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Posted by Kris Krieger on May 7, 2008, 7:20 pm
>
>>
>>>
> [snipped]
>>>>
>>>>> In a 40 mph wind it would sound like a stratosquake, that is, an
>>>>> earthquake 60,000 feet in the air.
>>>>
>>>> "Stratosquake"...? (Yes, I googled it...)
>>>
>>> We live nearly under one flight path into Logan Airport,
>>> occasionally, when weather and wind conditions are right, a 767 or
>>> 747 will generate the weirdest sounds from wind shear after they
>>> have passed overhead . Scares the bejebers out of the dogs. Years
>>> ago we lived near a small park that had a sculpture with tuned wires
>>> of various lengths strung to produce quite pure tones when the wind
>>> blew. Very relaxing. EDS
>>
>> Yesterday, midmorning, I was sitting here enjoying the peace, the
>> silence, the contentment of living in the woods and suddenly the sky
>> exploded! Almost, er, sort of.
>> It was gradual, but quickening.
>> Started as a light high pitched growl in the distance and quickly
>> accellerated to a full blown gut ripping thunder.
>> 4 F16's were cuttin a rug from east to west at about 3000 feet,
>> wingtip to wingtip in pairs a thousand feet apart.
>> Jayziss.
>> Them things are terrifying.
>
> And yet, spectacular and beautiful. I've always loved planes; weapons
> platforms engender a strong and somewhat peculiar love-hate feeling.
> WHen I used to give rpesentations, I always gave subtle the horrific
> potential, because I truekly loathed and detested the a-holes who went
> on as to how "sexy" this or that weapons system supposedly was - maybe
> I'm warped, but I drew (and draw) a definite line between sexy, and
> that complex love/hate-attraction/repulsion arising from observing a
> thing (or creature) whose design is so perfectly suited to killing
> (much like watching a falcon hunting dovekies, or a cheetah running
> down a young gazelle - one mourns the terror and the death of the
> prey, yet thrills at the speed, power, and dexterity of the hunter).
>
> Be that as it may, I wish I could fly in one, even as merely a
> passenger - even if I got sick as a dog, I still really wish that's an
> experience I could have.
>
> Not that that relates to your observation per se - just more of my
> rambling thoughts, on a bustery, humid, nearly-hot Gulf Coast day ;)
>
>> As they were going overhead they were ultrasonic and dragging the
>> thrust behind them a quartermile and when the sound came over it was
>> almost deafening.
>> Raspy, deep, gurgling, spitting.
>> Every viscious evil demon in the world trapped in an endless titanium
>> tube with only one way out.
>> Man.
>> My goosebumps had goosebumps.
>> The Indycars of flight.
>> Stripped down, hyped up, pumped with steroids and adrenaline, the
>> ultimate powerpop wailing all the way.
>> Everybody deserves to hear this, at least once in their life.
>> I could watch that shit forever......
>
> Yup. It was interesting to do TDYs on and near USAF bases.
>
WHich reminds me - back in early 1991, I was at Kritland AFB - back then,
Albequerqie wasn't nearly as built up as it is now, and the area behind
the BOQ was open desert all the way to (and up) the Sandia mountains. I
went there to study the instruments of mass destruction - the last day I
was there, I took my evening walk, skirting the desert as the snad cooled
and gave up its scents of sage and earth, and the sky was dappled with
clouds, the ones directly above and to the East the most peculiar and
distinct shades of lavender and purple I'd ever seen, or have ever seen
since. Burrowing owls called, swopping silently, as they hunted on the
wing for insects, and in protest of my wandering in the area of their
nests. About, oh, 300 yards from the drive, there was a small bare tree
(it was March), and I suddenly noticed a great huge bird sitting in it.
Entranced, I walked towards it, amid the protests of the burrowing owls,
and realized it was a Golden Eagle, which amazed me because they are
quite intolerant of humans. I walked closer, and the bird simply watched
me. About halfway to the tree, I realized that there could be snakes
hiding in the low brush, and I stopped in fear. And then the bird flew -
but not away, towards to open land and the hills, but *AT* me! This is
somethign that sould not have happened. It flew so close to me that I
literally felt the breeze from its wings, and they made a sound like
ripping silk as they cut through the air - then it disappeared into all
of that purpleness; I tried to follow but it just seemed to vanish amid
the scattered cottonwoods - it was almost like a reply to a something I'd
written many months prior. In any event, one of my most treasured
memories. But part of what I wrote goes:
"Piercing talons, true, our Maker gave me,
and true, to live, I too must often kill -
but swiftly, surely: as merciful as sharp death can be."
In contrast, humans are all too often most distinclty UN-merciful.
OK, I'll stop my random blither for today ;)
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