Steve Fossett
Photographer and Boing Boing pal Bart Nagel shot this portrait of Steve Fossett last year at the millionaire adventurer's home in Carmel. The renowned aviator has gone missing after taking off in a small plane from a Nevada airstrip on Monday.
Nagel tells us:
He is such a nice man, not at all what you'd think of as an adventurer. Unpretentious and authentic.Our best wishes to Fossett's family, and we hope for the best, too.He told us that his wife Peggy hated his explorations and never wanted to know when they were happening.
She must have been getting ready for a day like this for some time.
But Fossett has been in even tighter spots than this before -- and I will continue hoping for the best.
Previously: Aviation adventurer Steve Fossett is missing
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a very reliable source told me that Fosset was a mediocre pilot and took dangerous and unnecessary risks.
I sure hope they find him so they can bill him for the search...he wasn't required to file a flight plan, but you'd think the idiot would at least TELL SOMEONE at home where he was going to go looking...and Steve? Bonneville Salt Flats...someone with your intelligence shouldn't be trying to reinvent the wheel.
Its clear where Steve was headed - Groom Lake! Area 51, Hangar 18!
#1, I have no idea why you think your comment might be helpful or insightful at this point. Apparently your mother didn't manage to teach you good manners.
#2, he's probably paid enough taxes over his life to fund quite a few searches. That's part of what they're paid for, right? Or are rich people not entitled to the same care as others?
I hope he's found okay, but if not, hopefully he enjoyed his final adventure.
Baloney. I have little sympathy for amateur thrillseekers and daredevils. This is what is meant by the phrase, "an idle mind is the devil's playground." This guy has millions of dollars and the best thing he can think of spending them on is expensive aircraft and ridiculous adventures. It is well-known that Mt. Everest is littered with the bodies of millionaires whose ambition to show off is bigger than their common sense. This guy is a shameless self-indulgent and there is nothing admirable about the way he lived or the way he died.
Oh dear God, another rich person has croaked while doing something stupid. Whatever shall we do?
Maybe there will be books and movies about his wonderous accomplishments just like Amelia Earhardt.
The poor die by the millions and go practically unremarked. One fucking rich person dies and it's all over the media, and they never let it go. Never fails. I mean, who ever heard of Fossett anyway? Why should we care that he's dead? Fucking boingboing.
BTW, no disrespect to Fossett or his family, just that I get tired of the rich mattering more than the rest of us.
My father disappeared on a flight in the same area. The search only went on for a couple days, with only a couple planes looking for him. Same circumstance vfl clear weather. He's never turned up and we eventually had him legally declared dead. I'm hoping that all this effort may turn up his plane.
It shows you how hard it is to find a plane in that terraine. I'm personally hoping they turn up my dad's plane.
wo
The news wire report the weather was perfect for flying on Monday. Bullshit. I was flying Monday morning from Seattle down into Northern California and to the SF Bay Area. The winds at times were very the strangest I can recall after hundreds of similar flights. We were tossed around like salt in shaker. iC
For all those horrendous people who had the audacity to search for this blog, and then say obnoxious and disgraceful things about him ..... my y ll rt n hll.
If you don't like what he stands for, and you're not interested in his accomplishments, then it's simple - stay away.
If you had millions of dollars, what would you do with it? Donate it to charity? Build hospitals? I very much doubt it.
Oh, and to the fool that said Fossett was a mediocre pilot - puuhleez - the guy has broken so many records (many of them solo), and most of them in some type of flying machine - how is he a bad pilot?
Grw p th lt f y.
I believe Mr.Fossett earned his money, therefore he is free to spend it as he likes. How do any of the naysayers know he didn't some spend of it for the good of mankind? As for not being a good pilot, this comment shows a lack of understanding of his considerable accomplishments.
An Impoverish mind full of envy and despair breeds more poverty. What one hears from the ridicule of the wealthy is a spirit of rebellion against those that seek progress for themselves and for others.
It seems more of a challenge to be humble as an envious backbiting poor lazy minded fool than that of productive wisdom.
The only difference between a professional and an ammeture is by their compensation for there act, but has nothing to do with their overall ability.
