Personally I think it looks superb…in my eyes better than it did with the novelty tail. I forecast problems with the cockpit windows a few months ago with the window design and can now gloat that Boeing seem to have caught up with my thoughts! 😉

OK, here’s spot the A330:

I’m not a huge fan of the 767 outline (unlike the sexy 757) but these colours make it look great imo.

It is interesting to note that NASA chose to use sidesticks on all their space capsules and of course the space shuttle. Again, the people that Boeing asked about sidesticks were ones that had never tried them. Humans are understandably resistant to change but sometimes things just can’t be fully understood until they are tried in practice.

If you were to poll a cross sextion of Boeing and Airbus (FBW) pilots you’ll find massive anti-Airbus sentiment from the guys who have only ever flown Boeings. If you ask guys that have flown BOTH types you will generally find a significantly larger proportion prefer the ergonomics of the Airbus. I was in the first camp before I joined the second. The problem is that there are alot of people who spout off about the wrongs of operating an Airbus when they don’t even know what the differences are.

You only need a 2 door system for the flightdeck entry. There is then no problem with the flightcrew entering the cabin. On aircraft of a certain size (A320, B757, etc) it really is not out of the question. Smaller aircraft as you say do shorter sectors as a rule so it shouldn’y be much of an issue.

1) I find it remarkable that people worry about a pilot going berserk with a gun. If the pilot wanted to kill you all he’s got the perfect tool already…the aeroplane!

2) I couldn’t give a damn how many bullets go through the fuselage as whatever problems they may cause they are far less significant than the problem of unsurpressed terrorists.

3) Marshalls, no thanks. Just look at what c0ck ups have gone on in the States, guns left in lavatories, etc.

4) If in the event of trying to overpower the terrorists you accidentally shot a passenger then that is surely a better risk than having no defense and losing everybody.

5) Don’t kid yourselves that locked flightdeck doors are the answer. Remember that the US had locked flightdeck door policy in practice on all the aircraft that were hijacked on 911. Current locked flightdeck doors are completely ineffective as they have to be opened many times each flight and during these phases they are useless. The only way to be secure is to employ 2 doors (like in some banks, etc) where only one door can be opened at a time but unless we all start only ever flying big aeroplanes there’s never going to be a chance of this.

…They could easily block all handling at the airports etc. meaning he will not be able to fly to Sweden.

Wouldn’t matter…he’d just fly to Norway and sell it as Sweden!!! 😉 :rolleyes: 😉