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	<title>The RammyGram &#187; Planes, Trains, &amp; Automobiles</title>
	<atom:link href="http://rammygram.com/category/planes-trains-automobiles/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://rammygram.com</link>
	<description>Bringing you the funniest of email since 2003.</description>
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		<item>
		<title>Nitro Boat vs. Whiny Girlfriend</title>
		<link>http://rammygram.com/nitro-boat-vs-whiney-girlfriend/</link>
		<comments>http://rammygram.com/nitro-boat-vs-whiney-girlfriend/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:38:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rammy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Male - Female Relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Planes, Trains, & Automobiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rob Barlow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Videos]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rammygram.com/?p=689</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://rammygram.com/nitro-boat-vs-whiney-girlfriend/' addthis:title='Nitro Boat vs. Whiny Girlfriend '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="medium"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>Submitted by: Rob Barlow Download Nitro Boat vs. Whiny Girlfriend]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://rammygram.com/nitro-boat-vs-whiney-girlfriend/' addthis:title='Nitro Boat vs. Whiny Girlfriend '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="medium"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div><p><em><strong>Submitted by: Rob Barlow</strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://rammygram.com/nitro-boat-vs-whiney-girlfriend/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Nitroboatvswhineygirlfriend.wmv">Download Nitro Boat vs. Whiny Girlfriend</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Meet the Volkswagens &#8211; Jetta TDI Meets Prius</title>
		<link>http://rammygram.com/meet-the-volkswagens-jetta-tdi-meets-prius/</link>
		<comments>http://rammygram.com/meet-the-volkswagens-jetta-tdi-meets-prius/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2009 04:46:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rammy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advertisements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Planes, Trains, & Automobiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rob Barlow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Videos]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rammygram.com/?p=639</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://rammygram.com/meet-the-volkswagens-jetta-tdi-meets-prius/' addthis:title='Meet the Volkswagens &#8211; Jetta TDI Meets Prius '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="medium"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>Submitted by: Rob Barlow What does your car sound like?]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://rammygram.com/meet-the-volkswagens-jetta-tdi-meets-prius/' addthis:title='Meet the Volkswagens &#8211; Jetta TDI Meets Prius '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="medium"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div><p><em><strong>Submitted by: Rob Barlow</strong></em></p>
<p>What does your car sound like?<em><strong><br />
</strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://rammygram.com/meet-the-volkswagens-jetta-tdi-meets-prius/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Top Gear: Choosing a Bus for London (aka Rally Drivers Racing Busses)</title>
		<link>http://rammygram.com/top-gear-choosing-a-bus-for-london-aka-rally-drivers-racing-busses/</link>
		<comments>http://rammygram.com/top-gear-choosing-a-bus-for-london-aka-rally-drivers-racing-busses/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:27:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rammy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Cars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jason Rammelsberg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Planes, Trains, & Automobiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TV Show Clips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Videos]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rammygram.com/?p=597</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://rammygram.com/top-gear-choosing-a-bus-for-london-aka-rally-drivers-racing-busses/' addthis:title='Top Gear: Choosing a Bus for London (aka Rally Drivers Racing Busses) '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="medium"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>Found by: The Rammy Top Gear is one of my favorite shows on TV.  It is on BBC America and is usually pretty dang funny!  The other night I was packing for a trip to California and needed something to watch so I just grabbed an episode of Top Gear I hadn&#8217;t seen off my [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://rammygram.com/top-gear-choosing-a-bus-for-london-aka-rally-drivers-racing-busses/' addthis:title='Top Gear: Choosing a Bus for London (aka Rally Drivers Racing Busses) '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="medium"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div><p><em><strong>Found by: The Rammy</strong></em></p>
<p>Top Gear is one of my favorite shows on TV.  It is on BBC America and is usually pretty dang funny!  The other night I was packing for a trip to California and needed something to watch so I just grabbed an episode of Top Gear I hadn&#8217;t seen off my DVR.  When this segment came on, I had to stop packing I was laughing so hard.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><object width="440" height="349" data="http://www.topgear.com/us/players/topgear-embedded-v3.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="name" value="flashObj" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><param name="flashvars" value="playerID=6556765001&amp;&amp;@videoPlayer=ref:14282957001&amp;&amp;domain=embed&amp;autoStart=false" /><param name="src" value="http://www.topgear.com/us/players/topgear-embedded-v3.swf" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object>
