Talking heads

[Jim[_10_]]

Sure is irritating to listen to the media report the crash of a Blue
Angels F/A-18 at MCAS Beaufort.

The more they ramble the more anyone with any aviation background
recognizes these folks haven't a clue. For example; who went down?
Well let's see the aircraft are numbered 1 thru 6. Which one isn't on
the flightline?

Also either Fox or CNN couldn't decide whether or not one of the pilots
might have been a woman. Believe the Blue Angels home page could answer
that really quickly.

Where do they hire these idiots?


ACC USN ret.
NKX, BIKF, NAB, CV-63, NIR
67-69 69-71 71-74 77-80 80-85
&
74-77

Founder: RAMN (rec.aviation.military.naval)

[Kenny]

"Jim" > wrote in message
...

<snip>


> Where do they hire these idiots?


to quote lyrics from Don Henley's "Dirty Laundry"

"I could've been an actor,
but I wound up here,
I just have to look good,
I don't have to be clear,
Come and whisper in my ear,
We need dirty laundry.

Here comes the bubble headed bleach blonde,
She can tell you 'bout the plane crash,
with a gleam in her eye"

[John Miller]

Jim wrote:
> Sure is irritating to listen to the media report the crash of a Blue
> Angels F/A-18 at MCAS Beaufort.

Yeah, funny things happen when newsies have to get stuff together in a
hurry. CNN is quoting a source as saying that the F/A-18 can go in
excess of 450 MPH. Well, that's correct, but...

--
LTJG John Miller
Co-founder, Pensacola Press Club (in 1973 or so)

[J.D. Baldwin]

In the previous article, Jim > wrote:
> The more they ramble the more anyone with any aviation background
> recognizes these folks haven't a clue. For example; who went down?
> Well let's see the aircraft are numbered 1 thru 6. Which one isn't
> on the flightline?

I heard the Fox guy WHO HAS FLOWN WITH THEM say they do airshow
maneuvers in excess of Mach 1. Yeah, okay.

And the CNN website has been saying all day that the last crash
involving the Blues was in 1999. (It was, in fact, in 2004.)

And other assorted boneheaded errors that could have been resolved by
going to any credible source. Like, say, Wikipedia.

> Also either Fox or CNN couldn't decide whether or not one of the
> pilots might have been a woman. Believe the Blue Angels home page
> could answer that really quickly.

To be fair to Fox, one of the female correspondents asked the guy
doing the actual reporting whether there were women (because he kept
saying things like "these men") and he said, No, not at the moment
there aren't.

And in fairness to both Fox and CNN and others who didn't have basic
info that could be gotten from www.blueangels.navy.mil, that page has
been getting *slammed* since the story broke. Seeing as it is being
served up by Microsoft web servers (according to Netcraft), it's no
surprise that a high load has brought the service to its knees.

I don't believe there has ever been a female Blue Angel pilot. (One
of their MOs is a woman, and they have lots of female enlisted.) I
think the first female Hornet pilots are just getting senior enough
that they're being looked at for those billets now.
--
_+_ From the catapult of |If anyone disagrees with any statement I make, I
_|70|___:)=}- J.D. Baldwin |am quite prepared not only to retract it, but also
\ / |to deny under oath that I ever made it. -T. Lehrer
***~~~~-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[Jim[_10_]]

J.D. Baldwin wrote:
>
> I don't believe there has ever been a female Blue Angel pilot. (One
> of their MOs is a woman, and they have lots of female enlisted.) I
> think the first female Hornet pilots are just getting senior enough
> that they're being looked at for those billets now.

Currently the T-Birds #3 is a female major. Back in 2001 Canadian
Snowbirds had a female as well.




