Leveling off at 42,000 feet, I had thirty percent of my fuel, so I turned on rocket chamber three and immediately reached .96 Mach. I noticed that the faster I got, the smoother the ride. Suddenly the Mach needle began to fluctuate. It went up to .965 Mach - then tipped right off the scale ... We were flying supersonic. And it was a smooth as a baby's bottom; Grandma could be sitting up there sipping lemonade.

There's no such thing as a natural-born pilot.

I don't think about life everlasting. If something doesn't have scientific evidence to back it up, I don't believe it. I'm a straight shooter.

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.

At the moment of truth, there are either reasons or results.

Everybody that I've ever seen that enjoyed their job was very good at it.