Bob Harris

Bob Harris passed away on Oct 6, 2018. He was 86 years old.
Bob set the world gliding altitude record on Feb. 17, 1986 with a flight to 49,009 feet out of California City. This was the culmination of a sustained and extensive effort that had started 6 years earlier, first with a partner and later solo.
This flight still holds the U.S. single-place absolute altitude record, more than 32 years later.
Subsequent to his record flight, Bob donated his Twin Astir to the National Air and Space Museum where it hangs today in the Udvar-Hazy Center.
Bob encouraged and supported the wave flights of many others and served as SSA Region 12 Director for a time.
He also enjoyed long-distance bike rides. He peddeled from Huntington Beach, California to Norfolk, Virginia when he was 72 years old.
Bob’s passion for life, and for soaring, sets a fine example for all of us.
Mike Koerner