ACC USN ret.
NKX, BIKF, NAB, CV-63, NIR
67-69 69-71 71-74 77-80 80-85
&
74-77

Founder: RAMN (rec.aviation.military.naval)

[J.D. Baldwin]

I wrote, quoting Jim >:
> > The more they ramble the more anyone with any aviation background
> > recognizes these folks haven't a clue. For example; who went down?
> > Well let's see the aircraft are numbered 1 thru 6. Which one isn't
> > on the flightline?
>
> I heard the Fox guy WHO HAS FLOWN WITH THEM say they do airshow
> maneuvers in excess of Mach 1. Yeah, okay.
>
> And the CNN website has been saying all day that the last crash
> involving the Blues was in 1999. (It was, in fact, in 2004.)

This morning, CNN's caption noted that a "Blue Angels stunt plane" had
crashed. "Haven't a clue" seems a pretty mild way to put it.
--
_+_ From the catapult of |If anyone disagrees with any statement I make, I
_|70|___:)=}- J.D. Baldwin |am quite prepared not only to retract it, but also
\ / |to deny under oath that I ever made it. -T. Lehrer
***~~~~-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[qui si parla Campagnolo]

On Apr 21, 3:50 pm, Jim > wrote:
> Sure is irritating to listen to the media report the crash of a Blue
> Angels F/A-18 at MCAS Beaufort.
>
> The more they ramble the more anyone with any aviation background
> recognizes these folks haven't a clue. For example; who went down?
> Well let's see the aircraft are numbered 1 thru 6. Which one isn't on
> the flightline?
>
> Also either Fox or CNN couldn't decide whether or not one of the pilots
> might have been a woman. Believe the Blue Angels home page could answer
> that really quickly.
>
> Where do they hire these idiots?
>
> ACC USN ret.
> NKX, BIKF, NAB, CV-63, NIR
> 67-69 69-71 71-74 77-80 80-85
> &
> 74-77
>
> Founder: RAMN (rec.aviation.military.naval)

The military has been protecting idiot civilians for eons. For a group
that pays for their military, you would think they would want to know
more but they are comfy with their latte's and laptops.

[John Carrier]

"qui si parla Campagnolo" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> On Apr 21, 3:50 pm, Jim > wrote:
>> Sure is irritating to listen to the media report the crash of a Blue
>> Angels F/A-18 at MCAS Beaufort.
>>
>> The more they ramble the more anyone with any aviation background
>> recognizes these folks haven't a clue. For example; who went down?
>> Well let's see the aircraft are numbered 1 thru 6. Which one isn't on
>> the flightline?
>>
>> Also either Fox or CNN couldn't decide whether or not one of the pilots
>> might have been a woman. Believe the Blue Angels home page could answer
>> that really quickly.
>>
>> Where do they hire these idiots?

Evidently from acting schools, not journalism classes. Katie Couric, the
sweetheart of CBS news (who seems like a really nice woman, just not a
particularly smart one), lost me forever when she exclaimed as 7X7 number
two hit the tower two, "Don't those airplanes have navigation systems?!?"

This is the Tiffany network's news anchor, handsomely compensated to the
tune of $15M a year.

R / John


>> ACC USN ret.
>> NKX, BIKF, NAB, CV-63, NIR
>> 67-69 69-71 71-74 77-80 80-85
>> &
>> 74-77
>>
>> Founder: RAMN (rec.aviation.military.naval)
>
> The military has been protecting idiot civilians for eons. For a group
> that pays for their military, you would think they would want to know
> more but they are comfy with their latte's and laptops.
>

[DDAY]

You should never expect much from television anchors. They may have been
reporters once, but that was a long time ago. They mostly just read stuff.

The problem is exacerbated by the fact that they're generalists, not
specialists, so they know practically nothing about everything, and nothing
about anything in specific. Even if they have military experts on staff,
those people might not have the knowledge that is needed for a specific
story--for instance, they might have been an embed with a Marine unit for
months and understand the USMC, but know nothing about aviation.

I think you should expect more from print journalists. If they get stuff
wrong, it's sloppiness or laziness and has less to do with the nature of the
business they work in.




