Over time they went from questionable content to content without any credibility at all. Thank heavens the noise is now silenced. Activists masquerading as journalists.

(Written on 15-01-2021)(Permalink)

They squash and cover-up the amount of bullet holes they have to repair every year or nobody would fly. Some years ago a man was hit while the aircraft was waiting to take off in ATL. The story never even made the newspaper.

(Written on 08-01-2021)(Permalink)

Because of publicity issues the airlines are usually loathe to report incidents such as this unless they have to because too many people "know". Many large airports are located in somewhat unsavory areas and are subject to random airborne projectiles. Especially around the holidays that are associated with "fireworks". For those who have never experienced life in the "'hood" I can tell you that a lot of "fireworks" are actually "firearms" and most of the idiots firing them do not have enough sense to fire the bullets into the ground instead of the air. You get the idea, I'm sure. You will not find me on an airplane on New Years eve. or July 4th. Just 'sayin.

(Written on 08-01-2021)(Permalink)

There were numerous (and highly publicized) accidents and incidents right from the start. AA lost the first one, Then BN, NW and EA. After the LEAP program closed NW lost another that was highly public. It was ugly for a while and the uninformed mainstream media as well as uninformed members of the House and Senate made things even worse. In that era probably less than 20% of the US had ever stepped foot on an airplane. Since the Jerry Springer show did not exist at the time there was nothing better to watch. It was another world. Today, if it weren't for the same mainstream media vying for ratings and $$$$$$ nobody would give a s#*t. Whomever has the cheapest fare wins. They will get on a box-kite if it is cheap enough.

(Written on 03-01-2021)(Permalink)

For sure! Oh, and then there is the P-3 hot-rod.

(Written on 11-12-2020)(Permalink)

*short-sighted! The -188 was not the first project that Lockheed had a flutter problem with. They were always pushing the speed envelope and paid the price. The L-14 and the P-38 come to mind. The upside was the -188 became a niche aircraft. It certainly served its purpose well. EA was loath to retire theirs and as a launch customer held on to theirs until 1977 or so.(They had an open-house event at ATL in the fall of 1963 to show off the new 727 and just inside the hanger was a DC-7B and an Electra. Neither one was very old BUT the difference between them and the 727 was striking.The jets had made them obsolete). They also found good homes in Alaska, Canada, and Brazil. Cold-weather performance was excellent! I flew many trips on the -188's. I remember when they were advertised as "vibration-free" and "quiet" without the "roar" of piston engines. That was laughable. Once the propellers were in Flight Regime there was a cyclic vibration that was more pronounced the closer you got

(Written on 11-12-2020)(Permalink)

The Viscount was early to the game and had a longer life. The -188 was too late to the game as was the Vickers Vanguard. Once the public got a taste of jets anything with propellers on it was obsolete. So while the aging founders of the Legacy carriers in the US were short-sided many sat tight for the generation of true jets.

(Written on 11-12-2020)(Permalink)

Not to mention the width of the average American's posterior.

(Written on 29-11-2020)(Permalink)

The aircraft discussed are not the short-range versions and could only be converted at GREAT expense. So they won't bother. Short/medium range flights have been tried with the 74's ad nauseum and it just doesn't pan out. From the beginning, DL,NW were using them to compete with each other ORD-MIA. It was great copy at the time, but, not a money maker. And, if it don't make dollars it don't make cents.

(Written on 27-11-2020)(Permalink)

This is all well and good, except that the ops/mx costs are going to be high since this aircraft was not designed for short-medium range flights. Good luck to them and those who look forward to a ride on the "queen"!

(Written on 27-11-2020)(Permalink)