Victoria Yeager

A baby deer is hung up!

July 9th, 2011 . Posted in Daily Life with Chuck Yeager, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Comments Off
Tags: baby deer, Chuck Yeager, deer, fawn, Victoria Yeager, Wildlife

A baby deer is hung up on the rail, cried Gen Yeager as he rushed back inside.

I sure didn’t want to start my morning extricating a dead baby deer. As I followed General Yeager out, I wondered why he came to get me – he knows I’m quite sensitive…

As I thought about it, so is General Yeager. Some hunters, like Gen Yeager, are the most caring of animals. Gen Yeager will kill for meat and to eat. And since I occasionally eat meat, I’m on board.

As I braced myself for the sight…I was so relieved to see a live baby deer stuck in the railing. If it had gotten through, it had a 15’ drop – not sure its legs would have survived.

We approached it cautiously to not scare it or its mama. As the momma from below saw us approaching, she was racing back and forth agitated.

I spoke calmly, softly, in that higher pitched, babyish talk which animals and babies find soothing.

I pet the fawn’s derriere softly to show her I was safe as continue talking. As we surveyed the scene, I thought I’d need a ladder to get to her on the other side to push her back to the porch. I was concerned it was too heavy, concerned it may have lice, fleas, ticks, something else unhealthy.

General Yeager said: Be careful, she might thrash and hit you with her hooves.

As we both were hovering over her baby, momma ran back and forth snorting – she looked like she was considering coming up on the porch, trapping us. She could do some serious damage to us. She probably was worried everyone was judging her, protesting: I am a good mother! I left my baby in a safe place. She should have been safe. I only went in the grocery store (the field) to eat for just a minute!

I looked her straight in the eye and said calmly, same voice: It’s okay. We’ll get your baby freed.

She did stop snorting, kept alert, and seem to give a look like okay for now. And: Oh, you didn’t criticize my mothering.

I got a hold of the baby deer’s body just in front of the hind legs, picked her up – she was surprising light – I was thrilled I could manage – and pulled her partially back thru.

WAaaaaah! She screamed. Momma agitated. I calmly talked again. Everyone calmed down.

I was afraid if I let go, she’d struggle back forward rendering my effort useless.

She didn’t. She then did what I do when I’m scared. She stayed still. Or maybe she trusted me. Or decided to –since she didn’t have many options. Little thing. And her momma seemed to be watching and not agitated now. Just alert. So baby

I held her again further up her body and started to bring her back further.

I brought the baby back to her shoulders – but couldn’t get them thru. She stayed still again.

The baby realized she could stand and balance with most of her body unstuck. As I pondered how I was going to get her front legs back thru, she realized she could help – and squeezed her shoulders and head back out.

I sure wish I had held her a little and pet her more. She was sooooo cute. A little cute face. But I had in the back of my mind that some animals’ parents won’t touch their offspring if humans have touched them. Of course, I had touched the baby to help her – but it was minimal….

She walked off a few paces, stopped and waited. I didn’t want to scare her and her momma so didn’t approach her. Instead I said: Go to your momma.

She hesitated.

Go on.

She moved off a few more paces.

Go on to momma, I urged.

She walked off a little more. Then: Boing Boing (leap, leap). And she was off down the terraces to momma.

Momma stood while her baby caught up and stood next to her. She watched the baby and then me.

Then she nuzzled her baby. Was she very relieved?

They stayed there, not far from us for a while.

Eventually they moved off. Baby not leaving momma’s side for a second – staying within inches of her.

Momma stopped every few paces to look back at me. She looked alternatively just curious, then like I was an anomaly, or was she thanking me, or wondering what I would do next….or…

That evening I dropped a bag of rice and another of raisins for them. (Our freezer had quit so we had to get rid of a lot of food anyway).

I hoped they come back. This morning momma was by the rice and raisins. She calmly walked off after a while. Later she was nursing her baby – she wasn’t frightened off by us.

I still wish I had petted the baby deer.

c. GCYI

Flying Solo

June 18th, 2011 . Posted in Aviation | Comments Off
Tags: Air Force, Chuck Yeager, flying, Victoria Yeager, Vietnam, Yeager

What a beautiful day. I decided I just had to go fly. Checked the schedule – there was an hour window at noon.

Got up to airport in time to find the afternoon flight had been canceled so I could go anywhere all afternoon.

I decided to fly to Auburn for lunch. As I headed to the plane…I had a pang of…aloneness…and concern. My favorite co-pilot is fishing in Alaska. I hadn’t flown alone in perhaps over a year.

I went through the outside inspection of the plane. Before getting in, I went back to the office to get the Auburn airport information.

Got in the plane. Thought, I can do this. Cool. It seemed second nature. A bit so much that I felt like I was going through it all too fast.

I was.

I followed the checklist.

I thought.

Turned the key. Almost turned over. Twice.

Oops. Forgot the fuel pump on and the primer on. They had somehow hidden while I was reading the checklist.

It was a high-ish density altitude day. The plane had just been flown for 2 hours so it almost could have turned over. But almost – and this wasn’t horseshoes.

So turned the master switch off. Turned it on. Flipped primer switch. Turned fuel pump on. Found those on the checklist – they had decided to show themselves this time.

Tried to start it. Almost. Almost. Nada. Sigh. I might need to go in to get help.

I turned everything off and sat for a bit. Now instead of starving it of fuel, I had probably flooded it.

So I started from scratch. Master on. Mixture rich. Fuel pump on. Primer on. Turn key. Oops forgot the 3-5 seconds of pumping. I did a quick pump and…..it turned over. Yay! (The 3-5 secs would have flooded it again – I chose well this time!)

I went through the checklist. And I was off. Not without checking the brakes first.

I called in. Taxied to the holding area, waving at the CA Dept of Fire person.

I did a radio check. Sherm or Greg confirmed.

I did my brief out loud – including what altitude I needed to reach to be able to turn around and make the runway in an emergency.

I took the active after a plane had landed. It called clear the runway – and I called taking off.

Once I got airborne, I checked the checklist again – I had done it all already.

I flew out to 49 South to follow it. I scanned the horizon, the instruments, looked for the airstrip Alta Sierra in case of emergency. Where is it? Looks different by myself and with all the trees in bloom. There’s an opening but I don’t think….yup, that’s it. Check.

I was still at 4000’. I like being up high – gives me options in case of an emergency. I turned off the fuel pump, checked the mixture.