D

[Mike Weeks]

On Apr 22, 4:28�am, (J.D. Baldwin)
wrote:
> I wrote, quoting Jim >:
>
> > > The more they ramble the more anyone with any aviation background
> > > recognizes these folks haven't a clue. *For example; who went down?
> > > Well let's see the aircraft are numbered 1 thru 6. *Which one isn't
> > > on the flightline?
>
> > I heard the Fox guy WHO HAS FLOWN WITH THEM say they do airshow
> > maneuvers in excess of Mach 1. *Yeah, okay.
>
> > And the CNN website has been saying all day that the last crash
> > involving the Blues was in 1999. *(It was, in fact, in 2004.)
>
> This morning, CNN's caption noted that a "Blue Angels stunt plane" had
> crashed. *"Haven't a clue" seems a pretty mild way to put it.

That the military precision flying teams/planes/pilots are considered
"stunts" by the general media has unfortunately been around for ...
just about forever ... it seems.

MW

[Jack G[_2_]]

One news story covering the crash said Blue Angle #6 was one of two
airplanes flown by a single pilot during the show. I do believe they were
confused by "solo" as applied to #6.

Jack G.

[Tex Houston]

"Jack G" > wrote in message
. ..
> One news story covering the crash said Blue Angle #6 was one of two
> airplanes flown by a single pilot during the show. I do believe they were
> confused by "solo" as applied to #6.
>
> Jack G.

Same as you're confused about the name of the group? Angels, damn it!

Tex

[Jack G[_2_]]

If you are going to correct me, get it right: Group: Blue Angels.
Individual
Aircraft: Blue Angel (as in Blue Angel #6. )

And it is not the same thing as confusing a solo performer with a single
pilot.

Jack G.


"Tex Houston" > wrote in message
.. .
>
> "Jack G" > wrote in message
> . ..
>> One news story covering the crash said Blue Angle #6 was one of two
>> airplanes flown by a single pilot during the show. I do believe they
>> were confused by "solo" as applied to #6.
>>
>> Jack G.
>
> Same as you're confused about the name of the group? Angels, damn it!
>
> Tex
>

[Jack G[_2_]]

Wrong. He accused me of being confused about the name of the group. I
never mentioned the name of the group, I referred to one solo performer
(Blue Angel #6). Unfortunately I made a transposition error and typed Angle
instead of Angel. That is a long way from being confused!

Jack G.

"Clark" > wrote in message
...
> "Jack G" > wrote in news:yfKdna-
> :
>
>> If you are going to correct me, get it right: Group: Blue Angels.
>> Individual
>> Aircraft: Blue Angel (as in Blue Angel #6. )
>>
>> And it is not the same thing as confusing a solo performer with a single
>> pilot.
>>
>> Jack G.
>>
> Well Jack, an angle is not an angel... (he had it right enough)
>
>>
>> "Tex Houston" > wrote in message
>> .. .
>>>
>>> "Jack G" > wrote in message
>>> . ..
>>>> One news story covering the crash said Blue Angle #6 was one of two
>>>> airplanes flown by a single pilot during the show. I do believe they
>>>> were confused by "solo" as applied to #6.
>>>>
>>>> Jack G.
>>>
>>> Same as you're confused about the name of the group? Angels, damn it!
>>>
>>> Tex
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
> ---
> there should be a "sig" here

[Mike Weeks]

Even as late as today, Sunday, one AP release states:

"The squadron's six, F/A-18 Hornets routinely streak low over crowds
of thousands at supersonic speeds, coming within feet, sometimes
inches, of each other."

[Blanche]

And this morning on FOX, a short segment of the Thunderbirds'
ground crew was shown, allegedly part of the Blue Angels' ground
crew.

[Jack G[_2_]]

No, I was not simply corrected, I was accused of being confused about the
name of the group. I never denied that I made a mistake. What I attacked
was having a typo mistake I made equated to the significant mistake made by
a news service by saying only two of the Blue Angels planes in the show were
flown by a single pilot.

