In the book The Right Stuff, Tom Wolfe explores the Mercury Project, NASA's first crewed space missions, and the origins of the astronaut program.
Specifically, the book follows the elite military pilots engaged in post-World War II research, flying experimental rocket-powered and high-speed aircraft.
Chuck Yeager receives special attention.
Like the other pilots in the book, Yeager passed one harsh test after another.
Often, when passing so many rigorous tests, humans think of themselves as special.
Unique.
Otherworldly.
Unprecedented.
But Yeager begged to differ.
"There is no such thing as a natural-born pilot. Whatever my aptitude or talents, becoming a proficient pilot was hard work, really a lifetime's learning experience… The best pilots fly more than others; that's why they are best."
Yeager broke the sound barrier on October 14, 1947, at an altitude of 45,000 ft over the Mojave Desert in California.
In 1953, Yeager again became the world's fastest airman, piloting a plane to Mach 2.44.
He was also among the first American pilots to fly a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15.
Like Yeager and the world's best pilots, the world's best communicators communicate more than others.
They put in the reps.
They utilize different platforms to share ideas.
They seek high-low communication opportunities.
