When It's Not Your Time

Gary and his grandson looking over a Cessna 172

When in Coolidge yesterday, I met an old neighbour from VDO - that's Gary in the white tee. He told me a story that's worth telling here.

Gary gets around, he's a retired U.S. Navy pilot, and a former commercial airline pilot. He's also a full-time RVer.

Last fall his travels took him to Reno, and he moved his rig onto the site for the Air Race Show, and stayed for several days. He also had a box seat, which he occupied on September 16, 2011 when a North American P-51D Mustang, flown by James K. "Jimmy" Leeward crashed into spectators, killing himself and 10 people on the ground, and injuring 69 others. It was the third-deadliest airshow disaster in U.S. history. If you're into airshow disasters there is more on the Reno accident on Wikipedia.

Gary had been watching these planes for several days, so he didn't feel too bad leaving his seat to return to his coach, taking a break from the action. As he entered his coach he witnessed one of the planes uncontrolled climb from his front window. The plane crashed into the seat Gary had departed just minutes before. When it's not your time, it's not your time.