This sucks - Jessi Combs Killed chasing land speed record

[Flying_Nun]

The "car" was built from a F104 fuselage.

https://jalopnik.com/fastest-woman-on-four-wheels-jessi-combs-killed-in-jet-1837654356

 

[Lowflynjack]

When a pilot crashes, I hate it when people say 'He died doing what he loved.' He didn't love crashing and burning. We don't expect to die when we strap into an airplane. In this case though, she knew very well that this might not end well and she chose to take that risk to do something she truly loved. The world would be more exciting if we had more people who were willing to step up to the edge and look over like she did. RIP.

 

[mryan75]

When a pilot crashes, I hate it when people say 'He died doing what he loved.' He didn't love crashing and burning. We don't expect to die when we strap into an airplane. In this case though, she knew very well that this might not end well and she chose to take that risk to do something she truly loved. The world would be more exciting if we had more people who were willing to step up to the edge and look over like she did. RIP.

I dont see the value in trading 50 years of life for a record 4 people on earth with ever care about. It's a waste if you ask me.

 

[SoonerAviator]

Yeah, it's a shame as she was a pretty good role model for many, especially females. However, I never quite understood the point of land-speed records at this point in the game. I mean, what does it prove to try and fly a jet on the ground and beat a max top speed? I like that it was one of her passions, but I can't imagine it being for any real scientific gain other than an adrenaline rush.

 

[MooneyDriver78]

I dont see the value in trading 50 years of life for a record 4 people on earth with ever care about. It's a waste if you ask me.

And someone can the same when a small plane crashes:
I don’t see ...for flying a small plane when a commercial aircraft are much safer. It’s a waste....



Tom

 

[FormerHangie]

When a pilot crashes, I hate it when people say 'He died doing what he loved.' He didn't love crashing and burning. We don't expect to die when we strap into an airplane. In this case though, she knew very well that this might not end well and she chose to take that risk to do something she truly loved. The world would be more exciting if we had more people who were willing to step up to the edge and look over like she did. RIP.

+1. I used to race. I knew there was a risk every time I got in the car, and chose to accept it. What I was doing wasn't nearly as risky as what Jessi was doing, but it's the same though process. I respect what she did and am sorry that she's gone.

I dont see the value in trading 50 years of life for a record 4 people on earth with ever care about. It's a waste if you ask me.

It was important to her, doesn't matter what you or I think.

 

[Kenny Phillips]

And someone can the same when a small plane crashes:
I don’t see ...for flying a small plane when a commercial aircraft are much safer. It’s a waste....



Tom

One is much more likely to die in a small plane crash than a LSR jet car crash in their lifetime.

 

[Lowflynjack]

One is much more likely to die in a small plane crash than a LSR jet car crash in their lifetime.

That's why statistics can be manipulated so easily. You're a lot more likely to die in a Cessna 172 than in a Airbus Beluga too!

 

[Lowflynjack]

I dont see the value in trading 50 years of life for a record 4 people on earth with ever care about. It's a waste if you ask me.

There are no guarantees in life and she died doing something she knew could take her life. It doesn't matter if you don't see the value. Maybe she couldn't see the value of sitting on a couch getting fat and dying of a heart attack, but a lot more people do that instead of living a fulfilling life like she did.

 

[sourdough44]

Here she is, sorry to hear.

 

[mryan75]

There are no guarantees in life and she died doing something she knew could take her life. It doesn't matter if you don't see the value. Maybe she couldn't see the value of sitting on a couch getting fat and dying of a heart attack, but a lot more people do that instead of living a fulfilling life like she did.

There is quite a gulf in between.

 

[Omalley1537]

I dont see the value in trading 50 years of life for a record 4 people on earth with ever care about. It's a waste if you ask me.

Then don’t do it. But don’t condemn those who do for not conforming to your opinion.

I race/ride motocross and have since ‘92. It could (and has) hurt me, and could kill me. I’ve lost a friend to the sport and seen others have their lives altered. Not only will I never make money at it-it costs me money. I would imagine that under your analysis, a 42 year-old with two kids shouldn’t be doing it.
However, that would ignore the fact that motocross gave me an amazing relationship with my dad, and now my daughter who rides. It taught me to be a winner and about hard work paying off. And it gave me some of the best friends anyone could ask for.

