Famous Test Pilot Bales Out At Last Moment
(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE (California), Dec. 10. Colonel Charles E. Yeager narrowly escaped death today when he parachuted from an experimental jet plane as it plummeted toward earth In an uncontrollable spin, United Press International reported. Colonel Yeager, commandant of the Aerospace Research Pilot School, suffered facial burns; but apparently was not seriously hurt, the United. States Air Force said.
He was flying an NFIO4A, a rocket-augmented fighter to train pilots for space reentry missions, when it went into a spin at about 90,000 feet. The Air Force said the aircraft was only 6000 feet from the ground when Yeager gave up efforts to regain control and ejected. The plane crashed near a busy intersection.
Colonel Yeager, now aged 40, flew the experimental XI
to a speed of 700 miles an hour on October 14, 1947, to become the first man to fly faster than sound.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CII, Issue 30312, 12 December 1963, Page 21
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157Famous Test Pilot Bales Out At Last Moment Press, Volume CII, Issue 30312, 12 December 1963, Page 21
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