Author Topic: Wal-Mart heir dies in plane crash (Read 450 times)

Gh0stFT · « **on:** June 30, 2005, 05:54:41 PM »

Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Wal-Mart heir John Walton (58) died Monday when his ultralight aircraft crashed after taking off from an airport in Jackson, Wyoming.
He was ranked No. 7 on the Forbes magazine list of the 400 wealthiest Americans in 2004, with a fortune estimated at $20 billion.

Well we all know flying is never 100% safe, but we still do it,
because we love it.

Curval · « **Reply #1 on:** June 30, 2005, 05:56:49 PM »

Pay day for the young-uns...big time.

hyena426 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 30, 2005, 06:03:13 PM »

20billion..and you wonder why he was in a ultralight with that kinda money...but i guess like us all..he must get board with life and do somthing daring

Hangtime · « **Reply #3 on:** June 30, 2005, 06:07:54 PM »

To really enjoy flying, it should not have to be a death defying feat.

Flying an Ultralite is definately a death defying feat.

Money & Common Sense are often mutually exclusive.

Gaylord · « **Reply #4 on:** June 30, 2005, 06:13:30 PM »

Flags are flying at half staff throught China.

rpm · « **Reply #5 on:** June 30, 2005, 06:14:39 PM »

I'd kill to be able to fly ultralights in Jackson.

{This is not an admission of guilt, nor is it admissable in any court of law. Any reseblence to the actual killer is purely coincidental.} [/COLOR]

Wolfala · « **Reply #6 on:** June 30, 2005, 06:20:06 PM »

The beauty of it is Wyoming doesn't get to collect a cent of tax from his passing.

Hangtime · « **Reply #7 on:** June 30, 2005, 06:22:42 PM »

I know too much about wind to even consider getting into an underpowered stringbag... the mere thought makes my blood run cold.

If it don't weigh at least 1,000 pounds dry and have and engine with about 150hp or more.. I ain't gettin innit.

Rafe35 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 30, 2005, 06:40:01 PM »

He was a Vietnam veteran, serving in the U.S. Army Green Berets as a medic. He was awarded the Silver Star for saving the lives of several members of his unit while under enemy fire, according to the company...

http://todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=17527

Didn't know he was in the Army..

Chairboy · « **Reply #9 on:** June 30, 2005, 06:40:29 PM »

Here's the type of plane:
http://www.cgsaviation.com/singlearrow.htm

Hangtime · « **Reply #10 on:** June 30, 2005, 06:53:42 PM »

Hell, that's almost an airplane. I had in mind some doofus lil contraption with an electric fan on it.

Still.. it's marginal.. with the 65hp 4 stroke engine.. maybe. Still too light for my blood temperature. Would like to know more of the circumstances.. takeoff weight, engine, etc.

Goofly lil things got enuff power ta take yah into trouble, no sweat. Rarely got enuff punch & muscle to get yah out.

Toad · « **Reply #11 on:** June 30, 2005, 07:13:00 PM »

Well, he was a cropduster. Probably knew how to fly low pretty well.

From an online Forbes piece (that also details the action for which he was awarded the Star; a bunch about his interest in K-12 education too.):

Quote

John set out on his own and started a crop-dusting business in Texas and Arizona. Crop-dusting may sound like an innocent enough occupation, but it's actually sort of an excuse to fly daredevil tricks in a single-engine aircraft all day. (It's also kind of like doing bombing runs over and over.) You swoop down way low over Farmer Brown's alfalfa field—nearly touching the leafy green for half a mile or so—and then pull up, up, up to clear the wires at the end of the field. And then repeat.

Crop-dusting was a fine way for John to reacclimate himself to civilian life, but there are only so many years a man can do that.

~~Mr. Walton. You weren't just another ****less rich boy.~~

Hangtime · « **Reply #12 on:** June 30, 2005, 07:50:47 PM »

Kinda makes the point.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #13 on:** June 30, 2005, 07:54:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Gaylord
Flags are flying at half staff throught China.

Hangtime · « **Reply #14 on:** June 30, 2005, 08:01:03 PM »

A lil respect for the passing of a Green Beret combat medic with a silver star wouldn't be outta line.