We can chat to each other on 123.45 if we so wish. Usually it’s just full of Americans chatting about football (the type that doesn’t use your foot) scores and interminable requests for ‘ride reports’ the moment the slightest bump appears!
The reason for the difference in lateral positions is due to SLOP (strategic lateral offset procedures). We can fly either down the middle of the track or 1 or 2 miles right of track. The reasons we do this are:
1) to avoid wake turbulence from aircraft ahead
2) nav systems are now so accurate that an aircraft flying the wrong way would hit you absolutely head on so we all offset to the right
3) if an aircraft overtakes or undertakes directly beneath the radio altimeters sense it as ground and can put some aircraft types into a landing mode (certainly the case on Airbus types)

I’m a very active paramotor pilot as it is as far removed as possible as I can get from my Airbus dayjob. I fly mine as a motorglider (I spent a very enjoyable evening soaring the ridge at Chinnor last week) and it gives me much more freedom than full blown paragliding (or tree-hugging as we tend to refer to it). With regards to limitations… well I can operate from zero wind up to about 12 knots from any wind direction, I fly from all sorts of places (including friends back gardens and car parks), the current distance record is 1144km, the height record is above Everest, I can take a passenger, I can cruise at any speed from 20-65kph with an endurance of approx 3 hours. A complete set of brand new kit can be bought for as little as 3 grand and operated for £3-5 per hour all in. Best of all I am completely independent in my flying. I obey the rules of the air and abide by the ANO but other than that I experience a freedom that other aviators do not get. I previously enjoyed many years as a member of the British Gliding Assosciation however I eventually tired of the fact that so many people within that movement were more interested in administrating rather than enjoying their sport. Shame really.

I think ‘resin rocket’ is more appropriate.

I said different type not different model.

Shame that this has digressed into semantics but…

flaps are not a primary flight control.

For steep approaches it allows extra drag so that the engines don’t sit at idle. This allows them a much faster spool up time for a go-around, etc.

And…..
I’m almost certain that the rear fuse airbrakes are not supposed to be deployed until on the ground???
I’m having BAe peers answer the question.

They are often used in the approach phase of flight.

It’s still too far away to be planning crew numbers yet. There seem to be a lot of other things in the pipeline between now and then anyway if rumours turn true.