Norm,

Thinking of you and your family, I wish you gods comfort, all I can think is that your son was lucky to have you and your family, I am truly sorry for your loss.

Mr. Lunt,

I am so sorry for your loss. Your son captured Alaska, the spirit of adventure, and aviation in a way that spread far an wide. I know of third generation Alaskan aviators who were saying, "You have to see these photos."

He was fortunate, as he obviously had a loving family and a passion for living. Cherish the fact that you loved each other, and shared so much together as father and son. Some never know such grace.

My sincerest condolences,

Chet

I had just recently discovered Shaun's Alaska photos. I must have spent an hour scrolling through them again and again. I could not believe the beauty that I saw, and kept calling out for my husband and kids to come look!

My sincere condolences to the family.

With tragedy and grief come different stages of human reaction, which will unfold at their own pace. Today my thoughts have come around to introspection, and I felt it was worth posting again, though sadly, no amount of words can ever make things right, or bring Shaun back again.

This terrible loss feels very close to home- although I never knew Shaun personally, his age, his purpose in flying, and even the places he flew are all things I relate to very closely. And so it makes me face the fact that these headlines could just as easily be about me some day. I'm not fatalistic about it, but Shaun's loss should remind us all that this is a possibility we accept when we fly. I think any pilot knows this, though it's not something we dwell on- we process it, and plug it into the appropriate algorithm for risk mitigation, and get on with flying, because it is one of the grandest experiences we are able to partake of. We know, and accept, and still choose this expression of living to the fullest, which I believe Shaun achieved more in his short time than a great many people with twice or three times his years.

If it's me in the headlines one day, I would want people to know that I accepted the risks, and the consequences, because to walk away from flying and all its joys, walk away from that challenge and excitement and reward and beauty, walk away from living big and breathing deep, would ultimately be the sadder sacrifice.

Mr. Lunt, I wouldn't presume to put words in Shaun's mouth, and this post isn't intended that way at all. But his exuberance for flying and for Alaska was palpable enough that I take consolation in how he used the time that he had. I wish you peace.

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the
intention of arriving safely in a pretty
and well preserved body,
but rather to skid in broadside,
thoroughly used up,
totally worn out,
and loudly proclaiming,

'WOW! What a ride!'"

So Sad........ The one pic of the plane on the beach and the other one alight is sobbering at best...

Godspeed..

Ben

Mr. Lunt,

I have waited a few days to post a response to this tragedy, not really knowing what to say or if anything should be said. I, like several other aviators on this site have spent hours looking at Shaun's photos. I know as I was looking at the photos I caught myself thinking, I wish I could go up there and do that. I believe Shaun's photos inspired some people, inspired them to fly, and more importantly to live life to it's fullest.

One of my favorite photo's of Shaun's is him standing in front of his plane with a shotgun. The caption under it reads “Coming to an understanding with each other before another water crossing.”

My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family in this terrible time. I believe Shaun will be forever remembered throughout the aviation community. It's amazing how a person can influence so many people who he never met.

My favorite picture quote of his, "good sleepin". Something about that just clings to me. True, he relished the waking hours, the flights, the pics, living and breathing to the fullest in God's country. Yet, he found unabashed joy in something as simple as a small hut in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness, with a cot, a table, and PB&J for dinner.

Sleep peacefully, dear man. I'll never forget the day I discovered your images. I was stunned. There IS beauty in this world. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Tailwinds....

Brian

Like the rest of you, even though I didn't know Shaun personally, I very much admired his skills as a photographer and how he shared his love for the natural beauty of Alaska with us, and also, I am very saddened to hear of his loss. Likewise, here in Texas we lost another couple of pilots last week, and it seems not a week goes by that we don't hear of other tragic plane accidents. So, I have been trying to think of how we can honor these pilots. I am not the right person to do web pages, but as far as Shaun's photos go, we need to keep his work and memory alive. My condolances to all the families.

One idea I have is for some of us to donate enough money to pay his service provider bill, to keep his website active so many other people can view his art:
http://shaunlunt.com

I don't know how to go about this, either. One thought is that those interested can send a personal message to Norm for his home address and then send him a check to pay the service provider. Norm, if you send me a message with your address, I will be among the first to donate.

Perhaps a link could also be included on Shaun's webpage that honors other fallen pilots.

