A visit to the Crossfields

—  Craig Brown      

Since the early 60's I grew up and still live in the in the N. VA area. I remember as a child watching the TV documentaries of the various supersonic and X Program flights, including the X-15 flights. Seeing the X-15 engine test explosion sealed in my mind the bravery of the pilots, and needless to say Scott Crossfield became one of my heroes. Being fascinated by aviation, partly because of the accomplishments of these aviators, I earned my pilot's license at an early age.

I remember watching the more recent video of Scott when he was acting as an advisor to one of the teams trying to recreate the Wright Brothers flight. I had a huge smile on my face seeing his obvious love for aviation - what a guy! Years later, hearing of his crash on the radio, my pilot friend and I called each other virtually at the same time and asked "did you hear". It was a sad day, and we are still is sad. Despite the grief (especially being cognizant of the Crossfield family's personal loss) we also believe that there is virtue in dying with one's "boots on" which was also hinted at in the Esquire article of Nov 01, 2006. When I learned that the Crossfields lived but a few minute drive from me, and realized that I probably shared the airspace and the runways with him at W10/HEF and JYO, I had regret that I never knew this. Heck, his name was right there in the phone book! What would it have been like to meet him and to have heard some of his flying stories first hand?

A couple of months later, at Sally's invitation, I visited the Crossfields to meet Mrs. Crossfield, Sally, and Tony. I walked past his pickup truck that had supplies for the lawn and garden in it that I am sure he planned on using upon his return. There were Cessna maintenance manuals on a bench and the older two bladed prop leaned up against the couch. It was a very nice and sometimes emotional visit. It is clear that the grace and humility of his family is a reflection of who he was as a husband and father. I see not only his pure talent as a pilot, love for aviation, desire to help others learn, but also his character as a man that is a legacy to all of us and especially to his family. Thank you Sally for allowing me this glimpse into your lives and for your hospitality. I also thank others that have written about Lieutenant "Scotty" Crossfield, each telling us a bit more of who he was.

If there was anyone that the poem "High Flight" by John Gillespie Magee, Jr. applies to, I think it is Scott Crossfield. I see his X-15 rocket's contrail trailing through thin air in these words....

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of—wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark nor even eagle flew—
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.