Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: AquaShrimp on September 21, 2008, 04:31:58 PM
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I was reading about famous people who have died in plane crashes, and I came across one mentioned the first black astronaut, Robert Lawrence. He graduated high school at 16, college at 20, went on to become an instructor pilot *and* earn a PhD in Chemistry. Six months after being selected for astronaut training, he was killed when in a F-104 crash. He was letting a student pilot perform a steep descent glide, mimicking the landing of a gliding spacecraft. The student flared too late, the plane smashed into the ground, and Lawrence ejected into the ground.
Interesting bit of history there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Henry_Lawrence,_Jr.
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With all respect, how can he be astronaut if he never was in space?
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Read "Deke!" by Deke Slayton to get more inside details about this. There were better black candidates than Lawrence, they just decided not to submit applications.
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I am glad when I learned to fly my instructor didn't allow me to do anything that would kill us.
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I am glad when I learned to fly my instructor didn't allow me to do anything that would kill us.
Reading the Wiki article, this looked like he was instructing a pilot on advanced techniques used for re-entry, I.E. such as landing the X-15 or the Space Shuttle. I doubt that the pilot he was training wasn't someone who already wasn't an accomplished pilot.
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He died in a quest that will ultimately prove more inspiring and meaningful than all the wars in history.
:salute
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Kleine Opfer müssen gebracht werden!
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First Black man in space was a Cuban on Soyuz 38.
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Kleine Opfer müssen gebracht werden!
"Small victims must be brought!" :huh Really?
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"Small Sacrifices must be made." Last words of the first man to fly.. a guy that spent his fortune and eventually his life in advancing aviation. Otto Lilienthal. It became the unofficial motto of test pilots... usually uttered with a wry smile before committing aviation in dangerous and unfavorable circumstances.
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I know...I just thought that was one of babels more memorable misfires. :D
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"Small Sacrifices must be made." Last words of the first man to fly.. a guy that spent his fortune and eventually his life in advancing aviation. Otto Lilienthal. It became the unofficial motto of test pilots... usually uttered with a wry smile before committing aviation in dangerous and unfavorable circumstances.
So while I was studying Political Science, some of you guys were studying aircraft and flying. Explains why I am an awful AH pilot. :lol Just ask BnZ... he gets a little frustrated with my flying skills and judgment.
Good story btw.
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Read "Deke!" by Deke Slayton to get more inside details about this. There were better black candidates than Lawrence, they just decided not to submit applications.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a better candidate than a test pilot who has a PhD.
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First Black man in space was a Cuban on Soyuz 38.
(http://www.nagtroc.org/forums/style_emoticons/default/clap.gif)
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The first DEAD man in space was also the result of a Communist space program... :D
Can't just be a man doing his job with some people can it? Gotta pander and pot-stir.
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You'd be hard-pressed to find a better candidate than a test pilot who has a PhD.
Take it up with Deke and Chuck Yeager, not me.