To Learn To Stand You Have To Fall A Few Times
Test Flights are risky.
Does this mean that the FAA should have been more involved in regulating this activity? No. This was a test flight. This is what test flights are for. The desert around Mojave has a decades-long history of smoking holes in the ground and test-pilot funerals, though most of them usually originate from Edwards AFB, a few mile to the south.
RIP as-yet-unnamed pilot, and may your memory be properly honored by more work and further, successful test flights.
Media, People | Mr. Bingley | 
November 2, 2014 7:40 am
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The act of flying, in and of itself, is inherently risky. Putting multiple tons of machinery and people up in the air, and then staying there, is indeed an application of science and engineering. But gravity always wins, in the end.
Many people do not understand the effort that goes into designing and testing aircraft. not to mention the training required of any pilot just to lift off. That brave test pilot is a hero, and it would dishonor his memory to shut down this venture.
When I was 12 years old, my uncle was stationed at Edwards AFB in California.While visiting him, he took me for a ride around the base.He said” You want to see the X-15?” I said ” Wow ” or something like that.
He took my to the hanger where the X-15 sat. It was partially covered with a tarp, but the black tail was sticking out and recognizable.
If you’ve ever seen the movie ‘ The Right Stuff, ‘ you’ll know the X-15 went into outer space…
My uncle, Walter Hartung, flew in air races in the’30s and was a navigator on the Doolitle raid. I have no idea how he survived any of it. So it goes when the future is on the line.
Very cool Greg!
And Gary, that’s just awesome. I can’t imagine taking off in those huge things from the Hornet…