DIAMOND CRASH - (Graveyard Spiral Addendum)

Due to my father's job, I spent a lot of time around airports and aircraft growing up, Among many great memories were the airshows and practice runs we attended. I especially loved the fast, loud fighter jets. I was awestruck as they ripped by at such speed and so incredibly close to the ground. My favorites were The Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force flight demonstration team.

The Thunderbirds originated the DIAMOND formation which is used by flight demonstration teams around the world. The diamond is formed by four aircraft in a tight formation. Two planes fly within feet of the leader's wings and one plane flies closely behind, just off the leader's tail. The diamond pulls off amazing high-speed maneuvers as if the four were one airplane; all the while two solo aircraft zip in front, behind and all over the sky.

The key to the diamond is that three pilots play a high-speed game of follow the leader. The two pilots on the leader's wings and the one behind focus on nothing but the lead plane. As he climbs they climb. as he rolls they roll. As he banks they bank. And on a training run on January 18, 1982 at Indian Springs Air Field, Nevada; as he crashes they crash.

Though it was first thought to be pilot error, investigators finally ruled that the stabilizer in the leader's plane malfunctioned. The Diamond had climbed several thousand feet and wing-to-wing, pulled through an inside loop. Together, they began their descent, screaming downward at over 400 miles per hour. The dive was to level out at 100 feet as the Diamond would rocket by the crowd. Investigators speculate the pilots of planes #2, #3 and #4 never saw the ground. According to their training, the pilots never broke formation. Onlookers said the four hit the ground just the way they flew - as one.

I cannot express the respect I have for all U.S. Military men and women and their incredible call to duty on the behalf of others. Nor can I fathom the awe of flying a fighter jet at over mach 1.  I'm writing this corollary to The Graveyard Spiral to draw an analogy and make a point. The focus of the Thunderbirds #2, #3 and #4 that January day in 1982 is an incredible (and necessary) thing. They did exactly as they were trained to do. However, their leader was in trouble; his aircraft was broken. He was headed toward disaster. And they never knew it.

The point I want to make is the same as that of the last post. We each fly (our lives) with our focus fixed on something. We are just off the wing, or just behind a leader; whether it be a person, a dream, a religion... you fill in the blank. Here is the point: As you fly, make certain the thing you follow most closely doesn't have a busted plane.  

(By the way, I try to fly behind One whose course is always true. He's never allowed me to crash yet, though I've often felt like ejecting! I believe he flew from heaven to earth and invited me to join his Diamond.)

For Now...

D