Talisker | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 02:20 am  Looks like you all came up with some good ideas. Glad you guys steered away from that cow killing, squishy ground theory. And for the record, I was not a pilot, they usually save that job for officers. I was a crew chief - I basically took care of a single jet, Preflight, BPO, fuel, tires, etc and assisted with launch and recover operations. Reading over all the questions, answers, and discussion, it appears that there is indeed an emergency on the aircraft, and that the pilot needed to land the plane. The original question was why did he chose the rough area with livestock over the flat clear area. Just trying to get it all organized in my thoughts here . . Did anyone bring up the theory that possibly the reason the pilot chose the rough terrain area to land in is because there would be more places for him to hide. The existence of livestock means that the area is capable of supporting life by supplying food and water. This could be important in case he had to stay for a long time. If cows can live there, we can too, right? Just in case he had to eject out of the aircraft (a possibility if the aircraft was having an IFE), then he would be hiding and trying to survive while waiting for rescue from friendly forces. In a rough terrain, he would be in a better positon to signal and watch and hide and . . . survive. This would also make it much easier for a rescue mission in a chopper to go in for him undetected. Those are just my thoughts . . . during the wee hours of the night.  |
Roger_Ramjet | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 03:19 am  <<I am back from my evening chores--late though! I will wait around to see if anyone shows up to talk about this challenge. I'll be at the kitchen table having some Diet Coke.>> |
Himay10ns | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 08:07 am  OK Roger, I think you're our man! Can you give us a summary of what you plan to put as our final answer and we'll give you some ideas on how to polish it up? You've done a great job with this one! Here's my take: The pilot lands in the rough terrain because he knows he has cover to hide in until he's rescued. The cows tell him there are no land mines and they will also serve as a source of protein. Is that about right? |
Vykin | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 09:15 am  Just popped in to say Talisk and Roger have my full confidence to put the response into perspective for the Big H, I do think the cows indicate no land mines. |
Xenia | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 09:31 am  I like Him's summary. I think we should use it. And I'll say thank you right now to the rest of you guys who came up with ideas. I wouldn't have been able to get this one. |
Zebulon | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 09:38 am  I think that covers about everything, but you should also state the fact that since the flat area is uninhabited, contains military equipment that is a weapon and cannot be seen then we can only sum up that it is full of landmines. That's how we came to the conclusion that the rough terrain was free and clear. If you want to add that the animals are a source of food and the trees or bushes will provide cover until rescue then that's great too. That sounds about right when we put it all together. Go for it...post the answer. |
Himay10ns | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 09:46 am  Good points Zeb...I think Roger will do a great job of getting all the info together and placing our final answer. Congrats to everyone for working together, let's hope we win the Challenge. Did BigHost ever say what we get for winning the challenges or what our penalty will be if we lose?? Hmmmm, might just go add a little remark in the Request area. Again, good job everyone. By the way, is there anyone that didn't participate in this challenge??? Might wanna go back and look at the threads to see....I hear the nomination train coming down the tracks...hehehe. |
Zebulon | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 09:56 am  Morning HiMay! You still have a little bit of shaving cream in your hair. A little bit up and to the right. Better go to the girl's room and check on it. |
Roger_Ramjet | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 10:38 am  "A pilot was in an emergency situation, and needed to land his aircraft in unfamiliar territory. He immediately spotted two possible landing sites, the first of which was a flat and open field. The second site was inhabited by grazing livestock and had a rough terrain. Why, then, did he choose the latter?" (Wondering where the rest of the gang is to go over this) Folks--above is the question posed in the challenge. I will try and stick to the topic at hand. The method I'll use is to address the question only-using what information we have. I will not include extraneous information for the Host to use "agianst" our answer. I'd like to throw this answer out for your review/comment: "The pilot landed in the rough terrain, thinking (or knowing) the clear area may be mined and/or trapped." |
