| Larry Newman | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sept. 28 1947 Los Angeles, California |
| Died | Dec. 20, 2010 Scottsdale, Arizona |
| Cause of death | pancreatic cancer |
| Resting place | Cremated |
| Residence | Scottsdale, Arizona |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Jewish |
| Citizenship | USA |
| Occupation | Pilot, Founder of Electra Flyer Corporation |
| Known for | Flying the first balloon across the Atlantic, the Double Eagle II. |
Larry Newman ( Sept. 28, 1947–Dec. 20, 2010 ) was an American pilot and balloonist.
Newman won the Congressional Gold Medal awarded by the United States Congress for his flight in the Double Eagle II with Ben Abruzzo and Maxie Anderson. The flight was the first manned balloon crossing of the Atlantic non-stop.[1][2] In 1981, Newman flew the Double Eagle V in the first-ever manned balloon crossing over the Pacific with Ben Abruzzo, Ron Clark and Rocky Aoki.[3]
Larry helped popularize hang gliding with his company Electra Flyer Corporation, which produced thousands of hang gliders at its peak.
In 1985 Newman sold his business and became a pilot for America West airlines.