https://bradlaidman.com/?p=443
I still haven’t changed my stance on this. Look at all the fuss they are going through to find this guy:
This is a thank you from his wife that describes the lengths they are going to find Steve the billionaire adventurer. I haven’t been able to find out who is paying for all this, but I hope despite what is probably her certain grief that she gets the tab for it.
“The search for Steve Fossett is intense, thorough, and highly professional. I am certain that, under no other circumstances, would it be possible to assemble a better, more experienced and organized team, both on site and off. This is an incredible collaboration between military, law enforcement and civilian expertise. The outpouring of help from around the world has been extraordinary. More than anything else, Steve Fossett believes in achieving success through calculated, meticulous planning and organization and it is that spirit which permeates this team. Our hopes are high and I am confident of a successful resolution to this search.
Deepest, sincere thanks to Barron Hilton, his staff, and all of the staff of the Flying M Ranch for their tireless energy and incredible support in the search for Steve. Thanks also to Tom Schrade and the Grand Sierra Hotel in Reno for their tactical, logistical and organizational contributions. I am indebted to the numerous friends who have come from around the world to serve as pilots, spotters, and ground crew and who are giving genuine moral support during this difficult time.Special thanks to Gov. Jim Gibbons of Nevada, along with the Civil Air Patrols of Nevada and California for their ongoing contributions of assets and tireless, round-the-clock support. We are sincerely grateful to Tim Evinger, sheriff of Klamath County, Ore., and his dive team who not only provided total support for the underwater search of Walker Lake, but also tremendous, ongoing organizational skills. Steve’s pilot, Mark Marshall, is an awesome coordinator of flight operations. Pilots Mike Gilles, Rick Raines, Dick Rutan, Dennis Ivans, and Hannes Linke, as well as Maverick Helicopters, have also been invaluable.
How about maybe just giving a few bucks to a homeless person instead? Now maybe you know why Kayne West and almost every other African American in this country was so upset about the response to Hurricane Katrina. I’m guessing if I wander off somewhere, no Maverick Helicopters will be looking for me.
I hate to break it to you, but the response generated by the Civil Air Patrol for Mr. Fossett is the same as would be–and HAS been, previously–mustered for any missing aircraft. The CAP does not scale its efforts to the degree of fame or notoriety of those missing; never has, never will. It is quite common for searches in which no ELT signal is heard by satellites to be of a similar scale and duration. It’s simply par for the course.
We conduct every search as if it were one of our own out there, because it could just as easily be so.