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Posted on 02/03/2012 7:42:20 PM PST by EveningStar
The head of memory chip maker Micron, long known for taking risks in stunt piloting, died Friday when a small experimental plane he was piloting steeply banked, stalled and crashed near an Idaho runway.
Steve Appleton, who survived a similar crash eight years ago and had a reputation as a hard-driving daredevil, was the only person aboard the plane when witnesses said it crashed shortly after its second take-off attempt in Boise, according to safety investigators.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
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“A man has got to know his limitations”- Dirty Harry..
What kind of plane has trouble taking off these days?
From one adrenaline junkie to another...party on, Garth!
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Probably the way he would have wanted to go...
I have nothing like that kind of courage, but I can’t help but admire those who do.
There’s not much room for men like that anymore.
Aviation crash 101:
Stall, Spin, Crash, Burn
There are some folks that think they are alive, just because their heart is beating.
May Steve Appleton RIP.
Sounds like an accelerated stall.... 1.25 times a normal stall speed in a steep turn. Lancairs are nice aircraft.
He was killed in an accident. Dies means he died from an illness or something else.
Just damn. Micron. RIP Steve Appleton.
May Steve Appleton RIP.
haha. nice and so damn true. thanks for your post. ;).
sometimes these damn bodies just can’t keep up with some of our spirits ans so be it. so be it. we all die in the end. might as well live it fully!
Humans come in all flavors and mind sets. One grouping is those who are entranced by everything connected by manned flight. You may be one if you always look up when you hear an airplane to enjoy the sight and try to ID as what make or type it is.
A subset of aviation groupies are those who go on to get a private pilot license. Some do it to get a paid job as a pilot or to get somewhere fast. Others as a sport or hobby. Steve Appleton probably did it for the sport-the fun of being up is more important than where you may be headed to. Good flying takes concentration so your other life problems or worries are crowded out or put aside. The zen of flying is good for the hobbyist’s mind.
Light aircraft are reasonably safe but when something breaks, goes wrong or you have a mental lapse or cut it close, the result can be fatal. All pilots accept the risk as the rewards of flying far out weigh the possible risk.
My God welcome Steve Appleton into the best ride up in the sky.
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