| Author | Message | ||
     Vegasbueller |
The Navy lost one of it's best: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/21/blueangels.crash/index.html?section=cnn_latest (Message edited by vegasbueller on April 22, 2007) | ||
| Diablobrian |
Sad indeed, but at least there were no civilian casualties. The man was a hero. | ||
| 5liter |
I'd like to know the cause of the crash. We had a Blue Angel ingest a gull in Cleveland a few years back. FODed one motor but he got back OK. These guys are the best so it must have happened real fast. | ||
| Diablobrian |
At the (low) altitude and high speed they operate at things that wouldn't be a problem on a CAP (Combat Air Patrol) can kill them. There is so little time to reset and switch to backup systems. Speed is money in your pocket, altitude is money in the bank is an old pilot's truism. It's actually a tribute to the ground crewmen just how in-frequent these crashes are. | ||
| Tramp |
You fly combat trainers, diablo? The man wasn't a hero- he was an outstanding pilot. The heroes are the ones dying fighting for our country. That's not meant as a swipe at diablobrian, whom I enjoy reading, and with whom i'd enjoy riding- it's not meant as a swipe at the recently-deceased pilot, either. crashing is part of flying, esp. stunt and competitive flying. "hero" is used too liberally for my sensibilities, these days. | ||
| Hughlysses |
MCAS Beaufort (where the crash occurred) is only about 60 miles south of me. One observer in the local paper thought the plane clipped a lone very tall pine tree (higher than the surrounding trees) which caused the crash. They're very lucky no one on the ground was killed. A plumber working in the neighborhood was backing his truck out of a driveway when his truck was engulfed in flaming debris from the crash. Luckily, he emerged unscathed. | ||
| Devdawg |
Well put Tramp!!! | ||
| Court |
Tramp: You've a weigh with words. Well done. I know you join me in extending our sympathies to his family and fellow servicemen. The Blue Angels is certainly one of the neatest duties a pilot can draw and any flying accident is a sad moment. Court | ||
| CJXB |
The man wasn't a hero- he was an outstanding pilot. But he may be a hero to Diable, heros can be anyone we want to look up to and admire of our own choosing. I may see my sister as a hero, might not be to anyone else, but she can still be one to me !! That's what's cool about heros. My sympathies to the pilot's family and friends, God bless !! | ||
| Tramp |
CJXB said: "heroes can be anyone we want to look up to and admire of our own choosing." yep- in germany, you'll meet throngs of skinheads who have Rudolf Hess and Josef Goebels as heroes, and in Saudi Arabia, thousands of people consider the 9-11 hijackers to be heroes. Not in my book, though, and it doesn't make them heroes. PS- I absolutely join you in extending sympathy to him and his peeps, both as a fan, and as a pilot. I am appalled, however, that when our own servicemen in the field don't all have flak vests, that the pentagon throws millions of taxpayer dollars at these airshows and expensive aircraft, which would be better served in strafing ragheads in iraq. ...but that's just me.. (Message edited by tramp on April 23, 2007) | ||
| Aesquire |
The Blue Angels are one of the loudest, and most popular recruiting tools in the Navy. The day we can't have power, grace & beauty, because of budget cuts..... not our best day. My prayers to the team & family. I expect Tramp to complain that our troops in 2015 don't have enough antimatter containment packs. He'll be right, too, even though our troops seldom had them in our first fight against the Martians. Ack Ack, Ack ack ack! ( we come in peace) | ||
| Tramp |
you missed my point and brought "budget cuts" into it. IF we have a situation whereby our own servicemen and women do not have ample supplies, esp. Falk vests, we should NOT be throwing $ at "popular recruiting tools"...we should be arming and protecting those servicemen and women who we're already responsible for supporting. "budget cuts" are not the issue, here- the FACT that our troops are undersupplied, at present, IS.. making jokes about martians, etc., while service personnel are not receiving ample support is in poor taste. (Message edited by tramp on April 23, 2007) | ||
| Rotzaruck |
To send our guys out in harms way without every thing they reasonably need is wrong, we can all agree, I'm sure. But, all those guys are my heroes. They are fully capable to be flying missions, but were honored with the opportunity, or the orders they were given to represent our military to our people. I'm sure any of them would be just as honored to go bust some bad guys. It's impossible for me to watch those guys screaming over my city without my heart swelling with pride for the men they represent. And I grieve when we lose one over here or over there. With all the anti war, which to many is anti military, commotion going on, I believe all the national pride we can come up with can do nothing but help the situation. Watch the Blue Angels, and write your congressman, tell HIM to support our military. They are ALL my heroes doing the best they can for their country. Ed | ||
| Rick_a |
Many years ago ballistic vests were something used only by the most elite units, while regular grunts were still using Vietnam era technology flack jackets. Armored HMMWV's were a far fetched implement at best. The military is in a transitional phase for sure, but you can thank the general public and our great leaders for that. As to the cause of the crash, we'll know in a few weeks. Those guys are some of the best aviators in the world and I'm sure it was something beyond his control. I've seen them fly many times through the years and it's an unfortunate event. | ||
| 5liter |
What caused the crash??? GLOC???? |
