RE: The Antonov 148

Why would an aircraft be designed just for Russia/Ukraine?

RE: Trade War

I don’t like to attribute blame really Geforce. Yes, the US were quite wrong in this instance and were rightfully found against. But the EU does similar things, does it not? CAP is the biggest marxist policy I’ve ever encountered! Both sides are ludicrously protectionist in general. It’s almost like handbags at dawn – very silly.

RE: What is The Fascination of Beckham as a Footballer?????

He’s a different type of player to Figo, Rivaldo and so on. Also his game has never been based on dribbling – it’s just not what he does.

He is a player who passes the ball, has good vision on the ball, is about the best dead-ball player in the world and who works very hard. In central or right sided midfield, there isn’t anyone better!

OK, Figo or Rivaldo have more tricks but they tend to drift in and out of games. They’re either spectacular or rubbish. Beckham is constantly there, trying. And when it comes to passing, he still is the best there is. No player in the history of the game has been perfect – Best, Pele…they all had flaws and drawbacks to their game. Beckham is certainly a better all round player than some, including Best.

RE: Classic aircraft and airlines.

Some greats there…

B-Cal used to operate 707’s and DC-10’s to the US from LGW and they were certainly a scratch above the BA of the day. I flew many times on British Midland F27’s and Viscounts, whilst Air UK used to fly Handley Page Heralds. I dimly remember a flight from Amsterdam to Teesside in the mid 1980’s on a F28, which was my only flight on that aircraft. Air UK or KLM, I’m not sure which. The amazing thing is that this was all as recently as the early 1980’s!

RE: User names

I’m curious – what does “tec” mean on the end of Mixtec, Aztec etc..?

RE: Just …

I was at a training course in Manchester when the tutor said “oh by the way, the twin towers are collappsing”. I didn’t pay any attention, but in the evening I got the tram to Piccaddily station to connect to the airport for my flight home. Everyone was silently reading the freebie paper that they give out on the tram. I spent 10 mins reading over someone else’s shoulder! Then about 3 hours listening to the radio in my car on the way back home from my local airport. Flying on 9/11 was odd, security was beefed up but only about 7 hours after the event, everyone seemed a bit subdued I’d say. I had a window seat and kept staring dumbly at the aircraft’s reflection in the clouds.

I’m usually politically anti-US, but at that particular time I felt very upset and confused. It seemed to come so much out of the blue. Then the next day at work, our senior Partner sent a memo round to the effect that our firm had escaped lightly, but there were still 200 employees unaccounted for in NYC. I think they found them all in the end, a few days later.

RE: User names

Mongu – it’s a small town in the North West of Zambia. I was greatly impressed when I was there, because I was guided by Hyenas to a great sight – a leopard in a tree, hunching over an Kudu that was about to become dinner.

I’ve been to Zambia a lot, but only been to Mongu the once. It’s a devil to get to, involving a weekly flight on a Cessna 310 from Lusaka, which takes 4 hours including a stop somewhere else.