The Ramstein Air Show Disaster
Added 2022-09-06 10:16:00 +0000 UTCThere are two pieces of interesting trivia that I want to share about this disaster, neither of which really fit into the video.
The connection with the band Rammstein
The first is that the heavy metal band Rammstein chose their name because of this disaster. When they first met they didn't really have a name - they'd just get together to play music. One of the songs they would play was this one, which features some (very metal) lyrics inspired by the Ramstein Disaster:
"Rammstein
A sea of flames
Rammstein
Blood is coagulating on the asphalt
Rammstein
Mothers are screaming
Rammstein
The sun is shining"
As they grew in popularity, people started referring to them as "the band with the Ramstein song" and then as "the Ramstein band". It wasn't long before they adopted the name for themselves... although they added an extra M when they did so.
In later years, they've started distancing themselves from any connection to the disaster, saying instead that they picked their name because it means "Ramming Stone". Looking at these early lyrics though it's hard to believe that there was no connection at all.
The Emergency: Fighters for Life video game
This disaster actually made it into a video game. Emergency: Fighters for Life was a game released in 1998. It puts you in charge of the emergency services as they try to tackle various disasters.
Level 22 sees you dealing with a "plane crash at an air show" which bears many similarities to the Ramstein Air Show Crash.
To be successful you have to complete several tasks, including despatching a police officer to disperse "rubberneckers", sending a helicopter to pick up casualties, using fire trucks to extinguish ground fires, and evacuating an injured pilot.
Apparently the game features a number of scenarios based on real disasters. I'm going to look into getting hold of a copy and playing through. I'm not sure I'd be much good at it, but I think it'd be an educational experience just to try!
Comments
Definitely planning to at some point. I haven't yet covered anything about high-speed rail, as far as I recall, and this was a particularly significant disaster for the industry and for the country as a whole
Fascinating Horror
2022-09-12 15:55:40 +0000 UTCEver though of covering Eschede Train Crash (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eschede_derailment), though it would appear to be kind of low-hanging fruit but it did play a role in shaping HSR safety and to never take its safety for granted.
NagaNos
2022-09-10 03:40:38 +0000 UTCThat's the one! I even took a few photos for the Concorde video there. Quite apart from the planes on display, I love just wandering around the site checking out the old airfield buildings
Fascinating Horror
2022-09-08 08:16:17 +0000 UTC