</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T5tKvRlJtk" target="_blank">Here is also a link to it on Youtube</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Toyota Trap</title>
		<link>http://rammygram.com/the-toyota-trap/</link>
		<comments>http://rammygram.com/the-toyota-trap/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:04:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rammy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advertisements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Planes, Trains, & Automobiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scott Cowan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Videos]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rammygram.com/?p=370</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://rammygram.com/the-toyota-trap/' addthis:title='The Toyota Trap '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="medium"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>Submitted by: Scott Cowan Download Brazilian Toyota Commercial]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://rammygram.com/the-toyota-trap/' addthis:title='The Toyota Trap '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="medium"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div><p><em><strong>Submitted by: Scott Cowan</strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><p><a href="http://rammygram.com/the-toyota-trap/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/braziliantoyotacommercial.wmv">Download Brazilian Toyota Commercial</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>To My Darling Understanding Husband</title>
		<link>http://rammygram.com/to-my-darling-understanding-husband/</link>
		<comments>http://rammygram.com/to-my-darling-understanding-husband/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jan 2007 23:32:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rammy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Darvell Rowley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Male - Female Relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Planes, Trains, & Automobiles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rammygram.com/index.php/2007/01/29/to-my-darling-understanding-husband/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://rammygram.com/to-my-darling-understanding-husband/' addthis:title='To My Darling Understanding Husband '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="medium"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>Sent by: Darvell Rowley To My Darling Understanding Husband: Before you return from your business trip, I want you to know that I had a little accident while driving your precious pickup truck. Fortunately, there is not too much damage, and I didn&#8217;t get hurt, so you don&#8217;t have to worry about that. I was [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://rammygram.com/to-my-darling-understanding-husband/' addthis:title='To My Darling Understanding Husband '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="medium"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div><p><em><strong>Sent by: Darvell Rowley</strong></em></p>
<p>To My Darling Understanding Husband:</p>
<p>Before you return from your business trip, I want you to know that I had a little accident while driving your precious pickup truck.</p>
<p>Fortunately, there is not too much damage, and I didn&#8217;t get hurt, so you don&#8217;t have to worry about that.</p>
<p>I was coming home from shopping at the mall, and as I was turning into our driveway, the cell phone rang.  I answered it, and it was Sylvia.  She told me she was still at the mall, and do you remember that cute little shoe store that I love?  Well, she said they were having a &#8220;storewide&#8221; clearance sale!  I got so excited when I heard that, that my foot slipped off the brake and I accidentally pushed down on the accelerator pedal!  The garage door is slightly bent, and the pickup came to a halt when it bumped my car.  Don&#8217;t worry, your motorcycle and you beer chest did not get damaged at all!</p>
<p>I am really sorry this happened, but I know that you are so worried that I could have been hurt in this silly little accident, that you will forgive me.  You are so kind hearted, and you know how much I love and care for you.</p>
<p>I will be staying at my mothers for a few days, until the garage door is fixed, so you can reach me there.  In fact, why don&#8217;t you stay at<br />
that hotel and play golf with your buddies, until I get this little mess cleaned up&#8212;&#8211;I really don&#8217;t want you to have to worry about me, or the garage door&#8212;&#8211;the nice young man from the insurance company is helping me make it all better.</p>
<p>I will call you when it is all fixed up.  I just can&#8217;t wait to hold you in my arms again!<br />
<a class="imagelink" title="To My Loving Husband" href="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/ToMyLovingHusband.jpg" rel="lightbox[53]"><img align="left" id="image52" alt="To My Loving Husband" style="margin: 5px; position: relative" src="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/ToMyLovingHusband.thumbnail.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>Your loving wife,</p>
<p>XOXOXOXOXO</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Mercedes Benz SCL600</title>
		<link>http://rammygram.com/mercedes-benz-scl600/</link>
		<comments>http://rammygram.com/mercedes-benz-scl600/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jan 2007 23:37:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rammy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Aundrea Rammelsberg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Planes, Trains, & Automobiles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rammygram.com/index.php/2007/01/15/mercedes-benz-scl600/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://rammygram.com/mercedes-benz-scl600/' addthis:title='Mercedes Benz SCL600 '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="medium"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>Sent by: Aundrea Rammelsberg Check out the new Mercedes Benz SCL600.Â Driving it would be a bit awkward I bet. Â Â]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://rammygram.com/mercedes-benz-scl600/' addthis:title='Mercedes Benz SCL600 '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="medium"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div><p><em><strong>Sent by: Aundrea Rammelsberg</strong></em></p>