Mr. Fossett has inspired many to seek goals and gain accomplishment. He is not flamboyant nor is he thrill seeking for the sake of it, just adding character to the life given to him. His challenge is within himself not about himself.
I would like to see more edifying comments in this life than constant ridicule for those that have given so much or at least strive to provide for others to follow and overcome.
You are as a worm because you are poor in spirit, one is wealthy because he is rich in spirit. The rest is only material.
John Crupper II
Tulsa, OK
Wht fckn sshl, h shld f pstd flght pln, myb thn w cld fnd th rch ft twt. Mst b cstng lds t srch fr th prck, hp h `s pckng p th chq f thy fnd hm, th ft fckng prck.
T ll y whny lbrls: "Gt jb. Myb f y gt ff th ntrnt y cld hv mllns lk Fsstt."
Frthr, knw prsnlly tht h s n xmplry plt nd prsn.
Steve is a relative of mine and a great guy who likes to live life to the fullest.
We're praying for his safe return.
A skilled pilot was flying a single engine plane and it went down. It happens once in a while.
A skilled pilot was flying a single engine plane and it went down. It happens once in a while.
Heck, it happens once a week in Florida. At least one such crash killed 5 family members in their home when the pilot lost control and crashed into their house.
Why d pr ppl lwys sy mny s nly mtrl thng? t's lk n gly prsn syng bty n n th nsd.
ntrprnrs lk Stv bld mprs, cntrs, nd cmpns. f y wnt t whn, y cn pck p yr chck t th wlfr ffc n th 1st nd 15th f th mnth.
For all of you that are bashing this guy because he was wealthy: If it was one of your favorite sports icons that was missing, you’d probably be at a stadium memorial service wearing the guy’s jersey with a candle in your hand crying as if you’d lost your best friend.
God speed Steve.
My prayers are with Steve, his wife and family at this time. We have learned many things by his
explorations and some that have contributed to modern medicine. People can say what they think but he is a human who has made many contributions to society in more ways than we will ever know! God Bless you Steve!
I choose to write in non-encripted plain english about Steve Fossett, to me he is one of the greatest man that ever lived in this planet, I'm glad that he is able to live the way he wants and do whatever he likes.
If I'm not able to live the way he does, I choose to accept it and I strive to live my life the best I can.
I hope he is back to break another record!
Mario G. Gonzalez
Steve,
I admire your spirit,courage,skill,and will. May God take care of you.
My heart is saddened by the news of Steve Fossett.
Those who have unkind words to say about this tragic circumstance should self examine themselves. We are all here by the grace of God and nobody is guaranteed tomorrow. Nobody. It does not matter what bracket of life you're in.
Who lives mistake free? I don't.
I just met Fossett in late July. I found him to be very down to Earth and interesting. A grad of Stamford, he earned his money - something I figure many of the poster's here have not much of.
At only 20, I find many of these posts degrading and negitive. Some of you need to grow up.
After hearing about Fossett for years I found him to be quite pilot by watching him prep, fly, and speaking about it.
And the poor guy is not a rich snob. I go to college, have less than $11,000 in the bank, and drive a crappy car and he was just as nice to me as the rich guy he was with.
jlsy s nrly s gly s sm f th cntnt pstd n ths Blg. hp Stv s K nd cntns t chs ff th lw clss dt wh pstd sch lw clss cmmnts nd t whm wld lk t wsh vry sccss n bng nbdy.
You often see this kind of "he was stupid and deserved it" nonsense when someone dies under such circumstances. Reading about it makes people anxious about their own mortality, and they hasten to implicitly assure themselves that they could never come to grief -- that way, or any other way.
It doesn't really have a lot to do with Steve Fossett.
I am an Englishman living in London, UK. I am absolutely appalled by the disrespectful comments submitted here, and the perpetrators ought to be ashamed of themselves.
No one person has the right to make a judgement on another, no matter who they are. We are all entitled to follow our dreams, and the fact that some people achieve greater material success in life does not leave them open to abuse by those perhaps less materially fortunate.
