Remembering lost fliers – 2007

This was a tough year on the air show and air race circuit. May we always remember the bravery, and most importantly, the love for aviation these fliers shared with us. They will always be an inspiration to us. Once again, we offer our deepest sympathies to their families, friends, and teammates of these fliers.

Pilots lost this year.

Blue skies to:

Stephen Brown, Biplane Racer (Tonapah Low), Feb 8, 2007. AAFO, Tribute, post.

Eilon Krugman-Kadi, Air show performer, L-39 Albatross, Titusville, FL, Mar 16, 2007.

Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Davis, Blue Angels #6, April 21, 2007. Story. ASB thread.

Cpt Shawn McCaughey, Snowbird #2, May 18, 2007. Story. ASB thread. My post.

Steve Hilligoss, founder of Indianapolis Air Show, June 22, 2007. Tributes here, and here.

John McKittrick, a well respected aviator. He bought a P-51 and was getting himself ready to race the pylons. AAFO posts, Related post.

Gerry Beck, Air Racer and warbird restorer (and may other accomplishments), Oshkosh, July 27, 2007. [post]

Jim LeRoy, Acrobatic Pilot, Dayton Air Show, July 28, 2007. [post]

Lech Marchelewski and Piotr Banachowicz of Zelazny Air Show Team, Radom (Poland) Air Show, Sept 1, 2007. [Story, Team site]

Steve Fossett, pioneer, record holder, a future legend. Sept 3, 2007 went missing in the Nevada desert. [Story, AAFO posts, ASB posts]

Jan Wildbergh, Skytypers Air Show Team, NAS Oceana Airshow, Sept 7, 2007. Jan also flew the missing man with his Skytypers team after Blue Angel Kevin Davis’ accident earlier in the year. [Story, Team Site, ASB]

Steve Dari, Biplane racer, Reno Air Races, Sep 11, 2007. Here’s the post with all the links.

Brad Morehouse, Jet Racer, Reno Air Races, Sep 13, 2007. [post]

Gary Hubler, Formula One Racer, Reno Air Races, Sep 14, 2007 [post]

Robert Pond, Naval aviator and mastermind behind the legendary Pond Racer, December 2007. [news]

Some legends:

Cook Cleland, Robin Olds, Richard C Catledge, Tex Hill, Paul Tibbets, Dick Becker, Jefferson DeBlanc Sr., Raleigh “Dusty” Rhodes.

And of course, a personal loss: A. Boyd Snyder

(I’m sure I’ve missed some. Please accept my apologies and leave a comment so I can update the post)

Updated:  Aero-News network did a similar post:  Part 1, Part 2.