Air show: Now with more *actual* air!
What Happened
During an air show at an Idaho Air Force base, two fighter jets collided midair. Both crews successfully ejected from their aircraft, with officials noting that a significant amount of ‘luck’ contributed to their safe escape.
Our Take
Alright, folks, buckle up, because today’s headline is a masterpiece of understatement! ‘Fighter jets crash in midair during air show at Idaho Air Force base, crew eject safely: “A lot of luck involved”‘ – ‘A lot of luck involved’? Is that what we’re calling it now? I call that ‘a Tuesday’ for Wile E. Coyote, not a highly trained Air Force pilot! I mean, you buy tickets to an air show, you expect some loops, some dives, maybe a little sonic boom to rattle your teeth. You do NOT expect to see two of the most expensive pieces of machinery known to man give each other an unscheduled mid-air hug.
I bet the conversation in the cockpit before this was just riveting. ‘Alright, Maverick, you go high, I’ll go low. We’ll cross in the middle for a dramatic flourish!’ ‘Roger that, Iceman! Just like we practiced!’ *CRUNCH*. Then it’s probably, ‘Uh, Maverick? I think your wing is wearing my tail like a party hat.’ ‘Oh, sorry! My bad! Did I just ruin our synchronized barrel roll?’
And then the ejection! You train for years for this moment, right? ‘In case of catastrophic failure, pull handle, say your prayers, and try not to think about how much this jet cost.’ I imagine one pilot is just plummeting down, thinking, ‘I knew I should’ve just stayed home and mowed the lawn. At least then the only thing crashing would be my motivation.’ And the other one is probably already on the phone, ‘Yeah, honey, I’m gonna be a little late for dinner. Had a slight ‘mid-air disagreement’ with a friend. No, not a ‘verbal disagreement,’ a ‘metal-on-metal’ disagreement.’
And the crowd? Oh, the crowd! Half of them are probably still trying to figure out if it’s part of the show. ‘Is this the new ‘dynamic separation’ maneuver? Very avant-garde!’ The other half are just dropping their popcorn, mouths agape. ‘I paid fifty bucks for this?! I could’ve seen a better crash on YouTube for free!’ ‘A lot of luck involved,’ indeed. I bet ‘luck’ is now going to be officially added to the list of essential flight instruments. ‘Alright, check your fuel, check your altitude, check your luck gauge. Oh, looks like mine’s on empty today, guess I’ll just stay on the ground.’ This isn’t just luck; this is the universe telling us that sometimes, even the most advanced technology needs a really, really good insurance plan. And maybe a pair of bumper stickers that say ‘Student Pilot: Please be patient.’
💬 “MY COFFEE!” — 💬 “WE HAD BRUNCH PLANS!”
Inspired by: Fighter jets crash in midair during air show at Idaho Air Force base, crew eject safely: “A lot of luck involved” – CBS News