Jack G.


"Clark" > wrote in message
...
> "Jack G" > wrote in
> :
>
>> Wrong. He accused me of being confused about the name of the group. I
>> never mentioned the name of the group, I referred to one solo performer
>> (Blue Angel #6). Unfortunately I made a transposition error and typed
>> Angle instead of Angel. That is a long way from being confused!
>>
>
> Wrong? No, you're the only one wrong here. You were called on a simple
> error and instead of admitting it you attacked. That is wrong.
>
>>
>> "Clark" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> "Jack G" > wrote in news:yfKdna-
>>> :
>>>
>>>> If you are going to correct me, get it right: Group: Blue Angels.
>>>> Individual
>>>> Aircraft: Blue Angel (as in Blue Angel #6. )
>>>>
>>>> And it is not the same thing as confusing a solo performer with a
>>>> single pilot.
>>>>
>>>> Jack G.
>>>>
>>> Well Jack, an angle is not an angel... (he had it right enough)
>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Tex Houston" > wrote in message
>>>> .. .
>>>>>
>>>>> "Jack G" > wrote in message
>>>>> . ..
>>>>>> One news story covering the crash said Blue Angle #6 was one of two
>>>>>> airplanes flown by a single pilot during the show. I do believe
>>>>>> they were confused by "solo" as applied to #6.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Jack G.
>>>>>
>>>>> Same as you're confused about the name of the group? Angels, damn
>>>>> it!
>>>>>
>>>>> Tex
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> ---
>>> there should be a "sig" here
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
> ---
> there should be a "sig" here

[Jack G[_2_]]

Please point out how this can be interpreted as a "correction" Rather than
an accusation:
Jack G.

"Tex Houston" wrote:

>>>>>> Same as you're confused about the name of the group? Angels, damn
>>>>>> it!



Jack G.

[Mike Kanze]

>Where do they hire these idiots?

It used to be - on local TV channels - that they'd hire the prettiest looking (and not necessarily the smartest) women for "weather girl" roles. Since then they have apparently expanded the number of roles available to this demographic. If they look buff on the beach, can fog a mirror, and can remember their names without looking at their drivers licenses, they're hired.

--
Mike Kanze

"I would love to change the world, but I can't find a diaper large enough."

- Anonymous

"Jim" > wrote in message ...
Sure is irritating to listen to the media report the crash of a Blue
Angels F/A-18 at MCAS Beaufort.

The more they ramble the more anyone with any aviation background
recognizes these folks haven't a clue. For example; who went down?
Well let's see the aircraft are numbered 1 thru 6. Which one isn't on
the flightline?

Also either Fox or CNN couldn't decide whether or not one of the pilots
might have been a woman. Believe the Blue Angels home page could answer
that really quickly.

Where do they hire these idiots?


ACC USN ret.
NKX, BIKF, NAB, CV-63, NIR
67-69 69-71 71-74 77-80 80-85
&
74-77

Founder: RAMN (rec.aviation.military.naval)

[Mike Kanze]

>I don't believe there has ever been a female Blue Angel pilot.

IIRC, the closest they've come is having a USMC female on the team as a Fat Albert pilot.

--
Mike Kanze

"I would love to change the world, but I can't find a diaper large enough."

- Anonymous

"J.D. Baldwin" > wrote in message ...

In the previous article, Jim > wrote:
> The more they ramble the more anyone with any aviation background
> recognizes these folks haven't a clue. For example; who went down?
> Well let's see the aircraft are numbered 1 thru 6. Which one isn't
> on the flightline?

I heard the Fox guy WHO HAS FLOWN WITH THEM say they do airshow
maneuvers in excess of Mach 1. Yeah, okay.

And the CNN website has been saying all day that the last crash
involving the Blues was in 1999. (It was, in fact, in 2004.)