I remembered Chuck talking about how we follow Route 80 over the Sierras. He told the other party – land the same direction as the cars are going.

Once I had tried to analyze which way one would land if one had to – if the same direction, they won’t see you coming. If the opposite they’ll have few options to get around you.

Chuck continued: And hope that they see you, can slow down and not hit you.

Ah.

It was a bit choppy. Didn’t worry me at all. It would have when I was first soloing.

The crosswind during take-off was only a few degrees off a headwind.

I was thinking how when I was first soloing, I would have been uncomfortable with this bumpy weather. By this didn’t bother me at all.

I kept having to wipe my “glowing” hand that was holding the stick (controls) on my pants. (Pigs sweat, men perspire, ladies glow). I checked my psyche. Nope, I wasn’t stressed to the point of glowing – it was just a very hot day.

But I sure didn’t want a bump to catch me off guard and my hand slipping, the controls out of control.

I checked the trim just in case.

Ooooh! Flock of white birds. Beautiful….if at a distance.

They turned to their left, my right. So I turned left. With low wings though, I couldn’t be sure so I dipped a wing. Yup – they were still going the other way. My engine was safe.

Airport in sight. Because I was alone, the flight seemed like hours. About 10 minutes later I was calling in 3 miles north of airport.

I checked around for other airplanes. Heard one on final – saw it. Check. Heard helicopters, saw them. Check.

This airport was usually busy on Fridays – fish and chips special day. But in order to get a seat, most people got there about 11:30am. So I was later than arrivals, and earlier than departures. It was a hazy-ish day. Just like the day when about 7 airplanes had called in in the traffic pattern and I couldn’t see any. I would call downwind and someone else would call downwind and would mention seeing me. So I stayed outside the traffic pattern till everyone had landed. I thought.

I had called in – on a 45 for downwind for runway 2-5. Heard someone I knew! Call in – Victoria, I’m just gonna zip ahead of you – he was on long downwind – and zip ahead he did. I called him. I following him – I’M number 2 behind him. Hmmm

I figured I’d follow him – I didn’t think I was at the right pattern altitude.

He landed long. I mean long – 3/4s down the runway. So did I – well not as long. When I saw him in the restaurant, I said, I was glad to follow him; no one was mentioning seeing me! And I wasn’t sure what TPA was. He said: I was a little high.

Ah. Hence the long.

So this time though, even though one was coming in from the south, helicopters were practicing…some on the ground…

I called overhead. Listened to the AWOS. 7 knots about 30 degrees off downwind. And pressure was .6 points less. Wow.

Then called turning downwind.

Another called in.

I checked the checklist. Yup. I’m on track.

And on final, I was a bit high. Considered I might have to do a go-around. Sigh.

Thought I still had plenty of runway but didn’t feel like rolling out to the end, so tried a slip. This plane is hard to slip, or has been. But this time, got down just enough, straightened out and landed. For a nano-second I didn’t realize I had landed. YES! It was that smooth. Woo hoo!

Just as I was leaving the runway, the airplane sputtered – some high density altitude – I checked the fuel pump was on, mixture full rich and I quickly added a little power. Finally getting a little into my head what to do instinctively.

I taxied in. Had to go a different way. Saw one opening but would have had to back it in So I taxied around, threaded thru, and voila. I parked. Yes, it had felt like an hour but I got here.

As I walked in, saw there were no tables outside. Inside was empty. I went back outside – one table had 2 empty seats. So I walked up and asked if I could sit with the 2 guys, said I wouldn’t bother them, would pay for myself, and if they weren’t having a big tete a tete…could I sit down there.

Well, that was a new one for them but they said sure.

So we chatted a little and one was a pilot, the other wasn’t, but interesting. Of course, I eventually mentioned Chuck. The pilot was ex-Air Force, a helicopter pilot in the Air Force, but had been flying since he was 14. He taught me and reminded me of different parts of flying. It was cool.

His friend is a painter, artist. He had videoed his grandmother telling who was who in the family album – which sparked other memories and stories. How great is that? We all talk about it – but not many of us do it.

They walked out with me to the airplane. We talked a little about it. R (pilot) explained a few things to me, asked a few questions that made me think. Nice.

I got in –they said they’d watch me take off.

Me: I don’t know if I can handle the pressure.

I hoped I did start it right off the bat

I followed the checklist and held my breath. Rrrr- it turned. Phew.

I taxied a bit and tested the brakes. Good to go.

And taxied on out to the holding area. While I did my run-up, a lot of traffic on the radio. I checked – winds were within 30 degrees of the runway heading.

After helicopter passed me, I called taking the runway and holding short.

When they cleared, I called taking off and did.

I dipped my wing at my new friends – cool!

And headed north.

I followed 49, looked at the traffic and still not sure the wings would fit.

As I got close, a plane called in. So I called in – 10 miles south by southwest.

The other guy called 7 miles south.

Ooh uh oh.

I called in: I don’t have you in sight. I’m at 4100’, where are you?

Them: 4700’, looking.

Funny he had backward clock-it is. He said he was at my 3:00. He wasn’t. I checked my 9:00 and there he was above me.

Me: I’m going to turn left and get behind you – you’re faster.

Thank you.

They were much faster. And I had learned a lot from Chuck – such as keep the guy in front of you – easier to see than having to check six.

I set myself up. Slowed myself down and watched one guy on final and the other on downwind ahead of me. Called downwind with each of the traffic in sight.

I went through the checklist for right now and for the next steps.

I rehearsed what I had to do for a touch and go. Hadn’t done one in a while – was I okay?

Let’s see: Sequence is: After touch down, smooth full power (not too fast), flaps from full to half and off we go. Yup. I can do it.

On final, there were a few downdrafts. At the last 20 feet felt like the floor dropped out. But I had already put full rich and now I added power. I thought – ah well, I can do a go-around – not much different from a touch and go. One the wheels touch, one they don’t.

I kissed the runway and away I went. I did a little skip but hardly noticeable. Woo hoo!

I can do this.

Called crosswind, downwind. Slowed myself down – what’s my hurry ? I turned a bit early but the downdrafts were dropping me kinda fast. So early was good.

I added power, tried not to add too much. Turned to final – had to add power, downdrafts again. Not the usual updraft over the reservoir.

So I headed to the numbers.

I flared just a little early so gained a little altitude. I considered putting on some power – but just flew the plane – and kissed the runway.

I slowed waaaaay early. I was pretty happy – I had a short field landing without even trying.

I exited the runway, called in. And taxied on down to the parking place.

