Message posted by Andre' M. Dall'au on March 27, 2000 at 17:18:09 EST:

Thomas Wolfe's "The Right Stuff" shows pilots for what they really are, fallible human being that don't consider themselves fallible. That's why the last transmission before impact on flight data recorders is an incredulous "Oh shit". Not so much of an oath, but a realization of their own mortality. Combat pilots and those that tailhook on carriers are an even more special breed. Whatever motivation that keeps them coming back for more is closely tied to the genome that refuses to accept personal error. It's not lying, but it's just a recycling of the truth.

By the way, the only exception to the last words before impact is in the American South. There the last words there are usually "here, hold my beer and watch this..."

In Reply to: Re: Groom 'Box' posted by Richard on March 27, 2000 at 16:38:58 EST:

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