In the case of Steve Fossett, it should be remembered that at present he is MISSING not DEAD. Any individual in such circumstances has the right to benefit from search and rescue assistance. That the guy is a 'big name' and is likely to attract external assistance in his plight is his gain, and I hope against hope that he is located and returned to his family before too long.
God Speed Steve!!
Ignorance is bliss, unless you have to live with it. Verbal abuse a learned behavior justifiable to some.
Root of greatness, the ability overcome adversity.
Root of Ignorance, hold vigil the flames of anger.
The wealthiest people I know find great pleasure in the most simple things in life, like sharing a good home cooked meal with friends and family.
I love it when I hear the words; 'We were poor when I was growing up, but we did not know we were poor.'
Good People like Mr Fossett, rich or poor, do not define their happiness by how much they own. They define happiness by the company they keep.
I send out to each and everyone the healing needed at this time.
There have been those that have remained missing for longer periods of time. He is experianced at dealing with emergencys and the unexpected. I continue to pray for his safe return.
I happen to know Steve very well. He has earned his money and he is one of the nicest most down to earth guys you can find. Yeah you guys who are jealous of his money, what would you do if you had similar amount of money?? I am just a poor glider pilot who taught Steve to fly his Stemme motorglider out of Minden, NV and go cross country with it. And I am not jealous of his fortunes.
He has become better and better pilot all the time. Not the best glider pilot, but very good now'a'days.
All he risks he has taken has been very carefully calculated. He hasn't done dare devil stunts.
God speed Steve. I hope you survived yet I unfortunately don't think so... See you later...
Pasi
diehard hero!
i am touched. i am trying to think of something to help to find him. dog?? is his favorite one? it might lead and locate him. oh, i know there is so so big and my thought is so so small but i want to say "good luck!".
angel fan
If Steve was found dead, or never found and presumed dead, I wouldn't feel sorry for him. May be for his wife, but not for him.
He has lived a life that most of us can't even start to imagine. Flying around the world in a ballon, soaring to incredible heights, sailing the oceans; a never ending adventure.
If he's dead, he died the way adventurers die: doing what they liked to do, just like the crocodille hunter from Australia.
We, the nine-to-five crowd, will always just dream of living and dying the way you did.
I toast for you Steve!
I googled earthed the distance from Flying M Ranch to Area 51 (appx 193 miles).
The airspace surrounding Area 51 is well within the range of a Super Decathlon.
The Government takes breeches of that area very seriously, and are known to carry out extreme measures in order to protect it.
Someone should investigate this.
(From a fellow pilot)
TO THE KNUCKLEHEAD WHO SAID FOSSETT IS A "MEDIOCRE PILOT"
Does your source have the same ratings as Steve?
Certificate: AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT
Rating(s):
AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT
AIRPLANE MULTIENGINE LAND
COMMERCIAL PRIVILEGES
AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE LAND
AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE SEA
ROTORCRAFT-HELICOPTER
INSTRUMENT HELICOPTER
PRIVATE PRIVILEGES
GLIDER
LIGHTER-THAN-AIR FREE BALLOON
Type Ratings
A/CE-500 A/CE-525 A/CE-750 A/DA-10
T TH BGHDD WH SD FSSTT S "MDCR PLT
"H's th N. 1 gldng plt n th wrld, s wll s th N. 1 vtr n th wrld. f nybdy cld hv gldd dwn, t wld hv bn hm,"
TK T Y HV N D F WHT PLN LKS LK, S WLL S YR RLBL SRC WH PRBBLY NVR VN FLDD PPR RPLN!.. BTTR KP YR MTH SHT!. R N THS CS YR FNGRS T YRSLF!
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -- "WOW--What a Ride!"
unknown source
My prayers and sympathy go out to Steve Fossett's family. I have no ill-will torward his wealth or success, but I must say that the search has extended far from what an "average person" would get. I know this from 18 years in public service.
To all the people saying stuff like "Mr Fossett deserves what's coming to him." ... "If he dies I won't mourn him." ... and all that crap, of course, you are entitled to YOUR opinions. Likewise, MY opinion is that y gys r s thck s sh!t. My y ll BRN N HLL!!
It is shocking to read some of the posts here. I am a Scout from Africa and so all of you know Steve, through his generosity and selflessness, touched us in many ways.