I’d imagine if Jessi could speak to your comment, she’d say something very similar.

Just because it seems pointless to you doesn’t mean it is.

 

[mryan75]

That's why statistics can be manipulated so easily. You're a lot more likely to die in a Cessna 172 than in a Airbus Beluga too!

Statistics can be manipulated if you don't understand them.

 

[mryan75]

Then don’t do it. But don’t condemn those who do for not conforming to your opinion.

I race/ride motocross and have since ‘92. It could (and has) hurt me, and could kill me. I’ve lost a friend to the sport and seen others have their lives altered. Not only will I never make money at it-it costs me money. I would imagine that under your analysis, a 42 year-old with two kids shouldn’t be doing it.
However, that would ignore the fact that motocross gave me an amazing relationship with my dad, and now my daughter who rides. It taught me to be a winner and about hard work paying off. And it gave me some of the best friends anyone could ask for.

I’d imagine if Jessi could speak to your comment, she’d say something very similar.

Just because it seems pointless to you doesn’t mean it is.

When did I "condemn" her? When you show where I did that I'll read the rest of your post.

 

[Groundpounder]

I dont see the value in trading 50 years of life for a record 4 people on earth with ever care about. It's a waste if you ask me.

I don't think anyone asked you.

She has more balls than I do, but if I was given a choice between going out in a blaze of glory driving a jet powered car trying to set a land speed record, and dying alone in a nursing home pooping in a diaper, the answer is obvious.

 

[Salty]

I don't think anyone asked you.

She has more balls than I do, but if I was given a choice between going out in a blaze of glory driving a jet powered car trying to set a land speed record, and dying alone in a nursing home pooping in a diaper, the answer is obvious.

What if you could have 30 years of good life in between, would you accept pooping in a diaper to get those extra 30 years?

 

[EdFred]

What if you could have 30 years of good life in between, would you accept pooping in a diaper to get those extra 30 years?

No. I would not.

 

[Groundpounder]

What if you could have 30 years of good life in between, would you accept pooping in a diaper to get those extra 30 years?

That is not a realistic question. I'd rather live my life and do what I enjoy. If I had people depending on me, that might make the choice different, but it didn't appear she did.

Flying single engines airplanes is dangerous, yet there are lots of us on this message board that do it, so lecturing this young lady on her choices is a bit hypocritical.

 

[Salty]

That is not a realistic question. I'd rather live my life and do what I enjoy. If I had people depending on me, that might make the choice different, but it didn't appear she did.

Flying single engines airplanes is dangerous, yet there are lots of us on this message board that do it, so lecturing this young lady on her choices is a bit hypocritical.

Ok, so it's clear some can't see how moderation is "realistic". It's "all or nothing, balls to the wall, thrills" or die in a diaper. LOL

I'll take the fiery death, but give me another 30 years first.

 

[bnt83]

I can think of much worse ways of dying, some involve commuting in cage.

 

[Grum.Man]

Add me to the short and fulfilling life rather than a long boring one. I mean I’m not going out and doing things to purposely shorten my life but I would rather be dead than need a wheel chair, nursing home, home health care, air breathing machine. If I get to that point I just may start picking up more extreme sports! Lol

Sad losss for the community though. One of the few good tv influences.

 

[wsuffa]

I dont see the value in trading 50 years of life for a record 4 people on earth with ever care about. It's a waste if you ask me.

We all have different views. After watching some elderly folk go downhill after losing the ability to do what they loved in a place that they wanted to be, I've moved even farther into the camp of "do what you love, and do it while you can". You may not value it, but others do. We'd live a pretty boring live if we all had to do lock-step what others consider valuable.

Of course, the way America works if you can get 269 people in elected Washington to agree with you, the practice can be banned.

 

[Salty]

I'd prefer to reserve my "tsk tsk"'s for those that act foolhardy and ignore risks. I don't put her in that camp.

 

[Ted]

When a pilot crashes, I hate it when people say 'He died doing what he loved.' He didn't love crashing and burning. We don't expect to die when we strap into an airplane.

