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Author
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Topic: Rocketplane Pilot Arthur W. "Kit" Murray
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micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 08-06-2011 09:28 AM
   
I've just learned that Kit Murray passed away on July 25, 2011.He flew a number of flights in the X-1A and X-1B rocketplanes, setting a new world's record of 90,440 feet altitude in the X-1A on August 26, 1954. He was the first rocketplane pilot to report seeing the curvature of the earth.  My friend Rick Emshoff introduced me to Kit back at the 1997 Gathering of Eagles. The three of us had breakfast together, and then that evening, beers with Kit and his son (who had been a helicopter pilot in Viet Nam). Kit was a humble man, but once you got him talking, his stories of the X-1A and B were fascinating! May he rest in peace. |
randy
Member Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 08-06-2011 10:11 AM
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astro-nut
Member Posts: 946
From: Washington, IL
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 08-06-2011 10:12 AM
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Michael Davis
Member Posts: 528
From: Houston, Texas
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 08-06-2011 10:13 AM
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Michael Clemente
Member Posts: 186
From: Atco, New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 08-06-2011 10:56 AM
Another sad day in aviation history.. |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1505
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 08-06-2011 11:59 AM
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bwhite1976
Member Posts: 281
From: Belleville, IL
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 08-06-2011 06:11 PM
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GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2476
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 08-06-2011 06:15 PM
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dss65
Member Posts: 1156
From: Sandpoint, ID, USA
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 08-06-2011 06:25 PM
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Gilbert
Member Posts: 1328
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 08-06-2011 09:08 PM
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machbusterman
Member Posts: 1778
From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Registered: May 2004
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posted 08-07-2011 04:28 AM
Very sad news indeed. I believe it was Kit's wish to have his ashes scattered over Edwards AFB.... I do hope that the powers that be can sanction this request.There are now only four X-1 series pilots still with us: Chuck Yeager, John Griffith, Richard Harer (X-1B) and Neil Armstrong (X-1B).  |
jasonelam
Member Posts: 691
From: Monticello, KY USA
Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 08-07-2011 08:19 AM
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spaceman
Member Posts: 1104
From: Walsall, West Midlands, UK
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 08-07-2011 10:39 AM
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Kite
Member Posts: 831
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 08-07-2011 03:36 PM
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East-Frisian
Member Posts: 586
From: Germany
Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 08-08-2011 02:14 PM
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albatron
Member Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 08-08-2011 03:19 PM
quote:
Originally posted by machbusterman:
I believe it was Kit's wish to have his ashes scattered over Edwards AFB... I do hope that the powers that be can sanction this request.
Derek, through an intermediary I was able to get in touch with the CO at Edwards, it's all worked out. There will be a private family gathering to do just that. Kit was an interesting guy. His wife asked why he didn't want to be buried at Arlington, he replied, "I don't know anyone there". Although he certainly soared with a lot of them. |
Lunar rock nut
Member Posts: 911
From: Oklahoma city, Oklahoma U.S.A.
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 08-08-2011 06:22 PM
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capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 08-09-2011 08:08 AM
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machbusterman
Member Posts: 1778
From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Registered: May 2004
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posted 08-09-2011 02:47 PM
Al, good to hear that its all been worked out about spreading Kit's ashes. I appreciate all you've done to assist with this Amigo! |
E2M Lem Man
Member Posts: 846
From: Los Angeles CA. USA
Registered: Jan 2005
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posted 08-09-2011 04:05 PM
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