Yes Folks, it's true.
Combat flyers have their own particular jargon not unlike professional basketball players, football players and yes, hard-core Barbie doll collectors.
Generally you'll find the type A personality lurking just under the surface ready to go Donald Duck at any given moment. Mostly you can hear it in the first word uttered by a typical combat flyer in any discussion. That word is "NO."
Examples of this could be;
"No, you don't understand," "No, that's not what I meant," "NO, I think it should be ..."
Other contemporary phrases are "NO way!" the ever popular "No, I know, I know." And the short and to the point, "NO!"
With such limited vocabulary, you would think that combat fliers have a difficult time communicating, not the case. Some have refined it to an art form of NO-ing in great detail.
A typical conversation between two combat fliers might be:
"I think you should move your pit area over there."
"NO, YOU should move over to there."
"Didn't you see that I had killed you before you ran into me?!"
"NO."
To further emphasize true flexibility in expression, I have
a recent conversation between myself and a world champion F2D flyer who
wishes to remain anonymous so I won't print his last name. Some translation
is in order to get the full effect.
Mike: Would you like to come and participate in my flying clinic
in Phoenix November 15 & 16? Everyone is invited just bring some
F2d Planes!
Translation: I'm making fun of your combat clinic, and I'm gonna
kick everyone's butt.
Ken: Why yes!.....I think I may do just that. Since it's your
clinic, I assume that I can safely say that you'll be paying the entry fees.
Translation: We'll see about that, you buying the beer?
Mike: No it's not a free clinic! Guys from your area might have
to pay extra.
Translation: You guys suck, bring your own beer.
Ken: Hey, I know of a good motel there if you need one.
Translation: Payback for flea-bag you suggested in Houston.
Mike: Thanks, but we are going to camp at the site.
You interested in camping with us? We have a three-man tent, and there are
only four of us so far.
Translation: We're staying in a motel, you go camping and get robbed
by Hobos.
Ken: Sounds like being homeless ... a new experience! Let me get
back to you on that one as Jeff has ... how you say this delicately ...
gastro issues when he eats Tex-Mex, I can send him. Have you considered
what you will say when the police arrive for unauthorized camping? I'd like
a video if you can manage it.
Translation: We're armed and dangerous; I'm calling
the cops if you camp out there.
Mike: We put in for a permit, so we should be okay.
Translation: If the cops show I'll know it was
you.
Ken: Good idea! I'll let Steve Stewart know, he likes to sing
campfire songs. I haven't been to this site myself, is it remote enough
to night fly?
Translation: I can night fly, can you?
Mike: Yeah. It's a nice site. Not far from the airport so that
makes it nice.
Translation: No, go ahead and night fly, I'll call airport security
who will arrest you.
No wonder combat fliers have more fun.
-- Kenny-b and the Bod Busters
This page was upated Nov. 6, 2008