Nice flight. Still prefer flying with my favorite pilot.

c. GCYI

Flying at Flying M & Helicoptering

June 7th, 2011 . Posted in Aviation, Daily Life with Chuck Yeager, Flying lessons, Flying with Chuck Yeager, Friends, Traveling | Comments Off
Tags: Australia, Chuck Yeager, flying, Flying lesson, flying with Chuck Yeager, helicopter, Victoria Yeager

General Yeager got in the front seat of the taildragger. M was checking him out in that particular plane. A few of us gathered to see General Chuck Yeager fly. We never get tired of it.

He took off and went to check out the wild horses at Yeager Springs.

I rode my bike around the ranch, checking out the deer, geese and goslings. I’ve never seen so many – probably about 8-9 groups with about 10-20 goslings. My goodness. CUTE!

I came back just as Gen Yeager was doing his last landing. Smooth. He taxied in and M got out of the back seat feigning getting sick. Laughing, he was so thrilled that General Yeager still had it – had the right stuff – great take-offs and landings, great flying skills.

The next day, we were going to go ballooning. But only one balloon was ready. It was a short flight as the wind had changed directions blowing the balloon toward the rocky hills.

As the day progressed, it became more and more unseasonably cold and windy and eventually it snowed, hailed, rained and blew a gail.

Fortunately, the next day, there was a window, so we flew home in the 185. I got some stick time which was fun.

The next weekend didn’t start out much better – the Sierras were socked in – so we drove to Reno and got picked up in the 185. The next morning, Gen Yeager flew the taildragger again with M. Spectacular.

A couple days later, we got a ride in a helicopter back to Reno. Not just any old ride – I got a lesson in flying helicopters.

My instructor was all of 24 with 5000 hours in it. Wow. He talked through the start, the lift off as I followed on the controls. Once he was set on a course-ish, he gave me the controls. Or control. I had the stick. Then I gave it back so I could fix the peddles and the seat.

Got the controls back. The collective, he kept control of.

It was on autopilot to a degree. So I had to use the trim to allow a turn or change of heading.

There was a gauge that showed me if I hadn’t put enough rudder in or too much. Very sensitive – or I wasn’t far off, as the correction was oh so minute.

As we got closer and the Reno Tower told us to hurry on up to get ahead of the big airliner taxiing, I handed off the controls to the instructor.

He talked through the landing. He said: There’s the left rudder.

Huh? I didn’t feel any touch down so….huh?

Instructor: And the right. And we’ll shut her down.

Wow. Most helis you sort of feel them settle. Or I guess I do but most of my heli flying is out to gravel bars on rivers to fish for salmon.

I watched as he shut the helicopter down. This was a two-engine, 4 passenger one.

Nice.

My favorite helicopter story is when Gen Yeager and I were in Sydney, Australia. It was our last full day – we were leaving the next day.

We were coming back in our friend’s helicopter – an italian one. Our friend’s wife asked if I’d like a tour of Sydney Harbor.

Yes, please!

So we went out to the north side of the harbor, around their house, all over. As we were heading back, D asked Gen Yeager, Would you like to fly it?

Sure.

D: I want to go back to the left and fly over my daughter’s house so…

Gen Yeager: OK – and turned left. But I mean really turned left.

D, a good helicopter pilot, started talking to himself but we could hear him: Oh, well. That’s quite a bank. Yes, quite a turn. I wouldn’t do that steep a turn but it is Chuck Yeager so I guess we’re okay….

It was hilarious.

We did a low fly by and waved at her. And continued on to the heliport.

A beautiful flight.

c. GCYI

First Foundation event 2003

May 13th, 2011 . Posted in Daily Life with Chuck Yeager, Famous People, Humor, Philanthropy, Public Appearance, Role model, Traveling | Comments Off
Tags: Chuck Yeager, competition, Houston, science, science competition, students, Texas, Victoria Yeager

April 10-12, 2003: FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) held its annual national championship event at Reliant Park in Houston, Texas. This “Super Bowl of Smarts” was so large that it required Reliant Stadium and the Astrodome to hold the entire event.

General Chuck Yeager was the Guest of Honor and Guest Speaker for the event, receiving several standing ovations from the thousands of kids who were there to compete.

He spoke to the attendees along with Texas Governor Rick Perry. Wayne Kinsey (President of Benchmark Research & Technology) was the National Committee Chairman for the event.

The FIRST competitors and their mentors start with a box of various items, and an assignment to build a robot to perform certain tasks and compete against other teams.

The FIRST competitors in attendance at this event had worked their way up through a series of regional and national, contests. At these Finals, the teams were to compete against each other by using their robots to stack boxes, knock their competition’s boxes down, and then end up on top of a ramp before the allotted time ran out.

When Gen. Yeager spoke to the competitors, he said, “I don´t see why you don´t just put bombs on these robots and just blow the competition out of the water”.

This remark did not seem to please the MIT announcer (in tuxedo and sneakers, with beard and long pony-tail). Governor Perry managed a tense laugh.

But the kids ALL stood up and CHEERED!! Gen. Yeager got FIVE standing ovations from these students during the 15 minutes he spoke. Everybody was reminded by this, that the whole purpose is to encourage kids to major in science, as our country is sorely lacking in this area.

FIRST is a non-profit organization founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen, renowned inventor of the Segway Human Transporter. Teams come from Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, Israel, Mexico, the U.K., and almost every US state. The competitions are high-tech spectator sporting events, the result of lots of focused brainstorming, real-world teamwork, and dedicated mentoring.

The program is a life-changing, career-molding experience as well as a lot of fun.

c. GCYI

Flying into Beale Air Force Base Air Show – May 1

May 8th, 2011 . Posted in Aviation, Daily Life with Chuck Yeager, Flying with Chuck Yeager | Comments Off
Tags: Chuck Yeager, F-16, F-18, flying, flying with Chuck Yeager, P-51, Victoria Yeager, Yeager

As I said previously: I was talked out, listened out and my ears hurt. Not the best time to be at a public function as the wife of an honoree.

I had gotten in late Saturday night. And we got up early Sunday to fly into the Beale Air Show.

It was a bit windy for me as I was pre-flighting the airplane. I had checked and it said 10 kts gusting up to 25 and then becoming calm. But that’s at altitude. I hoped the winds would become calm for our return flight and landing. I said to General Yeager, I’m not so sure about me flying with this wind.

He said: What wind?

I smiled and said I was serious and concerned.

