Iliff-King phrasebook Iliff-King phrasebook

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definition

the 11ᵗʰ man delusion noun

A belief in one’s ability to beat overwhelming odds

Origin

One of Naomi’s Quaker friends related a tale of the Fleet Air Arm, the branch of the Royal Navy that lands planes on aircraft carriers. Applicants were told that of every 11 applicants only 1 would be flying 10 years later, the others having succumbed to death, injury or loss of bottle. Without fail, every applicant believed he would be the 11ᵗʰ man. At least, that’s how he told it

Collector

Riverbankers – 2000s
Mark, Naomi, Joy & Felix

Notes

This has nothing to do with the 11ᵗʰ man theory of attraction

Submitted: 07/01/2026 by Mark ● Last updated: 07/01/2026 15:29 by Mark

any thoughts?

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