castle twice
I understand your bitterness for an underapreciated military as I am an Honorably Discharged Verteran of the US Air Force. I do, however, have to take issue with a couple of remarks you made in your original post.
First, I was a Jet Engine Mechanic and I worked on Aircraft that were designed before I was born. We actually had a plane that reached mandatory retirement (500,000 flying hours). The point I make is this, yes they are old but we NEVER, EVER installed parts on the plane that did not meet serviceability requirements.
Second, the equipment is old, mainly because of the cost to develop new equipment. It is difficult to ask taxpayers to build a fleet of new planes to replace planes that just went into service 3 years ago. To keep the planes and any equipment for that matter servicable, the military is vigilant about maintainence. I would fly
ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, on ANY military aircraft. I cannot say the same for the civilian fleet of commercial aircraft. No offence to any other FAA mechanics out there as I hold my FAA license as well.
Third, if the military was some place to get rich, everyone would join. I don't mean this to be harsh but everyone knows that they are underpaid. Could they and should they be paid more, Yes. Will they ever make the same amount as Dale Earnhardt, probably not.
Finally, it is people who operate all of the machinary, whether it is a Army helicopter or a Winston Cup race car. People make mistakes. Dale could have turned his steering wheel the other direction and went into the infield. Please Dale Earnhardt fans, do not linch me as I am simply making a point. Unless it has already been proven to be mechanical error, I am sure that some human factors could be at play in the crash of the Army helicopters.
Dale Earnhardt was not my favorite driver and I really don't even know much about his history in NASCAR but I do know that he was a man with a family who millions of people lived through vicariosly each and every week. We all need heros and like stated earlier, Dale Earnhardt was a Hero in every sence of the word, even in a time when the Superbowl MVP had been indicted for murder just a short year ago. You would never see that or any other disgraceful action from Dale Earnhardt or any other NASCAR driver for that matter. I am very sad that Dale is gone, he is someone I watched race at Charlotte, I heard his voice over my racing scanner, I had a sence that I "knew" him without ever meeting him. Even if I knew the name of every person on those helicopters I don't think I would feel a sence of loss because I didn't know anything about them, they were not in the public eye.
This in no way to disrespect the crew members or any of their surviving family.
Finally, people are born each and every day with an unknown destiny before them. Someone being born right now might be the next rich and famous NASCAR driver and the baby right next to him/her will be a mechanic in the US Air Force. Also, people die everyday and a few are so well known they have a song written about them. Does this make anothers death less significant? No, it just makes it less known.
Sorry for the length.
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Scott93GT
1993 Mustang GT
Silver CC/Titanium Accent GT, Black Clothe interior.
5 speed, 3.08's, 3 chamber Flows, K&N, Hurst Competition Plus.
1991 F150 4x4 XLT Lariat
Six Stick Regular Cab LWB Tow Vehicle