TTPHow about the NOVA episode about the recovery of the “Kee-Bird” the B-29 that landed up in Northern Greenland, If you haven’t seen it, its quite interesting, with a twist at the end! Glacier Girl was great too, but it should have been a 2 hour episode. Also the recent NOVA on the JSF competition. Flight of the phoenix great too!!
TTPHow about the NOVA episode about the recovery of the “Kee-Bird” the B-29 that landed up in Northern Greenland, If you haven’t seen it, its quite interesting, with a twist at the end! Glacier Girl was great too, but it should have been a 2 hour episode. Also the recent NOVA on the JSF competition. Flight of the phoenix great too!!
TTPSnowman,
Concerning the Schwartzkoff quote, I don’t know its origins or if its true, just the its been “making the rounds” along with tons of French jokes. I have a friend, who was an F-4 driver who was assigned a ground duty (ALO) during the first Gulf War, he was assigned the French Foreign Legion, and was with them throughout all combat ops. He has nothing but praise for them! Irregardless, all soldiers of every nation are fine, brave souls, its the leadership that shapes a nations policies. Your right about all the complexities surrounding events, what seem simple are often quite complicated, but from the perspective of the man on the street France and the French are viewed quite poorly here. I’m afraid that French exports will suffer dramatically for years to come as well, People don’t realize the anomosity that the French have garnered from this situation. There was a liquor store in a rural part of my state, whose owner threw out his entire stock of French wine! alot of French resturants are closing due to no sales, even if they are owned by Americans. This will take YEARS. Personally after the Libya situation, and when the French protested EuroDisney, because it was ruining French culture, Is when I lost any interest in ever visiting. I’d like to see the Normandy beaches though, as I have an uncle buried there. Professionally when i flew in Europe alot, late 80’s early 90’s) you could always count on the French ATC to f#@k up your routing and cause much heart-burn as well, almost as if they enjoyed jerking the USAF.
TTPSnowman,
Concerning the Schwartzkoff quote, I don’t know its origins or if its true, just the its been “making the rounds” along with tons of French jokes. I have a friend, who was an F-4 driver who was assigned a ground duty (ALO) during the first Gulf War, he was assigned the French Foreign Legion, and was with them throughout all combat ops. He has nothing but praise for them! Irregardless, all soldiers of every nation are fine, brave souls, its the leadership that shapes a nations policies. Your right about all the complexities surrounding events, what seem simple are often quite complicated, but from the perspective of the man on the street France and the French are viewed quite poorly here. I’m afraid that French exports will suffer dramatically for years to come as well, People don’t realize the anomosity that the French have garnered from this situation. There was a liquor store in a rural part of my state, whose owner threw out his entire stock of French wine! alot of French resturants are closing due to no sales, even if they are owned by Americans. This will take YEARS. Personally after the Libya situation, and when the French protested EuroDisney, because it was ruining French culture, Is when I lost any interest in ever visiting. I’d like to see the Normandy beaches though, as I have an uncle buried there. Professionally when i flew in Europe alot, late 80’s early 90’s) you could always count on the French ATC to f#@k up your routing and cause much heart-burn as well, almost as if they enjoyed jerking the USAF.
TTPAir and Space magazine, the magazine of the Smithsonian Institute did a great artical about this plane some years ago, very interesting.
TTPJa Worsley,
I think its safe to say none of them is a sales sucess at the very least.
TTPKabir,
Did a quick search concerning the contra-rotating props, the TU-95 first flew in the early 1950’s the British were fitting contra-rotating props to Shackeltons and Fairy Fireflys in the mid to late 1940’s also tthe American Northrop XB-35 Flying Wing was originally powered by contra-rotating props in the late 1940’s and eventually jets. My guess is the British were the first to use them.
TTPKabir,
The double prop idea is not of Rusian origin, the Brits used this on the Shackleton’s Griffon engines, after WWll The Unducted Fan, has the props on the rear of the engine, and the props themselves are vastly different from normal propellers, Thats like saying if an airplane has 2 wings its a copy of the Wright Flyer. If you could see the props on the unducted fan engine they are very “Twisted”
compared to a regular propeller.
TTPGentlemen,
As a USAF pilot who refuels evry month for actual missions and currency, there are alot of factors that go into this decision, many of which are far more complicated than “political” arguments.
For example the A-330 is deemed by many to be too large, also I have heard something along the lines that the wing loading is such that it causes much more turbulance to the tanking aircraft, also another argument concerning “wing-bending” issues. I’m not an engineer so please feel free to correct me. I do know the USAF is buying some 767’s and fleet commonality with NATO will be a big factor. Don’t view this as another instance of US forceing EU to buy American products, there are some serious limitations concerning the 330 airframe that make it less desireable for refueling purposes. I think the better option is maybe an A-300 version, but it wouldn’t have the range needed.
