William Edward Norman Bennett
William Edward Norman Bennett , better known as Bill Bennett (born September 26, 1931 in Korumburra , Australia , † October 7, 2004 in Lake Havasu City , Arizona ) was an Australian aviation pioneer .
Life
Bennett was a machinist in the Royal Australian Navy . In 1969 he emigrated to the USA , where he became a pioneer of the then still young hang-gliding sport. His company Delta Wing Kites and Gliders was one of the first commercial hang gliders in the United States.
In 1972 he acted scene hang glider in a James Bond film Live and Let Die as a stunt - double for the Bond actor Roger Moore .
He has also developed parachutes as rescue systems for hang-gliders and pilots . From 1976 onwards, these were carried by every pilot when flying a kite in Germany.
Bennett died on 7 October 2004 at the age of 73 years at a start accident at the airport of Lake Havasu City: he wanted in a tandem flight with his instructor in a paramotor his pilot's license renewed. Bennett left two biological daughters and two sons and a stepson.
literature
- Douglas Martin: Bill Bennett, 73, Aviator Who Championed Hang Gliding, Dies , New York Times, November 17, 2004 ( available online after free registration)
- Jim Palmieri, Maggie Palmieri: Sky adventures. Stories of our heritage. Legends and stories about the early days of hang gliding and paragliding . Sky Dog Publications, Roanoke VA 1998, ISBN 1-57502-882-4 .
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Bennett, William Edward Norman |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Bennett, Bill |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Australian aviation pioneer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 26, 1931 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Korumburra , Australia |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 7, 2004 |
| Place of death | Lake Havasu City , Arizona |