All Hail The Aero-Heroes of 2007!

It is both the most "fun," and most difficult, task facing the ANN staff at the end of every year -- determining who, or what, did the most to promote the cause of aviation in the past 365 days... while also chastising those people or entities that did all they could to undermine the many successes the aviation/aerospace community has managed to accomplish.

Thankfully, 2007 was a year in which we saw the best and brightest among us step forward and work tirelessly on behalf of us all. No doubt about it... the challenges we faced in 2007 were numerous, and ongoing... so was the quality of expertise and passion brought to our defense by those who heroically demonstrated to the world the very best side of aviation... via their deeds, words and actions.

It is ANN's honor to recognize a solid dozen of our Aero-Heroes for 2007... in something of an informal order, starting from 12th to the 1st. Let us know what you think of our selections... whom YOU would have liked be included or omitted from such a list. In the meantime, we thank the folks who made this year's list. Thank you, folks... we really needed you this year, and you didn't let us down.

From the Hero's List... #7: Scaled Composites, One and ALL

Burt Rutan and his troops have undertaken the 'improbable' and turned it into recorded history. Burt and his troops have taken the 'nearly impossible' and made it look (dare I say it?) 'easy.' 2007 was the year that Burt and the folks at Scaled Composites found out that every revolution oft requires a price be paid for the challenges you undertake. This year, despite incredible safety measures, and a nearly flawless record, Scaled Composites found out how costly their dreams can be.

An accident at a test facility, conducting operations similar to many others that had been undertaken over previous months and years, went awry and the resulting accident cost some very good people their lives, hurt a number of others, and shook the revolutionary spirit of Scaled Composites to the core. No one said the space business is going to be easy... and for those of us who have watched them at close range and been involved in the private space revolution for a number of years, we all knew this day was coming... and as fate would have it, the best and the brightest were the first to pay.

In this case, the best and the brightest carried the names of Glen May, Eric Blackwell and Todd Ivens... each a pivotal member of the "Scaled family." 

Now, it should not come as a surprise that rocket development and space businesses would eventually get somebody hurt, it should not be a surprise that it eventually cost some very fine people their lives, but the reality of the matter was still shocking -- and as unsurprising as it should have been... we couldn't help but be caught off guard by how tough such revolutionary pursuits can occasionally be.

As expected, though, Scaled Composites soldiers on. They remember those they've lost with pride and affection, and have kept their heads held high. Since then, it has become apparent that there is no question that the sky over Scaled Composites holds no limits. We think the world of these people... we've seen them triumph, and from a respectful distance we saw what a tragic but temporary failure can do even to the best and the brightest -- and so we look with anticipation to more amazing news from Mojave, California, and the inevitable triumphs and successes that we beleive to be but a short time away. God bless those who gave their all, and God bless those who carry on, regardless of the risks. These are the folks who change worlds. As always they continue to earn our admiration and respect...

Final Note: For those who would like to help those left behind...

Scaled Family Support Fund
c/o Scaled Composites
1624 Flight Line, Mojave, CA. 93501

Acct # 04157-66832 / Wire xfer ABA Routing # 0260-0959-3 (Bank of America) /
Please make your check payable to "Scaled Family Support Fund". Scaled notes that this is NOT a tax deductible donation.

FMI: www.scaled.com