HuggyU2

Well stated, M2.

Why don't y'all start an F-1 thread?

NTSB Preliminary report is out: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20191002X11326&AKey=1&RType=HTML&IType=MA&fbclid=IwAR2n3Fk-HkfU6T_b7gWwoQEH68r_ggWP1yAaOme9EJXVyG8jZHQU0V9Glek Generates conclusions no one wants to admit to thinking. Ugly.

I personally have seen something I cannot explain. And there are others I know that have seen even stranger things. There are some really interesting stories out there.

Which company provides the best quality custom helmet bags and visor covers? The bag I have has great embroidery, but the bag's nylon and zipper won't last. Also, my visor cover needs replacing.

I looked at a satellite image of PSAB (aka Al's Garage) and it looked like a lot of infrastructure had disappeared since I was there in 2003 for WW-G2.

Muscle, can you explain this statement? I don't think I'm understanding what you're trying to say, since it is counter to everything I’ve ever seen or experienced. .

I have a humorous request... A few years back (I think it was March 2012), Stuck was part of the crew that flew a B-52 to the El Centro Airshow in Southern California. Coincidently, I was the airshow announcer, and we had a great time at the Club both nights. If any of you were on that crew or know the guys that were, could you have them contact me? Long shot, I know. Or... if you happen to currently be in Stuck's old Barksdale B-52 squadron, that might work too. Drop me a note and I'll explain.

I suppose this shouldn't surprise me. I just found about about a Flight Safety instructor that had some clients ask "where the safe space in the building is?".

I'm not a test pilot. However, I have a fair amount of experience in a multitude of military powered-aircraft and can't think of one I've flown where this is the case. I've got about 6 sorties in the F-16, including a front seat flight where we did SFO's. Although it has been 10 years... and everything is done primarily in AoA... I recall that approach speeds were ~150 KIAS and L/Dmax is 200 KIAS... which puts it in the same category as the Hornet / Super Hornet you mention above. Again, I'm sure I'm missing something. Can you give some examples of military powered-airplanes where approach speed is above L/Dmax?

I'm very surprised by this statement. Notwithstanding those two jets, the others all flew approaches faster than L/Dmax? I think there is something I'm missing.

Can't wait for the lawyers and the pussified public to start screaming "we must outlaw these old, outdated war machines!". You know it's coming.

Which of the single-pilot airframes have ADS-B now? T-38C? T-6? Any fighters? If not, what are the plans? Separate question: If the T-6 doesn't have ADS-B, does it have some sort system to identify squawking traffic?

Weaponizing the unknowing youth.

Interesting article that I first read when it came out 15 years ago... https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jul-02-et-hubler2-story.html

After "working" the show last year and getting almost no time in Box 102, it was great to go as a spectator and just enjoy. Friday and Saturday saw spectacular weather and great flying. U-2 pilot Popeye Thomson raced in the Bi-plane class and finished third in the Gold category. The final bi-plane race was cancelled due to winds on Sunday. Too bad as he wanted to race more. U-2 pilot Nova Beaubien's plane was out this year getting the engine rebuilt, but he was asked to fly the pace plane... pretty cool! Didn't see Hacker, but I'm guessing he was working hard like he usually does, and probably got some great photos. TBirds show looked to have a few new things, and overall I enjoyed it. Glad to see them make needed changes to make it look better and keep jets in front of the crowd more. STOL drag racing has become a big deal, and it was incorporated in to Reno this year. Unfortunately, Draco crashed departing Reno today and was destroyed. Mike Patey's ok thankfully. The Crash itself is about the 6:18 point in the video. Some very good lessons in "decision making" on Mike's very humble recollection of how he ended up in this situation.

From Beto: "I was asked how I'd address people's fears that we will take away their assault rifles. I want to be clear: That's exactly what we're going to do. Americans who own AR-15s and AK-47s will have to sell their assault weapons. All of them." Well, I will admit I appreciate his candor and clarity of communication. Leaves no doubt as to what he wants.

Since Popular Mechanics calls it "a badass plane", I'll post this here: https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a28872861/u-2-plane-history/?fbclid=IwAR18hdRo5XmuSABUHzvAEeU9JsS3iM-VbuiXqBHn4vBGNSkFqh7sPlGhWAQ As for Chuck Maultsby, I've heard the story told a bit differently, but no less epic. However, Chuck later was picked up for the Thunderbirds in 1958 as #3. He previously spent 22 months as a POW in Korea. Quite a career, to say the least.

C'mon guys and gals... y'all need to step it up because finishing 2nd to the Navy is humiliating. Especially deployed, the chow hall food is free... so eat until you're tired, and sleep until you're hungry. We should be able to hit 25+% in no time. https://www.militarytimes.com/off-duty/military-culture/2019/09/03/this-branch-takes-the-cake-as-the-us-militarys-fattest/

No... getting any sort of gear like space suit parts and spurs was pretty tough, though I didn't really try that hard. I had always threatened to go get a pair anodized gold and wear those on all of my sorties. Again, never did it. Herkbum: yes, they attached to cables on the seat, and they would retract your feet when you pulled the handle. The ones for the 104, U-2, and SR-71 looked nearly identical (the U-2 and SR-71 ejections seats were pretty much identical).

I love the spurs the pilot is wearing. I need to get a pair of those.

Story time: when I was TDY to Al Dhafra, the U-2 pilots could go in to Abu Dhabi and get massages with an American chiropractor. Apparently, the Emir was in Minnesota a few years earlier, used their services, and asked them to set up shop in Abu Dhabi because he was impressed. I head downtown the day after a flight, and during my consultation with the American doc, I discussed my neck issues, explained that I had almost no feeling in my 4th and 5th finger in my right hand for the past 2 years, and he took x-rays. Finally, I go back for my 1 hour massage with one of the four masseuses. All four of them were from China, spoke almost no English, and apparently were pretty well trained. After about 10 minutes of her working on my back and neck, she has me turn over, and in broken English asks which fingers are numb. She proceeds to work my chest, pectoral and arm pretty hard. After about 15 minutes, she sees the tears working their way out of my eyes and in more broken English says "too hard?" "No! Keep going!" When she was done, I felt like my chest and right arm had been turned in to ground meat. But it felt great. About an hour later, on the drive back to Al Dhafra, the feeling in my fingers came back. And it remained for many years. I could hardly believe it. That experience made me a believer in massage therapy and chiropractors.

If you haven't done so, get a referral to a top-notch facility if there is one near you. When I began having major problems, I went to Travis AFB. Fortunately, the civilian neurologist doc there said my issue was significant and referred me to the UC San Francisco Spine Center... one of the best in the nation. I am very fortunate to still be seen by them.