Scott Crossfield: Aviation Pioneer

[Ken MacTiernan]

Scott Crossfield, the hotshot test pilot and aircraft designer who in 1953 became the first man to fly at twice the speed of sound, was killed in the crash of his small plane, authorities said Thursday. He was 84.

The weather was said to be poor in which he was flying. Mr. Crossfield lived a full, exciting life and is responsible for the furthering of aircraft technology.

 

[N924PS]

Scott Crossfield, the hotshot test pilot and aircraft designer who in 1953 became the first man to fly at twice the speed of sound, was killed in the crash of his small plane, authorities said Thursday. He was 84.

The weather was said to be poor in which he was flying. Mr. Crossfield lived a full, exciting life and is responsible for the furthering of aircraft technology.

In 2003 I was walking through the CLT terminal and saw an elderly gentleman sitting aboard an electric cart. He was wearing a leather Naval Aviator jacket and aviator style spectacles.

As I approched, I recognized him as none other than A. Scott Crossfield. Since he has always been one of my heros in aviation, I walked over and introduced myself.

We had a brief chat. At the time he was working with the Wright Flyer team in an attempt to duplicate the Wright brothers effort on the Centennial of flight.

He told me he had flown one of the Wright gliders and still flew in his own 1960 model Cessna 210. I believe this is the aircraft in which he was killed in a weather related accident in Georgia last week.

One of the true aviation pioneers and legends has "Flown West". Godspeed Mr. Crossfield. It was a privilege meeting you.