He said: If it’s a crosswind, the runway at Beale is wide enough you can just land across the runway .

I smiled – he was probably right. Or at least HE could land across the runway and stop in time.

He agreed if I was or became uncomfortable, he would fly.

I was flying because the plane is one I can fly and Gen Yeager wants me to continue to gain all the experience I can.

We got in the airplane – no easy chore. Why no one of the brilliant minds in aerospace has come up with a better lay-out of a cockpit…

I always get a little concerned re starting this plane cold – especially when the shop is closed so no battery back-up. However, today, I primed it just the right amount and with a few attempts, got it started right up.

Gen Yeager breathed again.

I followed the checklist and started moving to get us away from the planes – we were parked pretty close to one – and checked my brakes. The General checked his.

And off we were taxiing. We listened to the AWOS. The General said: Take off on 7. Usually we supposed to take off on 2-5; but today the winds were 10 kts at 90 degrees – almost straight down 7 and I didn’t fancy doing a downwind take-off. What can happen is you think you are going fast enough to lift off – and you aren’t, so you may lose lift or not have lift and land badly out of control.

Did the run-up, took the runway and took off.

No problems so once we had enough altitude – which was fast, we did a 180 and headed to Beale.

The General: You don’t have to gain any more altitude.

Our airport was at 3150’ and Beale was about 2000’ less.

Fairly quickly I switched frequencies to Beale Tower.

Me: Beale Tower, XX-3DC.

Beale came straight back.

Beale told me winds, pressure setting, squawk numbers. Then-

I stated my position and intention.

Beale asked me to identify type aircraft.

For a nano-second I wondered if I had missed saying it on my first and second calls. No, I hadn’t. I re-stated the type.

Beale asked again and my position.

I was the only one in the sky at that point. The General who understood far more than I simplified it for all of us: Tell him you’re white and you’re little.

I repeated this: I’m white and I’m little. (Probably the littlest coming in that day).

After a pause, Tower: Got you. Check initial at 1600’

I repeated this.

It was a glorious day for flying – you could see forever and it was a little cool so good density altitude.

I started for downwind out of habit. The General said: Head for initial.

I knew what that meant – head directly for the numbers of the runway on which you are going to land.

The General reminding me: You’ll have to lose a lot of altitude.

Me: Roger.

We got on initial. The General: Break at the second taxi-way.

How lucky I was – a novice with the most experienced pilot giving me instructions, guiding me!

I broke as instructed. I marveled at how comfortable I was becoming re safe, steep turns. On downwind, I checked my checklist. I had never turned off the fuel pump because I was never “cruising”. I had been climbing or descending.

On final, General Yeager said: Tell them Gear down and welded.

Me: Tower, xx-3DC, Gear down and welded.

We got down low over the runway with a little power on – wind had picked up a bit – but we had over 10,000 feet of runway and lots of taxiing if I landed on the numbers.

When it felt okay to land, I let her down the final couple of feet. General Yeager breathed again.

We taxied almost as much as we flew. I was on the right side of the runway – General Yeager was about to tell me to get in the middle till he looked and saw we had plenty of room on both sides of the aircraft and the middle of the runway….Well let’s just put it this way: even I probably could have landed crossways on the runway and still had time to stop.

We didn’t need to waste the fuel to go back to the middle just to turn right within the next 50’.

So he corrected: You’re fine.

Tower told us which taxiways to exit and then cleared us to call Ground.

Me: Beale Ground, xx-3DC.

Ground: Taxi mumble mumble mumble Follow Me

Fortunately General Yeager knew what the intent was and guided me.

We taxied in, saw the Follow Me sign and followed him until we saw the fellow standing in front of our parking space guiding us with arm signals.

Shut down the aircraft. The maintenance fellow and Gen Yeager knew each other so a warm greeting.

We knew our escort whom we hadn’t seen in a while so another warm greeting.

And away we went to get some coffee and to look at all the static displays.

Little did we know this was going to be a very big day for the United States and all the families around the world who had had members lost in wars.

General Yeager talked with several pilots and others along the way.

And then we went to sit in the VIP tent.

And that’s where I realized I was peopled out. However, I knew that it was a time to dig deep and smile.

I had several people come up to me: I don’t want to bother the General, but…

I smiled. Whenever someone says that, and they’ve said it to people who are sitting with us, I often feel like joking with them, and say why it is okay to bother the people he’s with…but truly none of these people are ever a bother. And I find them most interesting. How can I not? They admire General Yeager.

One said: Oh! It’s nice to see you smiling.

He had been trying to bother the General for 4 autographs at a crowded gathering after it was announced no autographs. I remember smiling and politely telling him no and to please go to the website. So I guess a smile with a no doesn’t count for him.

He laughed and replied: I guess you’re right! (He had gone to the website and gotten his autograph).

Two of our invited guests showed up, P and N. N has more energy and is pleasantly loud for the hearing impaired. That day we were all hearing impaired – airplanes are noisy. I knew she could fill in when I was napping with my eyes open.

As a very loud plane went by – maybe an F-18, I handed her a set of ear plugs for which she was grateful.

We headed towards van on top of which was the air show commentator – our escort, our 2 friends and us on the golf cart. General Yeager went on top. We stayed below as the show “opened” with a parachutist jumping out of the airplane with a United States of America flag and someone singing the National Anthem over the loudspeaker system. And N and I singing it too. I had to point N to the flag floating down with the parachutist. This was N’s first air show in 20 years.

After the National Anthem was finished, N had a few questions. Can the parachutist steer? I mimed how he could and said: He’d be limited trying to head into the wind since he has no power. A member of the parachutist’s team confirmed this.

Then some introductions and it was General Yeager’s turn to speak. Lots of cheers. I filmed the second half on my phone but was in the wrong place re sound – or the right place if you want to be creative – I had him and the echo of him – showing the speed of sound thru the speakers.

After General Yeager finished, big ovation and cheers, he climbed back down the ladder. N remarked: Did you see him go up that ladder?

Me: No, why?

N: He was like a billy goat! He’s 88 years old!

Me, smiling: I knew he’d be okay and had his escort and others around so I wasn’t watching.

A few kids and people had asked at the fence if they could meet General Yeager and take his photo. I said I’d try but please don’t ask for autographs, please go to the website. So after General Yeager got down, I asked – he walked over and shook a few hands, stood for a few photos. They were all thrilled.

While sitting at the table eating lunch, someone kept talking at me asking questions right after I took a bite. I smiled at him, considered all sorts of things like showing my food. We both laughed.

