Flyboys?

"Dudley Henriques" wrote:


Although I'm sure there were those who might have used this term in a
derogatory way, it should be noted that the term itself is so generic that
it's use was certainly not limited to a negative context alone.
I'm fairly certain that there were many who used this term in an extremely
positive sense as the term related to them personally, and their positive
feelings about those who were fighting above them or for them, and in many
cases, protecting them.
I know that in my years of association with those who have flown in harm's
way, I can't remember anyone having a violent reaction to the term.
Dudley Henriques

I find it amazing that you could say that, Of course you've
amazed me before so I shouldn't be surprised I guess. I suppose I
shouldn't knock your misinterpetation here because you're
speaking from almost zero experience aren't you?. That shouldn't
surprise me by now either I guess.

I'll merely state that not once in my 26 years in the military
have I ever heard anyone call anyone a 'flyboy' with other than
derision in mind. Not once. Derision only. Sorry.

-Gord.

"I'm trying to get as old as I can,
and it must be working 'cause I'm
the oldest now that I've ever been"

Having been a ground pounder, then an aircrewman during the 1980s, my
experience with the term is limited. As jet mechs, we called the "pretty boys"
in flight suits that never had to stand a watch or get dirty by the negative
term "fly boys". Later, when it was my time in the flightsuit, periodically I
would be approached by women that used the term with much greater affection and
appreciation. I think that the term can be used like almost every other term,
either positively or negatively.

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

Donate your memories - write a note on the back and send those old photos to a
reputable museum, don't take them with you when you're gone.

"Krztalizer" wrote in message
...
Having been a ground pounder, then an aircrewman during the 1980s, my
experience with the term is limited. As jet mechs, we called the "pretty
boys"
in flight suits that never had to stand a watch or get dirty by the
negative
term "fly boys". Later, when it was my time in the flightsuit,
periodically I
would be approached by women that used the term with much greater
affection and
appreciation. I think that the term can be used like almost every other
term,
either positively or negatively.

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

Exactly!!

Dudley Henriques
International Fighter Pilots Fellowship
Commercial Pilot/ CFI Retired
For personal email, please replace
the z's with e's.
dhenriquesATzarthlinkDOTnzt

On 16 Dec 2003 20:43:41 GMT, nt (Krztalizer) wrote:

Having been a ground pounder, then an aircrewman during the 1980s, my
experience with the term is limited. As jet mechs, we called the "pretty boys"
in flight suits that never had to stand a watch or get dirty by the negative
term "fly boys". Later, when it was my time in the flightsuit, periodically I
would be approached by women that used the term with much greater affection and
appreciation. I think that the term can be used like almost every other term,
either positively or negatively.

v/r
Gordon

While I can understand the jet mechs envy that the aviators never had
to "stand a watch or get dirty", I usually asked them how long the
average jet mech spent in Hanoi as a POW, or how many of them were
lost last week during their shift. It seems to quiet the envy and pull
the plug on the green-eyed monster.

As Art often reminds us, we don't always get to walk a mile in the
other guys shoes, but while I respect the eyeball-to-eyeball
experience of the grunt, I expect that he, in return, will offer me
similar respect for where I've been and what I've done.

I probably have been called "flyboy", but don't worry too much about
it.

While I can understand the jet mechs envy that the aviators never had
to "stand a watch or get dirty", I usually asked them how long the
average jet mech spent in Hanoi as a POW, or how many of them were
lost last week during their shift. It seems to quiet the envy and pull
the plug on the green-eyed monster.

Well played, Ed. Besides, if flying wasn't the coolest thing on earth to be
paid for, there wouldn't be any envy in the first place. After three years
busting my knuckles on TF-34s, still ticking over from the last flight, I
thought (*cof*) that the guy snoozing all day in the rack beside mine was a
worthless, coffee-toting pansy. Then, I got a chance to go through the same
pipeline he did, with SAR swimmer and a few other variations thrown in. The
amount of work, studying, and danger between being a plane captain on the
flight deck of a carrier at night, and actually flying in helicopters that
operated off frigates at night, was not equal in my experience. Flying was of
course more FUN, but more work as well, and much more dangerous. Wouldn't
trade a minute of either experience though. One of my favorite visual memories
of my life was standing on the deck of the Ike as it swung around into the wind
at about 15 knots, just as the sun came up and swept the night away. The
orange ball on the razor thin horizon looked like it was rolling across a table
as we turned into it, and the flight deck's crowded ballet swung right under
the ball, and we started sending jets into it. Just frickin amazing view - one
out of many I am glad I have.

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

Donate your memories - write a note on the back and send those old photos to a
reputable museum, don't take them with you when you're gone.

On Tue, 16 Dec 2003 22:39:01 GMT, Ed Rasimus wrote:

On 16 Dec 2003 20:43:41 GMT, nt (Krztalizer) wrote:

Having been a ground pounder, then an aircrewman during the 1980s, my
experience with the term is limited. As jet mechs, we called the "pretty boys"
in flight suits that never had to stand a watch or get dirty by the negative
term "fly boys". Later, when it was my time in the flightsuit, periodically I
would be approached by women that used the term with much greater affection and
appreciation. I think that the term can be used like almost every other term,
either positively or negatively.

v/r
Gordon

While I can understand the jet mechs envy that the aviators never had
to "stand a watch or get dirty", I usually asked them how long the
average jet mech spent in Hanoi as a POW, or how many of them were
lost last week during their shift. It seems to quiet the envy and pull
the plug on the green-eyed monster.

As Art often reminds us, we don't always get to walk a mile in the
other guys shoes, but while I respect the eyeball-to-eyeball
experience of the grunt, I expect that he, in return, will offer me
similar respect for where I've been and what I've done.

