Comments for The Answer to the Question.

The Answer to the Question.

2005-01-19T12:32:08Z

What was the question? Go read here!

The answer is 11. There were a few of you who answered with that number, but as I observed earlier, we'll have to wait for Bill to get back from his short trip this week to give us the definitive winner.

I got 10 - but, I didn't get the right 10 (and I dithered a lot over whether or not the damage in the upper left corner of the door was a hit or just a ding. I also counted at least one rivet, which, based on the numbers some of you put in, you did too. I also allowed for about four possibles - one of which *was* a hit, the other were, as I suspected, rivets.

Anyway - here's the annotated picture with the answer. This picture was taken not long after landing from the mission that provided the punctures - and Bill was flying this aircraft - in the left seat, the side with all the holes.

Hi-res here.

Comment from cw4billt on 2005-01-20

2005-01-20T19:40:31Z

Rubin - If the hits had been 20mm, then Liberal Larry's guess as to the number of holes ("Two") would have been correct. Unfortunately, there wouldn't have been sufficient Huey remaining between the holes to be recognizable as a man-made object, let alone a Bell product... AFSister - Your hubby's comment about the stripper pole almost went over my head (at Mach 2) since I don't frequent hangars that charge admission and the mechs I hang around with aren't that frisky (or limber). I won't hold that against him, though, since he's already demonstrated exceptional Good Taste in his preference for aircraft and Life Partners. And, since you found ten bullet holes with your bare eyeballs, I know he ain't about to try sneaking out to the Dew Drop Inn after supper... =] Justthisguy - Twitchiness is merely a function of how many rounds go snapping past your sn0t locker in a given period of time, regardless of calendar age. And grumpiness is always present; it is merely fine-tuned with age. It take a considerable expenditure of time and effort to get really good at being a curmudgeon. And did REL take a guess?

Comment from Justthisguy on 2005-01-19

2005-01-20T04:04:56Z

Oh wow! I just read again what I wrote above, and thought, "Arlington", and the hills "manured" with bodies and sometimes fragments thereof; and who used to live there, and that today is his birthday. Don't forget that the Lee girls' cats are also buried at Arlington. Lee himself was definitely a cat guy. I heard that he always tried to have a cat, but couldn't one time when he was out in Texas suppressing Apaches or something. Got himself a pet rattlesnake instead, which would curl up in his lap and sleep. Good story, but he was like that with animals. Sorry for thread drift.

Comment from Justthisguy on 2005-01-19

2005-01-19T18:34:02Z

Ah, I'd be careful there, Rubin! Study that guy's facial expression, and pistol handling, again. As we get old, our twitchiness may decrease, but our grumpiness most definitely increases. Oh, and after you reach a certain age, you might get to a point where you just don't care any more. Don't worry, people, I ain't there yet, but there's no tellin' about other folks. Tammy Bruce is on a roll today. She's SO mean!

Comment from AFSister on 2005-01-19

2005-01-19T15:36:09Z

RATS! Missed by one! I didn't see the one on the the skid (or stripper pole, as my husband refers to them as) to the far left. grrrrr.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2005-01-19

2005-01-19T12:55:54Z

Damn, Bill - this is a hard crowd! Good thing you're retiring soon!

Comment from Rubin on 2005-01-19

2005-01-19T12:52:50Z

Next war please make the holes 20 mike mike so we can count 'em better.