I got the idea from our old friend Zoom Rabbit at XWA.net.
Personaly I don't think there all that safe and havent gotten in one of the "Gods of Death"
http://www.jediknight.net/mboard/biggrin.gif)
I'll quote what he said.
"The engine's on fire? We'd better take off, so the wind can put it out!"
Seriously, Zoom is distressed by the increasing pace of airliner crashes these days. When are the authorities (and by this I mean the GOVERNMENTS involved) going to step in and force the airline companies to fly safe aircraft? There are airplanes in service today older than me (I'm 32) being maintained on a corporate budget by overworked tarmac monkeys, and flown over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over again until they finally fall apart. Maybe in midair.
*BING!* "Ladies and gentlemen, for your inflight entertainment we will now be simulating combat flight maneuvers. Please return your seats to their upright positions and fasten your seat belts."
The explosion of TWA flight 800 turned out to be caused by the gas tank being partly empty, with wires running through it, and an air conditioner producing heat directly underneath it. Excuse me? Is it just me, or was this a preventable accident at every stage of the game from the drawing board all the way to the flight itself?
Am I upset about this, for real? You bet. I used to fly in airplanes when I was a kid and enjoy the experience...but about twelve years ago, when I realized what a corporate mindset was, and that it was responsible for the safety of those airliners, I developed a well-reasoned fear of flying. I have flown rarely in my adult life, and am currently facing the prospect of doing so in a couple of months to attend a family wedding...since I am accompanying my mother and stepfather, who must fly because of my stepfather's age, I can't simply drive or take the train, as I usually do.
My mother argues that my fear is irrational, and that statistically flying is safer than driving. I point out that when something goes wrong with the car, I can usually pull it over and walk away...which is something few people have ever done in an airplane crash! She says that I am a reasonable, intelligent person who should be able to overcome this fear...and I say that I still have the right to be unreasonable, although I feel that my concerns are well founded.
*BING!* "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. If any of our passengers are carrying a socket wrench, would you please inform your flight attendant. Thank you."
I saw a documentary about this recently, and learned that the insulation used to wire a lot of older planes was flammable, the plastic chosen because it was lighter. Flammable cables, running right through the fuel tanks...oh, yes! Where do I buy my ticket?
No, the irony of this situation hasn't eluded me. Zoom Rabbit, the A-wing pilot, is afraid to fly. Yes, yes...funny indeed. My response to that is that I would be delighted to fly--a new airplane, under my own control, and checked over by an attentive and qualified mechanic. Until then, I will have to be satisfied with digital flight.
Of course, in digital flight you get to blow s**t up...
http://www.jediknight.net/mboard/biggrin.gif)
Anyone else concerned about the operating condition of our airliners?
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Mission Accepted...
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[This message has been edited by Commander 598 (edited August 06, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by Commander 598 (edited August 06, 2000).]