@MLClark “Tankie” was a new one on me. Maybe they can all spend Thanksgiving together next year, i.e., “Tankiesgiving.” (I realize that is against the spirit of this piece, and yet I could not resist.)
Good food for thought. It brought to mind why my grandfather was allowed into the Air Force during the Korean War (he was below size-standard, but could reach things in the cockpits better than “standard-sized” folks).
I’m thinking we need a sweeping re-calibration of our ideas of practicality.
@Apocryphiliac "I’m thinking we need a sweeping re-calibration of our ideas of practicality."
Whew. 100%. That's going to take some damned doing, but I'm totally on board with the attempt.
And thanks for sharing about your grandfather! Shifting to adjustable design was clearly still a sluggish process long after they realized the problems they'd created for themselves, as the timeline for your grandfather's career service amply indicates. Glad the poor tech design didn't affect him as much.