I have no regrets about my life. People ask, "If you had to do it all over again, would you do it differently?" No. That's speculation.

You concentrate on what you are doing, to do the best job you can, to stay out of a serious situation. That’s the way the X-1 was.

If you can walk away from a landing, it's a good landing. If you use the airplane the next day, it's an outstanding landing.

You don't concentrate on risks. You concentrate on results. No risk is too great to prevent the necessary job from getting done.

If you want to grow old as a pilot, you've got to know when to push it, and when to back off.

The first time I ever saw a jet, I shot it down.

All that I am ... I owe to the Air Force.