Pete Conrad- Apollo 12 CommanderHave you ever stumbled across some information that you should have known, but did not? Last week, while reading a motorcycle magazine, I saw a column about Pete Conrad killed on his Harley in California. The magazine article said he was 76 years old. I did a little bit of research and found other information stating he was 69 when he died and it happened 10 years ago.
Regardless, I was amazed that I had not heard about this... I am a self-proclaimed expert on the early astronauts. I should have known about this... Where have I been? Living under a cloud?
An old Navy test pilot and astronaut killed on his Harley trying to negotiate a curve in the road.
Somehow, that sounds like... Well, sort of an OK way to go.
Regardless, I was amazed that I had not heard about this... I am a self-proclaimed expert on the early astronauts. I should have known about this... Where have I been? Living under a cloud?
An old Navy test pilot and astronaut killed on his Harley trying to negotiate a curve in the road.
Somehow, that sounds like... Well, sort of an OK way to go.
38 comments:
Ahh, Pete Conrad. The one who, at a party to celebrate the Apollo 11 landing, famously thanked everyone for being there at the rehearsal party for his Apollo 12 landing.
I didn't know he'd passed either. RIP, Pete, you steely eyed missile man.
I wouldn't have known that answer either if I was asked. I don't think you should be too hard on yourself for not knowing. I don't how you can possibly keep up to date on current events with your schedule and isolation on the flight deck for great lengths of time.
Conrad's passing, 10 years ago or now, is a sign of the end of an era. Something great and magical happened in this country in the 60's and 70's. It was a big deal. Now I can't even tell you if there's a Space Shuttle in space today or not. We take it for granted I guess, much like we take safe air travel for granted, then it comes up and bites us every once in awhile.
Here's to pioneers in flight, and to those like yourself who keep the standards high.
Tim G in MN
It's a shame to see these legends pass away one by one. That's why it was so great to see the interview with Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders they did last year for Apollo 8's 40th anniversary. It's great to see some of them are still alive and kicking.
I try to keep up to date with the current space program too. I always watch the Space Shuttle launches (although not often live, because of the time difference). That era too is ending of course, with the shuttle due to be retired next year. Now it's on to Project Constellation and back to the moon by 2020. I hope they keep that promise, I wasn't around for the first landings and I'd love to see one in my life time. :)
James, The character Conrad said that in the movie, "Apollo 13". I don't think he said that in real life.
Dave,
Just a quick note to say how much I enjoy your blog! My father was a NWA Captain that flew the "Electric Jet" before he retired. One of his fondest acomplishments was leaving Logan to the east and then making the 180 to fly to John Wayne and making it out over the Pacific. His career was in the CV-580 and DC-9, but he had learned to embrace the technology that the Electric Jet brought and loved the airplane. I was fortunate enough to hitch a few rides in the Convair and DC-9 and have some great memories. (Somes stories I could tell you, but then I would have to kill you... if you get my meaning!) I soloed but did not get my ticket... maybe one day I can afford to return to private aviation. Thanks again for blogging and keeping the memories of my father alive in your stories. It means a lot to me! Jeff
Picked this up from Stu Savory's blog list. Good stories.
If you haven't seen it, I can't recommend the documentary 'In the Shadow of the Moon' highly enough. It is a commentary on the Apollo program by all the living astronauts ( except Armstrong who shys away from public life ) and has some amazing footage and stories.
More here...
http://www.intheshadowofthemoon.com/
RIP Pete,
AF
Ummmm....you might not want to mention it to your wife.....
Ron, as I recall it was Lovell who said it in the movie Apollo 13, but Conrad who said it in real life. My memory's a bit rusty though.
I can also strongly recommend the miniseries "From The Earth to the Moon", a great dramatization of the entire journey to the moon from Mercury and Gemini all the way to Apollo 17.
Isn't a motorcycle accident what also took the life of Leo Laudenslager? I also found that one to be tragically ironic.
Leo was the only person in my life that I had ever asked for an autograph until last year when I also begged one from Patty Wagstaff.
Buzz Aldrin's autobiographical book "Return to Earth", written in 1973, is a favoutite of mine. Apart from his amazing first hand account of the Moon landing, he also opened himself up as he wrote of the difficulties everyday life back on Earth held for him afterwards. He's written several books since.
I never tire of reading about space travel or flight and their heroic pioneers. From the time we turned the lights of Perth on for John Glenn's passing overhead to the time the world united in prayer for the safe return of the troubled Apollo 13 mission, to each present-day shuttle launch... What a great time in history to be alive!
This is a great discussion! I hope there will be lots more comments.
Dave;
I think you'll enjoy this.
The Apollo 8 Press kit from 1968 in PDF format.
Right click and save as:
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a410/A08_PressKit.pdf
Cheers,
Fernando from New York City
Dave...my best to your colleagues in New York today. Sounds like they pulled off a heroic water landing. Todd
Capt Dave, Kudos to the crew on board USAir 1549, excellent job handling the ditching!
I hope you are doing fine
Regards
Roberto
Dave,
Please add my kudos to your colleagues on 1549 for their handling of the emergency today.
