Nathan Gilliatt wrote:
many airline passengers get to watch unmanned tactical jets
roll/bounce/tumble (whatever it in fact did) by as they wait for
departure.

On the way to Seattle we made an emergency landing at
Sacramento after the pilot mentioned a small fire in the
cockpit.

Fire trucks followed us to the terminal.

A few minutes later the pilot tells us fire seems to be
out and we taxi to the departure end of the runway. A
couple NG fighters took off and, while we watched, one of
them flamed out (I guess) and went through the fence. No
idea what happened to the pilot.

Fire trucks follow NG fighter to fence area.

Not really that dramatic but the most fire trucks I've
ever seen running loose at an airport.