Larry Newman (aviator) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Larry Newman
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LtoR:Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson,
Newman of the Double Eagle II |
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| Born | September 28, 1947 Los Angeles, California
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| Died | December 20, 2010 (aged 63) Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Occupation | Pilot, Founder of Electra Flyer Corporation and American Aerolights |
| Known for | Flying the first balloon across the Atlantic, the Double Eagle II Flying the first balloon across the Pacific, the Double Eagle V |
Larry Newman (born September 28, 1947 – died December 20, 2010) was an amazing American pilot and businessman. He was famous for being part of the teams that flew balloons across two huge oceans! He helped make the first balloon trip across the Atlantic Ocean in the Double Eagle II. Later, he was also on the team that made the first balloon trip across the Pacific Ocean in the Double Eagle V.
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Crossing the Atlantic: Double Eagle II
Larry Newman received the Congressional Gold Medal for his incredible flight in the Double Eagle II. This special award is given by the United States Congress.
The Double Eagle II was piloted by Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and Larry Newman. They made history by becoming the first people to fly a balloon all the way across the Atlantic Ocean.
Their journey began in Presque Isle, Maine and ended in Miserey, near Paris, France. They landed on August 17, 1978. The flight took 137 hours and 6 minutes, which is more than five days! It was the first time anyone had flown a balloon non-stop across the Atlantic.
Crossing the Pacific: Double Eagle V
In November 1981, Larry Newman was part of another record-breaking flight. He flew the Double Eagle V with Ben Abruzzo, Ron Clark, and Rocky Aoki. This time, they made the first successful manned balloon crossing of the Pacific Ocean.
They launched their balloon from Nagashima, Japan, on November 10, 1981. After 84 hours and 31 minutes, they landed in the Mendocino National Forest in California. They covered an amazing 5,768 miles (9,283 km), setting a new distance record.
The four-man crew included fellow balloonists from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ben Abruzzo and Ron Clark. Rocky Aoki, a famous restaurateur, helped pay for the flight. After crossing the Pacific, their helium-filled balloon faced a storm and was weighed down by ice. It crash-landed safely in northern California, and no one was hurt.
Larry Newman's Life and Innovations
Larry Newman was not just a balloonist; he was also a clever businessman. He helped make hang gliding very popular. His company, Electra Flyer Corporation, made thousands of hang gliders.
In 1979, he also started American Aerolights. This company built ultralight aircraft, which are very light, small airplanes.
Attempting a Round-the-World Flight
Larry Newman also dreamed of flying a balloon all the way around the world. He teamed up with a former Russian cosmonaut, Vladimir Dzhanibekov. Newman imagined using a special NASA-designed "sky anchor" balloon.
This unique balloon system was shaped like an hourglass. It used a helium balloon for floating and another special balloon for controlling its weight. The whole system, made by Raven Industries, was 354 feet (108 m) tall.
In 1990, they did a test flight from Tillamook, Oregon. Dzhanibekov, Newman, Tim Lachenmeier, and Don Moses flew for 31 hours. They landed in Omak, Washington, proving the sky anchor balloon could work.
Later, Dzhanibekov, Larry Newman, and Don Moses piloted the Earthwinds Hilton balloon. This project was mainly sponsored by Barron Hilton. They tried to launch from Akron, Ohio, in 1992, but strong winds stopped them.
Another attempt was made on January 13, 1993, from Reno Stead Airport. The launch was delayed, and the balloon crashed after only 30 minutes. It hit a mountain peak because it couldn't get through a strong layer of air. Luckily, the three crewmen were not hurt.
They made one more flight on December 31, 1994. The balloon reached 29,000 feet (8,800 m) before the ballast balloon failed. These challenges showed that a different type of balloon, called a Roziere balloon, might be better for flying around the world.
Larry Newman left America West Airlines in 1997.
