Bill Harrelson gave a fabulous talk yesterday at the Suffolk flyin.  Really excellent.

 

For those who missed his presentation, I might suggest you go out of your way to listen to him present when he does it again.  It was well well worth the trip to listen to his stories.

 

He touched on the design and construction of 6ZQ, the role of external pressures, FAA interest in his plane, the interest of Homeland Security in a VFR test flight (east coast to west coast to east coast, non stop, 100% VFR with no ATC communication.  They noticed and made polite inquiries.), sleeping (well, not sleeping) on long flights, the years of flight planning it takes to do a flight like his, people along the way, Pentagon awareness of his travels, thoughts on death, the role of ground crew, and so much more.  With lot's of photos.

 

I could have listened to him for hours.  Days.  He is a really amazing aviator.  And nice fellow.

 

Like everyone on this list I have listened to lectures, off and on, for many decades.  Normally something interesting to be found in each.  But every now and then there is someone really exceptional.  I consider Patty Wagstaff and Carol Ann Garrett as two of the genuinely best ever, in any field, public presenters.  And now, in my book Bill joins this group.  He is not just an amazing designer and builder, and planner and adventurer, but also a truely world-class public presenter.

 

Thank you Bill for the presentation yesterday.  Thank you even more for enabling so many of us, me included, to live a hair vicariously through you, and to celibrate your ground-breaking R&D and flying.

 

-Bill Kahn (Cessna 182 pilot.  Not near a good enough pilot, or builder, to do a Lancair)