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VAIL — Friends of Steve Fossett held out hope Friday that the Beaver Creek adventurer will be found alive, nearly three weeks after he disappeared.
“I’ve got to remain hopeful,” said Merlin Sagon, who owns Gypsum-based Camelot Balloons and taught Fossett how to fly hot-air balloons.
But Sagon admitted it was frustrating to hear such little good news from the once-massive search that has now been scaled down significantly.
“It’s rather disconcerting,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and (his wife) Peggy.”
Fossett, a Beaver Creek resident, was last seen Sept. 3, when he took off in a single-engine airplane from a ranch in Nevada for what was supposed to be a short joyride. A search of the area was launched after he failed to return from that flight.
In the days that followed, rescuers scoured up to 20,000 square miles for Fossett, concentrating on a 50-square-mile area around the ranch where he took off.
“I’ve got to remain hopeful,” said Merlin Sagon, who owns Gypsum-based Camelot Balloons and taught Fossett how to fly hot-air balloons.
But Sagon admitted it was frustrating to hear such little good news from the once-massive search that has now been scaled down significantly.
“It’s rather disconcerting,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and (his wife) Peggy.”
Fossett, a Beaver Creek resident, was last seen Sept. 3, when he took off in a single-engine airplane from a ranch in Nevada for what was supposed to be a short joyride. A search of the area was launched after he failed to return from that flight.
In the days that followed, rescuers scoured up to 20,000 square miles for Fossett, concentrating on a 50-square-mile area around the ranch where he took off.
On Wednesday, the search for Fossett was scaled back, with Nevada National Guard helicopters being sent back to their bases to remain on standby until any new leads pop up.
“I don’t think we should give up hope yet,” said Tony O’Rourke, executive director of the Beaver Creek Resort Company. “This guy is a survivor.”
But O’Rourke conceded that the odds of finding Fossett diminish each day.
Fossett has been active in charitable causes in the Vail Valley as a supporter of the Youth Foundation and the Vail Valley Foundation.
“I guess you always hold out hope,” said Harry Frampton, chairman of the Vail Valley Foundation. “‘It certainly doesn’t look promising’ is an understatement.”
Buddy Sims, a longtime local, doesn’t know Fossett personally but was in Salina, Kan., to watch the aviator complete an around-the-world airplane flight in 2005.
“It was very exciting,” he said. “There were thousands of people.”
Sims, a retired pilot, called the record-setting Fossett a “modern-day hero.”
“Everyone’s praying that he’s found and located and brought back alive,” he said.
Fossett, who made a fortune as a commodities trader in Chicago, has undertaken adventures in airplanes, balloons, on skis, in race cars, in sailboats and as a swimmer.
Peggy Fossett, reached by phone Friday at their home in Beaver Creek, declined to comment for this story.
Staff Writer Edward Stoner can be reached at 748-2929 or estoner@vaildaily.com.
“I don’t think we should give up hope yet,” said Tony O’Rourke, executive director of the Beaver Creek Resort Company. “This guy is a survivor.”
But O’Rourke conceded that the odds of finding Fossett diminish each day.
Fossett has been active in charitable causes in the Vail Valley as a supporter of the Youth Foundation and the Vail Valley Foundation.
“I guess you always hold out hope,” said Harry Frampton, chairman of the Vail Valley Foundation. “‘It certainly doesn’t look promising’ is an understatement.”
Buddy Sims, a longtime local, doesn’t know Fossett personally but was in Salina, Kan., to watch the aviator complete an around-the-world airplane flight in 2005.
“It was very exciting,” he said. “There were thousands of people.”
Sims, a retired pilot, called the record-setting Fossett a “modern-day hero.”
“Everyone’s praying that he’s found and located and brought back alive,” he said.
Fossett, who made a fortune as a commodities trader in Chicago, has undertaken adventures in airplanes, balloons, on skis, in race cars, in sailboats and as a swimmer.
Peggy Fossett, reached by phone Friday at their home in Beaver Creek, declined to comment for this story.
Staff Writer Edward Stoner can be reached at 748-2929 or estoner@vaildaily.com.
Fossett’s feats
Steve Fossett’s 115 world records or world firsts include:
• First solo, non-stop, around-the-world airplane flight, 2005. • First solo, around-the-world balloon flight, 2002. • Glider distance world record (2,192.9 km), 2006. • Round-the-world sailboat record, 2004. • Time record for Aspen to Vail on skis (59 hours, 53 minutes, 30 seconds). • Time record for Aspen to Eagle on skis (12 hours, 39 minutes). |
