Posted on 09/21/2008 12:08:03 PM PDT by BenLurkin
LANCASTER [CALIFORNIA]- For the men and women flown in to the Antelope Valley to accept a little marble-and-brass immortality on the Lancaster Aerospace Walk of Honor, flying is all it was ever about.
Each of those attending Saturday's ceremonies expressed love for the bright sunshine and clear blue skies over Edwards Air Force Base. Each knew the joy of the high-flying exploits best described in Tom Wolfe's classic of narrative journalism, "The Right Stuff," which celebrated the calculated cool, courage and humor of test pilots and astronauts.
Ask retired Col. Joe Schiele. He piloted the C-141 Starlifter jet transport on its first transcontinental flight, delivering it to Edwards' Flight Test Center.
He also pioneered test flight on that other best-known workhorse of air forces worldwide, the C-130 Hercules.
...
Schiele was among the five inducted into the Walk of Honor, with brass plaques set in marble that tell a bit about what they did. By telling a bit about what they did, it informs the student of aerospace history about the elusive nature of that quality Wolfe called "the right stuff."
Others honored Saturday beneath the white-and-red striped F-4 Phantom where Sierra Highway crosses Lancaster Boulevard were Apollo 11 command module pilot Michael Collins, who retired as an Air Force major general; retired Air Force Col. Eileen M. Collins, first female shuttle commander; one of the original Mercury astronauts, the late Air Force Col. Leroy Gordon "Gordo" Cooper Jr.; and test pilot Irving Burrows, who piloted the first flight of the F-15 Eagle fighter jet.
The F-15, legendary test pilot Chuck Yeager related, acquired a full generation of air superiority for the United States. F-15s were also used by the Israeli air force in destruction of the Osirak reactor in Iraq in the early 1980s.
(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...
"PRAISED - From left, retired Col. Joe Schiele; Suzan Cooper, accepting the honor on behalf of her husband, the late Col. Leroy Gordon Cooper; and test pilot Irving Burrows are among the honorees at the aerospace walk of honor." MOLLY HAUXWELL/Valley Press
But it was a chimpanzee.
The big difference between the US and SU:
1. The Soviets sent up a dog, and let it die. There was never any intention for the dog to do anything else but die.
2. The Soviets only announced events after they had success. The US announced even the trial. The Soviets hid all their failures. The US was an open society, and conducted itself as such.
“For Michael Collins, Jeffery and Me,” is one of the best Tull songs few have heard.
Chorus, “I’m with you LEM, though it’s a shame that it had to be you. The mother ship, is just a blip on your trip made for two. I’m with you boys, so please employ just a little extra care. It’s on my mind, I’m left behind when I should have been there...walking with you.”
Yep. The movie is going to be on cable this coming Saturday, I believe. It's one of those films that I've just got to watch when I happen across it, despite having seen it many times before. The soundtrack alone is superb.
I recall seeing the poster for the movie back in late '83 and remember planning to go see it, but something (work, girlfriend, I can't recall) intervened. It came and went so quickly at the theater that I missed it; maybe five years later I finally rented a copyat the video store.
Nice (Back home!)
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