The Airplane Fanatic Thread

[Bobby_Batronic 1,994]

1 hour ago, DaysOff said:

^^^^^^

Good Lord. You can keep your roomy cockpit, legroom, and unmanly joystick.

It just thinks differently. Once you understand it’s logic it becomes reasonably intuitive. I was dismayed the first time I jumpseated an AA 737 and the plane’s master warning/caution lights went wild because the CA forgot to switch fuel tanks or something. Haven’t thought of that stuff since I flew a PA31. 

 

 

[Upgrayedd 5,810]

What about barrel rolls?

[Celery Man 20,929]

 

 

[DaysOff 7,945]

It just thinks differently. Once you understand it’s logic it becomes reasonably intuitive. I was dismayed the first time I jumpseated an AA 737 and the plane’s master warning/caution lights went wild because the CA forgot to switch fuel tanks or something. Haven’t thought of that stuff since I flew a PA31. 
 
 

We do all sorts of center fuel pump shenanigans since the Navy shot down TWA 800; I mean their center pumps got hot and ran dry.

[Bobby_Batronic 1,994]

2 hours ago, DaysOff said:

14 hours ago, Bobby_Batronic said:

It just thinks differently. Once you understand it’s logic it becomes reasonably intuitive. I was dismayed the first time I jumpseated an AA 737 and the plane’s master warning/caution lights went wild because the CA forgot to switch fuel tanks or something. Haven’t thought of that stuff since I flew a PA31. 
 
 

We do all sorts of center fuel pump shenanigans since the Navy shot down TWA 800; I mean their center pumps got hot and ran dry.

It does look to me like Boeing cleaned up the overhead on the Max’s, and at least the new motors aren’t struggling to hit 2,000 hours like the Pratt Neo’s  

[DaysOff 7,945]

https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/aviation/2018/08/06/search-resumes-for-flightseeing-plane-that-crashed-near-denali-no-word-on-pilot-or-passengers/

 

Damn. Doing one of these flights is on my bucket list.

 

 

[Native Horn 3,498]

1 hour ago, DaysOff said:

https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/aviation/2018/08/06/search-resumes-for-flightseeing-plane-that-crashed-near-denali-no-word-on-pilot-or-passengers/

 

Damn. Doing one of these flights is on my kick tha bucket list.

FIFY

 

 

[Bobby_Batronic 1,994]

7 hours ago, Native Horn said:

 

I did that with my wife and friends maybe 6 years ago. Fascinating trip. Talkeetna is several hours drive from Anchorage through Eagle River, Palmer/Wasilla and on up the road. Lots of land for sale. Biggest Cinnamon rolls I’ve ever seen in Talkeetna. 

We were in some kind of radial conversion that day using a Garrett.   There’s one canyon you fly through called 747 that’s deeper than. The Grand Canyon. Fun trip. 

[markstanco 12,570]

https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/aviation/2018/08/06/search-resumes-for-flightseeing-plane-that-crashed-near-denali-no-word-on-pilot-or-passengers/
 
Damn. Doing one of these flights is on my bucket list.
 
 

Some kid building hours I would guess?

Sad story.

[DaysOff 7,945]

There's probably 5 companies that do this now, but K2 has probably been around the longest with the best reputation. Curious to see how this turns out.

[Bobby_Batronic 1,994]

14 minutes ago, markstanco said:

Some kid building hours I would guess?

Sad story.

I dunno here, but everyone flying those tours when we went were old salts. Probably a pretty good summer flying job if you’re determined to fly small planes in Alaska. 

Edited August 8, 2018 by Bobby_Batronic

[Homercles 10,205]

Random question...at Minimums do you have to see the actual threshold or just the termination bars on the ALS? Been watching some random videos of CATIII landings where it seems they call ‘continue’ where the threshold isn’t visible (granted on my computer screen) but the lights are.

[Bobby_Batronic 1,994]

There are no minimums for a Cat III Fail Operational Approach. In fact, you enter No DH in the MCDU in the minimums section. There is an “alert height” of 100 above the touchdown zone elevation, and several altitudes and calls in the bus to ensure phases of the automation are kicking in. 

You only call “approach lights” at our operation for a Cat 1 approach since the terminating bars or anything after allows you to go below 100 agl whereas any lighting before that allows only 100agl. 

Cat 1- 200 agl

Cat 2- 100agl

Cat 3 Fail Passive- 50 agl

Cat 3 Fail Operarional- No DH. 

Edited August 8, 2018 by Bobby_Batronic

[Chuychanga 133]

At SWA we don't have auto-land.  Cat III's are hand-flown to 50' agl.  By then you have to see the terminating bars or anything downfield from there.  Captain flies it on the HUD, FO makes the altitude calls. 