He served in the World Scout Committee for many years and was even elected its Vice-Chair. The Committee is charged with setting policies for the growth of the Scout Movement all over the world. It is a voluntary engagement that requires the use of personal resources, effort and time which Steve gave in great abundance.
We pray for his safe return.
At the very least, one would have hoped that Steve would have had on board the airplane better emergency beacon and communications technology. Today, emergency beacons and Ham Radio transceivers (Amateur Radio) are very portable, and could save your life. There have been numerous cases of emergency beacons and/or Ham Radios activated after an accident, where help came quickly. Not many people realize that a small, 5 watt transceiver and a simple wire antenna can be heard worldwide on the Ham frequencies, or that a emergency beacon transmitter can work in an impact situtation. In any case, we are all pulling for Mr. Fossett, and hope that through some small miracle, he is still well and alive, and waiting to be rescued.
Ok. I've read enough to entice me to respond.
Firstly, Steve was far more than a mediocre pilot. Whatever the unnamed source is, take it from me, an actual pilot, he's done some incredibly difficult things, and he's done them repeatedly. He'd have to have more luck than he has bucks if he was just mediocre. So don't be so stupid as to believe such nonsense (much less pass it on).
Second, to those who have never heard of Mr. Fossett, yeah he's rich, but he's also a national hero. Millions know and admire him. If you don't yourself, I suggest you do some research, because there's a lot to this man and his accomplishments. Just start with Wikipedia.
Lastly, keep in mind it's too damn easy for witless miscreants to type copious amounts of bullsh... into forums, newsgroups, and blogs. Wayyyyy to easy! So, they do. I sincerely hope and trust most of you reading this crap take it with a healthy dose of skepticism. It's rarely the truth, and it's rarely worth any serious consideration.
The careless mitigation and vilification of so many true heroes, especially by those that have very little else to offer the world, is one of the greatest tragedies of our time.
Fossett is an incredible businessman and Adventurer. I used to clear my trades at his firm in Chicago and he was extremely liked and respected. Sorry to hear about the plane going down. Maybe he want's to disappear and start a new life as a normal person? ya never know.....
I hope that Steve is returned safely. Its very sad to see the negative comments here, a sad reflection on the state of so many human beings at the moment!No doubt, Steve has worked hard and risked a lot to get where he has. Im sure he has paid way more in taxes than the typical citizen and provided livelyhoods for soo many people. Then, you have to admire what he has achieved and the spirit in which he has pulled off these adventures. What a man! Ive met him and he is very down to earth....if most of us could be like him the world would be a better place. Live life to the full, enjoy it like Steve has and we will all be the better for it. Dont miss the point, we are here to enjoy life then you are gone for an awful long time. Be positive, happy and enjoy life like Steve.
Steve Clark
I have no idea how one human being could wish ill will upon another. I don't know Steve Fossett but have never gotten the impression that he felt he was special due to his wealth. Have any of you complainers out there stopped to think that his family is probably paying for the majority of the cost of the search for him just because they can. Shame on all of you!
Godspeed Steve!! I hope you will be home with your wife and family soon!
#42...DITTO. Well done.
Godspeed Steve.
I don't really care about Steve Fossett. We have a bogus war being waged in Iraq by a President stuck in denial and we lose soldiers everyday and kill scores of innocent Iraqi men, women and children with each of those passing days. How does the loss of one thrill seeking life even register on the scale of sympathy weighted against the intentional suffering inflicted upon humanity by Iraq?
I picture two scenarios with Fossett. One is the intent to simply disappear. To fake a disappearance.
The other is the supreme challenge. To pit himself against two broken arms and no water and being trapped upside down in a crashed plane.
Either way who cares? but I bet he's loving/loved it.
Post #33 says it well. A toast to his life and successes.
To each his own.
Clearly, Mr. Fossett's many acccomplishments would not be possible if he were not an excellent and accomplished pilot - no one should doubt that. His records speak for themselves.
In the same vein, he also had the apparent ability to both think and act like a complete bonehead. For a pilot to not file a flight plan, no matter how mundane he might have considered his (last?) flight, is completely idiotic. We should only hope and pray, that the many people who are involved in the search do not in any way have to pay for that stupidity on Mr. Fossett's part.
