COMMERCE, Texas -- Jeana Yeager, a Sherman resident and 1970 graduate of Commerce High School, is a pilot who has secured her place in aviation history.

She is the only female to win the Collier Trophy, the most prestigious award for advancement of aviation.

Yeager won this award for the Voyager flight made in December 1986, which broke world records as it flew almost 25,000 miles around the world in nine days without refueling.

Yeager discussed the Voyager flight in a presentation at Texas A&M University-Commerce on Oct. 4 sponsored by Breakout Entertainment.

This CHS graduate will return to A&M-Commerce on Saturday, Dec. 17, to be awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the university and give a keynote address at graduation.

"We are very proud of Jeana," said A&M-Commerce President Keith McFarland following Yeager's presentation featuring a video, slideshow, and question-and-answer session.

The Voyager hangs in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., along with such pioneering flight icons as the Wright brothers' plane, and Charles Lindbergh's "Spirit of St. Louis," McFarland said. "And to think a girl who graduated from Commerce High School did that flight and holds 15 world aviation records," he said.

"It's a pleasure to be back in Commerce," Yeager told the audience.

During the program, she presented McFarland with a large plaque depicting the Voyager and its flight path as a gift to the university.

As a young, adventurous woman, Yeager wanted to do something that never had been done before she told the audience. With the Voyager flight, she and fellow aviator Dick Rutan accomplished what some considered impossible.

The Voyager took off from Edwards Air Force Base on Dec. 14, 1986, following six years of engineering, design, construction and test flights of the aircraft.

During the nine-day flight, Yeager and Rutan faced numerous challenges with the aircraft, including damage to its wing tips soon after takeoff. They determined when they reached Hawaii, however, that the mission could continue.

They also faced bad weather in different parts of the world, and the Voyager design made it difficult to pilot.

A youth in the audience asked Yeager whether she and Rutan ever got bored during the flight. Yeager said no because "we were mostly trying to take care of emergencies and would take advantage of the quiet moments before the next one happened."

The cockpit was cramped. "There's much to be said for not taking much space and not having claustrophobia," the petite Yeager said.

They had estimated Voyager carried enough fuel for 11.6 days. When they landed after nine days, three minutes, and 44 seconds in the air, they had 11.6 gallons of fuel left. "My personal goal was realized," Yeager said. "It's lots of determination and stubbornness, primarily, that gets these things done."

She feels in some ways the success of the flight, despite obstacles, was meant to be accomplished. The weather cleared just in time for theme to land in California, she said.

Asked from the audience what was the most memorable moment of the six-year Voyager project, she said the people she had met and worked with.

"There were all kinds of people involved - executives, owners of companies, students right out of school," she said.  "Everyone would sweep the floors or whatever needed to be done."

Asked about the cost of the project, she said, "We don't know - probably multi-millions. "

While those working in the project sought support from various companies, they received many "pats on the head," but little real help, she said. Some companies provided materials and memberships of $100 or more were offered to those interested in supporting the project.

Another Voyager flight is probably not possible today, Yeager said, because corporations are organized differently now than several years ago and rules and regulations are different. "It's a whole different setup now."

The CHS graduate said she was not interested in trying to "outdo" the milestone that she and Rutan had reached with Voyager. The flight was an "accomplishment" that she gave her "heart and soul to," and she hopes that people will remember it in that way.

These days, Yeager stays busy with her horse ranch near Sherman and is a fixed base operator. "I have lots of horses and airplanes," she said.

AVIATION PIONEER - Jeana Yeager, who with Dick Rutan, set aviation records with the Voyager flight around the world without refueling in December 1986, speaks at Texas A&M University-Commerce Oct. 4. In her presentation sponsored by Breakout Entertainment, Yeager, a 1970 graduate of Commerce High School, showed a video and slideshow and answered numerous questions from the audience about the Voyager flight. Now living in Sherman, she will be awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from A&M-Commerce at Saturday, Dec. 17, graduation ceremonies.  (A&M-Commerce photo/Craig Buck)