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Author
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Topic: NF-104A test pilot Robert Smith (1928-2010)
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-01-2010 10:56 AM
   
NF-104A test pilot and U.S. Air Force astronaut candidate for Gemini and Apollo Robert W. Smith, 81, passed away on Aug. 19, 2010, according to his website. ...a personal recommendation by General Jimmie [Doolittle] led to Smith's assignment to the new Aerospace Research Pilots School for astronaut training and his selection by the Air Force as one of nine candidates for the Gemini/Apollo astronauts. It also returned him to flight test at the Air Force's premier test site, Edwards California. There he would become the Air Force test pilot for the NF-104A, AeroSpace Trainer, an effort to train future astronauts in actual space flight in a reusable Jet-Rocket craft, with normal take-off and landing. It was during that testing that he flew higher than anyone ever had under those conditions and set an altitude record for flight with ground takeoff that would hold to this day, had it been officially sanctioned in Paris. In lieu of flowers or any other remembrances, the family asks that you make a donation to the South Lake Animal League. |
Kite
Member Posts: 831
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 09-01-2010 12:12 PM
. I was always in hope that his life story on the NF104 website would be published as a book. RIP |
randy
Member Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 09-01-2010 01:32 PM
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mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 09-01-2010 01:55 PM
My sympathies to his family and friends. I enjoyed a nice correspondance with Bob Smith a couple of years ago. He was a kind and generous man who was happy to share stories of his adventures. He was also passionate about setting the story straight in areas where he thought the acknowledged history was inaccurate. Hopefully his website will be maintained for years to come, as it tells his story (and that of the NF-104 program) very nicely. I encourage fellow cSers to take the time to read the website...it's easily worth an hour (or two) of your time! |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2476
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 09-01-2010 02:26 PM
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albatron
Member Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 09-01-2010 03:26 PM
I had not been able to confirm his passing but had heard of it a short while back.Bob has had a rough few years. He lost his son to a major heart attack, and then shortly afterwards had a massive stroke. He seemed to be rebounding from it quite well, although it did leave some lasting effects. Bud Evans, Al Crews, Ken Chilstrom and I went to take him out to lunch a few years back, but instead he hosted us at his beautiful home in Montverde, FL. Standing in his office, even Bud, Al and Ken were impressed. I was slack jawed. One thing I did not realize is he was awarded the Air Force Cross during the Viet Nam war. That's pretty amazing and something he never talked about. He was kind of embarrassed when I said I hadn't realized he had received it. Embarrassed because he was proud of it, but felt he was only doing his job. I read the cite, he very much deserved it. I don't think he ever really recovered after losing his son. And he was still hurting after the shoddy treatment he received regarding Yeagers crash in the NF-104. Hopefully now he can gain some peace. Godspeed Bob, a true hero. |
cddfspace
Member Posts: 609
From: Morris County, NJ, USA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 09-01-2010 08:27 PM
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Jeff
Member Posts: 474
From: Fayetteville, NC, USA
Registered: May 2009
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posted 09-01-2010 08:40 PM
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Michael Clemente
Member Posts: 186
From: Atco, New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 09-01-2010 09:29 PM
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jasonelam
Member Posts: 691
From: Monticello, KY USA
Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 09-01-2010 10:38 PM
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Joe Frasketi
Member Posts: 191
From: Florida USA
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 09-01-2010 11:19 PM
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Lunar rock nut
Member Posts: 911
From: Oklahoma city, Oklahoma U.S.A.
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 09-02-2010 07:41 AM
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Delta7
Member Posts: 1505
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 09-02-2010 09:19 AM
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capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 09-02-2010 10:33 AM
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ejectr
Member Posts: 1751
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 09-02-2010 11:42 AM
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Mike Z
Member Posts: 451
From: Ellicott City, Maryland
Registered: Dec 2005
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posted 09-02-2010 12:18 PM
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Per Olav Sanner
New Member Posts:
From:
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posted 09-02-2010 12:31 PM
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apolloprojeckt
Member Posts: 1447
From: Arnhem, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2009
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posted 09-02-2010 12:44 PM
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East-Frisian
Member Posts: 586
From: Germany
Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 09-02-2010 12:59 PM
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machbusterman
Member Posts: 1778
From: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Registered: May 2004
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posted 09-02-2010 04:31 PM
quote:
Originally posted by albatron:
He seemed to be rebounding from it quite well, although it did leave some lasting effects. Bud Evans, Al Crews, Ken Chilstrom and I went to take him out to lunch a few years back, but instead he hosted us at his beautiful home in Montverde, FL.
I'm so sorry to learn of Bob's passing. Another great has made his final flight! He was indeed a gentleman of some standing and as Al has said, quite an unassuming hero! He was very gracious indeed and had a lot of time for collectors/enthusiasts... And during that luncheon Al those four aerospace legends signed a few items for me as you may recall... something I will never forget! Godspeed Bob and thank YOU!  |
nicholas
Member Posts: 65
From: oxford,england
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 09-07-2010 02:37 AM
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history in miniature
Member Posts: 600
From: Slatington, PA
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 09-07-2010 05:46 AM
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JohnPaul56
Member Posts: 180
From: Montclair, NJ, USA
Registered: Apr 2010
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posted 09-07-2010 07:17 AM
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astroborg
Member Posts: 200
From: Woodbridge, VA, USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 09-08-2010 07:38 AM
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alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 09-08-2010 08:02 AM
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Gilbert
Member Posts: 1328
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 09-13-2010 03:49 PM
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astro-nut
Member Posts: 946
From: Washington, IL
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 09-13-2010 03:56 PM
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dss65
Member Posts: 1156
From: Sandpoint, ID, USA
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 09-15-2010 08:51 PM
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Delta7
Member Posts: 1505
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 09-15-2010 09:17 PM
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dractr
Member Posts: 13
From: Bakersfield, CA USA
Registered: Nov 2010
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posted 11-26-2010 08:10 AM
As a former crew chief of NF-104 760, my condolences to the family. |
Spacefest
Member Posts: 1168
From: Tucson, AZ
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 11-26-2010 11:58 AM
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