Jack, with all due respect, I would suggest revisiting your thoughts on this. Read through the NTSB reports and I don't think anyone who got into an airplane expected to die, but they ultimately crashed and died. Getting out of bed in the morning has a risk associated with it (so does staying in bed). Flying our airplanes absolutely has risk involved. Do we expect to die that time we get in the plane? No. Should we acknowledge that it can happen? Absolutely. One of my friends died in a plane crash earlier this year. He was literally the last pilot I would have expected to die in a plane crash, had something around 20,000 hours, all GA. He used to point out that whenever he got into a plane he reminded himself that all the NTSB reports he read involved people who felt as good as he did before taking off. Of course not 100% true, but close.

In this case though, she knew very well that this might not end well and she chose to take that risk to do something she truly loved.

Sure, but if she actually expected to die, she probably wouldn't have gone. It's just that she accepted extra risk for that "probably not going to die" than you would.

The world would be more exciting if we had more people who were willing to step up to the edge and look over like she did. RIP.

On this, I agree 100%.

 

[Ted]

I dont see the value in trading 50 years of life for a record 4 people on earth with ever care about. It's a waste if you ask me.

All that matters is that she cared about it, not whether you or anyone else cared about it.

I do a lot of things that could be considered dangerous. Do I expect any of them to kill me on any given day? Absolutely not. If I thought they would, I wouldn't do them. But without a doubt they increase my potential for an early demise. On the other hand, I'll take that risk over living to 100 and finding that I had never lived.

At some level, I think all of us pilots believe that to a degree or we wouldn't fly. Either that or we just think flying is 100% safe and crashes never happen, which is foolish to think.

 

[Shepherd]

Whatever your opinion, she was the "real deal".
RIP, Jessie Combs.

 

[MauleSkinner]

Add me to the short and fulfilling life rather than a long boring one. I mean I’m not going out and doing things to purposely shorten my life but I would rather be dead than need a wheel chair, nursing home, home health care, air breathing machine. If I get to that point I just may start picking up more extreme sports! Lol

Sad losss for the community though. One of the few good tv influences.

What if the things you do are the cause for the wheel chair and home health care?

 

[Ted]

What if the things you do are the cause for the wheel chair and home health care?

I think a quick run through a nursing home show that far more people end up in wheelcharis and home health care because they got old rather than because of activities they did.

 

[MauleSkinner]

I think a quick run through a nursing home show that far more people end up in wheelcharis and home health care because they got old rather than because of activities they did.

True, but it was presented as an “either-or” statement. Both is possible.

 

[Ted]

True, but it was presented as an “either-or” statement. Both is possible.

Sure, it's possible you get injured and become a paraplegic or the like. But where the statement started was with the "giving up 50 years of life for a record that maybe 4 people care about" (typing from memory). So that was the either/or statement provided initially.

 

[bnt83]

What if the things you do are the cause for the wheel chair and home health care?

Can't live in a bubble, mosquito bite, tick bite, car accident, slip in the shower, dog lick, scraped knee, any of those things can ultimately lead to death.

 

[Cooter]

I think a quick run through a nursing home show that far more people end up in wheelcharis and home health care because they got old rather than because of activities they did.

A visit to a neuro-trauma unit would likely show the opposite. Plenty of folks suffer debilitating injuries from reckless lifestyles. There isn’t a selectable option for only fiery death. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of messiness for those who don’t quite cross that line.
People can make their own choices but I personally don’t think other’s should glamorize the choices that cut their life short.

 

[MauleSkinner]

Sure, it's possible you get injured and become a paraplegic or the like. But where the statement started was with the "giving up 50 years of life for a record that maybe 4 people care about" (typing from memory). So that was the either/or statement provided initially.

But the one I directly replied to was “I’d rather be dead than need a wheelchair.” Doesn’t sound to me like there’s a middle ground option there.

 

[MauleSkinner]

Can't live in a bubble, mosquito bite, tick bite, car accident, slip in the shower, dog lick, scraped knee, any of those things can ultimately lead to death.

Exactly. Or they can lead to a life in a wheelchair. As @Cooter said, “there’s no selectable option.”

