So I watched The Right Stuff again tonight for the lord knows how many-ith time.
And it wasn't till afterward when I was looking in the credits that I saw he had a cameo appearance. I can't believe with all the times I've seen this movie, I never noticed it, that's sad.




What I was looking for on IMDB was Jane Doornacker, who played nurse Murch.
I'd seen the movie countless times without ever realizing she played the part. I learned that on IMDB after the last time I watch The Right Stuff. (lol I learn something each time)
Jane Doornacker was musician/comedian/actress... she also did helicopter traffic reports. She was working for WNBC in NY, she was killed when the chopper she was in crashed. I was one of the countless people listening in shock when it happened live on the air. I never forgot her or that day.

Chuck Yeager’s autobiography was one of the best I’ve ever read. That is, for a guy who geeks out on books written about famous pilots.

If that’s in your line of interest, then you should also pick up Bob Hoover’s book, as well as Doolittle’s, Tex Johnston’s, Tom Stafford’s, and Mike Collins’.

I knew who Chuck was in the film when I watched it the first time in the 80’s. He was an excellent pilot and for years, after he walked away, he’d fly X and see what he had to say. If you are done and have people calling you to fly our military’s latest, you’ve done pretty well in your career. One of our great pilots. Highest respect. He took air aircraft to their limit in his day. Great Stuff was great with him as a bartender.

Did I mention I had breakfast with him once in 1984. Funny thing is, I saw him 30 years later and he didn't remember me. Imagine that.

Gen Yeager had known my NCOIC and would stop by our office every time he flew into Ramstein AFB in the early 70s. We would visit and he hid out while he smoked cigars that he probably wasn't supposed to have. He was a hell of a nice guy to chat with and told some really good stories.

Hell of a life.

quote:

Originally posted by JJexp:
Chuck Yeager’s autobiography was one of the best I’ve ever read. That is, for a guy who geeks out on books written about famous pilots.

If that’s in your line of interest, then you should also pick up Bob Hoover’s book, as well as Doolittle’s, Tex Johnston’s, Tom Stafford’s, and Mike Collins’.

I'd add Robin Olds' to that list as well.

quote:

Originally posted by zoom6zoom:

quote:

Originally posted by JJexp:
Chuck Yeager’s autobiography was one of the best I’ve ever read. That is, for a guy who geeks out on books written about famous pilots.

If that’s in your line of interest, then you should also pick up Bob Hoover’s book, as well as Doolittle’s, Tex Johnston’s, Tom Stafford’s, and Mike Collins’.

I'd add Robin Olds' to that list as well.

Absolutely. And John Boyd, while we’re at it.

Fifteen or more years back , I was at the Safari Club Convention in Reno. Basically a high end hunting/gun show. Yeager was there with General Schwartzkoff.

I was in line to buy a drink and they were in line behind me. When I paid for my drink, I told the waiter to add a drink for each of them as well. They go up, get a drink and he tells them I paid.

Best $10 I ever spent! We ended up talking for fifteen minutes.

Sad that Schwartzkoff died so soon afterwards.

Frank, you may not believe this, but as soon as I saw your name in this thread, I knew even before I read your post that you were going to say you met Yeager.

And I believe you.

quote:

Originally posted by 83v45magna:
Hell of a life.

Hell of a man to have the discipline to be able to maintain eye contact!

I received his auto-biography as a Christmas present in 1985. Great book!
I just pulled it from the bookcase, and it's now next in my reading rotation.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Frank, you may not believe this, but as soon as I saw your name in this thread, I knew even before I read your post that you were going to say you met Yeager.

And I believe you.

LOL. What can I say? I have been Lucky.

quote:

Originally posted by zoom6zoom:

quote:

Originally posted by JJexp:
Chuck Yeager’s autobiography was one of the best I’ve ever read. That is, for a guy who geeks out on books written about famous pilots.

If that’s in your line of interest, then you should also pick up Bob Hoover’s book, as well as Doolittle’s, Tex Johnston’s, Tom Stafford’s, and Mike Collins’.

I'd add Robin Olds' to that list as well.

Some years back I ran across Eddie Rickenbacker's autobiography, and have to recommend it, if you can find it. Probably the most accomplished of any of these guys, he won an early Indianapolis 500, then his WWI flying, Rickenbacker Car Company, Eastern Air Lines, lost in the Pacific for three weeks...