was meat on the table.) His sharp eyes (20-10
etc. takes many hours! The weather really cooperated and it was vision) helped him later on while serving as a fighter pilot in
a wonderful air show.
Al met up with Gen. Chuck Yeager and it was fun to stand back World War II.
and just watch and listen. They have known each for many years. At Muroc Army Air Field, later named Edwards AFB, Chuck
Yeager once said, “Fame makes you kind of cautious, a bit anxious Yeager broke the sound barrier on Oct. 14, 1947. That informa-
to guard your privacy.” It was good to see him relax a little while tion wasn’t released to the public until a year later, but when the
talking over old times with Al. media was given the historical information, Chuck Yeager became
a household name.
He cheated death and set many records at Edwards and still
holds a special place in his heart for this unique Air Force Test
Center and the airspace around it, including the skies over Mojave.
Chuck was told he was too old to fly airplanes at Edwards AFB
anymore, so in October 2005, he had to give students from the Air
Force Test Pilot School rides in a P-51 off the runways at Mojave!

Courtesy photograph
Al Hansen’s Hawker Hunter Mark VI, painted to look the D-558
for the 1983 movie The Right Stuff.

During the filming of “The Right Stuff” in 1983, Al was asked
to bring his Hawker Hunter Mark VI to Edwards. A pointed nose
was attached to his airplane and it was painted with a special
paint to look like the D-558 flown by test pilot Scott Crossfield.
The airplane that zooms over the barbecue scene in the movie is
Al in his Hunter.
Courtesy photograph
Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager and Al Hansen at the 2005 Edwards Yeager and Anderson invited Al out to Edwards for several of
Air Force Base, Calif., Open House and Air Show. the X-15 flights. “It was thrilling to see,” Al said.
I recommend the books written by Chuck Yeager. The autobi-
ography called “Yeager” and “Press On” give you insight into a
down-to-earth guy who loves living and flying, thinks having fun
Chuck and his good flying friend Clarence E. Bud “Andy” An- is where it’s at and truly respects self-sufficient people.
derson loved to hunt on the Hansen Wilderness Ranch that Al’s Yeager was born in 1923 in West Virginia deep in the hollers of Courtesy photograph
father, Dr. Homer Hansen, owned. the Appalachians. His father was a driller in the gas fields and his Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager and Cathy Hansen at the Mojave Air
and Space Port.
As most of you know, both Yeager and Anderson flew P-51 mother had a full-time job caring for the five children and taking
Mustangs in World War II and both are Aces; Anderson being a care of their home.
Triple Ace! Yeager had 11.5 kills to his credit and received five Chuck and the other four siblings learned to hunt, fish and
of those in one mission! He even shot down a German ME-262 survive in the harsh weather conditions and how to take care of I was lucky enough to have a short visit with Yeager and have
jet with his P-51 Mustang. machines, especially his father’s old Chevy pickup. His mechani- my picture taken with him.
Yeager’s Mustang carried the name “Glamorous Glennis” on cal skills learned from his father paid off when he enlisted in the God bless you general, we value our memories of you.

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