Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Ward
First up, "Mad" Mike Hughes was no pilot.
The only person to call him a "pilot" was San Bernardino County sheriff’s department when they described the deceased occupant of the steam powered rocket...and I'd take issue with that description... as there was no "piloting" going on, he was a passenger on a ballistic projectile.
Anyone with even a modicum of flight training would have been painfully aware of the difficulties of sustained flight without wings.
The New York Times referred to him as " a daredevil, limousine stunt driver and self-taught astronaut".
The name Wile E. Coyote also comes to mind.
I suspect Mr Hughes will however be in the running for the 2020 Darwin Award, with distinction!
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Pilot may by a poor choice for you and I understand given it may reflect upon your past profession. However the choice of terminology is perhaps irrelevant as his undertaking was unique. We need not judge or compare given we have nothing to which compare. He would I expect hold the title of rocketeer way above pilot just as you look down on him I suspect that hat he would look down on you. Neither position is valid in my view.
My vision of the man is simply that he found something that gave him a presence that fitted his desire to ride a rocket..something to brag about as we all do after a few wines....and he was able to engage fools who wanted to prove the unprovable and pay him to finance his desire to ride his rocket...I think the thing to take away from all of it is he did what he wanted to do and got fools to pay his bills.
In a way I admire the man.
Alex
Quote:
Originally Posted by julianh72
Indeed - my personal motto:
"Live every day as if it's your last."
Cheers!
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I lived that way for 30 years and you know it did not do me much good.
Our desire to attach meaning or purpose leaves us far from the truth in my view.
I now live such that no one noticed if I am in the room or not...and that works...no pressure to perform ..no pressure to be noticed..no pressure to jump in and fix a thing...and finally you realise your inflated view of your importance was known only to you.
Alwx