subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Tue, Feb 09 2010 

Published: March 02, 2009 02:33 pm    print this story  

SCIENCE: Lockport astronaut discusses life after NASA

Space Shuttle Endeavour pilot pursues space technology back on Earth

JILL MICHAELS
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

It’s a dilemma all astronauts must eventually face: “You’ve flown in space! Now what?”

Three years have passed since the Union-Sun & Journal last checked in with Lockport native and former astronaut William G. “Bill” Gregory. He has resided in Phoenix since his simultaneous retirement from the U.S. Air Force and NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston in 1999.

“I’ve been up to nothing but no good,” Gregory quipped from his office last week. Flying at a mere 10 wph (wisecracks per hour) instead of his usual cruising speed of 55 and above, he cited Monday as the reason.

“The biggest change is that I’ve switched jobs. That has been a blessing, in my estimation.”

Until last August, Gregory had served as Honeywell’s senior manager of business development in Phoenix for nine years. Outstanding in his achievements was a big win for Honeywell in August 2006: a $700 million contract with Lockheed Martin for NASA’s new CEV, or Crew Exploration Vehicle, called “Orion,” the spacecraft that will replace the shuttle. The contract, Gregory reported, is now worth up to $1 billion.

His aerospace salesmanship resulted in a bonus but not a promotion, because of corporate changes in philosophy at Honeywell. For a slew of reasons, Gregory decided to take a similar development position with Micro-Tronics Inc., a small, veteran-owned manufacturing firm also based in Phoenix.

“One of my greatest delights is that I went from a company of 120,000 people to one with 120,” he said.

“It’s like I’m back in a fighter squadron again. I report directly to the CEO.”

Gregory joked: “And I’m driving one-third of my former daily commute, and I have my own covered parking space that even says ‘reserved.’ That’s important in Phoenix when it’s 110 degrees outside.”

More important, from the perspective of a typical pilot, Gregory acquired a fractional share in a Pitts S-2C aircraft in August 2007. While piloting the biplane is not quite the same as his experience flying a U-2 or the space shuttle, the rationalization is that his skills are staying sharp.

“I fly every other weekend and have a rip-roaring good time. I take the Pitts up to 4500 feet, no more than 10 miles out from the airport. I’ll fly it for about 40 or 45 minutes on a Sunday morning. During that time I practice acrobatics and make five or six landings.”

“A Pitts is exciting to land, because you can’t see past the nose. So there is the possibility that you can run off the runway.”

The Pitts Special aircraft is designed to endure up to plus-6 Gs and minus-5 Gs. Gregory flies a maximum of minus-3.5 Gs during outside loops and goes to the plus-6G limit during aerobatic maneuvers such as inside loops, inverted spins, Cuban 8s and clover leafs.

Confessed Gregory, with a distinct inflection of mischief in his voice: “It’s pure hedonism in the air. There’s nothing practical about it.”

He said that while he “really likes Phoenix,” he does enjoy visiting Lockport.

“I’ve taken up the task of throwing my annual high school reunion. We hold it the third Saturday of August at a local bar.

“The beauty of it is that all they (the Lockport High School Class of 1975) have to do is show up. Come and go as you please. If you want, you can show up, look around, and walk back out the door.”

Last year, 80 people attended the gathering, Gregory estimated, including his friend and former classmate, Lockport Mayor Michael Tucker. The reunion was held over three days, from Friday night through Sunday morning. Festivities last year included a Friday night concert by REO Speedwagon, Saturday night refreshment at a local watering hole, and a Sunday morning “Taste of Lockport” restaurant sampler.

The class’ next annual reunion is scheduled for Aug. 15. “This year, it’s planned in conjunction with a Lockport concert featuring the Charlie Daniels Band,” he announced.

Gregory’s high school years in Lockport are special to him for another reason. According to his mother, Kathy, that was the time period he began thinking about his pathway into space.

“When Bill was 14 years old, we visited Huntsville, Ala.,” she said. “It was a chance trip. My husband was on reserve duty for the Army National Guard, learning to fly helicopters at Fort Rucker in Alabama.”

“One of the space chimps was still alive. So we toured Huntsville.

“Well, I turned around and noticed that Bill wasn’t with us.

“He had stopped in (Wernher) von Braun’s library. He was looking through all his books.

“Bill told me later that he got inspired by that trip.”

Catch Part II of Jill Michaels’ interview with Bill Gregory on Monday.

print this story  

Photos


Credit: NASA Contributed photo/ (Click for larger image)



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Featured Jobs

Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts (Baking and Pastry Instructor) NIAGARA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE is seeking applications for part-time inst...>MORE

Assistant Director
Catholic Charities has an excellent professional development opportunity available for the following position:
 Ass
...>MORE

Car Enthusiast
Old Ford enthusiast needed with knowledge of early year Fords (1909-early 70’s) to answer technical phone calls and emai...>MORE

Medical Associate
MEDICAL ASSOCIATE
Busy local Niagara Falls practice, strong computer skills, billing background helpful, $13-$14/ho
...>MORE

Mechanic
MECHANIC  Service company owned trucks, trailers, etc. 2 years experience and own tools.    Apply at 490 Ohio Street or...>MORE

Cleaners Substitute
Cleaner Substitutes wanted. Previous cleaning experience preferred. Reply by Feb. 16th, to Mr. Joseph Giarrizzo, 100 Hi...>MORE

RN Supervisor
RN SUPERVISORS/LPN Charge Nurse/CNA’s
Full and Part Time
Positions available.
Apply in person
Fa
...>MORE

MST Therapist
Catholic Charities has an excellent professional development opportunity available for the following position:
    
...>MORE

Assembly
NF Co. seeking the
following:
• Packaging
• Assembly (small
detailed parts)
• Sorters
...>MORE

Human Services
HUMAN SERVICES. Transitional Specialist: (PT) Niagara Falls. Assist youth with 90 day transition programming, intake and...>MORE

See all ads

Feature Autos

Dodge 2001 Neon
DODGE 2001Neon, 4 dr, 4 cyl, auto, 58k mi. am/fm CD player, n o rust, like new, $3950. 525-7796...>MORE

Ford 1999 Escort ZX2
FORD 1999 ESCORT, ZX2 Coupe, runs great, NYS inspected, exc. cond. $1650. 694-0441...>MORE

1998 Dodge Dakota Sport
DODGE 1998 Dakota Sport 3.9 V6, regular cab, exc in & out, no rust, real sharp, $2750. 523-7102...>MORE

Ford 1997 Taurus
FORD 1997 taurus, runs exc. fully loaded, must see $1400 or best offer. 205-7711...>MORE

Pontiac 2000 Grand Prix XL
PONTIAC 2000 Grand Prix XL, black,
good condition
531-2669
...>MORE

1991 Lincoln Executive Town Car
LINCOLN 1991 Executive Town Car, 42k miles, no rust, runs, needs work, $600. 990-8895....>MORE

Chrysler 2000 Concord LXI,
Chrysler 2000 Concord LXI, 4 door, one owner, exc. condition, power windows, power steering, power locks, $5000 or best ...>MORE

See all ads

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index