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wild.blue(at)verizon.net
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 Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:24 pm Post subject: Scott Crossfield |
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When I was a kid in the aftermath of the Big One, when jets were dangerous
New Things and rockets had men for guidance systems, I read avidly about the
exploits of Bill Bridgeman, Joe Walker, Al White, Mel Apt and many
others--real heroes forging new paths in engineering and
aeronautics--dreaming that some day I would do the same. I, too, wanted to
be an experimental test pilot, the guy in the pointy end, a renaissance man
of aeronautics, part engineer, part Leonardo, part athlete, part warrior, a
man of intellect, daring and skill.
Scott Crossfield was one of my heroes. I'm a Seattle boy and he had studied
aeronautical engineering at the University of Washington, in my home town.
Boeing was a bomber and airliner factory, it was the Cold War, Seattle was a
hard core airplane town and us kids designed and built tons of models, read
the books and magazines, drew pictures of airplanes all day long in school
and thought "Strategic Air Command" was the best movie ever made. We all
wanted to fly. I even had a hobby shop in the basement because no store
would stock the stuff we needed to build competition models. My AMA number
was 10124. We were boy engineers, control line and free flight test pilots,
too poor to afford radio control, longing to grow up and do the real thing.
Two airplanes really caught my attention: the F-104 and the X-15. Those
were the airplanes I hoped to fly someday, or more powerful, faster, higher
flying successors. I wanted to go Mach 6, too.
Years later, dreams partly fulfilled, watching and listening to Crossfield
on TV describing test running the XR-99 rocket engine in the X-15, the first
throttleable rocket engine, he again personified my idea of what a pilot and
man should be. He told a story that went something like "the airplane is
firmly chained to the ground, they strap you into the cockpit, get
everything prepared and then all go inside a concrete block house before you
actually fire the thing off. This is called building the confidence of the
pilot." Code words describing the potential for violent death that awaited
the unlucky, unprepared or less skilled. "The Right Stuff" wasn't just the
title of a book or movie, it was what you hoped would keep you alive and
Scott Crossfield was the man on the leading edge of the the greatest
adventure ever.
You've seen the film: after they all go to the block house, Crossfield
fires the XR-99. Everything seems to be going well, then it looks like he's
throttling it back, but the fire sputters and goes out. After what seems
like a very long pause, the whole thing blows up in no uncertain way.
Miraculously, Crossfield was unhurt. A crewman, mistakenly thinking
Crossfield was in great danger and probably seriously injured, rushed to the
cockpit. Crossfield tried to wave him off, he was OK, but the crewman
opened the canopy with bare hands, suffering terrible burns and dragged
Crossfield to "safety."
Later, during an early test flight, he encountered control problems and had
to return to land, still heavy with fuel. On final approach he got into
serious pitch PIO, finally landing on the skids attached to the aft fuselage
then the nose slammed to the ground and the fuselage broke in two just
behind the cockpit. Again, Crossfield was unhurt.
When the Wright brothers centennial came around there was Crossfield again,
working on a replica. He was at Oshkosh. He was in Seattle at the Museum
of Flight. He was on TV. After almost fifty years, almost forgotten, he
had made his way back into the spotlight. He owned a Cessna 210.
I was in the hangar when a friend came by to ask if I knew who Scott
Crossfield was. Yes, I knew who he was, why? He was dead. Killed in an
airplane accident, no details. When I checked my email later, EAA had a
bulletin saying it was true. Killed in his 210. He was 84.
A lousy way to die.
I didn't know you and you didn't know me, but you meant more to me than you could ever know, Scott, and I will miss you, but I won't forget you.
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dsavarese(at)elmore.rr.co
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| Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:54 am Post subject: Scott Crossfield |
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Jerry,
THAT was very moving. You should seriously consider sending it to the EAA
to be published in the next Sport Aviation magazine. I doubt any editor
could say anything more eloquent than that about Scott Crossfield.
For those that do not know where Prattville, Alabama is, which is where
Scott Crossfield kept his 210, it is just north of Maxwell AFB and just
outside the Class D airspace, which is the Montgomery, AL area.
Dennis
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jsfox(at)adelphia.net
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| Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 4:32 am Post subject: Scott Crossfield |
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Allow me to add my praise as well, a very moving and heart felt
piece. Dennis is right, I don't think there's a writer out there who
can say it any better.
