Just read on SC.org where Shaun Lunt was killed in his cub in Alaska.
As most of you know he spent summers in Alaska and took some of the best photos you'll ever see.
My prayers go out to his family.
I know he is with the lord now but that never makes it easier for the living.

Somewhere I saw a series of photos by Shawn and his Cub (or at least I think it was his work) but I can't remember where. The post on the 170 forums said he had some photos in the Sierra Club (sc.org?) but I couldn't find anything like that on their site.

Anyone know what happened?

www.shaunlunt.typepad.com:80/shootings/
Godspeed

My thoughts and prayers go out to Shaun's family. Shaun was not only an avid pilot but a true adventurer, with his photographic talent he documented his chronicles. Fly on Shaun, Heaven and tailwheels.

I can't find the words to say what I feel.

I had several of his photos as wall paper on my PC at home and work. I enjoyed reading his blog and adventures.

C ya, Bub

That's too bad. I'm sorry to hear that. I loved his photos and their descriptions.

On the upside, I'm pretty sure that he was a Christian boy so he's safe in Heaven now with The Father.

So sad.... at least it was quick. I also don't blame Lon one bit for pulling out when he did.... how horrible to sit there!!!
John

How terrible and sad. He had a great gift for capturing beauty and adventure. I'm grateful that he shared it. His photographs strike a chord and inspire. I'll bet they outlast all of us.

Godspeed.

CAVU

Such a shame. This choice of flying can be very unforgiving. As we all know when you’re low and slow there is no room for error, erratic wind, or an engine that sputters. I’m thankful Shaun shared his gift of photography with us. Every time I look at those pictures I’ll think of Shaun. Be careful out there.

Rob

Ouch!! This one is hard to take. We need people like Shaun, with a good eye, to show us what we are supposed to be seeing. He was very good at it. After looking at his pictures last year, I immediately demoted all of my aerial pictures to the "snapshot" category. We will miss him.

I've seen posts here by his father and the pride was apparent. I can't imagine what the family is going through and nothing I can say could possibly help, but they have my deepest and sincerest sympathy.

YB

I learned of Shaun through watching his appearance in CubDriver Alaska. He came through as one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to share time, stories or airspace with. That was a great video, but it will be very bittersweet now. Not sure if I will want to watch it again soon.

Stay safe everyone.

-DP

Very sad. Shaun's dad goes by "Norm" here on the site. I wish him solace wherever he can find it.

1SeventyZ wrote:Very sad. Shaun's dad goes by "Norm" here on the site. I wish him solace wherever he can find it.

This is rightly ~ as it seems Shaun had many good friends and fellow pilots who respected him ~ a sad subject on many of the pilot forum boards.

With respect, I'd like to offer these thoughts that I posted yesterday on another pilot forum:

This ~ is heart-wrenching. All of it....his site that so beautifully expressed in pictures his passion both for flying and for all that being able to do so allowed him to see of the world ~ what breathtaking photographs and what talent; his father's eloquent eulogy in his post on the SuperCub forum; the insensitivity and laziness of a media that could write what they did about the accident - that being heart-wrenching in a way that makes you wonder about the world sometimes ... how stupidly lazy of a reporter not to get the facts as expressed by Shaun's father, before writing something that leaves such an unfair impression.

This morning I happened upon a video of Randy Pausch speaking to the graduating class at Carnegie Mellon. Some of you may have heard of him; he was diagnosed last Aug with pancreatic cancer and given only 3-6 months. He's going on 9 now ... a last lecture he gave on "living your dreams" & how he's coped with his diagnosis, was a beautiful reminder of what is important in life.

On this latest clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcYv5x6gZTA he says this:

"Live well and fully ~ It's not the things we do in life that we regret; it's the things we do not."

And...

"Find your passion ~ Might take into your later years ... but don't give up on finding it. And it won't be found in things or money; comes from the inside ~ your passion will be grounded in people and the relationships you have with people and what they think of you ... when your time comes."

Reading sadly about Shaun today; I felt it appropriate to share that ~ I hope I'm right.

