OvS

Sure God's all powerful... but does he have lips? Whoa....

Dude... this Data BSoD is hysterical!!!

Women's Results... Gold - CAN Silver - USA Bronze - FIN Looks like the Canadian women have the most chest hair...

And I'll raise you USA over Finland... Show me what you got! OvS

Well.. here's last night... Results: Men's Play-offs Quarterfinals Slovakia 4 - 3 Sweden Finland 2 - 0 Czech Republic Canada 7 - 3 Russia

I have to look, but much of what I have is regarding the plane. I don't have anything with me working on it... sucks... I used to have one of me at the nose wheel, and also in the cockpit, but that was the days of film... I'll have to search through a few boxes. OvS

I always seem to land at one particular local farmer's field, but I don't think his daughter is buying the 'I was shot-up, and had to land' act any more... but the 'end' results are still the same. OvS

That's a tough one to debate... with the advent of video conferencing, you could eliminate business travel all together. It really is not a neccessity anymore... unless you like to be personal. But... in today's day and age, we should be going faster than MACH for pleasure travel. Think of the time saved... 2 hours to NYC over 7. Big difference You take off and arrive ealier than you left. Presently, other than military expansion with the F-22, and the Ospery... aviation is at a total design stand still. The planes are self-reliant, and require little attention other than major failures. They require little pilot input, and can be flown by auto everything at this point... practically eliminating ATC as well other than bad weather conditions, and congestion. The 777 is a slightly sleeker and more efficient design than the 767, which was initially designed back in the late 60's. Yes, more aero-dynamic, redundent... all that, I know, but I am talking about basic shape. The Concorde was a Delta wing... nothing like it since. The planes all look the same, other than their size, winglets, and capacity... imagine if an Airbus A380 crashes... 800+ dead in one shot. The amount of people we fly now is reaching an unhealthy state... so who knows if even these beheamouth size planes will last long. Problem is aviaition has become a daily routine, so it lost it's 'experimental' stage whereas, we wanted to push the limits, get there faster, fly higher.. etc.. all those neat spices that makes the 'meat' taste so good. Now we've settled for slower, safer, and more efficient, which at this point, will never change unless we move into the anti-gravity stage. The fun days of aviation are gone, we're simply left with an industry that is much like riding a bus.... except you have the 'thrill' of dying because some over-the-top jackass has a vendetta against the world and shoves a wad of C-4 up his arse to make his point noteworthy. Richard Branson is the only pioneer left in aviation, but his ideas will simply never be mainstream as the average Joe can't afford them... and they are not particularly practical anyway. OvS

Hat's off to you if you paint them on! It must look a lot more realistic than a decal ever could. As far as my comment on the livery, its more about giving the plane a more stunning look and drawing in the buyer/builder... no matter what level. Let's say they used Voss, Baumer, Kissenberth, von Schleich, MvR, or anyone from Jasta 5... that would look much more presentable on the box than this choice. But you're 100%, paint it anyway you want it as really, you're buying the model, not the decals. OvS

The Concorde was a conglomerate joint operation between the BAE and other European companies. Walking around the plane you could see the technology that would become Airbus and Lockheed designs, especially in the landing gear. The RR/SNECMA Olympus 593 was a caged animal. It was rated at 40K lbs of thrust at full reheat during takeoff. So 160K kicking you in the ass was quite a feat for a passenger plane so small. The engine itself, like you said, was aquired from BAE who slated it for the Vulcan bomber. No doubt this plane was meant to fly very fast. Here is a nice breakdown of how the AIC (Air Intake Control) system worked during take-off, cruise, sub and super sonic... as well as failure. By the mid-90's The AICU's, which were the contol units for the doors, were costing BA/AF close to a million each when repaired or replaced. It was just not cost effect to keep this bird flying. http://www.concordesst.com/powerplant.html OvS

