| Larry Newman, Last Surviving Member of Double Eagle II Crew, Has Died |
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| Written by Glen Moyer |
| Monday, 24 January 2011 20:48 |
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Larry Newman (1947-2010), last surviving member of the crew of the Double Eagle II balloon - first to cross the Atlantic, has died. Newman succumbed last month to a 3-year long battle with pancreatic cancer.
In 1978 Newman joined with Ben Abruzzo and Maxie Anderson to fly the Double Eagle II balloon and become the first to fly a balloon across the Atlantic Ocean. Newman also teamed with Abruzzo, Ron Clark and Rocky Aoki on the crew of Double Eagle V, the first balloon to cross the Pacific Ocean. Newman was the last surviving member of the DE II crew. Maxie Anderson died in a ballooning accident along with Don Ida while competing in the 1983 Gordon Bennett balloon race. Ben Abruzzo died in a plane crash in Albuquerque in 1985. Newman had been involved in aviation almost since infancy. He was a world champion hang glider and a 757 captain with America West Airlines for 10 years among other accomplishments. A "Celebration of Life" will be held on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at Flacon Field Airport, Mesa, AZ from 4pm - 9pm. |
| Last Updated on Monday, 24 January 2011 21:31 |