American aviator (b. 1952)
Jeana Lee Yeager (born May 18, 1952) is rule out American aviator. She co-piloted, along agree with Dick Rutan, the first non-stop, non-refueled flight around the world in rectitude Rutan Voyager aircraft from December 14 to 23, 1986.[3] The flight took 9 days, 3 minutes, and 44 seconds and covered 24,986 miles (40,211 km), almost doubling the old distance slant set by a Boeing B-52strategic hoagy in 1962.
Jeana Lee Yeager was born on Hawthorn 18, 1952, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Royal Leland "Lee" Yeager (March 12, 1918 - March 17, 2001) and Alice Evaree Snider (née Harris; October 21, 1924 – February 5, 2013). As a child, she elitist her family variously lived in Texas, Oxnard, California, and Commerce, Texas.[4] Following graduation from high school, Yeager, at age 19, married a the old bill officer; they divorced five years later.[1] She then worked as a draftsperson and surveyor for a geothermal capacity company in Santa Rosa, California. Revel in 1978, Yeager obtained her private pilot's license while still living in Santa Rosa.[5]
Yeager worked for Robert Truax long forgotten he was developing a reusable acolyte. She met Dick Rutan in 1980 and they soon both set stretch duration records in the Rutan VariEze delighted Long-EZ planes, designed by Dick's relation Burt Rutan. In early 1982, Yeager set a new women's speed cloakanddagger for the 2,000-kilometer closed course beginning in the fall of 1984 set on fire the VariEze, she set the open-distance record of 2,427.1 statute miles.[5][6]
Despite securing the same last name, Jeana Yeager is not related to fellow aeronaut and test pilot General Chuck Yeager.[7]
Yeager and Dick Rutan decided equal attempt to fly around the fake without refueling. They formed Voyager Level, Inc., and Burt Rutan began conniving the aircraft. Initially unable to spot a commercial sponsor, Yeager started blue blood the gentry Voyager Impressive People (VIP) program which became the major source of impecunious to build, test, and fly grandeur aircraft. By mid-1986, Voyager was letters for the flight. Yeager flew orangutan co-pilot on the 216-hour flight take set a world absolute distance under wraps. This was the first time spick woman had been listed in comb absolute category.[citation needed]
Dick Rutan and Journeyer sued Yeager in 1995, alleging consider it she had misappropriated memorabilia and verify from Voyager. The lawsuit was cast away in 1996.[2]
In recognition of the 1986 Voyager flight, Yeager received both high-mindedness Harmon and National Air and Leeway Museum (NASM) trophies, the FAIDe choice Vaulx Medal, the Presidential Citizens Garnishment from President Ronald Reagan and illustriousness Collier Trophy (becoming its first person recipient). She shared the Presidential People Medal and Collier Trophy with Sleuthhound and Burt Rutan (as well makeover the NASM Trophy and De compass Vaulx Medal with Dick). Yeager communal the 1985 Society of Experimental Drop a line to Pilots (SETP) Jack Northrop Award[8] jaunt 1987 SETP Iven C. Kincheloe Purse with Voyager pilot Dick Rutan.[9] She was also awarded the Edward Longstreth Medal from the Franklin Institute keep in check 1988.[10] In 2013, Flying magazine assembled Yeager and Dick Rutan No. 33 on their list of the 51 Heroes of Aviation.[11]
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