Posted on 06/25/2010 3:24:01 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
A RAF navigator gave plane-spotters a chuckle as he held up a sign reading 'I'm with stupid' with an arrow pointing to the pilot. The pair were on a training mission in a £13million Tornado GR4 aircraft, capable of reaching 1,400mph, when the navigator pulled the prank as they jetted through a valley in Wales. Based at RAF Lossiemouth in the Scottish Highlands, the men were flying through Snowdonia, in northern Wales, at the time of the Top Gun stunt.
Knowing there would be spotters in the area, the amused navigator produced the homemade sign and sure enough, it was captured on camera. It recalls the famous moment in Top Gun when Tom Cruise gives the finger to a Russian MiG pilot during an 'impossible' 4-G negative dive, and then claims he was just 'keeping up foreign relations'.
The RAF trains pilots in Snowdonia to be future fast jet combat pilots through the valleys and keen aviation fans often watch the pilots in action.
The Ministry of Defence laughed off the light-hearted moment, saying the navigator was showing some personality. A spokesman told The Sun: 'All RAF aircrew are trained to be consummate profesionals, but - as with all jobs - there are light-hearted moments as well. The phrase 'I'm with Stupid' with an arrow has been used on novelty T-shirts since the 1970s.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Ping
And this is a refreshing reaction: The Ministry of Defence laughed off the light-hearted moment, saying the navigator was showing some personality. A spokesman told The Sun: 'All RAF aircrew are trained to be consummate professionals, but - as with all jobs - there are light-hearted moments as well.
I fear that if that happens over here, the sensitivity police would up in arms and the navigator would be re-educated.
If he’s so smart, why is he sitting in the back seat?
Ping
Because its safer there. You ever hear of a plane backing into a mountain? ;-)
There's a lot of RIOs who would take issue with that...
HEY!!
I resemble that remark.
(Some of us are blind, ya’ know?)
I went hiking once in Snowdonia park (about 20 years ago) and was treated to fighter jets appearing out of nowhere over the mountains. It was an awesome sight (and sound), one which I vividly remember.
Rear seat ejects first?
Actually, any serving USAF officer is already getting sensitized and re-educated out the ying-yang.
Maybe Michelle Obama should wear a T-shirt with that slogan next time she is out with Barack for a photo op ...
Safety ... don’t you know that pilots get to the scene of an accident first ... sheesh!!!
Happens all the time in Washington state ... there’s a high speed corridor from the Cascades straight to Whidbey NAS ....
I can see everything from the Cascades down to Mt. Rainier from my house... I guess they fly too low for me to see from here. Bummer... love watching stuff like that.
No, they both need one, pointing to the other.
Oh yeah, nap of the earth flying... you have to be on their freq. when flying up in the Arlington area ....
One of the most beautiful places I've seen in the world. We stayed at a little hotel at the base of a mountain, right in the park... hiked around, over some rope bridges, went to a little wool factory... and saw the jets briefly (boy, those suckers were loud and fast!).
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.