23 April 2007

When you see a falling star

Many of you will smirk hearing about this display of testosterone-driven boyish behavior, called Blue Angels, the Navy's precision flight team. There could be plenty of psychological explanations why this elite team of the best, the bravest and the ablest does what it does - as many as there are reasons for smirking, probably.

But there are plenty of explanations for mountain climbing, lion taming and many other semi-suicidal hobbies, and I do not think that Blue Angels should explain what they do to anyone any more than an alpinist explains what he or she does. Saying this:

A Blue Angels pilot was killed Saturday when his F/A-18 Hornet crashed into a Beaufort, S.C., neighborhood near the end of a performance by the Navy's precision flight team.

Navy Blue Angel No. 6 is shown minutes before crashing during an air show at the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, S.C., on Saturday.

According to the Blue Angels' Web site, that plane was generally piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Kevin "Kojak" Davis of Pittsfield, Mass., who was previously stationed at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach.
Rest in peace, Kevin. You are the best.

And for those still smirking:

Since its inception in 1946, the Blue Angels have performed for more than 427 million fans.

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