Contact: Dan Hubbard at (202) 783-9360 or dhubbard@nbaa.org
WASHINGTON, DC, April 21, 2006 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today marked the passing of aviation legend A. Scott Crossfield, 84, who died in the crash of his Cessna 210 in Georgia yesterday.
“Scott Crossfield will truly be missed, and his family is on the minds and in the hearts of all of us in American aviation today,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “Scott was a giant, and in addition to being a pioneer, was a wonderful guy, with legions of friends and admirers.”
Crossfield made history in 1953 by becoming the first pilot to fly faster than twice the speed of sound. Crossfield served as a test pilot for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the predecessor agency to NASA. He was recognized with numerous awards, including the Distinguished Public Service Medal.
Crossfield was among the notable aviation figures who presented the National Aviation Hall of Fame’s Combs Award at NBAA’s Annual Meeting & Convention in Orlando in 2005. He was the 1984 recipient of NBAA’s Meritorious Service to Aviation Award, business aviation’s most distinguished honor, recognizing extraordinary lifelong professional contributions to aviation.
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Founded in 1947, NBAA serves more than 7,000 Member Companies by promoting the aviation interests of organizations utilizing business aircraft in the United States and worldwide. The association provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention, the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at www.nbaa.org.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.