Another Loss...

Well real quick, I was scheduled to fly yesterday, but we canceled for weather. We covered some cross country stuff and started to plan the first cross country that will happen in a week or so (hopefully).

On another note, in the world of aviation, it is often said that you will soon learn of someone you knew that has died in a plane. Well this week, I learned of two deaths. The first was a Delta pilot that I read about but didn't put the name with the person until Friday. Come to find out, he was also a reserve pilot out of Ohio that had just finished up the aerial refueling training down here not too long ago. Once I was reminded, I knew exactly who it was. He was a good stick and a super nice guy. He was so well liked that at his funeral, he had a fly-over of a C-130, a C-5 and a T-38. It's pretty special to have ONE military airplane do a fly-over, but THREE is unheard of.

Well, just a little while ago, I saw that Shaun Lunt had died Friday while flying in Alaska. Although I didn't personally meet Shaun, I had chatted with him via e-mail a few times and he was an incredibly nice guy. His story was quite remarkable; A 30 years old anesthesiologist who lived in California. He went out and bought a Super Cub which he took to Alaska for several site seeing trips. He truly had a passion for life and lived unlike anyone I have ever known. It appears that while up in Alaska circling around a whale, the airplane stalled and it spun in. A friend was with him (in his own Super Cub) and landed next to the wreckage. The Alaska State Police airplane overflew the accident but was unable to land due to winds. They asked his friend to wait until their return. He waited for two hours and then left saying he couldn't watch his friend burn up anymore. What a horrible story...I feel very bad for his friend.

Here is his website...take a look at some of Shaun's work, it is quite remarkable.

http://shaunlunt.typepad.com/shootings/

I have too many reminders lately that aviation is a wonderful thing, but it can be dangerous too...