Armstrong+Aldrin: Who has met them and how approachable are they?

[Robotbeat]

Just don't call Buzz a liar.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/FUI36tPKDg4&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/FUI36tPKDg4&rel=1</a>

[padrat]

Well, speaking for my wife who has worked numerous events at the Visitor's Complex and has dealt with Buzz on a few occasions (and I mean that literally) he is very friendly with the general public, especially if you have a checkbook in hand.... The people who work with him setting up events, signings, people control, etc.....not so much. can kinda be a pain at times. As my wife said "As much as he is to be respected being an astronaut and having walked on the moon, he can be quite full of himself at times. But not really anything out of the ordinary for any other hollywood star..." She did say that Armstrong and Collins seemed much more down to earth and friendly.

[IRobot]

Argh! He wants money for a signature? Just dropped some points on my consideration. Good thing I don't want signatures from anyone, wouldn't know what to do with the paper.

[Jorge]

Argh! He wants money for a signature? Just dropped some points on my consideration.

Should surprise no one. Just about everyone whose autograph is worth something when sold, will eventually start charging.

[simonbp]

Collins is by far the most friendly of the three. He and Al Bean really steal the show in "In The Shadow of the Moon" (though I'm sure Conrad would have given they a run if he were still around).

Armstrong is really humble and hates to speak publicly. He's been getting out a lot more recently, but he's just a very shy, quiet person.

[buel]

Everything i have seen of Armstrong all point to the fact that he is a pleasant person. Even the way he handled Sibrel with his quote of 'Mr Sibrel, knowing you that isn't even a real bible'! Brilliant!

[Moe Grills]

  Yes, I've met Buzz.
He signed one of his books for me over 20 years ago.
I have to agree with the others here who say he is more
approachable than Neil or Mike.
 
  Neil is apparently more reclusive than Buzz.
Don't blame him.
I've heard of people knocking on Neil's door and getting to meet him.
Don't let it be a habit. He likes his privacy.
I know the hometown in Ohio he lives in; I will not divulge it on this website.

But if you do meet Neil and want to strike up a conversation with him,
you might try talking to him about the time he and Sir Edmund Hillary
(of Everest fame) landed a ski-fitted aircraft at the North Pole; the first two to do so.
Or bring up the topic of when he and Chuck Yeager got an aircraft
stuck in the mud together. That will bring a laugh from him.

[buel]

Moe, that is brilliant!!!

[93143]

Argh! He wants money for a signature? Just dropped some points on my consideration.

From earlier in the thread:

Both Armstrong and Aldrin signed for free for many years. When both started to see their autographs being sold by more and more of those they had signed free for, they changed practices.

[dvsmith]

I sat across the first-class aisle from Dr. Aldrin on an AirTran flight between IAD and ATL a number of years ago (1998/1999 or 2000).

I don't know the circumstances prior to boarding (it may have been a bad day), but I certainly wouldn't characterize him as 'approachable' based on what I saw.

[buel]

Please do explain......

[IRobot]

Argh! He wants money for a signature? Just dropped some points on my consideration.

From earlier in the thread:

Both Armstrong and Aldrin signed for free for many years. When both started to see their autographs being sold by more and more of those they had signed free for, they changed practices.

Do they donate the money?

[dvsmith]

Please do explain......

I didn't interact with him, directly, but as I remember it, he made sure that the flight crew, and everyone in the first 10-15 rows knew that he was a Very Important Person™ and that his needs came above all else. He also demonstrated a distinct lack of patience with the fact that there were other people on the flight.

Like I said, I've no idea what the circumstances were prior to the flight, but it didn't leave me with a positive impression of the second man to set foot on the Moon.

[padrat]

That's pretty much how my wife describes him...

[majormajor42]

Jeff Foust pointed out this recent article about meeting Buzz.

http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/technology/sci-tech/never-meet-your-heroes-how-aldrin-killed-my-buzz/story-fn5h1ywy-1226333595839

The twittersphere is not too happy with her "reporting"

Here we are talking about meeting our heros and some folks get the chance and take advantage and/or try to self-promote.