First lady of SR-71 killed

Valley Press on ^ | Tuesday, September 20, 2005. | ALLISON GATLIN

[GBA]

"Even pro's shouldn't be flying these kit planes."

You're clueless. That needs to be pointed out just in case someone reading your comment thought you might know something about aviation.

[Joe 6-pack]

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
Killed 11 December 1941

[Steelerfan]

Condolences on your loss.

[Dashing Dasher]

Here is an article about the Giles 300

http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Newsroom/X-Press/2001/Jan31/frontfull1.html

...snip.....---
Development of the Giles G-300

In addition to their qualifications as aerobatics pilots, the Meyers are also Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified airframe and powerplant mechanics. Their love of aerobatics, FAA-certification and history of building customized aircraft facilitated the couple's transition from a Phoenix biplane to a prototype aircraft Giles G-300. The Meyers initiated their aircraft development process in Nov. 1996. By Aug. 1997 they flew the first flight of the new aircraft.

Capitalizing on their knowledge of aeronautics and their experience performing aerobatic gymnastics in the sky, the Meyers and friends Norm Willis, Alan Geringer and Richard Giles incorporated some very specific elements into their new aircraft. Their goal was to raise the bar for aerobatics performance aircraft. With that in mind, they developed a graphite composite airframe that would ensure a high thrust to weight ratio; designed full span ailerons that would attain a high roll rate at low speeds; combined a reclined seat and elevated feet for the purpose of achieving both a significant physiological advantage in positive and negative G-tolerances and increased mental acuity; and incorporated a new leading edge sweep in hopes that the sweep would enable them to maneuver improved snap rolls.

Proud of the achievement manifested in their new aircraft, the Meyers are quick to point out that they "couldn't do this without the volunteer help of many other people, some of whom were volunteers from Dryden. On the tail of our plane we have written the first names of many of the volunteers. It's our way of recognizing their contributions."

[Dashing Dasher]

Ping

[Steelerfan]

I know absolutely nothing about aviation apart from what I read here, but given that several Freepers seem to have known the person involved maybe we should save the debate for a later time and place.

[Steelerfan]

Condolences to you as well. Seems like she touched many lives, which is a great tribute to her.

[Osage Orange]

Okay...it appears at first glance...my memory is fuzzy on his death.

Apparently he had his pilot's license was up for review...and was flying without a valid license because of questions concerning his drinking. ( He had had a recent DUI..)

According to what I could find fairly fast....it appeared to be pilot error..and cockpit design that caused his crash.

My humble apologies.....

"On the day of the accident, Denver knowingly took off with just 3_ gallons of fuel in the left wing-root tank and 6_ gallons in the right tank. Both tanks hold 26 gallons. In fact, the engine had popped and stopped, probably from fuel starvation, when the plane was on the ground. Denver was observed turning to switch the fuel valve to another tank before takeoff.

Shortly thereafter, the engine popping was heard again, and the airplane pitched over and crashed into the water off Pacific Grove, Calif. The likely scenario: When the engine stopped in flight, Denver turned to flip the fuel tank switch. Based on test flights after the crash, as he turned his body while reaching for the switch, his foot inadvertently pressed down on the rudder pedal.

The Long-EZ is sensitive to rudder inputs and it is possible to aileron-roll the airplane from rudder inputs only.

The Board concluded tersely: "...the builder's decision to locate the unmarked fuel selector handle in a hard-to-access position...inadequate transition training by the pilot, and his lack of total experience in the type of airplane were factors in the accident." The findings have a universal application: to those designing and those flying everything from ultralights to jumbo jets.

[narby]

Even pro's shouldn't be flying these kit planes.

You'd prefer 65 year old antique factory airplanes like my last one?

I hate to pile on, but you don't have a clue.

narby - Lanciar 235

[zipper]

Seems he was careless-- so was JFK Jr.

http://www.avweb.com/news/safety/183015-1.html

PROBABLE CAUSE

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause of this accident was the pilot's diversion of attention from the operation of the airplane and his inadvertent application of right rudder that resulted in the loss of airplane control while attempting to manipulate the fuel selector handle. Also, the Board determines that the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparations, specifically his failure to refuel the airplane, was causal. The Board determines that the builder's decision to locate the unmarked fuel selector handle in a hard-to-access position, unmarked fuel quantity sight gauges, inadequate transition training by the pilot, and his lack of total experience in this type of airplane were factors in this accident.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

On October 13, 1997, the Monterey County Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on the pilot. According to the report, the cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma. During the examination, samples were obtained for toxicological analysis by the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Tests were negative for all screened drugs and Ethanol.