I explained that I was a bit tired having just returned from back East and apologized that I just needed some fuel and then could possibly answer his questions. People can be very kind. He understood and realized just sitting with us might be enough. And he was he said later rewarded: General Yeager started commenting on the planes. Fascinating!

We saw the General who commands Beale AFB. He looked very alert. We found out why later that night. May 1, Sunday night.

The Heritage flight was beautiful – a Warthog called that because someone thought it was ugly. I actually like it and like the way it looks. But then I find warthogs, the animals, hilarious. As the quickly waddle away with their tails in the air.

The P-51 always looks wonderful.

The one airplane that lands on a truck and does some take-offs, simulates trouble and lands….that isn’t our cup of tea. That’s too close to the edge where something bad can happen and has happened to people.

We toured the static displays again. A very cool morning turned into a very warm day and lots of people were camped out under the wings of the cargo plane. What a sight! The plane has more uses than we thought.

N and P took a tour of the plane.

We told them to head out before 3 – to beat the crowds exiting – air show was to be over just after the Thunderbirds finished and they were to start at 3.

We went over to where the Thunderbirds were starting their engines (F-16s)– even that is part of the show. Very crisp maintenance fellows all in sync.

We headed back and waited for their show after which we were going to leave. And waited. And waited.

We learned later that a life flight was flying thru the air space so we the Thunderbirds were delayed.

They did their usual routine including the four ship fly-by where it looks like they are going to hit but in fact are probably 1000’ apart. This really isn’t much if you realize how fast they are going – about 1.5 seconds apart although I’m not so sure on my math because I’m not exactly sure how fast they are going.

After this, we headed to file a flight plan and then to our plane. Our plane was in a restricted area and I noticed some serious guns on the guards. Very serious. Someone else had noticed a lot of guns on the security forces roaming the crowd. Little did we know until late that night why.

Our escort (G) pulled it out. I did the exterior pre-flight while General Yeager talked more with G. Again, with effort, we got in, and I did the interior checklist. Again I was concerned re start-up, but it was fine. Gen Yeager and I both breathed a sigh of relief this time.

We called Ground. Several times.

Ground eventually: Mumble, mumble mumble.

Me: This is xx-3DC. Say again?

Ground: Take this, this this…

Me: Could you guide me?

Ground: Take a left then….

Eventually we got cleared to follow the Flight of Six F-15s. I kept my distance and thought this is going to be interesting.

I will have to take off before their take off spot but won’t be able to climb like them so will have to turn to try to stay out of their wash…oh boy.

Ground: Can you do a mid-field take-off?

I didn’t understand a word he said but General Yeager did. Tell him Yes.

Me: Affirmative.

Ground told me to turn right at this taxiway to runway and cleared me to contact Tower.

Tower cleared me for take-off.

I gained the runway and took off, headed East.

I wasn’t exactly sure of the exact direction but knew I’d get my exact bearings soon.

Tower asked if I needed flight following. General Yeager said: Negative.

I repeated to Tower: Negative.

Gen Yeager pointed out a few landmarks – we were headed towards our airport. General Yeager said not to go any higher. I smiled and told him that’s how I’ll find our airport – get really really high and…

General Yeager did his funny scowl at me.

And as I gained some (not a lot) altitude, there it was. We were heading straight for it.

A few minutes later Tower handed me off to flight following. I thought I said negative?

So I called in – it had been a while since I had had to call any “Approach”. But I still remembered the language.

However I was out of practice understanding these guys.

Approach: Mumble (at Mach speed).

Me: Say again?

Approach gave me the numbers for following. I punched them in.

Approach: Ident (ify)

I was pleased I remembered all this really :-). I pushed Ident.

By this time we had the airport in sight, Approach asked me another question I didn’t understand, General Yeager did: Negative.

So Approach handed me off to VFR and our airport.

We checked AWOS. Winds were now 10 kts at 270 for our 2-5 runway. From Beale we were already on that downwind path. We called in.

A bit choppy around our airport.

We called final. Very choppy so I kept a little power on. And I forgot my second set of flaps.

There was an airplane about to take the runway after all my calls including final. But then he stopped just short.

I decided we probably could get down with plenty of runway but maybe none to spare and I was concerned about that airplane so I called a go-around.

I came around again – no one on the runway, one plane called in behind me.

I got low enough, kept a little power on.

We were bounced around on final and I heard in my head – General Yeager’s voice: Just fly your airplane.

Gen Yeager said: Crab.

I did.

As we got low enough I just flew a few feet over the runway with a little power. The wind died down for a little bit so I chopped power and landed. The plane wasn’t sure it wanted to stay landed – by not letting the nose down too quickly or hard where it will rattle – but we stayed on the ground and taxied off the second exit.

Me: 3DC clear the runway.

I cleaned up the airplane and we taxied to the parking spot.

After we shut down the aircraft and got out, General Yeager pointed out I was nowhere near the center of the white line for parking.

He was testing me. I pointed to the other planes – had I been in the center I would have hit one of them.

He smiled.

We closed up the airplane, put away the keys, and left. The plane was able to be used the next day.

Two excellent landings today.

c. GCYI

Reunion – The Power of A Smile

May 7th, 2011 . Posted in Childhood friends & neighbors, Food, Friends | Comments Off
Tags: Chuck Yeager, Victoria Yeager

In town for my 35th high school reunion, I also met up with my neighborhood pals – from when I was 3 years old. The two are like siblings to me – Y and A. We used to play baseball with my brothers and Dad in the huge backyard. Huge to a 3 year old anyway.

A and I met at his 95 year old father’s assisted living home. I drove up and couldn’t believe it. A, a cute kid and awkward teenager who had grown rather tall and large, was a sleek, good-looking man, happily married with a beautiful daughter. I was/am so happy for him!

We went in to see A’s father. At 95, Max is still sharp as a tack and his hearing is excellent. He filled me in on the old neighborhood. What happened to each family. Great resource! I remember Max as always happy to see me and nothing had changed this day.

I think he was probably happy to see anybody.

Y, who has become a lovely young woman, reminded me we used to put flowers on A’s door on May 1, May Day. I guess we used to compete over it. I didn’t remember her as being so funny. What a delight!

We talked about our parents, our escapades, how safe it was in those days – we just went out. To play. Y and A brought photos. I slowly remembered Y’s basement – pin the tail on the donkey. Wow. Birthdays. Otherwise we were running around outside, playing touch football, baseball, basketball, hide and seek, jumping in piles of leaves, going to the local library, the local bowling alley, the local movie theatre.

