Empty? Yes, apart from 2 tons of ballast & 15 tons of flight test equipment. That’s most of what a C-130 can take off with. 😀

Did it? Ballast is ballast, ignore that a minute.
I read (Several months ago whilst at AUK Filton) that Flight 1 would only be taking basic flight test kit, not 15 tons worth. Serious Flight test kit being for later flights. I guess they are so far behind programme they have to get data on the hurry-up.

Agreed.

Looked like a very nice, smooth take-off, with what looked like to me a short roll & a steep climb out. I’m no expert, but I think that might show a fair degree of confidence in the product.
3 hours 47 is pretty good for a first flight, too. You can do quite a lot in that time.

The ship was empty and the lumps were on full bore.
Confidence always improves with parachutes 😀

…Elvis has left the building.

That Challice.
They look a bit like Marijuana leaves. Are they meant to be or was the student responsible for it avin a larf?

The person responsible for this tripe. Professor Shauna Wilton, is a Canadian academic, works for a Canadian university, isn’t all that ugly and has at least one kid. (I know, I know…)

Nice to see that old shape hasn’t lost his usual grasp for the facts.

NOT ALL THAT UGLY!!!!
I just Googled her, the monitor threw up! I bet that kid came out of a bottle! She’s so ugly it must be illegal to marry her in the English speaking provinces…the French ones are able to settle for mingers because they have several mistresses lined up.
Canada, I love it…been a dozen times to see my Sister and her kids, and their kids.
I never understand why half the country speaks French and the other half actually let them!

I always get the facts, then state the obvious. Basically, she’s a nomark pillock. As for anybody that thinks she’s right well in that case every single chilrens TV programme I’ve ever seen is also sexist. Why hasn’t she had a bash at Harry Potter? And the Canadian kids TV shows?
There is an old but VERY TRUE expression “Behind every good man there is a good woman”. I am not the first to admit that without my Mrs I would be useless. The in-borne tendancy to nurture, care, love, manage a family etc. will lead itself into a “Supporting” role. Live with it girls, in life you choose a career (And I mean a career – not just a job) or a family….if you choose both, one of them suffers – usually the family because you need the money. And, on that point, this “Academic” is therefore diminishing the supporting role, I see the support I get as absolutely crucial, in the home or in the workplace.

I did swear because my wife came back early.
I’d upturned the kitchen (I’d not tidied up at that point) looking for a certain stainless steel, very deep mixing bowl.
She wasn’t too happy at said bowl full of grout, along with her wooden mixing spoon.