Memorial.

[Noel]

Your comment about the copter reminded me of a thought that remained with me throughout the fighter jet display at a recent air show. I found myself sitting in a field, with friends and family - including my daughter and whilst everyone around me was in awe of the jets and the noise I felt almost removed and distanced from the spectacle as I imagined how frightening that noise must be when you're at war and that is the sound of your enemy.

You struck a chord there Matt. Was at Brands Hatch many, many years ago at a race meeting and there was some air display scheduled during the afternoon between races.
Without warning 2 or 3 jets (maybe F16s or Tornados or something) roared over our heads. Because of the topography of the area there was no chance to see them or indeed hear them coming. The sudden, sheer, totally deafening, noise, vibration and what seemed a rise in air temperture made me think of only one thing - this was what it was like to be an inhabitant in some Cambodian village not so many years ago.

Unfortunately the parallel with Cambodia still exists in many parts of the world today.

 

[devonwoody]

Down here in Devon the airforce pilots practice strafing runs on us motorists driving on Dartmoor.
Can you imagine the sudden feeling of actually being attacked while at the wheel.