Ditto...
Yes, he is a gentleman. What a nice person and how inspirational. I know about his book and will buy it. I've been in Orlando for 42 years and heard about him all my life. It was an honor to meet him and hear the story of his amazing career. Everything he did was for a higher cause. He did not believe in the glory of world records -but got it anyway. He was dedicated to figuring out if man could survive re-entry from space before the space program even started. His research proved that it could be done. Joe says that the F-4 Phantom mockup that is at the Orlando Executive Airport to honor him was really his dream for a monument to the Vietnam Vets honoring them and to welcome them home- a welcome they never had.
Manny,
When my Squadron returned from Iraq in 2004 I asked our powers that be if we could take 4 F16's to Sun N Fun for static display. Reluctantly and after much gnashing of teeth our leadership agreed and as promised, 4 war weary grey fighters appeared over KLAL. After landing I noticed we were literally right across the grass from a Barnstormer giving rides in a giant bi-plane. The huge double winged airliner had what seemed a non stop schedule of takeoffs and landings, stopping only briefly to off load and re-board 4 more clients. I also noticed the Pilot had a sign and name tag nearby,
Col Joe Kittinger. As a kid I had an enlarged magazine photo in my room of him exiting the
Excelsior III, at 100,000+ feet. In my early 20's I had applied for a banner towing job at Rosey O' Grady's in Orlando when Joe was their Chief Pilot. He would encourage me to pursue the Military and be one of several defining influences in my young life.
Back at Sun N Fun our group would all tour the flight line that day, walking by Joe's grassy spot. He spied us from his
New Standard and walked over to our band of
brown suited merry men. He introduced himself in standard fighter pilot fashion, present meets past, warriors all.
After what seemed like hours slipping past Joe graciously bowed out as he had paying customers waiting and we left, albeit reluctantly. We would all comment for the remainder of the trip about "those who had gone before".
A GREAT American...
V/R
Smokey
Joe the Barnstormer (aircraft now owned by long time RVer Mike C. of Nostalgic warbird rides)
Joe Kittinger exiting the balloon at 102,800' in 1960.
Despite holding the high altitude free fall record for nearly 50 years Joe was the biggest proponent of Felix Baumgartners breaking the record.