Astronaut Sets Unofficial Record for Plane Altitude
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HOUSTON — An astronaut removed from command of a shuttle mission for violating flight-safety rules unofficially has set an altitude record using the same light aircraft he was flying in a collision that killed another pilot.
A veteran of three shuttle flights, Robert (Hoot) Gibson unofficially set the record for light aircraft Thursday, soaring to 27,000 feet, exceeding a record set two years ago by 1,840 feet.
Gibson, 44, a Navy captain and former test pilot, made the flight with a single-engine Cassutt Formula 1 “midget” racing airplane. He was piloting the same plane when it collided with another aircraft during a race at an air show near New Braunfels, Tex., last July, killing the other pilot.
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