Another idea that I have is to have somebody who knows something about publishing take Shauns photographs and perhaps other photographs taken by our other lost pilots (with permission, of course) and make a coffee table book of them, such as Fred Hirschmann's book, Bush Pilots of Alaska. Perhaps all or some of the profits could be donated to some scholarship for upcoming bush / backcountry pilots or some other worthwhile cause.

May God be with all the families of the downed pilots.

I agree that the art and photos of Shaun Lunt should be kept in the view of pilots and if his family would like to do that I would certainly be up to help.

This would be a very personal decision for the family and I would respect any decision that they make.

I also agree to keep Shaun's webpage going is a family decision and one that I will respect.

There was talk on Shaun's website of a book being published with his pics seems like that really should be done now. I for one would be interisted.

Matt Nelson wrote:One idea I have is for some of us to donate enough money to pay his service provider bill, to keep his website active so many other people can view his art:
http://shaunlunt.com

Another option that's free is to simply have someone like myself or Steve Johnson host it on our servers for the family. Unlike the other popular blogging hosts, where his site could live on into eternity, Typepad (the one Shaun used) is not free, it's $14.95 a month.

I agree, it's a really rare and unique work of photography and journal writing to let fall by the wayside.

Norm, if that's something you'd be interested in, approach me or Steve about it. I don't speak for him, but he's the kind of guy who would do that.

It is a work of art and passion for flying and the country that needs to be kept alive.

Blue skys and tailwinds...

Mike Vivion

Another option that's free is to simply have someone like myself or Steve Johnson host it on our servers for the family. Unlike the other popular blogging hosts, where his site could live on into eternity, Typepad (the one Shaun used) is not free, it's $14.95 a month.

I agree, it's a really rare and unique work of photography and journal writing to let fall by the wayside.

Norm, if that's something you'd be interested in, approach me or Steve about it. I don't speak for him, but he's the kind of guy who would do that.

I thought of that also, but I would not presume to speak for you Zane or the Lunt family, although it would be a nice service.

I really appreciate your ideas about keeping Shaun's pictures available for people to enjoy. At least for now the people at typepad sent a message to Shaun's email (Shaun gave me his password before he left for AK) and said that because of his death they would be providing the site for free. I don't know how long they'll do it since I haven't had time to check on it yet. I'll let you know when I find out.

I do agree that we should keep his art alive. I just regret that he wasn't able to post this summer's pictures and comments for us all to enjoy and admire.

norm wrote:I really appreciate your ideas about keeping Shaun's pictures available for people to enjoy. At least for now the people at typepad sent a message to Shaun's email (Shaun gave me his password before he left for AK) and said that because of his death they would be providing the site for free. I don't know how long they'll do it since I haven't had time to check on it yet. I'll let you know when I find out.

I do agree that we should keep his art alive. I just regret that he wasn't able to post this summer's pictures and comments for us all to enjoy and admire.

That's good to hear, Norm. I'll back it up just in case.

Norm and Family,
My sincere condolences for your loss. Shaun's art was an inspiration that touched our hearts.
God Bless

This is my first post. I am a new pilot thanks to Shaun's pictures from Alaska last year. I have been wanting to fly forever and his pictures kicked me in the butt. This hit home when I read this last night. I am the same age as Shaun.

I didn't know him personally but I know his pictures spoke to me. It appears he lived more in his life than most people ever do.

I am sorry for your loss. My prayers will be with your family.

Don Roberts

We have just put a video of Shaun on his blogsite that I took of him just before leaving for Alaska this past May, 2008. A film production company based out of New York had heard about Shaun and was interested in highlighting Shaun’s adventures in an upcoming movie they are planning to make on true life adventurers. At their request I took this short homemade video for them (they wanted it for voice quality and visual perception purposes only). Shaun thought the most appropriate thing to talk about was his plane and equipment ...

Minutes after I took this video I hugged my son for the last time and he lifted off the turf strip at Felts Field in Spokane and pointed the nose of N897SP for Alaska.

You will see the video near the top of his blogsite at: www.shaunlunt.typepad.com

Norm

Thank You for sharing your lives with us,
Thank You for trying so hard to portray the best that God has created.
When I think of Alaska scenery or missing Talkeetna,
I think of Shaun representing the best.
May God ease your grief