[Bobby_Batronic 1,994]

5 hours ago, Chuychanga said:

At SWA we don't have auto-land.  Cat III's are hand-flown to 50' agl.  By then you have to see the terminating bars or anything downfield from there.  Captain flies it on the HUD, FO makes the altitude calls. 

Don’t be silly. Hobby never gets that low weather wise. It’s some kind of magic. 

I’d trade autoland for a HUD though the plane does a fine job of it. 

[Chuychanga 133]

Haven’t done one yet. Used to do a couple Cat IIs a year at IAH at the old gig.  I try to fly out west a lot now, just for a change of scenery. The weather is always so much nicer. I also mainly do PM trips. Cat-anything is for the AMers, while I’m asleep. 

[Chad Fuck 17,658]

Some pics from WA:

[Chad Fuck 17,658]

[Chad Fuck 17,658]

[Homercles 10,205]

I’ve probably noted this here or at Scatty Texas before, but WN is about the only company that has gone from my least favorite in an industry into my top choice.

 

Before I had kids I hated the boarding process, lack of first class and only flying 73Xs (preferred Mad Dogs or RJs so I could avoid middle seats). That all changed once I started traveling with kids.

 

Beyond flying direct to most places I need to go, y’all have unbelievable customer service via the cabin crew. They changed my mind instantly a few years ago...

 

We were traveling to PDX with my boy who was two at the time and we had our hands full with him...but across from us was a mom traveling solo with her own kids, a 2yo girl who was constantly losing her shit and a disinterested boy about 6 who was zero help.

 

Halfway through the flight the purser comes, takes the girl and walks her back to show her the galley and pick out a snack. The other FA takes the boy to the front, says on the PA ‘friends, here at SWA we don’t take tips but that doesn’t apply to *boys name* here who will be serving our snack and beverage service. The look of utter relief on the moms face while she got a 15m rest was indescribable. The little girl came back with a box of snacks, and the boy was beaming with ‘mom I made $11!’ I was sold and it was the first time I wrote Corporate to thank crew members by name.

 

In our most recent flight, going to PDX again, my own 1.5yo girl was absolutely not having it while my son (now 4) was pretty chill. Flying up they never batted an eye while I walked her up and down the aisle for over an hour as she just couldn’t sit still.

 

It was the flight back though I made sure to get the crew names because they saved me an aneurysm. Despite no turbulence or mention of trouble, the captain kept the seatbelt sign on the whole flight. Desperate, I walked my daughter back to the galley where she was amazed by the coffee pots. I apologized and told the crew I was in an awful position between a screaming child or violating the seatbelt sign.

 

Her reply was like ‘legally I’m required to tell you to take your seats...but I understand *wink*’. My daughter was infatuated with those ladies and stood there, transfixed, just jabbering away and showing her toys. They proceeded to humor her, show her how the galley worked and gave her one of those paper planes. It absolutely saved us and surrounding pax from two hours of hell. Naturally when I wrote Corporate I never mentioned the seatbelt sign but noted my daughter had made friends and is why we prefer SW (in addition to the best FF program, direct flights and family boarding).

 

I doubt those letters did much, but WN gets us there safely, mostly on time, with little BS and an onboard experience that makes my life a lot easier.

 

[Chad Fuck 17,658]

[Armybrat 40,815]

Last week at Heathrow, I saw a herd of endangered white elephants....

[Armybrat 40,815]

We flew nonstop from Austin to Heathrow on one of these (my first ride on a 747)....

[Bobby_Batronic 1,994]

2 hours ago, Armybrat said:

Last week at Heathrow, I saw a herd of endangered white elephants....

Forwarded to Vic Mackey. 

[686 3,446]

Here's a little Mozambique cargo run; all the lions are sedated for relocation. Note the lack of anything separating the cargo from the cockpit.

 

This guy brought a big video camera, just in case:

 

 

[Chuychanga 133]

Nah.

[Anastasis 23,454]

fuck your snakes motherfucker. 

[Chewbacca 7,766]

Here's a little Mozambique cargo run; all the lions are sedated for relocation. Note the lack of anything separating the cargo from the cockpit.


 
This guy brought a big video camera, just in case:

 
 

Just in case he needed to record his last moments on earth?

[Gil Bang 25,907]

Full ground stop at SEA.  Rumors that a pilot took off in an empty plane unauthorized.  

[Gil Bang 25,907]

twitter says Horizon Air gate agent stole a Q400. Dude isn't a pilot.  Radio says he's puked all over himself.  Being chased by F15s.  Now saying he crashed. 

[Lurch 5,922]

This is wild

[Bobby_Batronic 1,994]

 

8 hours ago, Gil Bang said:

twitter says Horizon Air gate agent stole a Q400. Dude isn't a pilot.  Radio says he's puked all over himself.  Being chased by F15s.  Now saying he crashed. 

