Why does everyone have to use the English channel as a bench mark? Why
not the gulf of tonkin (or whatever).

Because its always been that way, since the dawn of flight. The channel was
the ultimate expression of "just out of reach", with Calais and Dover just far
apart that it seemed improbable that any human built contraption could ever
soar across that gulf. Bleriot was the first to prove that the distance could
be spanned by an aviator. From that time on, the Channel has served as the
beacon for adventurous aviators who wished to demonstrate a connection to
Bleriot, standing on the shore and saying, "I can do this, where others could
not.", much the same as Everest has stood blocking the view of generations of
mountain climbers.

v/r
Gordon
====(A+C====
USN SAR Aircrew

"Got anything on your radar, SENSO?"
"Nothing but my forehead, sir."