"I swear to God, they wouldn't pay me if they knew how much fun this was," the doomed plane's...

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/02/blackwater.afghan.crash/index.html

updated 2:46 a.m. EDT, Wed October 3, 2007

Pilot said 'this is fun' before fatal Blackwater crash

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A 2004 crash that killed everyone on board -- three crew members and three U.S. troops -- was caused by pilots from a Blackwater plane taking a low-level run through a mountain canyon in Afghanistan, testimony revealed Tuesday.

"I swear to God, they wouldn't pay me if they knew how much fun this was," the doomed plane's cockpit voice recorder captured the pilot saying shortly before the November 27, 2004, crash. snip

"You're an X-wing fighter Star Wars man," an NTSB report quoted the plane's co-pilot, Loren Hammer, saying during the flight -- a reference to the dizzying battle in the 1977 film.

"You're right. This is fun," the pilot, Noel English, responded.

About eight minutes later, the plane slammed into the wall of the canyon, which was flanked by ridgelines that rose nearly a mile above surrounding terrain.

[Fridays Child]

1. Do you ever wonder if steroid abuse is mandatory at Blackwater?

[NNN0LHI]

2. They seem to have a lock an famous last words too

[htuttle]

5. This one is right up there with...

"Hold my beer and watch this!"

and

"Of course it's safe!"

[NNN0LHI]

11. I bet a buck the last words out of the pilots mouth were "Whoa dude!"

Right before he hit the wall.

Don

[EFerrari]

4. As soon as someone pointed that out, I saw the elephant. n/t

[KittyWampus]

12. I suspect methamphetamines or cocaine is used. It'd help explain a lot about behavior.

[bahrbearian]

3. Hopefully Darwin's theory will thin out Blackwater.

Plus a few law suits.

[walldude]

6. Guess he wasn't using the force....

Low Midichlorian count.

[EFerrari]

7. I have to wonder how old these guys are.

They all sound like they're 19. I know that isn't right but, wtf? Maybe that's what your brain does on steroids.

[TahitiNut]

8. Smokin' crack and climbing into one of the Empire's TIE fighters can be terminal.

[devilgrrl]

13. That one gave me the stoner giggles

[Dawggie]

9. A poster to the way they think...

[kurth]

10. A well-deserved demise

Burn in hell.

[Ezlivin]

14. Many (if not most) pilots are risk takers. That's what killed Randy Rhodes.

It's not just Blackwater pilots who are risk takers.

Andrew Aycock, the tour bus driver for Ozzy Osbourne's band, took Rhodes and hairdresser Rachel Youngblood on a flight in a ill-gotten Beechcraft Bonanza. Apparently the pilot Aycock decided to buzz the tour bus where the remaining band members slept. The right wing clipped the bus and killed everyone aboard the aircraft. (Read more about Randy Rhodes )

I heard a lot of stories when I was working toward my pilot's license, but luckily didn't fly with any "unsane" pilots. You'd be shocked to know how many GA (General Aviation) pilots fly under the influence. Some get away with it, others don't.

[tuckessee]

15. Darwin Award candidates for sure. n/t