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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!wanttaja
From: wanttaja@ssc-vax.UUCP (Ronald J Wanttaja)
Newsgroups: net.aviation,net.tv
Subject: Re: Spies on the net from Amazing Stories
Message-ID: <343@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 6-Nov-85 13:05:11 EST
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.343
Posted: Wed Nov  6 13:05:11 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 7-Nov-85 06:47:27 EST
References: <2786@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Distribution: net
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle, WA
Lines: 34
Xref: watmath net.aviation:2163 net.tv:3498

> Psychics take note! No sooner do we discuss a topic on net.aviation
> (B-17 belly turrets and the fate of the gunner in wheels-up landings)
> than the EXACT SAME THEME is the topic of the special one-hour Amazing
> Stories aired 3 Nov 85. Since the production leadtime makes it
> impossible that the net inspired the episode, it must be that someone in
> the know about the series posted to the net. (Or mental telepathy was
> working...)
> 
> Will
> 

YES!  YES!  I'LL ADMIT IT!  my .sig may be "Ron Wanttaja," but I'm actually
Steve Spielburg!  HA! HA!  My "Aviation Trivia" quizzes were nothing but a
scheme to generate scripts... you should see what I used from
net.auto.tech!

Alhough reluctant to post TV criticism to net.aviation, I never was so
disappointed in an ending as I was to this episode.  I was able to overlook
the technical points (the laughable "checklist" , the lack of oxygen masks or the electrically heated flight
suits), the constant wearing of aviator sunglasses, whistling of "the Wild
Blue Yonder," the DB-601 engine sticking into the side of the Fort, etc.
The same plotline was the subject of a "12 O'Clock High" episode, and (good
'ol) General Savage's solution using a fire extinguisher had at least some
relation to reality.  I don't mind fantasy, but going through 50 minutes of
a fairly accurate, high-drama flying story only to have a off-the-wall
fantasy ending stinks.  An ideal ending would have been that the apparent
ending was an "Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge" type... the gunner fantasized
the wheels lowering, and was squashed at the very end.  Real PG-13 stuff.

					    Ron (Deadstick) Wanttaja
					    (ssc-vax!wanttaja)

"Archbury control, this is Ramrod Leader..."