--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As the colonel and I sat swapping stories…" description: "\"As the colonel and I sat swapping stories in the plane, a jet aircraft buzzed past our window. I asked the colonel what type of aircraft it was, and he..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/bob-hope-1406_air-travel_as-the-colonel-and-i-sat-swapping-storie_1011037.jpg" --- # As the colonel and I sat swapping stories in the plane, a… ![“As the colonel and I sat swapping stories in the plane, a jet aircraft buzzed past our window. I asked the colonel what type of aircraft it was, and he said, "Don't worry about it, Bob. . . if you can see it, it's obsolete."” quote by Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/bob-hope-1406_air-travel_as-the-colonel-and-i-sat-swapping-storie_1011037.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/bob-hope-1406_air-travel_as-the-colonel-and-i-sat-swapping-storie_1011037.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8b/bob-hope-1406_air-travel_as-the-colonel-and-i-sat-swapping-storie_1011037.jpg) > “As the colonel and I sat swapping stories in the plane, a jet aircraft buzzed past our window. I asked the colonel what type of aircraft it was, and he said, "Don't worry about it, Bob. . . if you can see it, it's obsolete."” [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Uses humor to suggest that if something is still visible, it must be outdated, poking fun at military obsolescence. **In simple terms:** If you can see it, it’s old. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about usefulness. Themes humor military obsolescence Mood lighthearted witty Type comedic observational When to use this quote - aviation anecdotes - war stories - comedic monologues Key Concepts satire perspective Questions to Reflect On - When does visibility equal relevance? - What makes an object truly obsolete? A Different Perspective Might oversimplify complex technology. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air-travel/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Humorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous/) [Obsolete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsolete/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Planes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planes/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Swapping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swapping/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [“Was bad language used?” asked Colonel Melchett. “It depends on what you call bad language.” “Could you understand it?” I asked. “Of course I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/was-bad-language-used-asked-colonel-melchett-it-depends-on-what-you/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Just what the hell did you mean, you bastard, when you said we couldn't punish you?" said the corporal who could take shorthand reading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/just-what-the-hell-did-you-mean-you-bastard-when-you-said-we-couldn-t/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [The American and the British armies liberated camps, there wasn't a single order of the day: Let's go and liberate the camp. 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The pilot just pointed the nose at the ground and let her rip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/there-was-nothing-subtle-about-our-landing-the-pilot-just-pointed-the/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [Think of something you really care about. Then add hour to hour and calculate the fraction of your life that you've actually spent in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/think-of-something-you-really-care-about-then-add-hour-to-hour-and/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [It can be hard, swapping jerseys when you are losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-dybala/it-can-be-hard-swapping-jerseys-when-you-are-losing/) [Paulo Dybala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-dybala/) > [I'm a Gemini, so there's two people in me. Straight up. There's the nerd who is totally zoned out in the studio, EQ-ing this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/i-m-a-gemini-so-there-s-two-people-in-me-straight-up-there-s-the-nerd/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) > [In legislation we all do a lot of swapping tobacco across the lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gurney-cannon/in-legislation-we-all-do-a-lot-of-swapping-tobacco-across-the-lines/) Joseph Gurney Cannon > [Piracy is robbery with violence, often segueing into murder, rape and kidnapping. It is one of the most frightening crimes in the world. Using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-harkaway/piracy-is-robbery-with-violence-often-segueing-into-murder-rape-and/) [Nick Harkaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-harkaway/) > [To insult a friend implies that you respect his masculinity enough to know he can take it without acting like a crybaby. The swapping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pittman/to-insult-a-friend-implies-that-you-respect-his-masculinity-enough-to/) [Frank Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pittman/) > [I had a lot of friends that were extremely hedonistic, extremely debauched, swapping partners etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-anderton/i-had-a-lot-of-friends-that-were-extremely-hedonistic-extremely/) [Sophie Anderton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-anderton/) > [Before you reach for the saltshaker, consider swapping your snacks for a healthier option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-oz/before-you-reach-for-the-saltshaker-consider-swapping-your-snacks-for/) [Mehmet Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-oz/) ## More by Bob Hope > [I ruined my hands in the ring. The referee kept stepping on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/i-ruined-my-hands-in-the-ring-the-referee-kept-stepping-on-them/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [I grew up with six brothers. That's how I learned to dance - waiting for the bathroom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/i-grew-up-with-six-brothers-that-s-how-i-learned-to-dance-waiting-for/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [Having so many gold courses so close together was ideal for me. With my slice I could enjoy three or four golf courses at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/having-so-many-gold-courses-so-close-together-was-ideal-for-me-with/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [Timing is the essence of life, and definitely of comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/timing-is-the-essence-of-life-and-definitely-of-comedy/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [That's life. 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In Hollywood the weatherman gets a shooting schedule from all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/in-england-when-you-make-a-movie-even-the-weather-is-against-you-in/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [Tokyo cab drivers are all ex-kamikaze pilots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/tokyo-cab-drivers-are-all-ex-kamikaze-pilots/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [Go figure a crazy, mixed-up country where ballet outsells boxing. 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And for fifty cents extra, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/you-could-buy-my-book-in-a-paperback-edition-for-a-dollar-and-in-hard/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) [Explore all 245 Bob Hope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) ## More Air travel quotes > [If the Wright brother were alive today Wilbur would have to fire Orville to reduce costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kelleher/if-the-wright-brother-were-alive-today-wilbur-would-have-to-fire/) [Herb Kelleher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kelleher/) > [There's another problem," Percy said. "I'm not good with air travel. It's dangerous for a son of Neptune." "You'll have to risk it...and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/there-s-another-problem-percy-said-i-m-not-good-with-air-travel-it-s/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I don't mind flying. 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