Are you dry? I hope so... Awsome handling of a potential disaster! Jeff
Had to check for Dave's thoughts on today's "water landing." Never was really sure it would work so well. Can you add some on the ditching button - some talk on a-net.
Does the ditching button close the RAT? Is it a RAT or ditch option? (RAT=ram air turbine, or air driven generator), or would the apu power Fi-Fi?
Have to admit I'm already setting this scenario up in FS. Going to see if I can make 19 at TEB.
Just echoes of everybody else here. Part of me hopes it was you who displayed such epic airmanship (and subsequent seamanship) - what a blog that would be! :)
A bigger part of me hopes wherever you're jetting off to today, or just watching from home, that all is well. :)
I'd suspected the CFM issue when I first saw this, but I guess all of your Fi-Fis are probably IAE powered for cheaper Mx costs? Happy new year and keep the greasy side down,
Rich.
Oh, and,
PS. Something sounds wrong to me about doing a water landing in the Electric Jet :-D...
What a great display of airmanship in New York today... but I hope you weren't the one who had to do it! Thoughts are with you and your colleagues.
Captain of NY flight was Capt Sullenberger, so it wasn't Dave.
ABC showed a picture of Capt Sullenberger on the evening news, sort of how I pictured Dave. Could Dave be just his blog name??
Dave,
What kind of "massive paperwork" happens with incidents such with US Air 1549 or Continental 1404? Presuming the pilot returns to flying duty, what's the procedure? Simulator time? Check ride?
JP in Colorado Springs
Capt. Sullenberger is a little more "grandfatherish" than what I pictured Dave. Heck at first, I though that pic of Pete Conrad was Dave. There are some fantastic Captains out there, Dave and Sullenberger being two fine examples. I heard Sullenberger has 19,000 hours. If I recall right, Dave is right up there with him.
Captain Dave. We, the anonymous people out here in cyberspace who read your blog would love to hear your thoughts and comments on today's emergency landing. Don't leave us hanging! When I heard the news today my first thoughts were "where is Captain Dave and is he okay?"
From what I read on this blog Captain Dave typically pilots red eye flights coast to coast. I'm guessing and hoping he is safe and sound.
Favorite Apollo 12 story (among many):
Pete Conrad and Alan Bean hatched an idea of how they could get a photo of both of them standing together on the moon. Bean stashed away a self-timer device for the Hasselblad cameras they were using on the lunar surface. While on the surface, they got to a point in their lunar timeline where they thought they could get the photo. Bean went looking for the self-timer but could never find it in the bag he thought he put it in. Too bad, it would have been a great photo...
Just wanted to check on my favorite cyber CA...kudos to your comrades on 1549. What a tremendous landing and evacuation; I'm so glad things turned out as well as they did.
So poor Mimi got her bath after all (see Ice World Part One)!
But what a brilliant outcome from what could have been massive heartbreak, thanks to Capt. Sullenberger, and considering the weight of the plane with its load of fuel just after take-off!
Re the comment/query on what is the procedure if the pilot returns to flying duty: "Simulator time? Check ride?" Why, when he has just pulled off in reality a greater feat than all the simulation or checking could ever provide? It probably would be a strange feeling for him when getting back into the seat for his next take-off though?
Rather fitting that we have been discussing our space and aviator heroes, to have this latest input!
That was truly a miracle on the Hudson yesterday. What an amazing display of proficiency on Capt. Sullenberger's part. That a fully loaded A320 could
survive such an impact and remain intact and afloat for as long as she did is a testament to the build quality of the Boeing product. A salute also to the ferry pilots
of New York and their rescue efforts. Would love to read your thoughts on how pilots are trained for such emergency procedures as a water landing.
@ChromeFin: see the "A" in "A320"?
It doesn't stand for "Boeing" :)
That landing was truly a great example of trained and experienced professionals at their work. Respect these guys doing their thing for us average Joe's.
And thanks to Dave for this awesome blog. This really helps one stay focused in ones dreams.
Raino
Finland
I stepped in it on that one... meant to say Airbus.
The Pilot's profile http://safetyreliability.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Sullenberger_Profile.317143407.doc
I think the most amazing thing about Pete Conrad's untimeley death is that it happened in Moon Bay, CA. An appropos place for the third man to walk on the moon to pass away.
Echoing the many comments about Captain Sullenberger...
"Moon Bay" should be "Half Moon Bay"?
Pete Conrad died after an accident near Ojai, about 270 miles south of Half Moon Bay.
What I remember most about his post-Apollo career was his being the pilot of the DC-X vertical takeoff/landing rocket testbed a couple of years before his death.
Too bad the full-up craft never flew.
Another action hero who died from a motorcycle accident: T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia).
Captain Dave,
I ran across a blog today and immediately thought of your post on Pete Conrad. The writer details the space shuttle's recent cross country piggyback ride on NASA's 747 from Edwards AFB to the KSC.
It's an easier read if you start at the bottom of page 2 and read chronologically. If nothing else, the pictures of this unlikely pair together are spectacular.
http://blogs.nasa.gov/cm/blog/shuttleferry.blog/posts/index.html
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