[narby]

Fly Low, Fly Fast, Turn Left! --- --- --- It's over - I'm home with my trophy and my memories!

You win in the pitts???

Have you heard about the Red Bull aerobatic racing tour they have in Europe? Something about timed racing with aerobatic turns at the ends. One of them had the turn under a bridge somewhere. We'd never get the FAA to sign off on that.

I'm putting high compression pistons in my 235. It's pretty fast now. I'm hoping to get it into the range to be competitive on some of the 235 class races like at Sun N Fun.

[Dead Dog]

Homebuilts are typically of superior build quality, strength, and handeling compared to factory built, CFR14 Part 23 Spam Cans.

[Dashing Dasher]

I know all of the Red Bull Racers. It's a small world we live in. They are going to be at Fleet Week in SF next month.

Also - about Ruby and my Air Racing...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1434213/posts

I came in 8th in the Biplane Bronze (which is last, fyi) due to a few little hiccups - nothing mechanical. Pilot and politics related.... ;-(

[zipper]

Make that careless and reckless. John Denver was definitely flying on a revoked medical certificate:

A certified true copy of the pilot's FAA medical record files were obtained and reviewed by Safety Board investigators. According to the pilot's FAA medical records, the physician who examined the pilot on June 13, 1996, issued a third-class medical certificate to the pilot at the conclusion of the examination. His FAA medical records further showed that on November 6, 1996, the FAA Civil Aeromedical Certification Division sent the pilot a letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, acknowledging receipt of his June 13, 1996, medical application and stating, in part:

We had previously received an interim report from H. C. Whitcomb, Jr., M.D., pertinent to your alcohol problem. Dr. Whitcomb reported that "in general averages two to four drinks of either wine or beer/week when he's traveling." He further stated that there has been no abuse, (see footnote 1) ...in our letter of October 18, 1995, we specified that your "continued airman medical certification remains contingent upon your total abstinence for use of alcohol."

The letter informs the pilot that based on the above information, he did not meet the medical standards prescribed in Part 67 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, and a determination was made that he was not qualified for any class of medical certificate at that time. The letter further states: "If you do not wish to voluntarily return your certificate, your file may be sent to our regional office for appropriate action." According to U. S. Postal Service markings on the envelope, the letter was returned unclaimed to the FAA on December 2, 1996.

Examination of the FAA medical file disclosed that following the return of the unclaimed November 6, 1996, letter there was no followup action by the FAA until March 25, 1997, when the agency sent the pilot a second letter by certified mail, return request requested, again notifying him that he was medically disqualified. The return receipt for the certified letter was examined by Safety Board investigators; however, the signature of the person who had signed for the mail was illegible.

[ASA Vet]

Ping

[hombre_sincero]

Don't let the boor bother you - there has been a lot of that on FR the past year or so --- growing worse with all the liberals coming in.

[Dashing Dasher]

Hey, Newbie...
Are you talkin' to me?

[narby]

Pilot and politics related.... ;-(

I assume you're talking about Reno this year? I guess it was this weekend, and I missed it. Again.

The last time I was set to go was in 2001. Had tickets purchased in advance. Then 9/11, and they canceled.

Last time I was there was when the Pond Racer crashed. 1995, I think it was. Maybe '94. I was on the crew, and I went home before the races after we picked up everything. Most intense day of my life, from dawn to dusk, from high highs to low lows.

I'd really like to see the sport class run. My Lancair wouldn't keep up with them. But I think I heard something somewhere about a race pilot course. The Lanciar would go good enough to be some fun around the pylons a few times. If there's a course, I might try to take it.

We used to have a "course" down by lake Mathews when I flew out of Chino in my Luscombe. It wasn't very fast, but if you're low enough it seems like it.

[Osage Orange]

Yeah...thanks.

I figured that out.

See my post #48...

[hombre_sincero]

Ahhh - you recognized your name I see.