the human fly

[i-daxi]

The Human Fly on the back of an ex-Japan Air Lines (JAL) Douglas DC-8 Series 55 jet transport flown by United Air Lines Captain Clay Lacy, of Clay Lacy Aviation, Van Nuys, California. The flight took place at Mojave, California, in April, 1977, with "The Human Fly" strapped to a support on the upper cabin.

This was the third and last flight made by The Human Fly, whom according to Marvel Comics ~ which produced a brief comic book series about the daredevil ~ shortly thereafter, picked up a guitar and took up folksinging, aborting plans to "walk" the DC-8 using special hand railings that were to be added to the aircraft. Also aborted were plans to cross the English Channel by missile, completing the journey by unstrapping and parachuting down into France after the crossing.

The Human Fly made his first flight on the back of this DC-8 in June, 1976, at the California National Air Races (CNAR) at Mojave, California. The second flight was made over Dallas, however, The Human Fly was pummeled by hailstones when the aircraft could not avoid "underflight" of a looming Thunderstorm. The third flight was televised after a three-hour tape delay abound the World on CBS Sports. A Learjet accompanied the aircraft on its two circuits of Mojave Airport.

The Human Fly remains the fastest "Wing Walker" in history with speeds reportedly in excess of 250 mph. He is the first and only person to "Wing Walk" on a commercial jet airliner.

The Douglas DC-8 Series 55 is the largest Wing Walking aircraft in the World as a result of the three flights. The aircraft was modified for the missions by American Jet Industries, Van Nuys, California.

In 1976, the aircraft was still painted with JAL cheat lines absent the logotypes. Those in the grandstands witnessing the test flights and first record flight in June, 1976, were treated to the surprise experience of the DC-8 touching down immediately in front of them, seen only at the last minute in "Extreme Close-Up" as the positioning of the grandstands blocked the view of the gigantic aircraft and its sound, remarkably, was undetectable until the final moments over the runway.

Photo: M. Daniels / ILIPS Group International *

* A similar image published "Around the World, Over the Wire" by United Press International (UPI). This was the photographer's (Publisher's/Editor's) first internationally published Press photo.

ILIPS Group International's history goes back even further to December, 1972, when the photographer began his work as a Journalist and Photojournalist in the Los Angeles, California, area. ILIPS celebrated its 35th Anniversary as a Press Organization in December, 2007. We are now in our 36th year ~ Ed.

[Ashaman]

Cosa non si fa per non finire sui giornali.

Al giorno d'oggi attorucoli da quattro centesimi (alla dozzina) scritturati con la promessa di diventare famosi trombano in diretta TV in una casa sigillata con una folla di imbecilli fuori a fare il tifo (che vorrei sperare sia pubblico pagato, ma conoscendo i tipi di persone... è uso il termine con generosità... a seguire quel letame mediatico... non ne sono sicuro), all'epoca camminavano sui DC8 in volo...

È solo una mia impressione o c'è veramente stata un'involuzione nella razza umana?