Monday, December 23, 2013

Set the controls for the heart of the earth
The silver machine's worth more than you're worth

"Our Own Worst Enemy" came out in 1987 so the price tag quoted for replacing a fighter plane is an order of magnitude or two too low.
If the author's account is to be believed, the Swedish Air Force did some research into the kind of pilots who tend to steer their high-performance planes into the ground, and decided that anyone with Oedipal issues should not be trusted behind the wheel (or the tiller, or whatever). It seems that unresolved parental rivalries are not compatible with basic self-preservation. So the Swedes introduced a subliminal / projective test to weed out the aggressive dare-devils who really only want to fly fast planes as a way of out-doing their Daddies:
Some might say that a similar test would have served the Texas Air National Guard well but I could not possibly comment.

We only mention this at Riddled because Senator John McCain (son of Admiral John S. McCain, Jr; grandson of Admiral John S. McCain Sr) is relevant at the moment.
UPDATED with alternative title for ZRM

6 comments:

Substance McGravitas said...

It's a wonder that you didn't get Senator John McCain's opinion for this.

zombie rotten mcdonald said...

No ME 262 references?

PAH.

Smut Clyde said...

See, everyone, ZRM was paying attention and noticed the delibrate omision!

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

The youtubers have pictures.

HAH!
~

Narad said...

It seems that unresolved parental rivalries are not compatible with basic self-preservation.

"You really expect me to put in my key, and fire that thing?"

Big Bad Bald Bastard said...

In McCain's philosophy, "the crowded hour" refers to a moment of character testing.

His most crowded hour (rush hour, even!) was his character test on the USS Forrestal.

"Wet Start" sounds kinda Freudian...