This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/6/2020
On May 10, 1967, Bruce Peterson was piloting the Northrop M2-F2 lifting body. The M2-F2 rolled violently from side to side on approach as he tried to bring it under control. Peterson recovered the aircraft, but it carried it off course from it’s intended landing zone. He was now headed towards an unmarked area of the lake bed where it was nearly impossible to estimate his height over the ground, because this area did not have the guidance markers that the planned landing spot had. Peterson, an excellent pilot, quickly and instinctively raised the nose, damping out the lateral motions.
A rescue helicopter appeared in front of the M2-F2, momentarily distracting him, but was quickly called cleared off by Peterson’s chase pilot. Coming in hot and dangerously low, Peterson fired the landing rockets to provide additional lift and the M2-F2 started to flare. Peterson initiated the landing gear, which needed only one-and-a-half seconds to deploy from up-and-locked to down-and-locked, but time had run out. The gear did not have time to fully lock, and the M2-F2 hit the lakebed at nearly 250 mph. The craft began to somersault violently, tumbling across the lakebed.
It bounced, tumbled and rolled over six times before finally coming to rest. He had suffered a fractured skull, multiple broken teeth, had broken bones in his hand, plus had a huge portion of his forehead scraped off. The incident was the bases for the book, “Cyborg” by Martin Caidin which was then turned in the icon 1970s TV show starring Lee Majors.
The TV show, which debuted March 7th, 1973 was titled “The Dark Side of the Moon”, and was inspired by the real life crash of Bruce Peterson. Astronaut Colonel Steve Austin was piloting a test plane when after experience difficulties during the flight, uttered the famous words, “were breaking up” before crashing.
Colonel Austin survived, but his injuries includes the loss of one eye, his legs, and one arm. With the aid of the doctors from the OSI (Office of Scientific Investigation), the top secret government agency determined “We can rebuild him, we have the technology.” The Six Million Dollar Man was born. Lee Majors starred in the title role from 1973-1978.
The staff of MEARS Online Auctions has created this exclusive offering and made this item available for the first time to the hobby. Lee Majors, the "Six Million Dollar Man", has personally autographed this test pilot helmet. The helmet is a two piece space helmet that has been signed in near mint blue sharpie by Lee Majors. The signing was witnessed by the professional staff of JSA (Jimmy Spence Autographs). The helmet includes the JSA autograph witness sticker which has been entered for permanent record keeping in the official JSA database. Helmet was photographed on a white sterofoam mannequin head for this listing and is NOT included with the purchase price.