All Hail The Aero-Heroes of 2007!
It is both the most "fun," and most difficult, task facing the
ANN staff at the end of every year -- determining who, or what, did
the most to promote the cause of aviation in the past 365 days...
while also chastising those people or entities that did all they
could to undermine the many successes the aviation/aerospace
community has managed to accomplish.
Thankfully, 2007 was a year in which we saw the best and
brightest among us step forward and work tirelessly on behalf of us
all. No doubt about it... the challenges we faced in 2007 were
numerous, and ongoing... so was the quality of expertise and
passion brought to our defense by those who heroically demonstrated
to the world the very best side of aviation... via their deeds,
words and actions.
It is ANN's honor to recognize a solid dozen of our Aero-Heroes
for 2007... in something of an informal order, starting from 12th
to the 1st. Let us know what you think of our selections... whom
YOU would have liked be included or omitted from such a list. In
the meantime, we thank the folks who made this year's list. Thank
you, folks... we really needed you this year, and you didn't let us
down.
From the Hero's List... #7: Scaled Composites, One and
ALL
Burt Rutan and his
troops have undertaken the 'improbable' and turned it into recorded
history. Burt and his troops have taken the 'nearly impossible' and
made it look (dare I say it?) 'easy.' 2007 was the year that Burt
and the folks at Scaled Composites found out that every revolution
oft requires a price be paid for the challenges you undertake. This
year, despite incredible safety measures, and a nearly flawless
record, Scaled Composites found out how costly their dreams can
be.
An accident at a test facility, conducting operations similar to
many others that had been undertaken over previous months and
years, went awry and the resulting accident cost some very good
people their lives, hurt a number of others, and shook the
revolutionary spirit of Scaled Composites to the core. No one said
the space business is going to be easy... and for those of us who
have watched them at close range and been involved in the private
space revolution for a number of years, we all knew this day
was coming... and as fate would have it, the best and the brightest
were the first to pay.
In this case, the best and the brightest carried the names of
Glen May, Eric Blackwell and Todd Ivens... each a pivotal
member of the "Scaled family."
Now, it should not come as a surprise that rocket development
and space businesses would eventually get somebody hurt, it should
not be a surprise that it eventually cost some very
fine people their lives, but the reality of the matter was
still shocking -- and as unsurprising as it should have been... we
couldn't help but be caught off guard by how tough such
revolutionary pursuits can occasionally be.
As expected, though, Scaled Composites soldiers on. They
remember those they've lost with pride and affection, and have
kept their heads held high. Since then, it has become apparent
that there is no question that the sky over Scaled Composites holds
no limits. We think the world of these people... we've seen them
triumph, and from a respectful distance we saw what a tragic but
temporary failure can do even to the best and the brightest -- and
so we look with anticipation to more amazing news from Mojave,
California, and the inevitable triumphs and successes that we
beleive to be but a short time away. God bless those
who gave their all, and God bless those who carry on, regardless of
the risks. These are the folks who change worlds. As always they
continue to earn our admiration and respect...
Final Note: For those who would like to help
those left behind...
Scaled Family Support Fund
c/o Scaled Composites
1624 Flight Line, Mojave, CA. 93501
Acct # 04157-66832 / Wire xfer ABA Routing # 0260-0959-3 (Bank
of America) /
Please make your check payable to "Scaled Family Support Fund".
Scaled notes that this is NOT a tax deductible donation.