Rocket missing in California

Breaking News: Missing Pilot
An all out search is underway to find a missing pilot.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff's deputies say Chris Kidd from Kern County was supposed to do an aerial cattle survey of his parents ranch in New Cuyama, Saturday morning.
Kidd was then supposed to call his parents and report back, but family and friends have not heard from him.
And Kidd hasn't returned home.
Kidd is described as a very experienced pilot and familiar with the flying route.
All day Sunday a team of search and rescue officials from the ground and air have been combing the area near the family's cottonwood canyon ranch for any sign of Kidd's Harmon Rocket experimental plane.
So far there have been no new clues.
Story Created: Feb 3, 2008 at 5:16 PM PST
Story Updated: Feb 3, 2008 at 5:16 PM PST

http://www.keyt.com/news/local/15186691.html

John Clark
RV8 N18U "Sunshine"
KSBA

John

Any word on Chris?

Oh that's not good at all. Keep us posted if anyone hears any updates.

Not much new...

Here is a news report from Santa Maria. Nothing really new, but a little more detail. I have a couple of contacts in the Sheriff's air unit and will pass along anything I learn.

http://tinyurl.com/2kw6ye

John Clark
RV8 N18U "Sunshine"
KSBA

Bad news

I hate to be the bearer of bad news.

http://www.examiner.com/a-1204654~Missing_pilot_died_in_crash_in_Kern_County.html

Oh boy thats so sad..

That sucks

Is CAP involved?

Yes

Nomex Maximus said:

Is CAP involved?

Click to expand...

Quote from the news item above:

"Search and rescue teams and Civil Air Patrol pilots had been combing the area since the weekend."

John Clark
RV8 N18U "Sunshine"
KSBA

News Video

Here is some follow up video of the Rocket crash:

http://www.ksby.com/Global/story.asp?S=7832405

John Clark
RV8 N18U "Sunshine"
KSBA

Memorial Service today

The memorial service was held for Chris today. I watched the three Rockets depart Bakersfield Muni for their "missing man" fly by.

The word is, Chris knew it was overcast and still tried to get thru the pass.

Earlier in the week Chris's brother came to the Rocket Shop Cafe and purchased 120 Harmon Rocket shirts (and wanted all the shop's Rocket shirts) for the family and friends to wear at the service.

The family also asked John Harmon if there was anything they could do to help stop the local media's witch hunt over unsafe Experimentals.