Two thousand and seven has been a bewildering year for this addled actor/pilot. My precious younger daughter, Heather, was taken from me by cancer, leaving a hole in my heart. She was the golden girl—filled with verve and love of life. Not surprisingly, she fought the good fight to hold on to her brief life. Her brief moment in the sun. I know that she must indeed be in a far better place. Both her mother and I grieve, for her presence is still with us and will never leave during this brief journey called life.
I also lost a great pal, Steve Fossett, holder of some 115 world records for soaring, sailing and ballooning. Steve represented the Walter Mitty in all of us. The imaginary adventurer in "Everyman's" life. Steve was not the clichéd swashbuckling, glitzy "derring-do"—flamboyant and outrageous; Steve was the antithesis of Hollywood's concept. He was a quiet man who had felt no need to glamorize his many adventurers, and they were many: probably more than any other air adventurer in the world.
He had his fearless eye on the world's land speed record. He was searching for an appropriate salt flat in Nevada. We have yet to find any remains of our dear pal. Suffice to say, by now Steve Fossett is also in a "better place." For he has joined the "Angels of Aviation." Always to be admired. Always to be missed by his dear, loyal wife, Peggy, and his legion of fellow pilots. À bientôt. So long, good buddy—friend and pilot. We miss you already. You left this blue marble called Earth far, far too soon, but you will never be forgotten. Your records are testament to your dreams.
Academy Award and Emmy Award winning screen star Cliff Robertson has owned and flown a wide array of aircraft, including a Spitfire MK IX, a Messerschmitt Me 108, a French aerobatic Stampe SV4 biplane, a Grob Astir glider (in which he still holds a distance record) and a Beech Baron 58. A holder of single, multi, instrument and commercial licenses, as well as balloon, the pilot of many thousands of hours has accumulated many aviation awards, including EAA's highest Eagle award and the AOPA Sharples Award. He was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, and the American Veteran Association has honored him as Veteran of the Year. His columns will appear in his soon-to-be-published book. For more information, visit [http://www.cliffrobertson.info].
E. Hawkins
August 27, 2010 20:13 | Both my family and fiance have connections to the military / aviation and have enjoyed your films for years. Best wishes at this difficult time from NC and England.~
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