Himay10ns | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 10:42 am  Roger, you don't want to mention anything about being able to conceal himself in the brush to prevent capture by the enemy?? |
Talisker | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 10:43 am  HI Roger - I am here - did you read my theory above? Except for the landmines, I think I am pretty close without getting too verbose. |
Roger_Ramjet | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 10:56 am  Tali--yes, I did read your thoughts. My take is that they are all good factors. Based on the information asked in the questions, the mission is successful once the aircraft lands. That is the biggest indicator to me that the priority thought of the pilot was to land safely. Everything esle is secondary (since by landing the Host indicates a successful mission). To me, that would indicate the answer to give has to do with the mines issue. Do you disagree with that?? What would you like the answer to say?? Shall we here wait the others have to say as they come in?? By the way, while we are waiting, how are things going for you?? |
Talisker | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 11:17 am  Things are going great for me Roger - I was looking for you last night for a few beers and conversation. I am not discounting the land mines but am thinking that maybe the trick is for the pilot to land in the rough terrain so he can hide better either to be rescued or to spy. He is having an emergency and is looking for a place to land. If you were in enemy lands, would you pick a place in the open with no food visible? Livestock = water available. Did the Interrogator ask you any questions about me?? |
Roger_Ramjet | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 11:26 am  (Tali--In real life, I was out taking care of some errands last night (figuring it would be a lull, and I was here all day) I have not been called into the RR yet. Do you want to go into any more detail than what you posted in the interrogator board? Sounds like someone may be devide us--Vykin also expressed some concerns about our contacts getting switched--luckly we have different contacts! |
Moondance | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 11:30 am  The pilot had an emergency but had ammo aboard so to land he definitely wanted to avoid land mines for himself and risk a bigger explosion so he chose the cow field knowing the cows were safe from land mines. Also a smart place to land to be concealed and an environment to survive and hide in. It was a successful mission because he lived??? Had a bomb aboard that could be activated anywhere .... I don't know....I am trying!!! |
Talisker | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 11:39 am  Wow Roger! Are you sure the interrogator didn't contact you? Weird - he sent me several messages. Maybe you need to see if he wrote you. YOu can tell it is him, he seems like kind of stiff, unfeeling . . . . dirty somehow. |
Xenia | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 11:41 am  I think we should definitely add the part about landing in rough terrain to better conceal the plane and the pilot. I disagree about adding the whole cows as food thing. Yes, of course they would be helpful to a stranded pilot, but I seriously doubt the pilot is making his choice based on potential food supply. |
Moondance | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 11:45 am  We have 15 minutes ... we better decide |
Himay10ns | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 11:45 am  Tali....be very careful about what you are getting from the outside....the Interrogator has only sent two messages, one about the installation of the RR and second is posing our first question for the RR. Anything else may be a lie! Roger, i agree with Xenia. Just mention the "no land mines" and a "good place to conceal himself and the plane". That will address the true question. No need to mention the cows... It's almost time. Why don't you go for it and post the final answer! We're behind you... |
Roger_Ramjet | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 11:46 am  Xenia--thanks for the input. If you see others roaming the house, would you bee willing to point them in this direction so we can get something down? We don't have long left till noon!! An important point--who is going to give the answer to host??? |
Vykin | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 11:47 am  The cows are a key factor. If the aircraft lands, there is no worry about killing the cows. because instinctly cows will face away from wind. So they will move aside to make room for the craft to land. The cows are certainly an indicator there are no buried land mines. |
Roger_Ramjet | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 11:50 am  I wouldn't mention the plane--one of the questions showed the terrain is such that there was no cover for the plane. |
Himay10ns | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 11:54 am  Roger, you're our man! Will you please type the answer in for us? Good luck.... |
Moondance | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 11:56 am  Yes... thanks Roger for all of your hard work... just type everything... something is bound to be right! |
Xenia | Sunday, October 08, 2000 - 12:01 pm  Thanks for being our rock, Roger. |