Comments for The Flight Deck

Comment on A Resolution by Dr. Tracy M. Baker

Dr. Tracy M. Baker — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 23:13:18 +0000

I too have read this site for several years and once exhorted Capt. Lefons to write a book. He wrote back that he had tried to do so, but he said he could never get it organized in a way that made sense to him. I find it amazing that a man with his skills and experience was so humble in spite of it. I was shocked to hear of his passing and have read the accident report. I rememger that for several months, his blog and web site were off line and I didn’t know why. Then, when I found out why, it was like someone punched me in the abdomen. Even though I am not a pilot, except on the Microsoft Flight Simulator, I could understand his thoughts and emotions as portrayed in the stories of “Rhythyms”. I have done over 500 traps on the “Carrier Deck” version of the Microsoft Flight simulator. When I started trying this, I was amazed at how HARD it was. I did 50 approaches to the carrier before I ever trapped. I never “died” in the process, but boltered 49 times. I felt like a dumb###, but finally got it and eventually became very good at it, even in a thunderstorm, which was the most fun. I discovered that the program had a built-in “error” whereby just as I would get to the ramp of the carrier, the thunderstorm wind gusts would throw the jet to one side or the other. What was tough was that you didn’t know which side, so you had to be ready to hit the rudder and stick one way or the other and just the right amount or I had to bolter due to missing the wires. But having done that, I could appreciate to a degree what carrier pilots like Capt. Lefons went through and it is amazing they don’t all REALLY die. I am just a dumb Oklahoma Family Practice Doctor, former Air Force puke who enjoys reading this site as I remain landlocked here.

Comment on Devastated by Phonebook

Phonebook — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 21:10:22 +0000

I scored 95% correlation with being a fighter pilot . . . good thing.

Then lawyer was 96.2 – pretty good – says I should not be a cop, a dancer or a musician – guess it was that ‘who do you vote’ for question that got me there!

Reviving a 4 year old thread- how is everyone.

Comment on A Resolution by Saturday's Warrior

Saturday's Warrior — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 06:48:12 +0000

Call me a lurker, I got a personal note from Lex one time in response to an email, but I was definitely a fan. He made me want to be better as a better human being. He lived the life I wished I’d lived and I lived vicariously through him. His writing inspired and inspires me.

I too am still in shock at the loss and very baffled as to why I feel so empty with his loss. Perhaps because he embodied to me everything America is, was, and should be and for which I was willing to lay my life down for in my own service.

His was and is a voice of insight, clarity, integrity and honor in stark and refreshing contrast to our era of crass cynicism.

C.S. Lewis remarked in “A Grief Observed” that remembering the dead is difficult because while they lived, they changed and grew and we grew with them. How best are we to remember the dead when death freezes time and growth, and memories grow dim or change as we change yet they are not with us?

Meanwhile, if the dead returned, we would still be faced with the prospect of losing them again in the course of life.

I like the idea, and when the time comes that I’m able to contribute something to said idea, I would like to participate.

Comment on A Resolution by Old AF Sarge

Old AF Sarge — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 02:14:28 +0000

Amen. Count me in, I’m a bit late to the meeting. But better late than never. God Bless You All!

Comment on A Resolution by dwas

dwas — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 06:29:34 +0000

I believe the monthly contributions are still open through Paypal..

Comment on A Resolution by Scary

Scary — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:37:45 +0000

I think some of our pilots telling their best flying stories in their best “LEX” voice would be great. I know LEX has inspired me in my writing.

Comment on A Resolution by Old Quatermaster

Old Quatermaster — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 05:35:59 +0000

I vote aye on all the motions.

Somewhere I saw that someone had seen in the USNI blog that they were going to publish Rhythms. If that is true then we have a start.

Comment on A Resolution by CG-23 Sailor

CG-23 Sailor — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 06:36:30 +0000

“So say we all”
Count me in.

Comment on A Resolution by PeterGunn

PeterGunn — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 22:49:15 +0000

Count me in… I’ll be proud to be counted “in that number”!

Comment on A Resolution by NaCly Dog

NaCly Dog — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:36:47 +0000

Last night, at the local Lex toast, HomeFront Six and I discussed adding some stories to the Lex tribute, in addition to a scholarship.

Every one of us can post:
our remembrances of Lex (plenty in the “Whisper: open thread” already),
why we were touched,
our best story in the Lex tradition.

Every one has a story they tell with friends and new acquaintances. These sea stories, vignettes, memories, and bon mots can be combined in a Lex tribute collection, for online or print.

We can also see if USNI would want to publish. USNI has plenty of interviews with significant figures in the Navy. This would be a slight extension of what they already do, and capture a wider range of voices. We can weave Lex’s best posts and the top comments in though the narrative.

An other idea is a story telling contest, in the Lex style. There has to be a top story-teller. Why not someone inspired by Lex?

Discuss among yourselves.