Connecting Flight

            Two things will get me talking for hours- motorcycles and the Air Force. This could very well be why 80% of my time is split solely between activities pertaining to those. I can’t say I’m too surprised by this, either. Air forces around the world have influenced the culture we are so proud to be a part of. Don’t believe me? Strap in, soldier, it’ll be long flight.

            No one has ever seen a fighter plane- from anytime, anywhere- and said, “Meh.” They’re plain cool. They’re deadly, beautiful, and fast. Even the slow ones are fast. And it isn’t just the planes- the sheer balls of military pilots are so heavy, I don’t know how the planes are light enough to take off. They are the perfect storm of cool, calm, and absolutely bat-stir crazy. Every little boy and many little girls see pilots and what they do, and it’s a unanimous jaw drop. Pilots are cool.

    

        And their jackets. OH GOD, their jackets. A-2, B-2, MA-1- whatever model, it is the bomber jacket. Everyone knows that many of the pilots of WWII painted and patched their jackets with symbols of their units, pin-ups, and good luck charms. And did they look good.

      

      So, we all know that, no matter how you feel about the military, pilots are freaking cool. ‘But, Kitty!” you all say, “You’re just rambling about how great pilots are! Why do we care?” Look at your jacket. Is that a painted club logo on your back? Oh my, a patch? A pin-up on your hot-rod or calendar? All of that can be traced back to at least World War II, and often times even before then. And many times, specifically back to brave airmen.

            And in the café scene, it’s even more obvious. Besides the jacket, we wear scarves and goggles like we’re all in Sopwith Camels. Hell, the Mod’s signifying logo is the Royal Air Force roundel (the blue, white, and red target, as made famous by The Who). Our wanting to emulate these men and women should surprise no one. They were speed demons just as much as the earliest dirt-trackers and ton-ups. It goes the other way, too; in every movie about pilots, our protagonist always has an iron horse. Steve McQueen couldn’t have made such a great escape if not for his bike, and Richard Gere piloted his Triumph out of training.

Heck, I can't tell if this is a pilot or a guy from the Ace.

                                                                   Stock from 123rf

A kindred spirit is felt. Both cultures are dedicated to speed and looking into the wind and hitting the throttle. Looking death in the eye and grinning.