<p>Check out the new Mercedes Benz SCL600.Â  Driving it would be a bit awkward I bet.<br />
<a title="Mercedes Benz SCL600 001" class="imagelink" href="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/Mercedes%20Benz%20SCL600%20001.jpg" rel="lightbox[34]"><img alt="Mercedes Benz SCL600 001" id="image26" src="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/Mercedes%20Benz%20SCL600%20001.thumbnail.jpg" /></a>Â <a title="Mercedes Benz SCL600  002" class="imagelink" href="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/Mercedes%20Benz%20SCL600%20002.jpg" rel="lightbox[34]"><img alt="Mercedes Benz SCL600  002" id="image27" src="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/Mercedes%20Benz%20SCL600%20002.thumbnail.jpg" /></a>Â <a title="Mercedes Benz SCL600  002" class="imagelink" href="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/Mercedes%20Benz%20SCL600%20002.jpg" / rel="lightbox[34]"><a title="Mercedes Benz SCL600 003" class="imagelink" href="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/Mercedes%20Benz%20SCL600%20003.jpg" rel="lightbox[34]"><img alt="Mercedes Benz SCL600 003" id="image28" src="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/Mercedes%20Benz%20SCL600%20003.thumbnail.jpg" /></a> <a title="Mercedes Benz SCL600 004" class="imagelink" href="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/Mercedes%20Benz%20SCL600%20004.jpg" rel="lightbox[34]"><img alt="Mercedes Benz SCL600 004" id="image29" src="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/Mercedes%20Benz%20SCL600%20004.thumbnail.jpg" /></a></p>
<p><a title="Mercedes Benz SCL600 004" class="imagelink" href="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/Mercedes%20Benz%20SCL600%20004.jpg" rel="lightbox[34]"> </a><a title="Mercedes Benz SCL600 005" class="imagelink" href="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/Mercedes%20Benz%20SCL600%20005.jpg" rel="lightbox[34]"><img alt="Mercedes Benz SCL600 005" id="image30" src="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/Mercedes%20Benz%20SCL600%20005.thumbnail.jpg" /> </a><a title="Mercedes Benz SCL600 007" class="imagelink" href="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/Mercedes%20Benz%20SCL600%200061.jpg" rel="lightbox[34]"><img alt="Mercedes Benz SCL600 007" id="image32" src="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/Mercedes%20Benz%20SCL600%200061.thumbnail.jpg" /> </a><a title="Mercedes Benz SCL600 007" class="imagelink" href="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/Mercedes%20Benz%20SCL600%20007.jpg" rel="lightbox[34]"><img alt="Mercedes Benz SCL600 007" id="image33" src="http://rammygram.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/Mercedes%20Benz%20SCL600%20007.thumbnail.jpg" /></a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>What&#8217;s My Groundspeed?</title>
		<link>http://rammygram.com/whats-my-groundspeed/</link>
		<comments>http://rammygram.com/whats-my-groundspeed/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jan 2007 15:58:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rammy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Planes, Trains, & Automobiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scott Cowan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rammygram.com/index.php/2007/01/11/whats-my-groundspeed/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://rammygram.com/whats-my-groundspeed/' addthis:title='What&#8217;s My Groundspeed? '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="medium"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>Sent by: Scott Cowan Scott says &#8221; I was the Cessna hah hah! &#8221; &#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212; &#8220;There were a lot of things we couldn&#8217;t do in an SR-71, but we were the fastest guys on the block and loved reminding our fellow aviators of this fact. People often asked us if, because of this fact, it [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://rammygram.com/whats-my-groundspeed/' addthis:title='What&#8217;s My Groundspeed? '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="medium"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div><p><em><strong>Sent by: Scott Cowan</strong></em></p>
<p>Scott says &#8221; I was the Cessna hah hah! &#8221;</p>
<p align="center">&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;</p>
<p>&#8220;There were a lot of things we couldn&#8217;t do in an SR-71, but we were the fastest  guys on the block and loved reminding our fellow aviators of this fact. People  often asked us if, because of this fact, it was fun to fly the jet. Fun would  not be the first word I would use to describe flying this plane &#8211; intense,  maybe, even cerebral. But there was one day in our Sled experience when we would  have to say that it was pure fun to be the fastest guys out there, at least for  a moment.</p>
<p>It occurred when Walt and I were flying our final training  sortie. We needed 100 hours in the jet to complete our training and attain  Mission Ready status. Somewhere over Colorado we had passed the century mark. We  had made the turn in Arizona and the jet was performing flawlessly. My gauges  were wired in the front seat and we were starting to feel pretty good about  ourselves, not only because we would soon be flying real missions but because we  had gained a great deal of confidence in the plane in the past ten months.  Ripping across the barren deserts 80,000 feet below us, I could already see the  coast of California from the Arizona border. I was, finally, after many humbling  months of simulators and study, ahead of the jet.</p>
