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Updated October 1, 2008

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The Human Fly on the back of an ex-Japan Air Lines (JAL) Douglas DC-8 Series 55 jet transport flown by United Air Lines Captain Clay Lacy, of Clay Lacy Aviation, Van Nuys, California. The flight took place at Mojave, California, in April, 1977, with "The Human Fly" strapped to a support on the upper cabin.

This was the third and last flight made by The Human Fly, whom according to Marvel Comics ~ which produced a brief comic book series about the daredevil ~ shortly thereafter, picked up a guitar and took up folksinging, aborting plans to "walk" the DC-8 using special hand railings that were to be added to the aircraft. Also aborted were plans to cross the English Channel by missile, completing the journey by unstrapping and parachuting down into France after the crossing.

The Human Fly made his first flight on the back of this DC-8 in June, 1976, at the California National Air Races (CNAR) at Mojave, California. The second flight was made over Dallas, however, The Human Fly was pummeled by hailstones when the aircraft could not avoid "underflight" of a looming Thunderstorm. The third flight was televised after a three-hour tape delay abound the World on CBS Sports. A Learjet accompanied the aircraft on its two circuits of Mojave Airport.

The Human Fly remains the fastest "Wing Walker" in history with speeds reportedly in excess of 250 mph. He is the first and only person to "Wing Walk" on a commercial jet airliner.

The Douglas DC-8 Series 55 is the largest Wing Walking aircraft in the World as a result of the three flights. The aircraft was modified for the missions by American Jet Industries, Van Nuys, California.

In 1976, the aircraft was still painted with JAL cheat lines absent the logotypes. Those in the grandstands witnessing the test flights and first record flight in June, 1976, were treated to the surprise experience of the DC-8 touching down immediately in front of them, seen only at the last minute in "Extreme Close-Up" as the positioning of the grandstands blocked the view of the gigantic aircraft and its sound, remarkably, was undetectable until the final moments over the runway.

Photo: M. Daniels / ILIPS Group International *

* A similar image published "Around the World, Over the Wire" by United Press International (UPI). This was the photographer's (Publisher's/Editor's) first internationally published Press photo.

ILIPS Group International's history goes back even further to December, 1972, when the photographer began his work as a Journalist and Photojournalist in the Los Angeles, California, area. ILIPS celebrated its 35th Anniversary as a Press Organization in December, 2007. We are now in our 36th year ~ Ed.

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An American Airlines SAAB 340 Commuter during climbout from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Runway 24R.

Photo: M. Daniels / ILIPS Group International

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Gulf Air's First Lockheed L-1011 TriStar Delivery Ceremonies and Press Flight in push back from the Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) Terminal (now operated by United Airlines), Hollywood Burbank Airport, Burbank, California, January, 1976.

The TriStar is rated for airport runways of 6,000 feet based on Rejected Takeoff Testing (RTO) which found the L-1011 could takeoff in 4,000 feet and only required 2,000 feet for RTO abort prior to V2.

The tests were conducted by Lockheed Aircraft at Edwards AFB, California. Lockheed is now known as Lockheed Martin.

PSA later operated the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar "Mother Grinningbird" out of Burbank Airport, before selling the aircraft it owned following a second fuel crisis that occurred in the early 1980s. PSA later merged with U.S. Air, which is now known as U.S. Airways following mergers with Piedmont, Republic and America West. One of the five TriStars that PSA had on order was later converted into Operation Blessing's Flying Hospital.

Gulf Air's "Golden Falcons," arguably the most luxurious airliners then built, with amenities not seen until the recent development of the Airbus A380, possessing Morroccan Gold Leather "Throne Chairs," First Class Dining Tables, Sky Phones before the equipment existed on the ground to accomodate them, onboard Library and Duty Free store, along with carpeting 30% more plush than any commercial airliner flying, have all been retired, sold or scrapped.

Gulf Air now operates the Airbus A330 and Airbus A340, the latter, a "TriStar" replacement. Gulf Air is sponsor of the Gulf Air Grand Prix, in Bahrain. The airline originally began service with the Vickers (later British Aerospace) VC-10.

Note: The Publisher/Editor/Photographer was witness to this very aircraft's stall testing during flight testing over the Mojave Desert, 20 miles east of USAF Plant 42, Palmdale, California, where the L-1011 was built.

This photo is dedicated to Richard V. "Dick" Martin, Howard Westlake, Maggie Smith and Jim Ragsdale, of the Lockheed California Company (CALAC) Public Relations office, which assisted the author/photographer during the start-up of his Press operations. Dick Martin and Maggie Smith were onboard this aircraft when the photo was taken. Dick later worked for Lockheed in their Georgia headquarters, where the C-5A/B Galaxy was produced.

This photo, embossed, may be recognizable to some as it was the original cover photo for AirlinersAirlinersAirliners during its start-up in the Fall of 2002.

Photo: M. Daniels / ILIPS Group International

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