Rocketry Planet

Pete Fox, pictured on the left here, at the new TTRA launch in February of 2009.

TAMPA, Florida USA — On April 17th, hobby rocketry and fliers all across the state of Florida and the southeastern United States lost a dear friend with the untimely death of Pete Fox.

As someone most today would consider an old-timer in the hobby, Fox began flying in 1997 with Tripoli Tampa Rocketry Association, the Tampa prefecture that at the time was flying at the old Dade City field.

"He was known as 'Patriot Pete' in the early days for his half scale PML Patriot that he flew," said friend Jim West. "He has flown many rockets since then including his Taurus Tomahawk 2-stage configuration and his upscale 7.5" Ariel for a successful level 3 flight."

"When TTRA lost their field in 2001 Pete would drive to La Belle and fly with the Tripoli West Palm Group with Bruce Kilby and Rick Boyette," West added. "He flew with NEFAR in Bunnell and supported Tripoli West Palm when they moved to their location in Belle Glade. When Robert Backlinie started up the Tripoli Ft. Myers and Florida Association of Spacemodeling Hobbyists, he flew with them."

The Gang at LDRD 19 in Orangeburg, South Carolina.

Clearly a person who enjoyed the sport.

When Tripoli Tampa started flying in Plant City in 2009, Fox showed up for the February launch and was quickly reacquainted with old friends.

"As far as everyone was concerned, Good old Pete was back," West stated. "Someone who would help anyone."

Fox knew at this point however that he had contracted terminal cancer and the doctors had already given him a short time to live, but that did not stop Fox from being the person that he was known as to his friends.

At this past April's launch on the 17th, Fox was doing what he loved to do, flying rockets with his friends at the Tampa Tripoli launch site. He had already flown an AeroTech Cheetah earlier in the day and was prepping his Ariel for flight.

"When it was ready to go, we walked it out to the high power pad and placed it on the rail," West said. "He armed the altimeter, put in the igniter and after a couple of pictures we walked back to the flight line to get ready for the launch."

Fox's last flight, just a short time before a heart attack claimed his life. The ravages of the 15 month fight with cancer had left Fox's body in tatters.

The perfect flight ended with the Ariel drifting toward the tree line.

"He jumped into his van to recover it, taking some of his younger teenage friends with him," West stated. "Why? Because everyone likes Pete Fox, young and old."

The Ariel was hanging in a tree just out of reach, and after walking around for a bit, Fox drove back to the flight line where his friends noticed he didn't appear to be feeling very well. Out of concern for his health, his friends decided to drive Fox home. A short distance down the road from the launch site, Fox went into cardiac arrest. A call to 911 got paramedics on the scene who rushed Fox to the hospital.

"He stayed with us," West said, "until Julie, his wife, could get to the hospital."

"Pete was a familiar face at Florida and Southeast launches," Robert Synoski, prefect of Tripoli Tampa, said. "Pete was also a good friend and he will be missed."

Pete Fox was 47 years old.

Reader comments:

#1 Re: Article: Rocketry loses a friend in the untimely death of Pete Fox

Pete was so instramental in making me the rocketeer that i am today...
He taught me so much and we had alot of good times together...
Anything ya wanted to know about rockets he could tell ya...
He would allways give me a hard time...
Hey Rick get that rocket preped lets get it in the air...
What you arent ready yet...
Here let me help ya...
no no no like this ...
He loved messin my kids and they loved him...
My son was with him on his last ride to recover his rocket...
Im gona miss him so much...
There will be an empty spot in my heart @ our launches...
But the last thing he would want is for us to stop flying em high as we can...
Everytime I go to a launch he will be in my heart...
Ill look to the sky and say "here it comes Pete" ...
My heart goes out to Julie and his family for this tragic loss...
Love ya Pete.
Sincerly, Rick West

ZRocket on 04-21-2010 09:29 PM

#2 Re: Article: Rocketry loses a friend in the untimely death of Pete Fox

This is really sad news and a major loss for FL rocketry clubs.

Although I had only met Pete Fox maybe twice at the most, he was a really great guy that had a LOT of enthusiasm and passion for the hobby.

I was there when his first L3 attempt failed due to a shock cord failure. I was literally stunned on how fast he shook it off. All he said was "oh well, it's just another flight". IIRC, he bought another M motor that day for his second attempt.

The last time I saw him was at our 4th of July launch last year and I saw him fly his 1/2 scale Patriot on an AMW L1300BB motor. Beautiful flight to about 3,500 feet and landed not too far from the pads. Also, when I flew my BSD Sprint on an H250G, it really ripped off the pad and right after motor burnout, he was heard to say "holy s#it"!!!

That will make me smile for a long time.

And even thought I lost sight of it, he had it in sight the whole time and announced for me when the ejection occurred and even cracked some jokes as it ended up landing in the flight line right next to Bob Backlinie's truck.

I wish I could have gotten to know him better but I am truly grateful to have met him and I am truly sorry his life was tragically cut short due to an awful disease.

My condolences go out to his family and friends.

Fly high and in peace Pete.

Donaldsrockets on 04-21-2010 10:48 PM

#3 Re: Article: Rocketry loses a friend in the untimely death of Pete Fox

I only knew Pete for a few years, but he would call me at home and we'd talk about how his treatments were going and would ask if I had this motor or that motor in stock. When I first came out with Blue Tube, I brought the first samples to the launch. He came up to my vendor tent, took ONE look at it and knew exactly what it was because he recognized it from when he was in the Army! You couldn't get anything by that guy! Pete was also a patient at my main job here at Moffitt Cancer Center and his positive attitude was truly inspiring. If optimism itself was enough to cure cancer, he'd still be here with us today. He was always willing to help and was very knowledgeable. He will be missed!

Randy
ARR

rejma0415 on 04-22-2010 09:24 AM

#4 Re: Article: Rocketry loses a friend in the untimely death of Pete Fox

It was always a pleasure
to share a field with Pete,
we will miss him dearly...

Godspeed...

Susan and Billy

roadkill on 04-22-2010 09:41 AM

#5 Re: Article: Rocketry loses a friend in the untimely death of Pete Fox

Rest in peace my friend.

BBack on 04-22-2010 05:02 PM

#6 Re: Article: Rocketry loses a friend in the untimely death of Pete Fox

My condolences go out to his family and friends

And may he REST in PEACE with the rest of Rocketry's ANGELS

atxcple on 04-23-2010 02:15 AM

#7 Re: Article: Rocketry loses a friend in the untimely death of Pete Fox

Pete was a amazing guy. He always made people laugh. He was suborn and didn't care what he was not allowed to do. He was always messing with us kids. I have personally known him since I was 7 years old my uncle (Jim West) and father (Rick West) loved him like a brother and ALWAYS talked about him. There are so many memories that Pete has. He will always live in our hearts and every time we shoot a rocket he will be in our minds. He is so loved by everyone. Now he finally out of pain and flying high (:

in memory of Pete Fox [a amazing guy>

we love you

nataliealisa on 04-25-2010 12:37 PM

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