On Wed, 6 Feb 2008 22:46:27 -0800 (PST), wrote:

On Feb 3, 3:50*pm, Dudley Henriques wrote:
Cecil E. Chapman wrote:
They fly because of money.... :/ *Money generates both lift and thrust.....


THIS is the real reason.

And let it be known as well that lift and thrust are directly
proportional to the AMOUNT of money spent :-)

--
Dudley Henriques

I guess that's why you Yeager types figure out ways to get into the
military planes. The military guys may not get paid much, but at least
they're not PAYING.

I'd wager the average fighter pilot monthly salary would not pay for
the gas the pilot uses on a single flight -- let alone the
maintenance. Even for a couple of flights!

Well, sheet. Some people are just smarter than others.

************************************************** ******************

When I was a 2nd Lt in USAAC I made $150 a month with flight pay.

The P-51 I flew burned about 60 gph at a modest cruise. With a 3 hour
mission that would be 180 gallons. Mission actually burned more gph
with full power for take off an climb power going to altitude.

So even at $1.00 a gallon, the gas for one flight cost more than my
monthly pay. To continue, I probably averaged 20 hours a month which
at 60 gph comes out to 1300 gallons, In a years time that would equate
to 15,600 gallons and my yearly pay was still $1800.

Some of us just loved to fly (fighters) and getting paid to do it was
icing on the cake )

Big John