My father always told me "have your fun, but not at anyone's expense". Fossett should have filed a flight plan, plain and simple. That may or may not have saved his life, but it would certainly have materially reduce the risk that those who went looking for him took.......to not do so is a completely moronic and selfish act.
RIP.
What a bunch of small people. No wonder you feel unimportant. With such a hateful and negative mindset, you ARE unimportant. You know what....some people DO make a difference and you mean little people don't. You have no idea how he spends his money. Charitable contributions are often anonymous. I echo the sentiment of the post above mine: Shame on you! May you drown in the muck of your jealousy and mean thoughts.
So, when is the last time you got in your car and went for a drive, but first sat down to write a detailed note letting the local authorities know where you were going and when you expected to be there, and asking them to come looking for you if you don't call them to tell them you made it Ok?
Well, that's exactly what a flight plan is with regards to aviation.
So, get off the not filing a flight plan thing. The uninformed non-aviation world is making too much of that. Most don't even understand what one is or why it is filed in the first place.
I'm a long-time experienced pilot, and filing a flight plan isn't something even Chuck Yeager does when he's going out to bop around VFR (that's Visual Flight Rules, which is how over 90% of all flights every day are conducted in the US; some with flight plans, but the vast majority, especially those that are local flights like Steve's, without flight plans. And that represents several thousand flights every day).
Yes it's true that if he had "filed" a flight plan the search team would narrow their search; but that's no guarantee that would be the right thing to do. Since we don't know what happened, we don't know if a flight plan would have helped him at all.
Also, keep in mind that filing a flight plan requires the pilot to have a specific place in mind to go (or at least a specific path), and a specific time he/she expects to get there. And, they need to follow it in order to make it to the intended destination on time. That simply wasn't Steve's plan for this flight. And like I said, that's the case for thousands of safe flights every day in the US. He was simply out for a jaunt, not a trip. A flight plan is just not expected, nor arguably appropriate, for the flight Steve was making.
Don't misunderstand me. Filing a flight plan is a prudent and appropriate thing to do when you're going somewhere and you can calculate when you anticipate arriving. To the best of our knowledge, that just wasn't what Steve was doing on this flight.
Hey all. Don't think this search is costing the public anymore than a lost Joe Average Pilot. Steve's family has the means and is spending a fortune on his search. They're currently hiring pilots, planes and helicopters.
If you're jealous of that, I'm afraid that's just something you'll need to get over, cause it aint his fault.
BTW, why in the world would you assume this search is being conducted by the public sector anyway? If you were Peggy Fossett (Steve's wife), with all her money, would you sit by and let the government run the search. He.. NO!
All of these people that have only negative things to say about Steve Fossett, are living a unhappy and angry life and don`t know how to get out of their rut
Steve, you are in my prayers! Not enough people like you in the world! Godspeed
Hey #47- According to you, we should all suspend any thrills, vacations, fun times, etc. we have planned until we're out of Iraq. Idiot!
i love how the fact that the man achieved something brings out such nastiness in some folks....we hold those that succeed up because they are great role models...why would we celebrate poverty in any way at all??? for the most part it's avoidable so stop whining for the poor...
poor people have poor ways!!!!!!!!
this man was a great adventurer....that in itself is worth applauding.. we're all going to die one day and he chose to live in the face of death rather than hiding from it.... bravo!!!!!
#47
" dn't rlly cr bt Stv Fsstt. W hv bgs wr bng wgd n rq by Prsdnt stck n dnl nd w ls sldrs vrydy nd kll scrs f nncnt rq mn, wmn nd chldrn wth ch f ths pssng dys. Hw ds th lss f n thrll skng lf vn rgstr n th scl f sympthy wghtd gnst th ntntnl sffrng nflctd pn hmnty by rq? "
H MY GD !
Y PND P MY YS !
BSH S TH WRST PRSDNT N HSTRY ! MRDRR !
VRYN WS S HPPY NDR PRSDNT CLNTN !
