On Jul 5, 8:26=A0am, "garyk...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
" <garyk...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
wrote:
> On Jul 5, 4:27 am, Jim Beckman <jamesbeck...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>
>
> > At 18:49 04 July 2008, chip.bear...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
>
> > > The most frustrating--to me--
> > >event was where a cadet pilot was ordered to turn back and land at an
> > >air****t along with a large number of non-finishers even though,
> > >apparently, he could have completed the task. Whether that was known
> > >at the time or only in hindsight, I don't know, nor do I know the
> > >qualifications of the individual who gave that order.
>
> > Most likely the person who gave the order had the only
> > qualification that really matters in that situation: =A0rank.
>
> > >They're flying state-of-the-art gliders that are very
> > >expensive--especially in terms of tax payers' dollars.
>
> > But relative to the other tax payer financed machines
> > that the AF flies (and occasionally wrecks) those gliders
> > are practically free.
>
> > No doubt the AF operates under restrictions we don't
> > realize, and they won't tell us about. =A0Avoiding damage
> > of any kind is probably more of a Public Relations ploy
> > than any consideration of expense. =A0Also a CYA
> > maneuver for whoever commands the glider program.
>
> > Back in the day (not so long ago) when the AF cadets
> > flew 1-26s, I flew in a 1-26 Champion****ps hosted by
> > the AF Academy in Colorado Springs. =A0The cadets were
> > hugely impressive guys. =A0As I recall, their officers also
> > flew some of the contest tasks. =A0And none of them seemed
> > averse to the occasional landout. =A0Each of their 1-26s had
> > a little row of emblems below the canopy rail, where a
> > fighter of 65 years ago might have painted swastikas
> > to tally shootdowns. =A0In the case of the 1-26s, they were
> > little Holstein cows. =A0The implication was obvious.
>
> > One of the real old-timers in 1-26 racing is Vern Hutchison,
> > who was in submarines during WWII. =A0I well remember one
> > late afternoon after the flying when the keg was tapped
> > and Vern was surrounded by a group of cadets, hanging
> > on his every word as he told his tales of submarine
> > combat.
>
> > [BTW, that contest was one the rare, perhaps unique,
> > glider meets that started with a low pass down the
> > contest runway by a formation of four f-16s, just for
> > us. =A0We appreciated the gesture.]
>
> > Jim Beckman
>
> According to the Contest Manager at Region 11, Noelle Mayes, they had
> a vehicle accident and withdrew. =A0no one was hurt.
Nor was the D2 damaged, though the tow vehicle and trailer sustained
some.
|
