Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler OT - Blue Angels - BIG TIME!!!!

On that note, I wonder if The Thunderbirds will switch to the F22. With its vectored thrust capability, it should be able to fly circles around everything else out there.

I'm not a huge plane fanatic, but I can appreciate them. I was more into cars when I was a kid. However, I did have some cool experiences as a military contractor. Years ago, went to Long Beach, CA to do some work at the McDonnell Douglas facility where they were building the B17's (or whatever the newer ones are called, told you I wasn't a plane buff...) We got to walk around the manufacturing floor, in and around the aircraft and on the wings. VERY cool. The new aircraft (back then) were quite modular and you could turn it into a cargo plane, medical plane, etc very quickly. The entire inside was set up w/ rails and everything slid in and out. The entire craft could be piloted by 2 people. I was impressed.

Another interesting side note. Before my trip, I had coincidentally just read Michael Crichton's Airframe book. I can verify that much of what he wrote was pretty close to what happens on the manufacturing floor. My company was tasked to help track equipment and repair schedules on the floor. This was seen by the workers as intrusive, since many of them counted on overtime and perhaps some did not work as efficiently as they should have just so they could get more $$$. During my stay there, some of my equipment was taken, moved, hid because our work was a threat to their workstyle. Kinda sad.

My guess is they will go to the F35 because it is the replacement for the F16, single engine, lighter and more economical, which were all factors in going to the F16 from the F4.

In reply to:

---

On that note, I wonder if The Thunderbirds will switch to the F22. With its vectored thrust capability, it should be able to fly circles around everything else out there.

---

That would SO rock, but alas that plane is jsut way to expensive, I highly doubt they could justify having ~8 or so set aside for a flight team.

Now I've never been connected to the military but planes in general have always been a very high interest for me. I would ABSOLUTELY kill (well ) to see a SR-71 fly. I think if I could manage to see that I could die happy.

I'm pretty excited the T-birds will be in town this yr for Offutts air show. I haven't seen them for a long time, 2 yrs ago was the Blue Angels. It was pretty aumusing to hear them talk all the smack about being the best but they had a delay to start because one plane had engine trouble, then during the start of the show a 2nd plane had to land for another problem.

Coolest plane I've seen in person was the F105 Starfighter. Big long engine with little wings. Made the coolest sound I've ever heard from a jet.

I could ramble on forever with this topic

My very earliest memory was watching Apollo 11 in black and white. [2 years old]

I'll die happy when I can get a ride in one of these...

Ya Hooo!

The few dollars left over from my HT/audio purchases are already ear marked for a special savings account. 20 years and counting...

Jag

That was pretty cool.

I'm exicted about Armadillo thou, since I'm a huge fan of John Carmack and his video games.

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/armadillo_test_040617.html

Ya, the whole Ansari contest sends shivers down my spine.

My retirement plan? Condo in florida ( canadian reference ) ? Nope, Space! How lucky we are that this is could very well be a real possibility in our life times.

For me I'll go with whoever gets me there first.

Cheers,Jag

There was an air show two weeks ago in the area. I was doing yard work when I heard a familiar engine sound that I couldn't quite place. P-51 Mustang/Allisons.
Ray, I think your absence coupled with the fact that there was some large nude photo shoot in Buffalo is too coincidental. Either that or the second job you took to pay for your daughters wedding is consuming your liesure time.

I love WWII aircraft too, P51 is so cool looking in the air.

F4U Corsair - Whistling death.