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Continuing the Photo Tour of my Life in
Flight.
 | One form of flight that is fascinating to most people and which I would like to do is
flying a Blimp or Airship. I had the opportunity to fly as a pilot for the Lightship
Group which operates several airships in the United States and in various places
throughout the world. However, after initial training in the U.S. my most likely
assignment would have been in Korea, Africa, or possibly South America for a year or more
of a three year commitment, which I declined. Following are some pictures of the
Lightship Group's airships.
 
Two of the Lightship Group's A-60+ airships moored at their mast - day & night.
Exterior and interior views of the airship which is a Lighter Than Air (LTA) multi
engine airship that is instrument capable.
 
Low level flight & Lightship Group's airship with High Degree's airship
"Snoopy".
 
Formation flight over New York, and some of the blimps over SuperBowl XXXII.
Visit the
Lightship Group
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| Of course, the ultimate in flight is flying in
space. While in the military I was qualified and applied to the astronaut program,
but was one of many not selected to participate in man's great adventure into this
continuously new frontier.
   
Different modes of Space Shuttle flight within the earth's atmosphere.
Visit NASA
I was fortunate though to work with the space program (space shuttle, satellites, and new
technologies) while with Sperry Flight Systems, Space Systems Division. I worked
directly for Ron Evans, Apollo 17 astronaut who was (capsule Friendship commander) on the
last mission to the moon and who still holds the record for longest time in orbit around
and on the back side of the moon.
I attend several Space Shuttle launches and visited nearly all NASA Centers on business.
During one of the launches I was able to have dinner and party with Ron's crew
(Gene Cernan, Ron Evans, Harrison Schmitt) and also met many other astronauts. At
one launch I attended the prayer breakfast prior to the space flight and visited
with the crew after the flight in Arizona. I have also met astronauts at state
rallies for Jesus. Recently I visited with astronaut and Georgia Tech graduate
Susan Still-Kilrain during our Phoenix Ga Tech Club annual banquet where she was the guest
of honor and speaker. She is the first female shuttle pilot and was able to do back
to back space flights on STS-83 and STS-94. All of the astronauts have been very
gracious in sharing their experiences of flying in space, which we may all be able to
experience in the future.
Susan Still-Kilrain
Under Construction: Pictures of various astronauts I have had the opportunity to
meet will be posted to this page when I find where I put them for safe keeping.
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| The best summary of all my flight experiences is expressed by the poem - music - lyrics
of High Flight.
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Follow the Thread
High Flight
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