Scott Crossfield's missing plane

[Felix/FFDS]

According to CNN, Scott Crossfield's plane is missing on a flight....

Scott (now 84) is considered the first man to fly faster than twice the speed of sound in an X-15, in 19531

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/04/20/georgi ... index.html

I hope it's just an emergency landing somewhere.


1 I want to think that it's a typo, since I believe that the X-15 is a product of the '60s, not early 50s.  Possibly the X-5 Stilletto?

[Hagar]

According to CNN, Scott Crossfield's plane is missing on a flight....

I hope it's just an emergency landing somewhere.

Indeed.

[quote]Scott (now 84) is considered the first man to fly faster than twice the speed of sound in an X-15, in 19531

1 I want to think that it's a typo, since I believe that the X-15 is a product of the '60s, not early 50s.

[Airshow_lover]

AND on a personnal note:

The civil air patrol was sent out to search for the plane and or pilot

[beaky]

Bad news, as I feared:

http://www.wral.com/apnationalnews/8857125/detail.html



I haven't seen any info on aircraft type, weather, etc.

[Airshow_lover]

I haven't seen any info on aircraft type, weather, etc.

It was a cessna.

Story From FOX

[beefhole]

Just heard the news from my dad.

What a way to go for one of the most famous test pilots ever.

I mean 84.... geez... pilot right to the end.  Good for him.

[Rifleman]

[quote]
What a way to go for one of the most famous test pilots ever.

I mean 84.... geez... pilot right to the end.

[beaky]

Just heard the news from my dad.

What a way to go for one of the most famous test pilots ever.

I mean 84.... geez... pilot right to the end.  Good for him.

I was thinking the same thing. But it's hard to say whether or not it's a fitting end-  I've never heard a pilot express a desire to go that way (I sure don't!), but on the other hand, he'll never have to make the painful decision to ground himself.
At any rate, he had a damn good run, and he leaves us with a valuable lesson: Even the best of us can be struck down, through error or bad luck. Whatever happened, I'm sure he did his very best and didn't give up, and we should follow that example.

[Willit Run]

R.I.P. Mr. Crossfield  :'(

[Mobius]

Very sad, but probably a good way to go.

[ozzy72]

Terrible news but at least he died doing something he loved