Freight DogsFinally a forum for those midnight prowler types who utilise the unglamorous parts of airports that many of us never get to see. Freight Dogs is for pilots and crew who operate mostly without SLF.
Location: Gone from the FL sun to the desert Oasis
Age: 45
Posts: 151
Scott Kalitta Killed
Watching ESPN here in the US, they broke in with a story that says that Scott Kalitta, Funny Car driver and owner of Kalitta charters has been killed in a crash at Englishtown NJ. I know there are many stories about Scott, but condolences to the Kalitta family and Kalitta charters and the Airline.
Last edited by Sleeping Freight Dog : 22nd June 2008 at 01:26. Reason: confirming reported story
Indeed a terrible crash. How many times do we see the drivers of NASCAR, NHRA and Indy etc. walk away from these - unfortunately not this time.... There's a link on the Chicago Tribune website to the accident run.
How many times do we see the drivers of NASCAR, NHRA and Indy etc. walk away from these - unfortunately not this time....
Dragsters often burst into flames at high speed but most times the driver escapes unhurt. In this case the video appears to show the car running into a concrete wall at the end of the strip. More space and more gravel at the end might have saved him.
It would have taken a hell of a lot of space and gravel to have stopped him from an estimated 300 mph!!! It looked like the chutes were tangled, they sure were not coming out cleanly. A horrible crash.
Never quite got to grips with what makes someone want to do this as a sport.
Sympathy to family and friends but how can you feel sorry for this family man who by his own pursuit of adrenalin has denied his family his future presence, this is not sport its a form of russian roulette.
There will always be folks out there on the edge. That's a discussion for another time. For now, my thoughts are with the entire Kalitta family, for whom this must be the toughest of times.
By the way, Connie is one of the truly colorful, successful, and genuinely self-made men in aviation. He's built his company into one of the largest, most profitable heavy freight air carriers in the world, all privately held and on his own terms.
My best wishes and condolences to Connie and his family during this time of grief.
Top Fuel Funny Cars/Rails are business as well as sport. Connie has been racing for years upon years. It was in Scott's blood, not just a weekend diversion. My heartfelt thoughts to all the family and friends.
So sad! This may well be history repeating itself . . . . . Robert Prescott (founder/ CEO of Flying Tiger Line) fell to pieces after the loss of his son (son died in an airplane crash). Arguably, this incident had soon caused Flying Tigers to go downhill, resulting in it's sell to FedEx in 1988. Prescott simply lost his will to live. . . . Same with Dean Martin after his son's ANG F-4 Phantom crash, however Dean did not own an aviation company.
Not touchy at all, just tired of people predicting the sky is falling! Scott died; very sad, condolences to the family. I think that is bad enough news. Now, does one really need to continue with predicting the downfall of a succesful niche carrier, with all the bad stuff that entails?
I am not trying to set rules ('cause I can't) merely stating my opinion, as can you.
By the way, the Kalitta website now has a page devoted to Scott for those that are interested.
If you knew Connie no doubt you'd know he is much stronger than that. I'm sure he is hurting, though he is well aware the dangers of drag racing. Why do you think he only has one eye?
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