Post by KonKuSSioN \PR/ on Nov 30, 2006 17:42:16 GMT -5
If you are reading this forum- chances are that you are or were an L-3 pilot. Many of you are here because you know CC from his most recent love- Pacific Fighters. Thank you for coming.
You all know that flight simulations vary in complexity, but without exception- Virtual pilots require certain equipment & skills to be effective. Flightsticks and other hardware, quick reflexes, intense concentration, normal stuff like that.
Next time you sit down to fly- try this.
You’re more or less standing upright- sort of like being supported by crutches only a lot worse because your weight is supported by braces of sorts- not your own legs.
You’re not given a stick to fly- You only get to use the keyboard. Difficult to fly effectively with nothing else said- but there’s more.
Your arms are held out above the keyboard in slings and must remain mostly still. You don’t even get to use your fingers. You have to hold a couple of pencils or something similar to press keys with. No more than 2 keys at a time. You cannot shift about, move your arms much, and below the chest- you must remain perfectly still- can’t move at all.
Is this beginning to sound like a challenge yet?
This- ladies & gentlemen- was EXACTLY what Crazy Cat \PR/ endured to fly with his brothers for YEARS. He not only endured- but looked forward to it.
CC didn’t quite have the snapping barrel roll that CM made famous. He had a hard time flying really good, fast AoA turns. He wasn’t going to bring someone down gunzo very often.
But he showed up. Wearing his colors. Bursting with pride. Ready to rumble.
CC had a terrible, degenerative muscular condition. Honestly- I don’t even know what it was called. I do know that the ones we hear about every day like M.S. pale in comparison. CC was unable to breathe naturally- it even paralyzed the normal function of his lungs. He wore a permanently installed respirator simply to stay alive every day.
Most of the squadron had no idea what was going on for a long time. He simply suited up & flew just like the rest of us. Never a complaint or an ill word. He was a Predator for well over a year before he let me in on what his situation was. NOTHING was to change in light of his condition.
CC participated in dozens & dozens of wars over the years. I still remember the day he subbed in for C.M. He fought his way in and made the winning drop for his squadron. I had never seen (heard) him so happy.
This man just wanted to be a Predator- and a Predator he shall always be.
We will never forget you, Crazy Cat \PR/ Sit back, relax, and enjoy your flight home.
www.speedfellow.f2s.com/2.jpg
www.speedfellow.f2s.com/3.jpg
You all know that flight simulations vary in complexity, but without exception- Virtual pilots require certain equipment & skills to be effective. Flightsticks and other hardware, quick reflexes, intense concentration, normal stuff like that.
Next time you sit down to fly- try this.
You’re more or less standing upright- sort of like being supported by crutches only a lot worse because your weight is supported by braces of sorts- not your own legs.
You’re not given a stick to fly- You only get to use the keyboard. Difficult to fly effectively with nothing else said- but there’s more.
Your arms are held out above the keyboard in slings and must remain mostly still. You don’t even get to use your fingers. You have to hold a couple of pencils or something similar to press keys with. No more than 2 keys at a time. You cannot shift about, move your arms much, and below the chest- you must remain perfectly still- can’t move at all.
Is this beginning to sound like a challenge yet?
This- ladies & gentlemen- was EXACTLY what Crazy Cat \PR/ endured to fly with his brothers for YEARS. He not only endured- but looked forward to it.
CC didn’t quite have the snapping barrel roll that CM made famous. He had a hard time flying really good, fast AoA turns. He wasn’t going to bring someone down gunzo very often.
But he showed up. Wearing his colors. Bursting with pride. Ready to rumble.
CC had a terrible, degenerative muscular condition. Honestly- I don’t even know what it was called. I do know that the ones we hear about every day like M.S. pale in comparison. CC was unable to breathe naturally- it even paralyzed the normal function of his lungs. He wore a permanently installed respirator simply to stay alive every day.
Most of the squadron had no idea what was going on for a long time. He simply suited up & flew just like the rest of us. Never a complaint or an ill word. He was a Predator for well over a year before he let me in on what his situation was. NOTHING was to change in light of his condition.
CC participated in dozens & dozens of wars over the years. I still remember the day he subbed in for C.M. He fought his way in and made the winning drop for his squadron. I had never seen (heard) him so happy.
This man just wanted to be a Predator- and a Predator he shall always be.
We will never forget you, Crazy Cat \PR/ Sit back, relax, and enjoy your flight home.
www.speedfellow.f2s.com/2.jpg
www.speedfellow.f2s.com/3.jpg
