Yeager’s Star Power Was on Full Display
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Air Force Gen. Charles “Chuck” Yeager pushed the envelope of aviation throughout his career including some airtime during prime time television.
On 12 March 1966, then-Colonel Chuck Yeager made a guest appearance on NBC television’s I Dream of Jeannie. The episode “Bigger Than a Bread Box and Better Than a Genie” was filmed in early 1966.
Lead fictional Air Force astronaut Tony Nelson (Larry Hagman) stands over the cockpit of a Lockheed F-104B Starfighter as the scene opens. Chuck Yeager and fictional Colonel Bellows (Hayden Rorke) approach the jet to greet Tony.
“Colonel Yeager was one of the pioneers of the space program,” Nelson states during their meeting. Colonel Yeager replies, “I had a good airplane in the X-1.”
Although Jeannie herself (Barbara Eden) and Yeager did not share screen time together, the pair did pose for a few publicity shots. Filmed in black-and-white, the episode has since been colorized, and today airs on Prime and Crackle TV.
“I had the thrilling honor of first meeting (Yeager) back in 1965 when we were promoting I Dream of Jeannie,” Eden recalled last December. “Chuck was the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound at 700 miles per hour on Oct. 14, 1947! Without a doubt he launched the space age.”
Yeager’s Comments Mirrored Real Life
The F-104 Starfighter, which served as a backdrop for Yeager’s appearance, was a familiar sight for the test pilot. Two years earlier, Yeager had begun piloting a brand new NF-104A, which served as a supersonic training vehicle for astronauts.
On 10 December 1963, Yeager had to eject over Edwards AFB during another of his test flight’s aboard the NF-104A.
Near the conclusion of his half-minute of screen time, Yeager hints to Tony Nelson of his future plans. “Where are you off to next, sir,” Nelson asks.
“Oh, going down to Panama to look over our jungle survival school, and just wanted to drop by to say hello,” Yeager acknowledged. His comment came as America’s involvement in Vietnam was heavily increasing.
A few weeks following the airing of the Jeannie episode, Chuck Yeager was made commander of the 405th Tactical Fighter Wing at Clark Air Base in the Philippines.
“I last saw General Yeager at his 93rd birthday when my husband Jon and I were honored to be among those who joined him in celebration,” Eden added.
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
