General Yeager and I planned to eat lunch and then go fly. We did a couple errands after lunch since we were early – plane was booked. When we got to the airport, it was 108 degrees. Wow! Hot!
The diamond has a bubble canopy that bakes you and it had been closed for a half hour just sitting in the sun. The owners suggested that if I was just doing touch & go’s – meaning not getting to any altitude where it would be cooler, we may not like being baked.
I considered this. I have flown when it was hot, but certainly not anywhere near as hot as now. And during those, I limited it to 3 touch & gos. The heat causes dehydration and slowing of reactions. Even though I had water and was hydrating myself.
So I came back out to the truck and told General Yeager I wanted to postpone a couple days.
I think he had looked at the bubble canopy, closed, cooking the seats. He said: Good!. Then added: You can’t fight a war like this.
Can you imagine during World War II: Oh, I don’t think I want to stop the enemy today – it’s too hot.
I thanked General Yeager again for all that he has done, so I now personally have (among other things) the choice to not fly when it’s so hot.
c. GCYI
Great blog, Victoria. Charmed life indeed with Chuck Yeager. I really hope you can get the General to visit the D.C. area or Virginia again soon. Even West Virginia where my fiance lives. I check his website every week with hopes that I see him making an appearance out this way soon.
My very best wishes,
Rich
We were in West Virginia in June! We won’t be able to make the Governor’s One Shot Doe Hunt due to having to be in San Diego, though.