I remembered we used to have fairly large turtles in our fountain (aka second base) out back. The birdbath was first – it was the farthest distance to run. Raccoons used to invade it – we thought we were in the country with raccoons! Birdfeeder was third – the squirrels used to try to get the bird seed. Dad and I used to sit on the landing with his binoculars and look at the birds. He’d identify them for me. Just Dad and me.

A, a year younger, read to me about Thor and then would quiz me. Pretty cheeky and pretty cool.

My second birthday, end of first grade, Donna, my best friend, and A, my other best friend, and I were walking home from school. We walked 5 city blocks from our public school. And one of the streets was huge.

Mom was on the corner waiting – a rare sight. Usually at that time of day, she was at work – psychiatric social work at a hospital. She said: Mae, A’s Mom, wants you to come up there and play. I liked A’s Mom a lot. She had never had a daughter, so she saw Y and me as daughters.

We raced up there and played for a while outside until Mae told us to head to my house. How they got away with this…without a second thought from us…but we headed to my house. When we got to the back of my garage, I told A and Donna to head one way ahead of me, and I snuck around the other way. Tee hee.

Well. When I came out from the garage, there was a table on the driveway with about 10 kids. Mom was saying to A and Donna, “hurry sit down”, then, “where’s…?” I couldn’t figure out what was going on.

Just then B, Y’s brother, looked over toward me and pointed: THERE SHE IS!

Oh, Tor! My Mom cried out slightly crestfallen she had missed the look on my face.

It was a surprise birthday party for me!

Caaaake! Mom never threw another surprise party for me again.

Back to my reunions:

I had already had lunch with my niece that day. And the day before I had had lunch with my father and dinner with my cousin…

The next day, Friday, my high school buddies woke me at 8am – I had to see “The kiss”. The royal wedding. I rolled over knowing they’d be playing it forever.

I met up with the gals at breakfast, after “the kiss”. And caught up on the last five years – the last time I had seen them. We got a tour of our school – wow; they needed a better architect – what a hodge podge of buildings it’s become. We toured the former boarding department. Nothing has changed since my pals were there – it was determined to be too costly to upgrade. It was a bit creepy, really.

Lunch at Brownell House then cocktails at Lower School. Food was unbelievably delicious – I actually lost weight as I listened and ate.

Then the all-school party at 333, a bar. I walked in at the appointed time. The place was fairly empty and I recognized no one. It did occur to me that everyone else was told a different place. Ha ha.

Then I saw my brother – wow he looked great!

We talked for a while as people started pouring in. I still didn’t recognize anyone. It reminded me of the “recognition ceremony” we had at business school – a sort of graduation. Someone said they paraded everyone on stage and we all had to figure out who they were.

So my brother had to name some people for me. Some of the gals from the rival school are super. We went on a Spring break trip to Bermuda together while juniors in high school and had a great time. What a blast! Four to a room – so a constant pajama party.

Another’s uncle is Pete Conrad so some commonality.

I saw some of the guys whom I had known as a kid – they have become nice men. I have to remind myself that they are men, not kids – we get right back to kid-dom.

The next morning, breakfast with the gals, barbecue at Beechwood House, where I went to second and third grade. It’s a magnificent building, an old home.

At the barbecue, several people from different classes said hello – they remembered me or their siblings remembered me, or they admired Chuck Yeager. Lisa was there, as well as Cynthia, two very different, but very interesting, beautiful women.

From the barbecue, my classmates, not many had come to the reunion, headed back to the boarding department for another visit to their old rooms. I headed to Merion Cricket Club, a beautiful club, just to see it and then to the airport.

But before all that, I looked around Beechwood…great memories.

I started at this school in second grade. I remember being the last to arrive on the first day and was ushered into the classroom from the back. One empty chair/desk in the back. The next day, I was in the second row. We were supposed to pass a message down the row. I passed it to Katie to my right (remember we were age 7). Katie then whispered to her right – but she was the end of the row. I thought it was pretty funny and decided I wanted to be that person – the funny (cleverly funny, not buffoonish) one. Katie was quite popular because of it and because she was a cute girl with long braids.

Sally said she looked at me, I smiled and she thought: She’s my friend.

The power of a smile!

c. GCYI

Lunch with My Father

April 27th, 2011 . Posted in Books, Childhood friends & neighbors, Food, Traveling | Comments Off
Tags: Chuck Yeager, George D'Angelo, ice cream, Victoria Yeager

I hadn’t seen my Dad in a while. So I invited him to lunch. I had always wanted to be able to afford to buy him a nice lunch. He had bought me so many.

I knew him. I better get there extra early to make sure I gave them my credit card ahead of time so there was no confusion as to who was buying. My father being a wonderful gentleman might reach for the check.

Traffic was bad, parking was bad. So I got there only twenty minutes early. Figured I had 5 minutes to spare but as I walked up the staircase – there he was just sitting down just outside the restaurant.

My Dad. Three piece suit. Watch chain. Bowler hat in winter. Straw hat in Summer. I think the change date for summer is May 1 so Dad was wearing his bowler hat which he gets from his habdashery in England – a store that had been there for three centuries.

Yes. They don’t make ‘em any more like my Dad.

We hugged warmly. He had not aged a minute since I had last seen him.

We walked into the restaurant – my father’s favorite for lunch. I surreptiously gave the Maitre D’ my credit card while my Dad handed another person his hat to guard.

They led us to….not my father’s table. The new guy had given it away but we would be just next door. Hmmm.

We sat down and Dad made a comment in jest and then said: Are they still there?

Me: I could go glare at them. And I imitated Chuck’s very funny General glare.

We laughed. Nothing was going to spoil our lunch.

I gave Dad a copy of Yeager signed by….Yeager. Dad loves to read biographies and autobiographies – very well read. He hadn’t read this one yet. Or graciously said so.

Dad gave me a photo of him and me when we gave a painting to the Lower School at Shipley when I was President of the Lower School. Great photo!

We reminisced about some wonderful times. My parents took us to Europe often.

One year, Dad had hired a driver to drive us (6 of us) thru the Alps. The driver said: But sir! That is a 10 hour drive and that’s for an Italian driver!

Fortunately, my father had learned a few Italian words – one was lente, lente, (slowly, slowly) or basta basta (enough, enough) or piano, piano (softly, softly) – to slow the driver down when we were driving – almost flying- thru the cloud on the curvy mountain with the cliff you couldn’t see.

