I Sat in Bush's Seat Guy

National Review Online ^ | 5/1/03 | Kathryn Lopez

[WarrenC]

SAT IN BUSH'S SEAT GUY: [Kathryn Jean Lopez]

Another e-mail worth sharing:

[from NRO's "The Corner" section]

All these people accusing Bush of grandstanding are know-nothing schlubs. Most of what they know about the military they got from watching J.A.G. on TV. I was in the Navy and had occasion to land on the U.S.S. Kennedy once. It was one of the most frightening things I ever did. The pilot literally crashes the plane intentionally on the deck and at the point of impact jams the throttle to full power. A hook grabs a steel cable stretched across the deck and slams the plane down hard stopping it in about 60 feet from a speed of over 120mph. There is this tremendous impact and a huge metallic KA-BLAM!! as the plane comes down. At the same instant your spine is decompressing from hitting the deck the deceleration clobbers you too. The four point restraints cut into your shoulders so hard you wince in pain. As your forehead comes to rest on your chest if feels like your head is going to pop off your shoulders. You then slam back into the seat and immediately look out the window hoping your don't see fire and the flight deck crew running away.

You then say to yourself or out loud, "HOLY-_____!!" and then, depending upon your upbringing, add a religious reference or a profanity to it. I recall being very happy to get back to my "safe" job; jumping out of helicopters into storm tossed seas at night as a rescue swimmer.

The Secret Service must have gone bananas over this idea and the poor flight crew that flew with the POTUS must have been a nervous wreck knowing that the life of the President was in their hands while they crashed/landed on the carrier. You see, most of the aircraft and crews we lose in the Navy are during carrier take-offs and landings. Here is what the President probably did not know. The very best pilots in flight training get to fly combat jets. The guys who do not finish at the top have to take the remaining flight assignments in the order of their academic standing in flight school. In all likelyhood, the plane he flew in was piloted by a flight crew that did not graduate flight training at the top of their class. Not in the middle of their class either. Everybody on that carrier gets what the President did. Everybody who ever experienced a carrier landing knows what he did.....What he did was this; He exposed himself to a very dangerous experience to show the troops that he was willing to take risks that they take everyday for low pay. Everybody on that ship got that message. It was meant for them, not us. It was by my measure a damned brave thing to do.

[WarrenC]

Nice reader mail to NRO's Kathryn Lopez from someone who seems to know.

[JustPiper]

He exposed himself to a very dangerous experience to show the troops that he was willing to take risks that they take everyday for low pay. Everybody on that ship got that message. It was meant for them, not us. It was by my measure a damned brave thing to do.

Bump!!! I know it looked frightening and awesome and one helluva an adrenaline rush...the deck looked so short!

[Steven W.]

Some liberal was agonizing on TV tonight, "he looked like Tom Cruise when he landed and jumped out of that plane" ... you could almost hear the gnashing of teeth.

[lsee]

See Bush landing on carrier here on Foxnews.com. There is a "click here to play" about a third of the way down the page. Awesome!

Yeah, I noticed he was walking a little stiffly those first few yards off the plane, but as he began to greet everyone, he seemed to recover. Must be quite an impact...he may be sore tomorrow!

[ChicagahAl]

As a former Marine F-4 Pilot, I'll just say that it was really cool that he did this.

[sarasmom]

As a former USAF veteran, it pains me to say this...but he was flying with the best of the best.
I was sure proud of President Bush, for doing this, but I was never afraid for his safety.
I doubt he was, either.
I am certain he thoroughly enjoyed his experience, and I am very happy he had the opportunity to do so.I know the people on the ship felt good about it.
Now, I would NEVER participate in what he did today.I would also never jump out of a perfectly good airplane, although some people enjoy that sort of thing.
But I sure was proud and happy to see him show his respect for the USN, and get the joy of the ride.Having spent a few years around pilots,I understand they have a higher tolerence level for thrills than what my own wimpy self wants to enjoy.
It meant a lot to the people on that aircraft carrier, and was an exceptionally classy move by the POTUS.

[RLK]

I'd be more impressed if Bush could confron the Clintons, Ted Kennedy, and other people. Landing on aircraft carriers is not going to have the necessary long term effect this nation needs.

[tbird1]

Maybe he should have offered to take them with him.
tbird1

[microgood]

They must have slacked up the arresting gear for a softer landing. I thought he went an awfully long way down that deck.

[fourdeuce82d]

I would also never jump out of a perfectly good airplane

I could never understand why USAF/NAVY types STAYED with planes when they weren't perfectly good anymore.

"Ahh, base, this is Red Dog Flight leader..seem to have a lil' problem with the number two engine- it's gone... plus that dang number one's on fire, my canopy's gone, my bombs are armed but won't release, and my landing gear's gone. I'll be coming in on runway three."

(sam kinnison scream) "THE PLANE IS NO LONGER PERFECTLY GOOD. IT'S NOT EVEN A MEDIOCRE PLANE...IT'S A FLAMING DEATHTRAP-SAVE YOURSELF- GET OOOOUT!"

Far as I was concerned, if the piddle port backed up, I was outta there- wouldn't even have hooked up, just used the reserve...or flapped my arms really fast.

different strokes for different folks...*grin*

[sarasmom]

LOL!
Airborne guys always want to get back on the ground the fastest possible way.
I never worked with army pilots, but it seems clear they dont enjoy the same status of pilots from the other branches, what with everyone on board wanting to bail on them all the time...LOL!

[Mo1]

Here is what the President probably did not know. The very best pilots in flight training get to fly combat jets.

He was a pilot and his father was a pilot ... I think he does know

[deport]

Here is what the President probably did not know. The very best pilots in flight training get to fly combat jets. The guys who do not finish at the top have to take the remaining flight assignments in the order of their academic standing in flight school. In all likelyhood, the plane he flew in was piloted by a flight crew that did not graduate flight training at the top of their class. Not in the middle of their class either. Everybody on that carrier gets what the President did.

---

The same can be said of many occupations of skill. The best in one sector isn't always the best of another.... example, indy car driver versus a NASCAR or dirt track..... totally different requirements/skills and to denigrate one over the other is a little less than genuine, imo.

[Mo1]

True ...

From what I heard .. the President did have the best flying with him

[bonfire]

Sounds just like my dad's explanation of landing on an aircraft carrier!

[Jeff Gordon]

In all likelyhood, the plane he flew in was piloted by a flight crew that did not graduate flight training at the top of their class.

The plane number was 700. The Cmdr who flew the plane has considerable experience.

Be that as it may, the CnC did set a fine example of a military leader. I got chills when I heard the female voice announcing "United States Arriving." We have got ourselves a real kick ass President for a change.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

They don't slack up arresting gear for "softer landings". Cable tension is set according to aircraft weight and the plane snagged the number four wire.

[neither-nor]

What interests me about just as much is hopw that pilot felt. Knowing you have the President in your plane, coming in on a landing like that.....

[nutmeg]

bump

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

In all likelyhood(sic), the plane he flew in was piloted by a flight crew that did not graduate flight training at the top of their class. Not in the middle of their class either.

Kara Hultgreen was a s****y pilot who got a ticket to fly F-14s and everybody doesn't yearn to be a fighter puke. The author of this email is an ignorant turd.