Portal:Aviation/Selected biography/September 2006

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Brigadier General Charles Elwood "Chuck" Yeager (born February 13, 1923 in Myra, Lincoln County, West Virginia) is a World War II ace and test pilot, considered a living legend of aviation. He is most famous for being the first human to undeniably travel faster than sound in level flight, on October 14, 1947, flying the experimental X-1 at Mach 1 at an altitude of 45,000 feet (13,700 m).

Selected for military flight training in 1941, Yeager demonstrated outstanding eyesight (20/10), flying skills, and combat leadership; he distinguished himself by becoming the first American pilot in his squadron to make "ace in a day": he shot down five enemy aircraft in one mission, finishing the war with 11.5 official victories, including one of the first air-to-air victories over a jet fighter (a German Me 262).