TTPKabir
The engine was nowhere akin to the TU-95, They were designed originally in the late 70’s early 80’s as a more fuel -efficient powerplant, others have mentioned the various drawbacks these type engines had, but ultimately it was the price of fuel staying stable that caused the death of these engines. Boeing had a 727 rigged with one of these as well,
TTPGreekdude,
Hand 87-5 is correct, Boeing just recently stopped building the 717’s with the eyebrow windows. They weren’t needed and it saved some weight and complexity. Also if the 717 was stretched it would start to compete with some 737 models, and thats probably why you won’t see a stretch version.
TTPJust a thought, Did you ever consider the fact that there is a certain national prestige factor built into the Concorde? Maybe France and England don’t want to see the Concorde flying with various “second tier” airlines. Not to say VS is a second tier airline, but perhaps they worry that a Concorde will be shuttling auto parts some day! I know this is highly unlikely!! but if there is another accident the reputation of the Concorde could be besmurched. As well Branson would likely use it to thumb his nose at BA.
Concerning the SIA A-340 deal, I read an interesting artical about it, It seems the 777 is quite superior to the A-340 concerning the initial level-off altitude at heavy gross weights, SIA operates in areas where CB’s exceed 40,000 ft routinely, the 777 can climb higher and faster than a 340 and this was one large factor in the flip-flop as well.
TTPSnowman,
Your 100% correct, the French did have the right to voice their opinion, and choose the course of action they took. On the flip side America has the right to”dis” the French for choosing a two-bit, brutal dictator, over an ally. Americans don’t necessarily expect the French to follow us lock step, but the under-handed, sneaky nature of French manuevering is what pissed off most Americans. I can vouch for this, Americans are not one-tenth as mad at the Germans for taking the same stand. The French seemed to relish thumbing their nose at us, and sabuetaging every diplomatic move. They did this to us back in 1986 with the Libya bombing as well, we forgave them for that, bu its not going to happen this time. France has chosen Khaddafi, and Saddam over the US so now, they have to be big boys and take the consequenses of their actions. If Americans would rather drink, Italian, Austrailian or Spanish wines then too bad. America doesn’t really import too many French products anyway. As far as Schwartzkoff’s comments, What do you expect him to say about an ally? I’m sure he said the same about the Syrian’s and egyptians that were part of the coalition too.
He’s also credited with this quote that made the rounds recently
“Going to war without the French, is like going hunting without your accordian”
Let France trade with Khadafy and leaders like Hussain, they seem to prefer them anyway. Maybe surrounding themselves with nations like that, the French may feel relevant again.
TTPSnowman,
Your 100% correct, the French did have the right to voice their opinion, and choose the course of action they took. On the flip side America has the right to”dis” the French for choosing a two-bit, brutal dictator, over an ally. Americans don’t necessarily expect the French to follow us lock step, but the under-handed, sneaky nature of French manuevering is what pissed off most Americans. I can vouch for this, Americans are not one-tenth as mad at the Germans for taking the same stand. The French seemed to relish thumbing their nose at us, and sabuetaging every diplomatic move. They did this to us back in 1986 with the Libya bombing as well, we forgave them for that, bu its not going to happen this time. France has chosen Khaddafi, and Saddam over the US so now, they have to be big boys and take the consequenses of their actions. If Americans would rather drink, Italian, Austrailian or Spanish wines then too bad. America doesn’t really import too many French products anyway. As far as Schwartzkoff’s comments, What do you expect him to say about an ally? I’m sure he said the same about the Syrian’s and egyptians that were part of the coalition too.
He’s also credited with this quote that made the rounds recently
“Going to war without the French, is like going hunting without your accordian”
Let France trade with Khadafy and leaders like Hussain, they seem to prefer them anyway. Maybe surrounding themselves with nations like that, the French may feel relevant again.
TTPPlawolf,
No doubt you are a smart man, however when you say the “only reason people leave communist states, is to gain more material posessions” than I question your reasoning, but if its true you are from China, it is the result of brainwashing,over the years. Bottom line is this
I want freedom!
Give me freedom to dare greatly, even if I fail I will have tried!, I don’t want somebody else responsible for my life! I am not content to do as well as my neighbor, I want to strive to do better to reach the heights of my capabilities, not what level the government says I should aspire to! I am not content to work at a job the government says I should do, Maybe I would be a great Lawyer, but I want to fly Jets!! so I did, nobody told me I couldn’t! I will take care of my retirement, I will buy what I want where I want, I will travel anywhere I want to go, ask any question!!!!! Are you getting this yet??? any man who gives up his freedom, in return for a lifetime job, and a pension plan is a man who has not lived a worthy life!!! God Bless freedom! I don’t expect you to understand, hopefully someday all your fellow citizens and you will!
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