|
Scott Crossfield, Al
White, and Bruce Peterson have all passed on within the last few days.
Contemporaries of the glory years of flight testing; Scott flew the first X-15
flights; Al the F-100, F-107, and XB-70 tests; and Bruce was the original $6
million dollar man, known for his NASA lifting body flight testing. While
not personal friends, they were professional acquaintances who will be missed by
the profession. Like those on this list, they all loved flying high
performance airplanes.
I've flown
F-4, F-8,
F-14, F-15, F-16, F-100, A-3, A-4, A-37, T-42, T-37, T-38, C-7A, C-54, C-130,
C-131, C-141, C-5A, DC-3, DC-4, DC-10, B-707, B-720, B-737, AH-1G, OH-58, UH-1,
CH-46, Otter, Beaver, Stearman, Goodyear Blimp, Hot Air Balloons, Gliders,
Glider Tow Planes, General Aviation Aircraft, some foreign fighters and stuff,
total of about 75 types. Those guys flew hundreds each. Those days
are over.
They contributed
much to aviation and, Bruce especially, to flight safety. They will be
missed and remembered.
Naf
LNC2
N7PN
|