I taxiied her a few times as well... but I never flew in her... I wish I did. Never really thought she'd ever be phased out. The last few flights she made were for BA staff only. They were all promo flights and positioning flights, where she would be 'laid to rest'. The flights were not super-sonic, all sub-sonic and across the US. Why bother. I remember so many cold mornings standing outside on the ladder to disconnect the GPU (Ground Power Unit) after she would air-start. The sound of the ASU's (Air start units) howling up and down like sirens, ramming the air in the start units, one engine at time. She'd come to life. Everything about that plane was loud and physically challenging as a mechanic, start to shut down. I guess you could compare it to working on an F-105, B-58, F-101... type fighter/bomber, as the technology was virtually the same. The IDG's (Integrated Drive Generators... much like a car's alternators) were 60 lbs each... you had to stand under the engine, and lift it over your head... or use the 'jack', but as a 24yr old young buck... I WAS the jack, as the old-timers put it. Thankfully, as a token for working on her for, I was given a piece of her history. The only known drawing of the complete fuel distribution system, hand drawn and signed by one of our local techs. It was certified by BA/Concorde/BAE back in the early 80's and used to hang on the wall of the tech library here at JFK. Somthing I'll pass on to my Grandkids, along with a few of the freebies they gave away aboard the flight. OvS

Loosing the Concorde was taking a huge step back in aviation... all we have now are bigger planes that carry more people and save fuel... but they are the same fuselage as a plane built in 1965. OvS

Ever sit in the cockpit? You wouldn't say that if you did... my Dad's reaction will never leave my mind... "It looks like a B-17... what the hell? This is the Concorde? You gotta be kiddin' me!" She was a pilot's plane... a fighter jet that carried passengers. BA considered her for a EICAS/EFIS glass cockpit work-over, but structural questions and Air France ditching out of the pooling agreement after their incident killed her. OvS

It's meant to fly... on the ground.. it's an f'n mess... you HAVE to wear a 'slicker' when you're under it. Fueling it... a nightmare... fill each tank, one by one and make sure they're balanced... all on analogue gauges... slow and tedious. Ask the questions... and I'll answer the best I can. OvS

Widow, That's a real sweet skin!! I think you just nailed my personal mount skin!! I never have time to design my own... I'd like to use yours! One alteration... remove the pirate head for Jasta 15's Georg Hantlemann's 'Death Head', fit it right on the white stripe and you've got me a winner!! OvS

Sweet! Thanks for posting. I enjoyed it. It's always best to hear it from the mouth of the real pilot.... Hey... if you ever want to do an interview with a Mechanic... put me on the list... my 'short list' with BA... 747-100/200/400, 767-300ER, 757, Scarebus 340... and.... yes... the Concorde!! OvS

I don't know... really... I like it a little... maybe not.... why don't you send it to me, along with that Dr.1 one you made, so I can look at it a little closer.... Oh... and forget about getting it back... it will be framed and hung on my wall! :grin: It's awesome! Great work! OvS

I have to agree with you... it's a bad choice, and is now creating a lot of buzz on the Aerodrome as some folks have the same feeling about the choice of livery. But then again... buzz is what creates sales...

Jasta 5 - Ja-Whol! Lookin' real nice Olham! OvS

You guys need more snow...

S! Another 'old skool' Military Man with a set of huge brass balls. Seems the US is running out of that type and stocking up on the type that's in the WH now. OvS

Well said Duck!

First salvo over the bow...

Believe me Catch, the pads don't do much but cushion the impact a little. It's a violent collision that you survive by being conditioned and prepare for it. OvS

Man Rule #1: Upon the start of the NFL season in August until it's end in February, all previous relations and use of the word Football shall be changed to Soccer. PS... if you've never played Football, it's something like this... I played as a DB (Cornerback or Safety depending on if we were playing a team that ran more than passed) in High School.... go in your backyard, build up a good head of steam running.... pick a tree out of your yard, then really step on your gas peddel. Drop in low and pop the tree with one of you shoulders as hard as you can... get up, and do it again That's about what it feels like to hit another object weighing more than you (I was about 135, lean and REALLY fast) running at full speed. Football = pain... it's part of the game. OvS