"Lean, muscular and trained to leave nothing to chance, they (three pilots) exuded the confidence and daring that came with flying a hot, sexy jet, the only supersonic bomber in the U.S. arsenal."
Question: What does leave nothing to chance mean here?
ANSWER: The phrase "Lean, muscular and trained to leave nothing to chance" describes the pilots. It is best written as "Lean and muscular, and trained to leave nothing to chance." Lean and muscular obviously refers to their physical appearance; trained to leave nothing to chance means they were instructed (methodical or formal teaching) and drilled (implies discipline or repetitive training in habits of order and precision) with a specific end in view (to operate the new aircraft).
"To leave nothing to chance" means to give not any thing to possible risk.
They were trained to be fit, qualified, and proficient in skill so that no matter what occurred (any emergency), they would be able to react to it in a cool, calm, and collected manner, thus, not relying upon luck, fortune, or serendipity.
Because they were lean and muscular, it is implied that their training also involved P.E. or physical activity. Thus, the author's original sentence could stand. I don't think there are any fat and weak Stealth Bomber pilots. "Ambiguous Bill"
