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NEWS
RELEASE 1000 07 September 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Original release date: 04 September 2007
Fossett
Search Enters Day Five
Minden, NV.
– Day five of the search effort for famed aviator Steve Fossett began early this
morning, with air and ground crews from more than a dozen agencies continuing to
cover the 17,000 sq. mi. search area in western Nevada and eastern California.
It is believed Fossett could have gone anywhere in this area during his flight,
which began on Monday, Sept. 3, from the Flying M Ranch near Yerington, Nevada.
The incident command post at
Minden Airport is coordinating the efforts of search teams from Douglas, Lyon,
Mineral and Washoe counties in Nevada, and from Inyo, Mono and Nevada counties
in California. Civil Air Patrol wings from Nevada, California, and Utah; Nevada
and California National Guard aircraft; California Highway Patrol; and Silver
State Helicopters of Las Vegas are all taking part in the search effort.
Approximately 26 aircraft, 230
ground searchers, and one sonar-equipped boat are part of the search. An aerial
search of roughly half of the 10,000 square mile search area has been
completed. More than 150 flight hours have been flown in the effort.
Civil Air Patrol pilots and
observers are volunteers, and Silver State Helicopters is donating its time o
the search effort.
Fossetts’ aircraft, the
Citabria Super Decathalon, built in 1980 and owned by the Flying M Hunting Club,
Inc., 10 miles south of Reno, Nevada, is a well-known aircraft with a long
history. It is a two seat aircraft capable of aerobatic maneuvers, featuring a
tail wheel instead of the usual “tricycle” gear featured on most light aircraft
Since low altitude airborne
search and rescue is inherently risky, the emphasis is always on safety. Search
participants have been briefed on a variety of potential problems such as flying
mountainous terrain, radio procedures, turbulence, adverse weather and density
altitude issues. Today’s weather promises to be clear with little wind factors
until late afternoon.
Civil Air Patrol, the official
Air Force Auxiliary, is a nonprofit organization with more than 64,000 members
nationwide. Volunteers perform search and rescue, homeland security, disaster
relief and counter drug missions at the request of federal, state and local
agencies. The members take a leading role in aerospace education and serve as
mentors to the almost 27,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet
programs. CAP has performed missions for America for more than 60 years.
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MEDIA
INQUIRIES:Maj. Cynthia S. Ryan, Public Information Officer, Nevada Wing CAP
775.853.4057 voice/fax 775.358.3700 NVWGCAPHQ 775.848.3072 mobile,
ladybird53@sbcglobal.net. Trooper Chuck Allen, PIO NV OEM: 775.230.4921.
Steve Suwe, NV Dept. of Corrections PIO: 775.297.2664. Sgt. Cheri Cramutolo, NV
National Guard PIO:703.473.8893. Capt. April Conway, NV National Guard PIO:
775.287.5592
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