Posted on 09/04/2007 2:20:39 PM PDT by billorites
(RENO, Nev.) - Media sources are reporting the disappearance of a small plane carrying Steve Fossett, the first pilot to fly around the world solo without refueling.
Fossett is best known for his five world record non-stop solo circumnavigations of the Earth. He is also a long-distance solo balloonist, and sailor.
Chuck Allen with the Nevada Highway Patrol, told Salem-News.com that there is no sign of Fossett yet.
"Yesterday he left at 9:00 AM hoping to complete ground recon on a project he is working on and he never came back."
Fossett reportedly left a private airstrip on a ranch south of Smith Valley in western Nevada Monday. He was flying a single engine Bellanca airplane.
It is not clear whether or not Fossett filed an official flight plan.
Allen says 13 aircraft are involved in the search at this time, adding that a number of agencies have come together to locate the missing pilot.
They they include the Nevada Civil Air Patrol, the Nevada National Guard, the Nevada Air Guard, Fallon Naval Air Center, the California Highway Patrol and the Mono County, California Sheriff's Office.
But so far they have turned up no sign of the missing pilot. They say the search will continue.
Fossett grew up in Garden Grove, California. He is a 1966 graduate of Stanford University. He received his MBA from The Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri in 1968.
Fossett is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and The Explorers Club.
And this just received from AvWeb:
Searchers are combing an area of western Nevada looking for adventurer
Steve Fossett, who was reported missing in his Citabria Super
Decathlon early this morning. The Nevada Record-Courier is reporting
that Fossett left the Hilton Ranch in the Smith Valley in the aircraft
Monday evening. It’s not known where he was heading.
Nevada Civil Air Patrol spokeswoman Maj. Cynthia Ryan said three crews
were launched early today and more will be dispatched through the day.
A check of neighboring airports apparently came up empty. The aircraft
Fossett was seen taking off in is blue and white and the terrain in
the area of the Hilton ranch is rugged and sparsely populated. Fossett
is best known for his around-the-world flight in a balloon and another
unrefueled flight in a single-engine jet aircraft. He was in Nevada
recently preparing for a land-speed record attempt in a jet-powered
car on the Bonneville Flats but it’s not known why he was at the
Hilton Ranch.
It might not be clear to the writer, but those who know aviation understand that if he had a flight they would know exactly where to look. The FAA is usually pretty sharp on knowing, and announcing, if a flight plan had been filed and activated. The fact he appears to have been reported missing by someone who knows him after he failed to return when they thought he would is another strike against him having a flight plan.
Just my two cents worth.
Go figure.
Many if not most experienced pilots heading out on local 90 minute flights do not file flight plans. Not saying that’s smart, just saying it’s very common.
In my menial 300 hrs, I don’t file unless I’m doing a cross country. (about 20% of the time) Simply tell someone where your going and when you’ll be back and go. Much less hassle. Basically, that is a flight plan.
“the first pilot to fly around the world solo without refueling.”
I remember that. Crowds were there to watch him take off, maybe 3 journalist were there to greet him landing. All the MSM yawned and gave him 15 seconds of air time.
BTTT
Wonder how much this rescue effort will cost?
Good bye! Maybe the taxpayers will not have to shell out any more millions to keep this self absorbed egomaniac under the watchful eye of the Navy, Air Force, FAA, Coast Guard, state police, etc. on another self-indulgent quest.
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