<p>I was beginning to  feel a bit sorry for Walter in the back seat. There he was, with no really good  view of the incredible sights before us, tasked with monitoring four different  radios. This was good practice for him for when we began flying real missions,  when a priority transmission from headquarters could be vital. It had been  difficult, too, for me to relinquish control of the radios, as during my entire  flying career I had controlled my own transmissions.</p>
<p>But it was part of  the division of duties in this plane and I had adjusted to it. I still insisted  on talking on the radio while we were on the ground, however. Walt was so good  at many things, but he couldn&#8217;t match my expertise at sounding smooth on the  radios, a skill that had been honed sharply with years in fighter squadrons  where the slightest radio miscue was grounds for beheading. He understood that  and allowed me that luxury. Just to get a sense of what Walt had to contend  with, I pulled the radio toggle switches and monitored the frequencies along  with him. The predominant radio chatter was from Los Angeles Center, far below  us, controlling daily traffic in their sector. While they had us on their scope  (albeit briefly), we were in uncontrolled airspace and normally would not talk  to them unless we needed to descend into their airspace.</p>
<p><span id="more-14"></span></p>
<p>We listened  as the shaky voice of a lone Cessna pilot who asked Center for a read-out of his  ground speed. Center replied: &#8220;November Charlie 175, I&#8217;m showing you at ninety  knots on the ground.&#8221; Now the thing to understand about Center controllers, was  that whether they were talking to a rookie pilot in a Cessna, or to Air Force  One, they always<br />
spoke in the exact same, calm, deep, professional tone that  made one feel important. I referred to it as the &#8220;Houston Center voice.&#8221; I have  always felt that after years of seeing documentaries on this country&#8217;s space  program and listening to the calm and distinct voice of the Houston controllers,  that all other controllers since then wanted to sound like that and that they  basically did. And it didn&#8217;t matter what sector of the country we would be  flying in, it always seemed like the same guy was talking. Over the years that  tone of voice had become somewhat of a comforting sound to pilots everywhere.  Conversely, over the years, pilots always wanted to ensure that, when  transmitting, they sounded like Chuck Yeager, or at least like John Wayne.  Better to die than sound bad on the radios.</p>
<p>Just moments after the  Cessna&#8217;s inquiry, a Twin Beech piped up on frequency, in a rather superior tone,  asking for his ground speed in Beech. &#8220;I have you at one hundred and twenty-five  knots of ground speed.&#8221; Boy, I thought, the Beechcraft really must think he is  dazzling his Cessna brethren.</p>
<p>Then out of the blue, a navy F-18  pilot out of NAS Lemoore came up on frequency. You knew right away it was a Navy  jock because he sounded very cool on the radios. &#8220;Center, Dusty 52 ground speed  check.&#8221; Before Center could reply, I&#8217;m thinking to myself, hey, Dusty 52 has a  ground speed indicator in that million-dollar cockpit, so why is he asking  Center for a read-out? Then I got it, ol&#8217; Dusty here is making sure that every  bug smasher from Mount Whitney to the Mojave knows what true speed is. He&#8217;s the  fastest dude in the valley today, and he just wants everyone to know how much  fun he is having in his new Hornet. And the reply, always with that same, calm,  voice, with more distinct alliteration than emotion: &#8220;Dusty 52, Center, we have  you at 620 on the ground.&#8221; And I thought to myself, is this a ripe situation, or  what?</p>
<p>As my hand instinctively reached for the mic button, I had to  remind myself that Walt was in control of the radios. Still, I thought, it must  be done &#8211; in mere seconds we&#8217;ll be out of the sector and the opportunity will be  lost. That Hornet must die, and die now. I thought about all of our Sim training  and how important it was that we developed well as a crew and knew that to jump  in on the radios now would destroy the integrity of all that we had worked  toward becoming. I was torn.</p>
<p>Somewhere, 13 miles above Arizona, there  was a pilot screaming inside his space helmet. Then, I heard it &#8211; the click of  the mic button from the back seat. That was the very moment that I knew Walter  and I had become a crew. Very professionally, and with no emotion, Walter spoke:  &#8220;Los Angeles Center, Aspen 20, can you give us a ground speed check?&#8221; There was  no hesitation, and the replay came as if was an everyday request.</p>
<p>&#8220;Aspen 20, I show you at one thousand eight hundred and forty-two  knots, across the ground.&#8221; I think it was the forty-two knots that I liked the  best, so accurate and proud was Center to deliver that information without  hesitation, and you just knew he was smiling. But the precise point at which I  knew that Walt and I were going to be really good friends for a long time was  when he keyed the mic once again to say, in his most fighter-pilot-like voice:  &#8220;Ah, Center, much thanks, we&#8217;re showing closer to nineteen hundred on the  money.&#8221;</p>
<p>For a moment Walter was a god. And we finally heard a little  crack in the armor of the Houston Center voice, when L.A. came back with, Roger  that Aspen. Your equipment is probably more accurate than ours. You boys have a  good one. It all had lasted for just moments, but in that short, memorable  sprint across the southwest, the Navy had been flamed, all mortal airplanes on  freq were forced to bow before the King of Speed, and more importantly, Walter  and I had crossed the threshold of being a crew. A fine day&#8217;s work. We never  heard another transmission on that frequency all the way to the coast. For just  one day, it truly was fun being the fastest guys out there.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8212;Charles  Tolleson</p>
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