 

[bnt83]

“I’d rather be dead than need a wheelchair.” Doesn’t sound to me like there’s a middle ground option there.

There are thousands of people where its just another tool, they don't necessary need it 100% maybe not even 80% of the time but when they do need it they better have it or they are screwed.

Its pretty sweet being able to sit in line when waiting IMHO

 

[mryan75]

I don't think anyone asked you.

I never said anyone did. My impression was that this was a public forum, where people can post their opinions on various subjects, and their thoughts on the opinions of others. Correct me if I’m wrong.

And there have been several straw man responses to what I said. There is plenty of life that lies between sitting around doing nothing your whole life and going out and doing something extremely dangerous. The choice isn’t one or the other. You can play it safe every day and get mown down by a drunk driver or taken by disease. You can take every risk in the book and live a good, long life. And everything in between. There are certain choices I make that involve risk. Flying is one of them. I personally don’t find shooting myself across the desert in a 40,000-HP car to be reasonable. You disagree. Great. But I don’t know why I draw such ire for stating my opinion.

 

[mryan75]

Sure, it's possible you get injured and become a paraplegic or the like. But where the statement started was with the "giving up 50 years of life for a record that maybe 4 people care about" (typing from memory). So that was the either/or statement provided initially.

But again, what I disagree with here is the notion that she had to do what she did or live a boring life. That’s simply not the case.

 

[SoonerAviator]

. . . Sure, but if she actually expected to die, she probably wouldn't have gone. It's just that she accepted extra risk for that "probably not going to die" than you would.

On this, I agree 100%.

I think that's the crux of the issue that gets most people not understanding the allure of the choice to chase land speed records. It's the perceived risk versus reward, and for most of us, the reward isn't worth it. It doesn't mean she was stupid for pursuing it, just that the likelihood of catastrophic failure and mortal injury while running 300mph in a rocket-powered car has to be pretty high compared to just hopping in an airplane traveling the same velocity 100' off the ground. I'd imagine the rush has to be similar if it's just about the thrill of speed.

 

[Lowflynjack]

Jack, with all due respect, I would suggest revisiting your thoughts on this. Read through the NTSB reports and I don't think anyone who got into an airplane expected to die, but they ultimately crashed and died. Getting out of bed in the morning has a risk associated with it (so does staying in bed). Flying our airplanes absolutely has risk involved. Do we expect to die that time we get in the plane? No. Should we acknowledge that it can happen? Absolutely. One of my friends died in a plane crash earlier this year. He was literally the last pilot I would have expected to die in a plane crash, had something around 20,000 hours, all GA. He used to point out that whenever he got into a plane he reminded himself that all the NTSB reports he read involved people who felt as good as he did before taking off. Of course not 100% true, but close.

I'm not sure what you mean by saying I need to revisit my thoughts on it. I grew up in aviation, I'm a high time pilot, and I understand the risks. That doesn't mean I expect to die. If I thought there was high risk of dying every time I climbed into a Cessna, I wouldn't go. I understand things can go wrong and the risk is much higher than driving a car, but I still don't expect to die. I've lost many friends and even family in airplane accidents. All were pilot error.

If you're trying to set a world speed record in a jet car... I think you should expect to die. You may not, but the odds are much higher. You know that if something goes wrong at those speeds, odds are not in your favor.

In the next year or so, I may be test flying a replica of an H1 Racer. If so, I understand I'm taking a much higher risk than when I fly my friend's 170. I will decide if I will accept that risk or not. I probably will. Don't think I ignore risks or that I'm complacent when I fly. Not at all what I meant.

 

[Lowflynjack]

I personally don’t find shooting myself across the desert in a 40,000-HP car to be reasonable. You disagree. Great. But I don’t know why I draw such ire for stating my opinion.

I understand what you're saying, I just disagree with it being a waste of her life. She chose to walk that line, it's her life and her choice. I personally wouldn't be in a 40,000 HP car in the desert either, but then again nobody is offering that to me either so it's a really easy choice!

I'm also at least somewhat relieved when there's an accident like this and the only life lost is the person who put themselves in harms way. She chose to take the risk and lost, but it was her choice.