Jean "Skip" Ziegler
American test pilot
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The basics
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| Intro | American test pilot | |
| A.K.A. | Jean Ziegler Skip Ziegler | |
| A.K.A. | Jean Ziegler Skip Ziegler | |
| Places | United States of America | |
| is | Pilot Aviator Test pilot | |
| Work field | Military | |
| Gender |
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| Death | 12 May 1953 |
The details
Biography
Jean "Skip" Ziegler was a United States test pilot. He was killed in an explosion of the Bell X-2 during a test flight on May 12, 1953.
During a Bell Aircraft captive-carry flight test over Lake Ontario, X-2, serial number 46-675 suddenly exploded, killing Bell test pilot Jean Ziegler and observer Frank Wolko. The EB-50A mothership managed to land, although damaged. Only after several other mysterious X-plane losses was the cause found to be a rocket engine gasket made of Ulmer leather, which decomposed and became explosively unstable after sustained exposure to liquid oxygen.