| Author | Message | ||
     Vegasbueller |
RANGER, Ga. - Scott Crossfield, the hotshot test pilot and aircraft designer who in 1953 became the first man to fly at twice the speed of sound, was killed in the crash of his small plane, authorities said Thursday. He was 84. Crossfield's body was found in the wreckage Thursday in the mountains about 50 miles northwest of Atlanta, a day after the single-engine plane he was piloting dropped off radar screens on a flight from Alabama to Virginia. There were thunderstorms in the area at the time. The cause of the crash was under investigation. Crossfield was believed to be the only person aboard. During the 1950s, Crossfield embodied what came to be called "the right stuff," dueling the better-known Chuck Yeager for supremacy among America's Cold War test pilots. Yeager broke the sound barrier in 1947; only weeks after Crossfield reached Mach 2, or twice the speed of sound, Yeager outdid him. The Cessna 210A in which Crossfield died was a puny flying machine compared with the rocket-powered aircraft he flew as a test pilot. During his heyday, he routinely climbed into some of the most powerful, most dangerous and most complex pieces of machinery of his time, took them to their performance limits or beyond — or "pushed the envelope," as test pilots put it — and usually brought them back to Earth in one piece. He did most of his work before I was even thought of, but he was one of my childhood idols. At least he died flying! Nick | ||
| Superbee24 |
"At least he died flying! " No, flying is what kept him alive till 84. Crashing is how he died. | ||
| Oldog |
Thanks for sharing that Nick, was it cross field or maybe i have him confused with some one else who took up a shrike commander, did aerobatics in it came down with 100 point comment list with squwaks, those guys were the apitimee(sp) of airmen, RIP Scott. My fav is Yeager too cool How are you faring, these days? |