And other assorted boneheaded errors that could have been resolved by
going to any credible source. Like, say, Wikipedia.

> Also either Fox or CNN couldn't decide whether or not one of the
> pilots might have been a woman. Believe the Blue Angels home page
> could answer that really quickly.

To be fair to Fox, one of the female correspondents asked the guy
doing the actual reporting whether there were women (because he kept
saying things like "these men") and he said, No, not at the moment
there aren't.

And in fairness to both Fox and CNN and others who didn't have basic
info that could be gotten from www.blueangels.navy.mil, that page has
been getting *slammed* since the story broke. Seeing as it is being
served up by Microsoft web servers (according to Netcraft), it's no
surprise that a high load has brought the service to its knees.

I don't believe there has ever been a female Blue Angel pilot. (One
of their MOs is a woman, and they have lots of female enlisted.) I
think the first female Hornet pilots are just getting senior enough
that they're being looked at for those billets now.
--
_+_ From the catapult of |If anyone disagrees with any statement I make, I
_|70|___:)=}- J.D. Baldwin |am quite prepared not only to retract it, but also
\ / |to deny under oath that I ever made it. -T. Lehrer
***~~~~-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[Mike Kanze]

>I think you should expect more from print journalists. If they get stuff wrong, it's sloppiness or laziness and has less to do with the nature of the business they work in.

There's more to it than that. Recall that throughout most of the 20th century, the U. S. media reflected a population that saw - and participated - in world warfare. A much higher percentage of media professionals had actually worn a uniform and served in a combat (non journalistic) capacity. While this bunch was still reporting and editing, their work made more sense.

'Taint so today.

--
Mike Kanze

"I would love to change the world, but I can't find a diaper large enough."

- Anonymous

"DDAY" > wrote in message ink.net...
You should never expect much from television anchors. They may have been
reporters once, but that was a long time ago. They mostly just read stuff.

The problem is exacerbated by the fact that they're generalists, not
specialists, so they know practically nothing about everything, and nothing
about anything in specific. Even if they have military experts on staff,
those people might not have the knowledge that is needed for a specific
story--for instance, they might have been an embed with a Marine unit for
months and understand the USMC, but know nothing about aviation.

I think you should expect more from print journalists. If they get stuff
wrong, it's sloppiness or laziness and has less to do with the nature of the
business they work in.




D

[Jim[_10_]]

Blanche wrote:
> And this morning on FOX, a short segment of the Thunderbirds' ground
> crew was shown, allegedly part of the Blue Angels' ground crew.

Also this morning on CBS news. Reporting on the missing man formation
as a jet peels away. Of course the video was all props.....

[Airyx]

On Apr 23, 5:49 pm, "Mike Kanze" > wrote:
> >I don't believe there has ever been a female Blue Angel pilot.
>
> IIRC, the closest they've come is having a USMC female on the team as a Fat Albert pilot.

I saw them at this year's Fort Worth Alliance airshow.

There was a female pilot on the team, out signing autographs. I
wasn't sure if she was actually going to fly, but when they sounded
off just before rolling, her voice was loud and clear. I think she
was in the #3 jet.

[Tex Houston]

"Airyx" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> On Apr 23, 5:49 pm, "Mike Kanze" > wrote:
>> >I don't believe there has ever been a female Blue Angel pilot.
>>
>> IIRC, the closest they've come is having a USMC female on the team as a
>> Fat Albert pilot.
>
> I saw them at this year's Fort Worth Alliance airshow.
>
> There was a female pilot on the team, out signing autographs. I
> wasn't sure if she was actually going to fly, but when they sounded
> off just before rolling, her voice was loud and clear. I think she
> was in the #3 jet.
>

While the Blue Angels are indeed scheduled for the Fort Worth Alliance Air
Show the scheduled dates are OCTOBER 20, 21. You saw them already?

Tex