Trick of the angle. There still isn't that much clearance, but it looks like less because that stabilizer is sticking up on the far side of the engine cowling.
as far as rite of passage... I'd say having to prove you can 'hook the 3 wire' with your computer off works better; it shows that even though they normally let the computer do it they are bad arsed enough they can hook back up even if the computer is out. And the big dogs can do it while the peacmaker is under drive.
EDIT:
8 hanging, Six turning, 4 burning...
Hear that thunder rolling till it seems to split the sky?
That's every ship in Grayson's Navy taking up the cry-
NO QUARTER!!!
-- "No Quarter", by Echo's Children
as far as rite of passage... I'd say having to prove you can 'hook the 3 wire' with your computer off works better; it shows that even though they normally let the computer do it they are bad arsed enough they can hook back up even if the computer is out. And the big dogs can do it while the peacmaker is under drive.
EDIT:
8 hanging, Six turning, 4 burning...
Hear that thunder rolling till it seems to split the sky?
That's every ship in Grayson's Navy taking up the cry-
NO QUARTER!!!
-- "No Quarter", by Echo's Children