Posted on 09/15/2006 11:00:22 AM PDT by lizol
I think it's absolutely appropriate that the minister's last name is Sikorski....
There's something just right about it....
The SCO's worst nightmare - F-16s with Polish insignia. Suggested next step - indigenous Polish war birds compatible with US ones. Similar to Japan.
They have keys? Can one hotwire the ignition?
I did notice that the "fighter pilot" genes took over first and they painted the minister's name and handle on the cockpit.
Purina dogs' food is actually 9 field. :) 4 field Polish checkboard that can be seen on Polish army planes is much, MUCH older.
Here is a good video of the F-16.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cunp6R6V8cI
But I did find this.
Which includes this tidbit:
The training programme at the Aviation Cadets School in Deblin and the Advanced Flying School in Grudziadz-Ulez was very demanding, both with regard to flying and shooting skills, with constant competition among the pilots, each striving to do their best. Let me describe just one exercise, as recollected by F/Lt Stanislaw Bochniak: a colored, small parachute was thrown out of the cockpit in flight. The trainee, always keeping it in sight, had to climb 300-400 meters (1000 ft) above it, stall into a spin, and recover at just the right moment to fire exactly one shot with his camera gun. In most cases, not only did they not lose sight of the parachute, but "scored" on the shot! ...
It's no wonder then, that a few years later these pilots were to be considered the best among the RAF, especially when compared with the run-of-the-mill RAF or even Luftwaffe pilots (which - of course - does not mean that both these airforces did not have good or outstanding pilots). The combat record of Polish pilots, with a consistently high victory/loss ratio, also speaks for them.
On April 11, 1942, when an aerial gunnery competition was staged within the 11th Fighter Group, the three competing Polish squadrons - 303, 316 and 315 took the first three places out of 22 competingsquadrons, 303 Squadron coming first by a healthy margin. These high standards were sustained throughout the war, with pilots from combat units on rest from operational duties taking part in the training of rookie pilots.
The Polish are a great people...I never could understand the Pollack Jokes when I was a kid????
Too bad they built it with only 1 engine. But then we'd have another F-15. Oh well...
A good book about the Kosciuszko Squadron.
Wish I Knew more Polish. I'd like to go there someday.
You didn't understand them? Maybe simply because they had been told in Polish. But seriously if understood them BUT didn't find them funny then there's a very good chance for your IQ being above 100. :)
It's not all that old tech anymore - it's a bit like the Eagle - about all that remains of the original generation of gear is the shape of the bird. New electronics, engines, construction, materials, weapons - meaner and leaner.
And as a Viper driver once told me, it's small enough to fit into your vest pocket - and turn around in there, too!
"I don't climb into my Falcon - I put the damn thing on like a pair of pants."
RE Polish Jokes: A neighbor has a Polish son-in-law. On the day John Paul was elected Pope, he called her from Alaska: "Hah! We just told the biggest, best Polish joke in the world!"
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.