Larry Newman (aviator)

Larry Newman (September 28, 1947 – December 20, 2010) was an American pilot, business man, and balloonist. He was part of the balloon crews that made the first Atlantic ocean crossing by balloon in the Double Eagle II and the first Pacific ocean crossing by balloon in the Double Eagle V. [1]

The gas balloon Double Eagle II over Presque Isle, Maine attempting to cross the Atlantic
Double Eagle Gondola

Larry Newman
LtoR:Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson,
Larry Newman of the Double Eagle II
Born
Larry Milton Newman

(1947-09-28)September 28, 1947
Los Angeles, California
DiedDecember 20, 2010(2010-12-20) (aged 63)
Scottsdale, Arizona
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPilot, Founder of Electra Flyer Corporation and American Aerolights
Known forFlying the first balloon across the Atlantic, the Double Eagle II
Flying the first balloon across the Pacific, the Double Eagle V

Double Eagle II

Newman won the Congressional Gold Medal awarded by the United States Congress for his flight in the Double Eagle II. The Double Eagle II, piloted by Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and Larry Newman, became the first balloon to cross the Atlantic Ocean when it landed 17 August 1978 in Miserey near Paris, 137 hours 6 minutes after leaving Presque Isle, Maine. [2] The flight was the first manned balloon crossing of the Atlantic non-stop.[3][4]

Double Eagle V

In November 1981, Newman flew the Double Eagle V in the first successful manned balloon crossing of the Pacific with Ben Abruzzo, Ron Clark and Rocky Aoki.[5] They launched from Nagashima, Japan on November 10, 1981, and landed in Mendocino National Forest in California 84 hours and 31 minutes later, covering a record 5,768 miles (9,283 km). [6] The four-man crew included fellow Albuquerque balloonists Ben Abruzzo & Ron Clark, and restaurateur Rocky Aoki, who partially funded the flight. After crossing the Pacific the helium-filled Double Eagle V, weighed down by ice and buffeted by a storm, crash-landed in northern California, ending the nearly 6,000-mile flight. No one was hurt. [7]

Life

Newman helped popularize hang gliding with his company Electra Flyer Corporation, which produced thousands of hang gliders at its peak. He also founded ultralight aircraft manufacturer American Aerolights in 1979.[8][9][10][11]

In 1985 Newman sold his business and became a pilot for America West airlines.

References
  1. "Richard Abruzzo (USA)". gasballooning.org. GasBallooning. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  2. Charles McCarry. Double Eagle. ISBN 0-316-55360-3.
  3. Glen Bledsoe, Karen Bledsoe. Ballooning Adventures.
  4. Charles McCarry. Double Eagle. ISBN 0-316-55360-3.
  5. Dan Grunloh. "Remembering Ultralight Pioneer Larry Newman". Archived from the original on February 7, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
  6. Nelson, Ray (1985). Flight of the Pacific Eagle. Albuquerque: Transpac.
  7. "Ron Clark Died: September 26, 2010 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico". Evans.tributes.com. Evans Tributes. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  8. "American Aerolights Double Eagle". Archived from the original on October 19, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  9. "American Aerolights Double Eagle". Archived from the original on September 5, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  10. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, pages B-77 and E-13. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  11. Virtual Ultralight Museum. "Eagle 215B". Retrieved February 24, 2015.
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