Fossett Fossilized - Who Cares? - Page 5

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Yeah, I'm in the rat race now, am losing it and would have dropped out long ago if I had Fosset's coin.

onewhippedpuppy · 09-11-2007, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by widgeon13

I agree structural failure is a long shot but in an aerobatic plane, it certainly should be considered. If the aircraft had some harsh treatment by another pilot or damage history, it would be good to know. That kind of damage is not always visible from a walk around inspection.

It's a thought, but considering the kind of money he has, I doubt he was in a second-rate aircraft.

96740 · 96740's Garage

So the story is that he went out trying to find a suitable dry lake bed to do some high speed tests?

I'm pretty sure those have all been discovered. It's like saying "I'm going to go out and find a bigger ocean than the Pacific."

There is something about this, that is still not right.

Does anyone have more detailed info on what he was actually going to do on this solo flight? And why it was a solo flight?

efhughes3 · efhughes3's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96740

So the story is that he went out trying to find a suitable dry lake bed to do some high speed tests?

I'm pretty sure those have all been discovered. It's like saying "I'm going to go out and find a bigger ocean than the Pacific."

There is something about this, that is still not right.

Does anyone have more detailed info on what he was actually going to do on this solo flight? And why it was a solo flight?

It has been said he was out scouting for a location to try for a landspeed record. I don't think the intention was to "discover" anything, but rather to choose. Your ocean analogy doesn't make any sense.

But, only he knew for sure what he wanted to do. So, any other dialog here is simply speculation.

96740 · 96740's Garage

Quote:

It has been said he was out scouting for a location to try for a landspeed record. I don't think the intention was to "discover" anything, but rather to choose. Your ocean analogy doesn't make any sense.

Trust me. I'm not a conspiracy theorist. My point was... How many places are there to do high speed tests in this area? 2 or 3?

What's there too look for?

efhughes3 · efhughes3's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96740

Trust me. I'm not a conspiracy theorist. My point was... How many places are there to do high speed tests in this area? 2 or 3?

What's there too look for?

I'd say there's a whole lot more than 2 or 3. Probably 2 or 3 hundred considering he was in an airplane with a bit of ability to cover some distance.

96740 · 96740's Garage

2 or 3 hundred dry lake beds in this area that are suitable for land speed records? Name 10.

efhughes3 · efhughes3's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96740

2 or 3 hundred dry lake beds in this area that are suitable for land speed records? Name 10.

This is a waste of server space. We're talking potentially hundreds of square miles. Nobody ever said dry lake beds, or any minimum size. Maybe he was going to set a speed record in a land yacht? He was a sailor. That doesn't necessarily mean you need something the size of Bonneville. You'r esimply speculating.

96740 · 96740's Garage

I'll agree to leave it alone. Over speculation is like watching the local LA news covering a disaster.

450knotOffice · 450knotOffice's Garage

Wait a minute Ed, ALL of this discussion is simply wasted bandwidth, if you want to get technical. Why chastise a guy for bringing in another point to the discussion? It's as relevant to the discussion as any post in this thread.

Chocaholic · 09-12-2007, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phred68

Maybe he was tired of the rat race and got outta here. Now he's on a beach somewhere drinking a cocktail.

Yeah, you're right. And he's sharing it with John Kennedy, Jr. and Princess Di. Unfortunately.

Regarding speculation. You nailed it. Every word of this discussion is speculation. Speculate away...

Joeaksa · 09-12-2007, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by widgeon13

I agree structural failure is a long shot but in an aerobatic plane, it certainly should be considered. If the aircraft had some harsh treatment by another pilot or damage history, it would be good to know. That kind of damage is not always visible from a walk around inspection.

Believe that it was the 8KCAB version of the Citabria, the Decalathon version. This is the fully aerobatic model with inverted oil and different wing from the standard Citabria...

Very well could have had someone doing acro in the past who overstressed the airframe, then Steve gets in the airplane and a strong gust or wind shear catches the airplane and it goes down. If that happens it would have been fast and no way out of it.

With each hour that goes by there is less and less of a chance of his being found alive. Sorry to see him, or anyone for that matter "heading West" like this...

efhughes3 · efhughes3's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by 450knotOffice

Wait a minute Ed, ALL of this discussion is simply wasted bandwidth, if you want to get technical. Why chastise a guy for bringing in another point to the discussion? It's as relevant to the discussion as any post in this thread.

You're right about the big picture here. But, to speculate why Fossett was flying is futile. We won't solve anything.

I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact the guy is no longer with us. Stranger things have happened, and I hope I'm wrong.

air-cool-me · 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Believe that it was the 8KCAB version of the Citabria, the Decathlon version. This is the fully aerobatic model with inverted oil and different wing from the standard Citabria...

Very well could have had someone doing acro in the past who overstressed the airframe, then Steve gets in the airplane and a strong gust or wind shear catches the airplane and it goes down. If that happens it would have been fast and no way out of it.
...

I have 6 hours in an Decathlon.... wholy crap that was a fun bunch of flights... 5.5'gs really sucks the lif outa you.

but... do you think he would have a chute on? the seats are designed with no padding on the back.. I'm pretty sure I would be wearing one just for the added padding.

Speaking of "no way out"... just getting out of the front seat on the ground was a PITA... and thats without any forces acting on you. (and I'm a pretty skinny guy). If something were to happen mid flight... it would be a hell of a challenge to get out..

Joeaksa · 09-12-2007, 10:50 AM

Nick,

Getting out of a Citabria at your age takes a bit, while at my age (prolly 30 years older) is much more difficult, and Steve is even older, around 65 or so years old, so its even more interesting for him.

Getting out of the plane in a situation like this is simply one thing, survival and by the grace of God. Either it happens or it does not and unless the stars align and a knat in timbucktu farts at the right time, you are going to be going down with the ship. Should a wing buckle its going to be in a spiral and things get dicey very fast.

Hope he made it out and is walking to civilization right now...

Tim Hancock · 09-12-2007, 01:54 PM

I highly doubt an inflight structural failure is to blame here. Pilot error, pilot incapacitation or an engine out leading to a "crash" landing in inhospitable terrain are by far the most likely causes here, provided the weather was good.

onewhippedpuppy · 09-12-2007, 02:01 PM

Aliens. They take all the good ones.

Joeaksa · 09-12-2007, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Aliens. They take all the good ones.

Why are we still here? Are we the "chopped liver" versions?

Dixie · Dixie's Garage

Quote:

originally posted by On Ramp
Another arrogant rich guy who thinks they impervious to disaster. the Superman complex.

Let's take solace that he ate a coyote, or at least a couple rabbits, before he perished. I bet he didn't even care about the little critter's pea-pickin’ feelings....

Normy · 09-12-2007, 04:01 PM

Here we are a week or so later. I suspect that this man is dead.

Sorry- but despite the fact that this guy is one of my heroes...I suspect he's dead.

Steve Fosset and me one thing in common: We both believe in doing what we want. I decided to become an airline pilot in 1985. In 1996 I decided to become a cargo pilot [meaning I gave up a lot of quality control found at the regional airline that I was working at], but 10 years later I am at the PREMIER airline in the world, and have a great schedule.

Steve Fossel went for it, and so did I. In my opinion, he's probably dead, and they will find his body and his Decathlon in 20 years when they decide to build a road, but I'll respect him always for having the balls to TRY. In my opinion: The worst fate in the world is just to be some office worker who went to State U and has never been 500 miles from his birth place. I don't want to know a "Charley Brown" other than from the comic section of the local newspaper.

N!