I’d recommend packing some lube for SeaTac security from now on. 

[Cosimo de' Medici 121]

Now that's the way to go out with a bang. 1 KIA, no collateral damage, sweet immelmann in a q400

[markstanco 12,570]

My co pilot today:

[Chad Fuck 17,658]

Chad Jr. and I checked out the USS Midway yesterday. I cannot recommend it highly enough, especially for those with kids. I’ve been to a lot of museum ships and this one was under down the best. Tons of helpful and friendly docents and they have an audio program for the adults and a separate one geared to kids. He was chasing all over that thing for their “Junior Pilot” program, which is a sort of knowledge scavenger hunt where they earn a prize at the end. Truly first rate.

Here are some plane pics. Would’ve been more but I had very little time to stop as JR. was off to the next thing about every five seconds:

E-2 cockpit. They have 8 cockpits for the kids to climb in:


Detail on F-4 centerline tank:


Island:


Flight deck:

[Chad Fuck 17,658]

^Aggressor F-18


F-4



F9F-5


This gentleman was on the Bunker Hill when it was hit by kamikazes. He sat and answered all Jr.’s questions and there were a lot. Even had a little notebook full of photos to share. There were two WWII vet pilots there to chat with while we were there. We
missed the other fellow though.


His mount:

[Chad Fuck 17,658]

^F4F drug out of Lake Michigan and restored I believe.

A-7 cockpit:


SBD - Also drug out of Lake Michigan I think.




Nice view of this famous sculpture with USS Carl Vinson in the background over on Coronado Island.

[Chad Fuck 17,658]

And here’s a Spirit of St. Louis replica hanging in the baggage claim:




A few more from Osh:
My flying pics didn’t turn out so well as we were pretty far away from show center. Here’s the B-29 Doc that got restored to flying last year. It’s pristine.




Part of the DH-4 rebuilt with an original Liberty engine by some enterprising guys in TN:

[Chad Fuck 17,658]

More WWI birds. There was a big crowd because Kermit Weeks was there running up the engine on his Sopwith Pup:

Better view of DH-4


Twin Lewis machine guns:


The Pup:


Fokker D.VII


Albatross


Se5:


Bleriot cockpit:


Bleriot:

[Party_Taco 3,722]

Awesome pics - I’ve gotta make it up there someday!

[Homercles 10,205]

I went to the Midway this February during a beer trip...but the two dudes I was with weren’t aviation nerds so we didn’t go below decks. But I loved it.

[Lat22 4,010]

twitter says Horizon Air gate agent stole a Q400. Dude isn't a pilot.  Radio says he's puked all over himself.  Being chased by F15s.  Now saying he crashed. 

Was off the grid last week and just started reading up on this. Unbelievable in so many ways.

[Gil Bang 25,907]

I went to the Midway this February during a beer trip...but the two dudes I was with weren’t aviation nerds so we didn’t go below decks. But I loved it.

That’s a shame. Really

[Homercles 10,205]

That’s a shame. Really

I know dude. I was conflicted and full of legal herb and Alpine. However they made up for it in Houston, spending over an hour with me scoping out Saturn V

[Bobby_Batronic 1,994]

Some ballsy MF’s strapping on those cloth and matchstick biplanes to shoot at each other with machine guns. 

[Chad Fuck 17,658]

Some ballsy MF’s strapping on those cloth and matchstick biplanes to shoot at each other with machine guns. 

No lie. I’ve been reading up on WWI aviation a fair bit the last few years. All those guys were essentially the “X-treme!!!“ sports types of their generation. True daredevils.

[Cosimo de' Medici 121]

https://www.google.com/amp/www.foxnews.com/us/2018/08/13/man-dies-after-intentionally-flying-plane-into-his-own-home-that-had-wife-son-inside-police-say.amp.html

This hits close to home

[Bobby_Batronic 1,994]

Pro tip: Crash straight down through roof so that the collapsing structure and debris fall into the building. Small planes are so lightly built that they won’t get far past the masonry and first set of structural studs. 

Btw, the Horizon incident above makes me wonder if a whole slew of suicide attempts are made by individuals deciding to go out doing something they’ve always wanted to. 

[markstanco 12,570]

In my 5 years of flying I finally landed in B today. Passed thru B on houston and KC on the edges but never landed.

Went to Arlington for a meeting and those assholes send me way south because I was in a 172. Racists (or something). Came from txk and they vectored me around a bit.

When I requested entrance can i ask for a higher altitude? I was going west at 6500 because hot, and they dropped me to 3000 immediately. Love field I guess. Anyhow would I get laughed at for asking? 3000 feet in August sucks balls with no AC.

[markstanco 12,570]

Correction, not b, but surrounding was. I know KGKY is delta.