Designer Times
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The windstorm was horrific. Tables, tents, and vendor merchandise blew across Figueroa Street as people screamed. I felt terrible at what we had done to them. But the screaming was to cheer the Spacecraft upwards. The local drunks absolutely knew for sure that flying saucers existed. Every test night the rest of the week was party time for all the late night street people. All went well until the Spacecraft's turbine electrical power generator had shut down in flight during a final rehearsal 24 hours before the show.

It was a minor problem with the gas turbine low power idle fuel setting combined with a slightly dirty fuel filter. Nothing else really gave us any trouble. After the final rehearsal, Wolper asked for a number of lighting cue changes. This after we had carefully tested the planned set up. But change we did, with no chance for a re-test. The Closing Ceremonies flight would have to be it. The next day we had everything perfect a few hours before our "go" time. I put a Playboy sticker and a luck penny on the Spacecraft and declared it "done".

As the hour approached, Bill brought in his chopper now painted black and running without lights. This would allow two nearby "police escort" helicopters to attract attention away from the unlighted big helicopter over 100 feet above the Spacecraft. This sure gave the appearance that the Spacecraft flew all by itself. We tore down the white fabric, since I did not want to risk any loose pieces to get caught in the rotor blades - this almost happened earlier in the week.

I was so glad to hook up the lift cable for the last time. I'd stand on a tall ladder on the fence and hold up the end of the cable as Bill hovered just inches above my head so I could hook it up. You were dead anyway if something went wrong. If you were underneath, you'd get squashed, standing away, the flying rotor blades would get you. The gas turbine fired up, lighting check OK, Bill lifted our baby up for the final time...It was showtime!

The flight path had been cleared for safety in case the helicopter had problems. If Bill lost power, he would instantly drop the Spacecraft then land in the trees below....I didn't even want to think about it. Craig Russell rode hanging out the open door of the helicopter and held a small control box which ran the programed lighting effects on the Spacecraft thru a long electrical cable. He would punch in the program presets in sync with Daniel Flannery's cue calls and the exact sound cue he heard by listening to the audio feed from ABC-TV. This gave us total sync control to fit with all the other light and sound action on the Coliseum field below.

Due to the doubtful nature of a tricky helicopter flying saucer gag to be televised to millions live around the world, the TV script had a 15 minute blank section just in case we all failed. Peter Jennings could then ad-lib whatever Wolper would do to fill in the gap. However, the Spacecraft came into view first for the audience seated out of sight of Jennings, who could hear the audience gasp and scream. "Oh oh, somethings going to happen here" he declared to the world. The images viewed by millions was unearthly. Jennings did a great job describing the unscripted show sgment.

Since TV folks have a pile of reference data to look at, my Spacecraft technical description was the first sheet grabbed. "....it weighs 3,600 pounds, runs on jet fuel, and was designed by a man named Bob Gurr". I missed all this since I remained at the launch site ready for the return landing operation. As Bill brought the Spacecrsft in for it's final landing, two bright lights stayed on, caused by a stuck relay. Now our ship really did look like Aliens were coming in for a landing! Everybody was safely landed and shutdown. Since the thing would never be seen again, I had the crew re-start the gas turbine and we all held hands running around our roaring flashing Spacecraft maypole like a bunch of mad Martians. The Figuera folks enjoyed the close up final act of the Twenty-Third Olympiad Closing Ceremonies Spacecraft.

oOo

Nexth Month: Tommy Walker Productions Spacecraft 1985