We had arrived at Villa D’Este on Lago de Como. While having dinner there, the Duchesse at the next table was a little warm so she asked the staff to lower the windows. The whole restaurant was encased in windows and so the switch was turned and down came the windows/walls. And a little later, the Duchesse got a little chill, so up came the window/walls.

We stayed in manor houses in England so really got to know the local population and had some lifelong friendships.

One year we crossed the Atlantic with friends of my mother’s – the Duke and Duchess of Windsor – on the Michelangelo. I loved the style of those crossings. The movie Titanic gives the flavor.

We really got to see Europe at the tail end of some fascinating history and elegance.

We chatted about our respective visits to Africa and our impressions. Dad had seen a photo of my husband and me – Dad could see we were very happy. And that made Dad happy.

We told parts of jokes- we both knew the jokes we meant so we didn’t have to tell the whole joke to burst out laughing.

My father, like my husband, is a great story-teller. Also very funny, well-read and intelligent.

I told Dad some of the sayings he had told us as kids that stuck with me– and how I repeat them often. And I reminisced about many of the places in Phila to which he took us after church or on a drive. He would put the four of us in the back of his 1949 convertible Cadillac with Mom in the front and we’d go to see the Liberty Bell or Independence Hall or the Swedish Church or Valley Forge.

They’d take us to plays even on school nights – part of our education. And then they’d take us to an ice cream parlor on Second Street. Hot fudge sundaes. Mom loved banana splits.

We’d get home late, and Dad would carry his sleepy daughter to her room. Mom would come in a help me change into pajamas.

Dad reminded me of his visit with my mother and one of my brothers to me while I was studying in Paris. Regarding one instance, I had felt it my duty to protect my Dad from someone trying to cheat him. I spoke French and handled it.

When Dad finished the story, I commented: I haven’t changed.

We laughed.

As we were leaving, Dad thanked me for lunch. I told him I had always wanted to be in a position to buy him lunch at a nice place.

I didn’t really want it to end – I wanted to hear more stories and ask more questions. That’s a good way to leave.

As Dad got in the car to take him back to his office, I said: Hold on, let’s get a photo.

I couldn’t find my phone right away, so I said: Well, we’ll just have to have lunch again so we can get a picture.

He said: All right. And the next one’s on me!

And smiled.

I smiled right back: Okay.

Chuck Yeager Flying Jet Today

April 22nd, 2011 . Posted in Aviation, Daily Life with Chuck Yeager, Flying with Chuck Yeager, Friends, Philanthropy, Public Appearance, Role model | Comments Off
Tags: Chuck Yeager, flying, flying with Chuck Yeager, jet, Victoria Yeager, Yeager

I just watched Chuck Yeager take off in jet. How cool is that? No matter how many times I see him fly, it is always cool. Sometimes I get conflicted – fly with him or watch him fly.

He spooled up and away he went gaining speed down the runway…then lift off and turn west.

Wow. Within what seemed like seconds, he was a speck and then gone. It’s okay – he’s coming back in the next couple hours.

Yesterday we spoke at a school in Reno. The 10^th -12^th graders were there as well as some flight students of all ages, teachers, parents, community.

They loved hearing him talk. So do I.

After playing the inspiring documentary and 20 minutes, General Yeager opened it up to questions. That’s my cue.

I come on stage with him (an d in this case in front of the room). My job is to repeat the question – or find the question within the statements :>) and repeat that for General Yeager.

I also answer some and you’ll see why in a minute.

Me: Any questions?

The usual silence – no one wants to be first. Too bad because by the end, they will have a question and we won’t have time for all of them.

To inspire the crowd I said: You get extra credit if you ask an intelligent question.

A few adult hands rose. They knew the drill.

Some of the usual questions: Your favorite airplane. Which one is the best to fight a war today…

Gen Yeager: F-15 E

One from the back: Did any literature and poetry inspire you?

I said: You must be the literature teacher?

Laughter. Yes, he was. I smiled knowing the teacher shouldn’t ask that sort of question in that sort of setting unless s/he knew the answer would be helpful.

And I knew this pending answer wouldn’t be helpful. I repeated the question: Did any literature and poetry inspire you?

General Yeager: Nah.

Laughter.

Gen Y: I didn’t know until the third grade that “A” didn’t mean awful and “F” didn’t mean “fine”.

The audience relaxed, realized it wasn’t so bad to ask a question and lots of hands went up.

One was: Did you want to be an astronaut?

Gen Y: No, I trained all of them.

And he went on to explain about the ARPS and why NASA took over the space program (and probably slowed down the progress).

Then he ended that answer with: And I didn’t want to wipe the monkey crap off the seat before I sat down.

I added that: Gen Yeager actually was an astronaut, having been above 118,000 feet several times. And that Russia and the US decided for security purposes that beyond 50 miles was space so no one could fly over your country closer than that without permission. So it was an arbitrary number as to the definition of space.

Gen Yeager did say: Sure, I would have liked to sit in a capsule and look at the earth from 160 miles away but I’ve flown some great airplanes and had a great military career being in the right place at the right time.

Before the next question, I said: Actually unless it was the shuttle landing, where you can actually fly the plane, I know Gen Yeager, he would have been bored sitting in a capsule.

A few more questions, then: What words of wisdom would you give these kids sitting here today?

Again, I smiled, knowing the answer would not be what they wanted as I repeated it for the audience and General Yeager.

Gen Yeager: None. No one ever gave me advice about my career. Those who do it on their own are the best.

I think the adults were hoping for some wisdom for themselves.

I added: Gen Yeager always says, figure out something you like to do, and make your lifestyle fit your income. Not the other way around.

Another question: Describe the differences between test work in the early days and today.

Gen Yeager: There were four people re the X-1 once I was flying it: Jack Ridley, outstanding engineer, Dick Frost, Jack Russell, my crew chief, and me. Today, there’s a big committee.

I added: And congressman who say you have to put on a gun package you don’t need because it’s made in my back yard and if you don’t, I won’t vote to finance the military.

Another question or two…and then I went back to the words of wisdom.

I said: General Yeager is constantly thinking how can I bust my butt, how can I prevent that? He had to eject fuel from the X-1 or he was landing a bomb. So he- to-he only had the electrical system…

Gen Yeager grabbed the mike – I was messing it up (I do that willingly so that he does take the mike and tell the story instead of me).