I probably have been called "flyboy", but don't worry too much about
it.

I think that the difference between Navy and Air Force is related to
this. Think of the Forrestal fire, the Oriskany fire, or the Enterprise.
A lot of pilots saw a lot of their "ground crew" killed and horribly
burned trying to rescue the "junior birdmen". On a ship
everyone is in combat, from mess cook to Captain. No
remfs allowed.

Al Minyard

"Gord Beaman" wrote in message
...
"Dudley Henriques" wrote:


Although I'm sure there were those who might have used this term in a
derogatory way, it should be noted that the term itself is so generic
that
it's use was certainly not limited to a negative context alone.
I'm fairly certain that there were many who used this term in an
extremely
positive sense as the term related to them personally, and their positive
feelings about those who were fighting above them or for them, and in
many
cases, protecting them.
I know that in my years of association with those who have flown in
harm's
way, I can't remember anyone having a violent reaction to the term.
Dudley Henriques

I find it amazing that you could say that, Of course you've
amazed me before so I shouldn't be surprised I guess. I suppose I
shouldn't knock your misinterpetation here because you're
speaking from almost zero experience aren't you?. That shouldn't
surprise me by now either I guess.

I'll merely state that not once in my 26 years in the military
have I ever heard anyone call anyone a 'flyboy' with other than
derision in mind. Not once. Derision only. Sorry.

-Gord.

I take it that after we delete the unnecessary and unfortunately predictable
vitriol, we have an opposing opinion here.
Perhaps next time you can try something like ;
"In my experience I've found the term more negative than positive". Makes
your point.......doesn't waste time and bandwidth....and definitely makes
for more intelligent discussion don't you think? :-)
Dudley Henriques
International Fighter Pilots Fellowship
Commercial Pilot/ CFI Retired
For personal email, please replace
the z's with e's.
dhenriquesATzarthlinkDOTnzt

"Dudley Henriques" wrote:


I'll merely state that not once in my 26 years in the military
have I ever heard anyone call anyone a 'flyboy' with other than
derision in mind. Not once. Derision only. Sorry.

-Gord.

I take it that after we delete the unnecessary and unfortunately predictable
vitriol, we have an opposing opinion here.

Vitriol?...God, you've lived a very sheltered life haven't
you?...



--Gord.

"Bull ****! This is a constant speed prop. RPM is a
set value. The RPM can be set at 3000 and the
manifold pressure can be anywhere between 15 inches
and 61 inches, and it's the manifold pressure
combined with the set RPM that will determine the
power.....NOT the RPM!!! Are you trying to tell
me that the rotational (energy) of a propeller is
the same at 15 inches as it is at 61?".
-D Henriques

"Gord Beaman" wrote in message
news
"Dudley Henriques" wrote:


I'll merely state that not once in my 26 years in the military
have I ever heard anyone call anyone a 'flyboy' with other than
derision in mind. Not once. Derision only. Sorry.

-Gord.

I take it that after we delete the unnecessary and unfortunately
predictable
vitriol, we have an opposing opinion here.

Vitriol?...God, you've lived a very sheltered life haven't
you?...

Not really, but fairly well educated...at least enough to know that vitriol
is defined as sharp or caustic speech or writing, such as your opening lines
to me below....you know, the stuff you "didn't include in your quote pickup
here :-)

I find it amazing that you could say that, Of course you've
amazed me before so I shouldn't be surprised I guess. I suppose I
shouldn't knock your misinterpetation here because you're
speaking from almost zero experience aren't you?. That shouldn't
surprise me by now either I guess.

Yup! That's vitriol, sheltered or unsheltered. :-)


"Bull ****! This is a constant speed prop. RPM is a
set value. The RPM can be set at 3000 and the
manifold pressure can be anywhere between 15 inches
and 61 inches, and it's the manifold pressure
combined with the set RPM that will determine the
power.....NOT the RPM!!! Are you trying to tell
me that the rotational (energy) of a propeller is
the same at 15 inches as it is at 61?".
-D Henriques

"Dudley Henriques" wrote:


"Gord Beaman" wrote in message
news
"Dudley Henriques" wrote:


I'll merely state that not once in my 26 years in the military
have I ever heard anyone call anyone a 'flyboy' with other than
derision in mind. Not once. Derision only. Sorry.

-Gord.

I take it that after we delete the unnecessary and unfortunately
predictable
vitriol, we have an opposing opinion here.

Vitriol?...God, you've lived a very sheltered life haven't
you?...

Not really, but fairly well educated...at least enough to know that vitriol
is defined as sharp or caustic speech or writing, such as your opening lines
to me below....you know, the stuff you "didn't include in your quote pickup
here :-)

I find it amazing that you could say that, Of course you've
amazed me before so I shouldn't be surprised I guess. I suppose I
shouldn't knock your misinterpetation here because you're
speaking from almost zero experience aren't you?. That shouldn't
surprise me by now either I guess.

Yup! That's vitriol, sheltered or unsheltered. :-)


"Bull ****! This is a constant speed prop. RPM is a
set value. The RPM can be set at 3000 and the
manifold pressure can be anywhere between 15 inches
and 61 inches, and it's the manifold pressure
combined with the set RPM that will determine the
power.....NOT the RPM!!! Are you trying to tell
me that the rotational (energy) of a propeller is
the same at 15 inches as it is at 61?".
-D Henriques



Oh God!!...my ribs!...my ribs!!

I would have given a lot to have been a fly on your wall when you
saw your error here!

(I suppose you'll say that you included that on purpose?) sigh

You really should cut your losses and quit this before you make
any more of a fool of yourself dud old chappie

-Gord.

"I'm trying to get as old as I can,
and it must be working 'cause I'm
the oldest now that I've ever been"