Luger spring steel...

[saab-bob]

Seiger
There is another reason English has because so universal. English is the mandated language of civil aviation.
Besides my limited English skills,I know some Spanish. Mostly by the process of osmosis!
Bob

[John Sabato]

Originally Posted by saab-bob

Seiger
There is another reason English has because so universal. English is the mandated language of civil aviation.
Besides my limited English skills,I know some Spanish. Mostly by the process of osmosis!
Bob

Sieger, your statement reminded me of a story I think I read about in Reader's Digest "Humor in Uniform" section decades ago...

The pilot of a Luftthansa commercial aircraft was on the approach to Frankfurt when he requested landing instructions from the tower in German. The tower quickly admonished him that all communications were required to be in English. His response was a little snooty and went something like: "I am a German pilot, flying a German commercial airliner, and intend to land at a German airport, why do I have to use English to land my airplane?"... Before the tower could respond, the airwaves crackled with a response from an unidentified U.S. Air Force pilot who was flying nearby: "Because WE won the war, and you DIDN'T!"

The tower requested to know which aircraft and pilot had made the comment, but I am sure you know that there was no further comment!

[m1903a3]

Originally Posted by John Sabato

The pilot of a Luftthansa commercial aircraft was on the approach to Frankfurt when he requested landing instructions from the tower in German. The tower quickly admonished him that all communications were required to be in English. His response was a little snooty and went something like: "I am a German pilot, flying a German commercial airliner, and intend to land at a German airport, why do I have to use English to land my airplane?"... Before the tower could respond, the airwaves crackled with a response from an unidentified U.S. Air Force pilot who was flying nearby: "Because WE won the war, and you DIDN'T!"

I remember that joke from the sixties, albeit with a more succinct "Because you lost!" from the American pilot.

There was similar one circulating at the same time that had a British BOAC pilot landing in Berlin. When he requested progressive taxi instructions the German controller haughtedly asked "Haven't you ever been to Berlin?" The Brit promptly replied: "Many times. But only at night and I never landed."

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by m1903a3

I remember that joke from the sixties...

Both great stories!

The only one I recall was of a fighter pilot applying for VA benefits, and being told they had no record of his service...Could he elaborate? "I was a major in the Luftwaffe!" was the reply...