NAA NEWS

National Aeronautic Association
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mike Pablo, 703-527-0226 March 28, 2004

E-Mail: records@naa-usa.org

TRIO OF L.A. PILOTS CLAIM THREE AVIATION WORLD RECORDS

Arlington, VA –Los Angeles pilots Dave Riggs, Randy Waldman and Nathan East recently took part in three claimed aviation world records with the National Aeronautic Association. Riggs was the only one involved in all three potential record-setting flights that occurred on December 17th, the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers first flight in Kitty Hawk, N.C.

First, Riggs and Waldman claimed a record for Speed over a Recognized Course in a Turbine Powered Helicopter. They flew a Bell OH-58 helicopter from Fresno to Bob Hope Airport in Burbank in 1 hour 44 minutes, averaging 111.74 miles per hour. That record, and the other two Riggs was involved in, are pending final certification by NAA.

Riggs proceeded to claim two more aviation records for piston-powered aircraft. He and East flew from Los Angeles in a Lancair IV-P in 1 hour 12 minutes, averaging a speed of 310.88 miles per hour. That flight beat the previous record of 240.11 m.p.h. established in 1993.

Soon after landing in Phoenix, the pair flew again, this time from Phoenix to San Diego in 1 hour six minutes, averaging a speed of 279.48 miles per hour. Their flight beat the previous record of 185.86 m.p.h. established in 1993.

Riggs, East and Waldman said they undertook the hectic day of record setting in tribute to the Wright Brothers first powered flight in North Carolina in 1903, exactly 100 years earlier. Waldman and East are both accomplished musicians. Waldman is a Grammy-nominated composer, and has played piano for Barbra Streisand and Kenny G, among others. East is a bassist and writer who has worked with Eric Clapton and Phil Collins.

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