Aviation BS and Photo Thread

But the data recorder registered switches being switched. That rules out chip malfunction...even if it was temporary.

 

See a couple of these flying around Centennial (KAPA) occasionally. they do look good and sound weird in the air, but the design suffers on the ground, they just look chonky, and nowhere near as sleek as the stats say they are. I still wish the Starship had made a go of it - damned sexy plane!

 

I've seen one flying out of Paine Field several times. Very distinctive sound.

 

I might go

 

The stupidity of some pilots is astounding. There is always going to be that 10-ish percent you can't reach, who will give general aviation a bad name. This was an Exhibit A. Having sat on the grass watching incoming traffic a few times at OSH I got scared enough that I decided I'll stick with commercial/public transportation to get there and leave the airplane I worked hard to build at home where it's not at risk from the (arguably small percentage of) idiots.

 

Working taxiway/flightline at Oshkosh a few years ago, it was a week of feeling constantly endangered in one way or another.

 

Holy shit. That is all.

 

Related-ish.

The SWA evasive maneuver injuring two crew out of Burbank was to avoid a Hawker Hunter inbound to Oxnard.

Just to be able to fly a Hunter, let alone own and maintain one, would seem to indicate a far far higher standard of capability than was demonstrated.

WTF.

 

The presence of large numbers of enthusiasts reacting like dogs to squirrels to all the random cool shit happening everywhere around them high low left and right with LOUD NOISES is a very very frustrating and dangerous environment to operate in. I used to tow and position the Sea Fury out of the packed pits and onto the ramp, filled with multiple classes of racers (biplane to jet) being spotted, recovered, and refueling, was nerve wracking as fuck. Only 11 days out of the year, with each day becoming more intense and crowded up to Sunday's gold races.

One year, Bob Hoover taxiing in P51 Ol Yeller on the ramp claimed a Chevy Silverado as a kill. Prop slicing straight into the hood. It occurred feet from the crowd line in the pits.

 

You must know my youngest dog, lol..

"Gentlemen, you have a race." Bob Hoover was the gentleman.

 

A wise man once said:

If it flies, Fs, or floats, it’s cheaper by the hour.

 

Jump to 7:27

 

Just a couple snapshots from this weekend. As far as airshows go, when compared to 35 years ago, it was pretty tame since some of the most awesome attractions (SR-71, Concorde and others) are no longer flying, and the warbirds are just basically doing flybys now, but that being said, this was the best airshow ever, for one reason:
While sitting next to my wife waiting for the program to start, I hear the announcer droning along about what I thought was some meaningless drivel in the background, but then my ears perked up when he says the following....
"so starting on October 3rd, you'll be able to fly a Cessna 172 and many other similar aircraft with only a Sport Pilot rating, which means that if you haven't has a 3rd class medical in a long time, you'll be able to fly with just a drivers license..."
On the drive up there, wife unit was asking me how much it would cost to get the medical paperwork straightened out since I haven't had that in about 30 years. We've been together 10 years now and she really wants to fly with me, although I'm not sure why, lol.
Anyways, what great freakin news!

 

Flightline marshaller mostly, so you got to see the danger coming right at you! Was so relieved the day I got the military / exec jet parking rotation since they all had their act together.

"SAR" duty was also pretty good, chasing all of those that forgot to close their flight plan...including one jet with a single digit N number