I am amazed, as many of you seem to be, by the nasty comments made by people who didn't know Steve Fossett. I met him on two occasions and he is a great person. He truly loved what he did and would talk with anyone about it. Neither he or his wife come off as "wealthy", and certainly not snobby. They are wonderful, down-to-earth people who clearly had/have a very deep and meaningful relationship...my heart goes out to her. On some level she must have always known that it would come to this...one day. I really do think that the people who begrudge Steve his wealth should be embarrassed. It is so clear that they are jealous and most likely losers in life. Go out and do SOMETHING with your life Grumps!
"What work I have done I have done because it has been play. If it had been work I shouldn't have done it. Who was it who said, "Blessed is the man who has found his work"? Whoever it was he had the right idea in his mind. Mark you, he says his work--not somebody else's work. The work that is really a man's own work is play and not work at all. Cursed is the man who has found some other man's work and cannot lose it. When we talk about the great workers of the world we really mean the great players of the world. The fellows who groan and sweat under the weary load of toil that they bear never can hope to do anything great. How can they when their souls are in a ferment of revolt against the employment of their hands and brains?
The product of slavery, intellectual or physical, can never be great." MARK TWAIN
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
MARK TWAIN
"If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood. I'd type a little faster."
ISAAC ASIMOV
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." WINSTON CHURCHILL
That a human being has dared to achieve the height, the depth and breadth of humanity's spirit to soar and to discover its limits can only be seen as spectacular in scope and divine in nature.
All of humanity celebrates the wonder of this great man, Steve Fossett. Thanks Steve.
Firstly, it is utterly appalling to see such disrepectful comments made by those about Steve Fosset. It demonstrates your pea brain narrow mindedness about life in general.
Look at your own goals and acheivements first before judging a great man who genuinely has made a postive impact everywhere he goes. Don't knock him for having lots of money.....learn from it and be inspired. Do you just think he woke up one day with a few million dollars in his bank account? No, it was a goal of his since he was a child and has worked towards his goal with focus & success which has made him a wealthy man.
Why not set some of your own personal goals and see if you can achieve just one to start with. Put yourself to your own personal test and earn some character bone heads. If you have nothing decent to say...shut it and use that energy for something positive.
Negative and derogatory posts by those are labled as oxygen thieves. There is no place for you in this world. Let someone else breath your share of our air because you are wasting it!
We look forward to seeing you back on a new adventure soon Steve!
Best regards
Nacho
I really can not believe all the bad comments I have seen on here. I had never heard of the guy, until he came up missing.
Some of you people don't have a heart, but my heart still goes out to him and his family. Who cares if he has money or not, that is not the issue... the issue is a life.
But most of the posters that make bad comments, I think they think the world owes them something so they just don't try to do much, or they carry this woe is me attitude.
Well I don't know Steve or his family and don't care if he had money or not.... I just think people need to be nice and care about the people around them.
And I got to tell you I work as a server and the rudest people are those who think the world owes them everything. It is not in how much you make... it is a mind set... you either have a good attitude or you are a jerk..pocket book does not matter..... and to those of you that have bad comments.... I hope you come to the light... maybe your life would be better if you cared more about other people.
I have lost my mom, my dad, a brother, a sister, and you know what it was heartless people that said such bad things when I was so hurt that made it so hard.. so grow up bad commenters that act like Steves life doesn't matter because he had money... he was a person, he had family.
My heart and prayers go out to Steve and his family... I know this is REALLY hard time for them... I have lost many family members, and It really had to be hard not knowing if he was dead or alive, you know like out there somewhere suffering, just waiting to be found.. My heart goes out ot the family.
And my heart goes out to all the bad posters too.. it tells me that they are pretty messed up. Money, riches mean nothing... the most important is where you will spend eternity.. and for the bad posters... from what they said.... I hate it but it sounds like Hell is the destiny.. God could care less how much money you have.
But he does care about people.. and people are what matter.. so I am thinking that the people that made such nasty remarks, must not know that God loves them and he will help them.. in every way.. all they have to do is ask him into their heart.. and he will help them turn there lives around and not be so bitter..
And he will make your life better too.. in every way... Just had to say all of that because the only way anyone could of made such bad comments about the missing of someone is because they never knew Jesus