Flying v makes "maiden flight"

[shadowfax]

@jtsanders

There may be a center tank, but most is stored in the wing tanks, isn’t it?

Usually though not always. The 777 ER’s wing tanks hold 9,500 gallons each, while the center tank can have 26,000 gallons in it. But you’re right that they almost always drain the center tank first - that said, unless the plane has an inerting system (which was only mandated something like 12 years ago) then the more empty a tank is, the more dangerous it is due to explosion risk.

You’re also right that if a fuel tank catches fire, it most likely doesn’t matter where you’re sitting in relation to it.

@MikeInNH

When he left the air-force and became a commercial pilot he learned very quickly that some maneuvers you just couldn’t perform.

“But sir, nobody told me you can’t do wingovers!”

[jtsanders]

A friend got married many years ago. The bride’s father was a Marine, and commander of an F14 squadron. We asked him during the reception if he fancied a career as an airline pilot after he retired. He got a sour look on his face and said that was like asking Mario Andretti if he want to drive a bus. See? I told you it was a long time ago.

[texases]

@shadowfax

“But sir, nobody told me you can’t do wingovers!”

But you can do barrel rolls:

Boeing 707 Barrel Roll - Pilot Tex Johnston Performs Roll In Dash-80 Prototype Aircraft In 1955

Go to 1:50 if you’re in a hurry.

[shadowfax]

Oh yeah. That’s a legendary sales pitch.

I was reminded of it at Airventure a number of years ago when the Hondajet prototype showed up and was doing some mild acrobatics. Tex would’ve grinned.

[eddo]

@texases

But you can do barrel rolls:

I obviously don’t have a whole lot to add to this thread, but go to google.com and type
Do a barrel roll

you’re welcome.

[B.L.E]

@MikeInNH

Friend and neighbor is a retired airline pilot. He few F-15’s in the Air-force. When he left the air-force and became a commercial pilot he learned very quickly that some maneuvers you just couldn’t perform. Sure the plane could handle it, but (as he put it) you’d have a cabin full of barfing passengers.

I never got sicker than when I was doing aerobatic stunts in a stationary virtual reality flight simulator, which proves that “motion sickness” has nothing to do with motion. It’s actually disorientation sickness, when the seat of your pants don’t agree with what your eyes are seeing.
An I-Max first person view rollercoaster ride can have the entire audience in the theater barfing, even though most of them would be just fine if they rode the actual roller coaster.
That’s one reason cinematographers avoid putting extended first person viewpoint footage in a movie chase scene.

[db4690]

@MikeInNH

They did a remake staring Dennis Quaid. It was no where near as good as the James Stewart movie.

I would go even further than that

Not only was it nowhere near as good as the James Stewart movie . . .

It wasn’t even a good movie at all

[ok4450]

I watched (barely) the remake of Flight of The Phoenix and bailed out of it about 2/3 of the way through. Just couldn’t take it anymore.
It seems that Hollywood can’t survive without green screens and explosions.
Hollywood did the same thing with the Red Dawn and Hell Boy remakes. Butchered them.

And to keep it car related, I did enjoy Jeff Bridges in the Tucker movie many years ago. My wife normally doesn’t care for movies like this but she actually enjoyed it and that’s saying something.

[shadowfax]

That Tucker movie was a good flick. Probably helps that Coppola is a car guy, and in fact owns a Tucker (which I believe was in the movie).

[MikeInNH]

@ok4450

And to keep it car related, I did enjoy Jeff Bridges in the Tucker movie many years ago. My wife normally doesn’t care for movies like this but she actually enjoyed it and that’s saying something.

The Tucker movie was excellent. I was at a car show once…and they were advertising that at least 1 Tucker was going to be on display…It never showed. I think there were only 50 made.

@ok4450

Hollywood did the same thing with the Red Dawn and Hell Boy remakes.

The original “Flight Of the Phoenix” - a good portion of the drama in that movie was the dynamics between Jimmy Steward and Hardy Kruger. the remake missed that completely.