For it would seem that Shaun Lunt personified in his too short lifetime ... what Randy Pausch spoke to – he was a man who lived well and fully and earned the respect and love of his friends and fellow flyers. He indeed found his passion in his lifetime; it was in his flying and his photography.

I'm Shaun's dad and I want to thank you all for your heartfelt sympathy for me and his family and friends. It seems that Shaun has more friends than I was aware of -- many people have written elsewhere and in emails that they feel like they have gotten to know my son through his pictures and commentaries. He was in real life just as you see and read on his website. I regret he was not able to add pictures of his adventure that he had just begun.

Last Firday evening around 7:30 PM he flew too close to the edge of controllability and made a novice-type error that resulted in the tragic loss of his precious life and untold grief for so many people. Though he has been flying for almost 15 years and could fly his friend Bryan's glass panel Cirrus SR 22 on IFR missions, perform aerobatics, held a float rating, had ski-plane experience, and could handle a super cub with amazing precision and grace, he could not defy the laws of physics. Circling a whale skeleton he was -- most likely -- distracted by taking a picture and trying to fly the plane -- he was low and too slow. In a moderate bank the plane broke into a stall-spin at about 100' AGL and Loni said it dropped like an arrow head first into the muddy beach below. Loni landed but stood helpless as he watched the wreckage burn for 2 hours. I just hope and pray that my boy did not feel the flames. As a father, I feel like sending him to his room and taking his TV privileges away for a week for making such a mistake. But nature's punishment was much harsher.

I could write at length about the high quality of character that he possessed, his unusal sensitivity to people, his striving to make a difference in the world to help others, and of his unfullfilled dreams that must now be laid to rest with him.

I will forever feel anger that my son was taken from me for such a simple, avoidable error. That frustration, though, is surpassed only by an overwhelming sense of love and affection for him. I will miss him more than heaven and earth will ever know.

Shaun, thank you for the 34 years of life you gave me.

Godspeed, my son.



I'll lend you for a little time,
A child of mine He said,
For you to love while he lives,
and mourn when he is dead.

It may be six or seven years,
or thirty-two or three.
But will you till I call him back
take care of him for me

He'll bring his charms to gladden you,
and shall his stay be brief,
You'll have his lovely memories
as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise he will stay,
since all from earth return.
But there are lessons taught down there
I want this child to learn.

I've looked the wide world over
in my search for teachers true,
And from the throngs that crowd life’s lanes,
I have selected you.

Now will you give him all your love,
nor think the labor vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call
to take him back again?


I fancied that I heard them say,
Dear Lord, Thy will be done.
For all the joy thy child shall bring,
the risk of grief we'll run.

We'll shelter him with tenderness,
we'll love him while we may,
and for the happiness we've known,
will ever grateful stay.

But shall the angels call for him
much sooner than we planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes
and try to understand.

Even as someone who lives up here I found Shaun's photos inspirational and amazing. I heard about the accident on Friday but it wasn't until Sunday morning when I was reading the newspaper that I saw it was Shaun, and my heart dropped.

Many, many experienced pilots have fallen victim to the same trap. Some I knew personally, others only by reputation. I always ask why? Perhaps his father can take comfort in the thought that the accident may serve to remind other pilots to avoid a similar fate. I don't know

I never met him, never spoke to him but was always thrilled to look at his photos and watch his DVD. Our prayers are with everyone and hopefully the sun will shine brighter soon.


-Josh from Maine

That was the worst news I have heard in a long time. I was a regular visitor to his site and always impressed with his photography and when I wanted to show people why I love flying and Alaska I always showed off his site.

Norm,

Shaun's life is an inspiration, both to those who know him and those of us who do not know him personally but instead share in the joy of his life through his website and writings.

There is not much I can say other than your Heavenly Father knows your grief at Shaun's sudden departure from this present life. May His grace and mercy flow abundantly and surround you at this time. He is the God of the living and we will see Shaun again soon!

Brad Thornberg

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Norm,

While I never met Shaun, I did enjoy his photos and share his love of flying. I was watching part of Cubdriver just the other day and looking at some of the footage he was in. It was obvious that he dearly loved flying. All I can say is may God comfort you and your family in this time of sorrow and loss. Other than that, I am at a loss for words.

pat