Lt. Wesley Baumgartner is lucky to be alive.
The 26-year old Navy pilot assigned to VFA-15 -- the Valions -- was
part of a two-aircraft flight taking off from Raleigh-Durham
International Airport Friday, when his F/A-18 Hornet (file photo of
type, below) burst into flames. Baumgartner ejected from the
aircraft with minor injuries, as the Hornet cartwheeled down the
runway, engulfed in fire. Air traffic was halted for hours, as was
ground traffic on a nearby interstate, while officials put out the
fire, cleaned up the wreckage and began the investigation.