Gen Yeager: IF my electrical systems went out, I couldn’t eject the fuel. The gear was not stressed for landing with a full load of fuel. So I added a JATO ((Jet Assisted Take Off) bottle (and he explained it – I still can’t but it was a redundancy system to eject the fuel.

The next flight, he needed it – electrical system went out as soon as the X-1 was dropped from the B-29. To test if his back-up was working, he stalled the airplane at 240 indicated. Then a few thousand feet lower, he stalled again, the stall speed was slower. It was working – he was ejecting fuel.

There were more questions-several from students.

I had some more words of wisdom from General Yeager: During World War II, when others got leave, they went on a drunken binge in London. Gen Yeager often stayed behind to practice. He wanted to stay on top of his game to stay alive. Twenty-one of the 30 that went over with Gen Yeager got killed. Gen Yeager practiced. Gen Yeager says the most experienced pilot is the best. You aren’t born a great pilot. So practice, practice, practice.

I didn’t tell the part that the main reason was that he was the head of maintenance so he had to fly all the airplanes to figure out the problems and to make sure they were fixed. He wasn’t against a little leave time to go party.

Visiting Edwards AFB with Chuck Yeager

March 28th, 2011 . Posted in Aviation, Daily Life with Chuck Yeager, Flying with Chuck Yeager, Friends, Historical, Uncategorized | Comments Off
Tags: Air Force, Chuck Yeager, flying, flying with Chuck Yeager, Victoria Yeager

It’s always a blast to visit Edwards AFB with Chuck Yeager. As we approached, we could see Rogers Dry Lake had water in it from a very rainy winter and early spring. Prehistoric shrimp, that lie dormant below the lakebed, had a chance to surface and lay their eggs.

Gen Yeager pointed out the areas where he had lived with Glennis when he was TDY – at the edge of the lakebed, and the house the one colonel built on a hillock.

We saw the two huge hangars that had been at south base and had been put on railroad tracks and moved to the other side of the lakebed.

We had stopped in Fresno and picked up seasonal fruit from our friend Dan, the son of Gen Yeager’s fruit farmer friend. This family, through Gen Yeager, has been gifting fruit to the folks at Edwards AFB for over 47 years.

After checking in to the VOQ, we headed over to the General’s house to drop off the cuties, a variety of clementines, from Dan. The General, his wife, and one son were home. We visited a while. Wonderful, attractive, knowledgeable family.

Headed off to dinner with the General and his wife, at the club. It’s always delicious there. The General’s wife stays very busy with lots of volunteer work on the base – a great role model.

The next morning started early enough – breakfast at 8am with the General, his wife, his aide who had done a great job of organizing our visit, and a few others in staff.

At 9am a few briefings re various programs.

At 10:30am, we visited one of Gen Yeager’s old friends; Dr. Jim Young, Chief Historian, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base. Dr. Young has been there 30 years.

I tease everyone and say Dr. Jim Young knows more about Chuck Yeager than Chuck Yeager. I go to Jim first when a question comes up re General Yeager or questions from family of people who have said they flew with, or worked with, or under, or over Chuck Yeager. Then I ask General Yeager. The truth is I do both because Jim often has the capacity to look up data we don’t have re others. Or at least has good suggestions of where to go look up information.

Jim keeps threatening to retire. We keep trying to convince him not to!

After our visit, we had lunch with Dr. Young, General and his wife, and a few colonels on base.

The one to my right, I asked, “What do you do?”

He gave me his title and rank.

I looked around the table and said: “Okay. But what do you do?” Everyone burst out laughing. We all understood.

He is a CFI as well. Certified Flight Instructor (civilian). I mentioned to all those there with children about the Young Eagles program – pilots who take kids 8-18 flying and once in the air, give them the controls for some safe, steady flying. This CFI said he would do it to the parents’ delight.

After lunch, we went to another briefing after which we did some photo ops. The staff were thrilled to get their photo taken with Gen Yeager. He hadn’t been back to Edwards in a year and a half.

Then on to the Test Pilot School, the best in the world.

General Yeager had been Commandant of the precursor to the Test Pilot School, the Aeronautical Research Pilot School, in the early 1960’s, training most if not all of the early astronauts.

The auditorium was full. The audience really appreciated and enjoyed General Yeager’s presentation. Standing ovation.

Then a gathering – with burgers.

Long day. But very enjoyable.

Flying the Citation V – a Jet – Cool!

March 13th, 2011 . Posted in Aviation, Daily Life with Chuck Yeager, Friends, Traveling | Comments Off
Tags: Chuck Yeager, flying, flying with Chuck Yeager, jet, Victoria Yeager, Yeager

Last week I was lucky to not only get a ride home in a Citation V, I was able to fly it.

Our friend, M, is a CFI (certified flight instructor), and pilots this aircraft. He had me do the taxiing, and the take off. Pretty smooth.

Then I had to stay on track as ATC guided us around other aircraft. Then he showed me how to program the autopilot and various ways to get to altitude ordered by ATC.

It was a pretty clear day – beautiful – flying from Los Angeles to Sacramento.

We then had to descend. So, guided by ATC, we ended up right downwind for 16 Right.

We turned base. As I kept looking at the runway and asking if I should turn, he kept saying not yet. Finally when Gen Yeager asked from the back if we were trying to fly formation with the commercial airline, the pilot realized his point of view was 16 left.

We turned. And we approached the runway on final. Interesting, I wasn’t nervous. Of course, I wasn’t by myself either.

We came in, I flared, and flew a little – and clunked down just a little – the last 2 feet. Not too bad for a first landing in a Citation V.

But I can do better.

We taxied in – weird. This time I was a little jerky on the brakes – they are very good and sensitive. I told myself to slow down and smoothed it out.

Followed the “follow me” golf cart. We remarked that they had heard about our base to final and wanted to make sure we didn’t get lost.

And parked it.

General Yeager made a joke about our formation flying and my landing. And smiled.

And said: It was a good landing.

Me: It was an excellent landing. M can fly it again right now.

We all smiled at the joke. (Good landing, can walk away. Great landing, can walk away AND use the plane the next day).

Wow! What a cool day!

c. GCYI

Victoria Yeager

A baby deer is hung up!

Flying Solo

Flying at Flying M & Helicoptering

First Foundation event 2003

Flying into Beale Air Force Base Air Show – May 1

Reunion – The Power of A Smile

Lunch with My Father

Chuck Yeager Flying Jet Today

Visiting Edwards AFB with Chuck Yeager

Flying the Citation V – a Jet – Cool!

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