Steve Fox
On Apr 21, 2006, at 7:53 AM, A. Dennis Savarese wrote:
[quote]
<dsavarese(at)elmore.rr.com>
Jerry,
THAT was very moving. You should seriously consider sending it to
the EAA to be published in the next Sport Aviation magazine. I
doubt any editor could say anything more eloquent than that about
Scott Crossfield.
For those that do not know where Prattville, Alabama is, which is
where Scott Crossfield kept his 210, it is just north of Maxwell
AFB and just outside the Class D airspace, which is the Montgomery,
AL area.
Dennis
---
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gus.fraser(at)gs.com
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| Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 6:07 am Post subject: Scott Crossfield |
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Two years ago I was at OSH. I was sitting at the tables outside the WB
building chatting with my friend Erik Lindbergh (it gets better) just
shooting the s^&t. Then we noticed a group of older gentlemen to the side on
the next table. It was Scott Crossfield, Chuck Yeager, Neil Armstrong & John
Glenn. Talk about being in the presence of greatness. Both Erik and I were
dumb struck, of course we just wanted to say hi but we held off of that and
just enjoyed the moment. These guys and what they did is a large part of why
I fly today.
I always think that pilot is a verb not a noun. Anyone can fly a plane but
it takes a special person to pilot a plane.
You can keep all the super aircraft, all the special trips etc etc. You know
when you look at something a realize how important it is from a historical
perspective, well this was one of those moments.
I am sure we will all take a couple of minutes next time we fly to say
thanks to Scott for the inspiration he provided.
Gus
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ben(at)designselect.net
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| Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 7:05 am Post subject: Scott Crossfield |
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I had the pleasure of spending a few days with Scott Crossfield in the
Sanders pit at the races a couple years ago. From my perspective, Mr.
Crossfield was a gentle, unassuming man. He had a sparkle in his eye which
communicated that he'd done it all; at the same time he was egoless, a truly
unique feature among test pilots or aviators in general.
I will not forget meeting and chatting with Mr. Crossfield. Oddly
enough, one of the things I remember most vividly about him was his grip.
Shaking hands with an 82 year old man is usually a somewhat restrained
event. Mr. Crossfield's grip was quite strong. It was clear to me by that
singular experience that this was a test pilot. I've met quite a few of the
greats in our community, none greater than Scott Crossfield.
I will say, however, that coming to one's end in an airplane is not
such a lousy way to go, given that they may be no good way. It's a bit like
living and dying by the sword. It sure beats forgetting who you are, who
your family is or losing your functions slowly, mindful of your past.
Aviation is what we do, so it's not such bad a way to go. He was solo,
fighting the good fight to the end; I am certain.
Still, I too am sorry Scott Crossfield has gone West.
Marsh
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viperdoc(at)mindspring.co
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| Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 7:53 am Post subject: Scott Crossfield |
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Here, Here! Well said expressing the love for aviation that we all have! I
too followed the exploits of the test pilots of Muroc. Can't say that
Strategic Air Command was my favorite movie though.
A great American Aviator has gone West! We will miss you.
Doc
[quote] [Original Message]
From: Stephen Fox <jsfox(at)adelphia.net>
To: <yak-list(at)matronics.com>
Date: 4/21/2006 7:38:34 AM
Subject: Re: Scott Crossfield
Allow me to add my praise as well, a very moving and heart felt
piece. Dennis is right, I don't think there's a writer out there who
can say it any better.
Steve Fox
On Apr 21, 2006, at 7:53 AM, A. Dennis Savarese wrote:
>
> <dsavarese(at)elmore.rr.com>
>
> Jerry,
> THAT was very moving. You should seriously consider sending it to
> the EAA to be published in the next Sport Aviation magazine. I
> doubt any editor could say anything more eloquent than that about
> Scott Crossfield.
>
> For those that do not know where Prattville, Alabama is, which is
> where Scott Crossfield kept his 210, it is just north of Maxwell
> AFB and just outside the Class D airspace, which is the Montgomery,
> AL area.
> Dennis
>
> ---
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L39parts(at)hotmail.com
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| Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 5:42 am Post subject: Scott Crossfield |
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I'm disillusioned to hear that aviation's greatest were hanging out with a
politician.
---
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