Great fighter pilot ace, test pilot, all around American.
Should have been in the astronaut program or at least on the shuttle flight they sent “hero” Glenn on but then despite being a fighter ace and top notch pilot, he was not a smiling pretty boy. Make no mistake, outer image was a big factor in the original selections and selecting Glenn was more a political thing than capability. Glenn was at the end of his useful physical abilities and Yeager was still a qualified jet pilot at the time.
His feats alone put him miles above many of the others and he pioneered the high altitude, high speed flight arena.
Yeager on the Shuttle instead of Glenn would have been so much better, but I’ve got to admit I did enjoy it anyway.
Not to distract from his accomplishments, but everyone I ever talked to who knew him personally used the same two words to describe him: Arrogant A$$hole. Might have had something to do with where his career topped out.
Glenn’s Shuttle ride was a political payoff. Glenn saved BJ Clinton’s hide in the Senate impeachment trial.