Recent content by wanttaja

In my long-ago Civil Air Patrol cadet days, our promotions were set on passing tests on ~six books. You'd get a ribbon and a stripe for each book, and eventually take the overall test that would make you a cadet officer. The final book was called "Operation Countdown," written by an Air Force...

Indeed, and much blood has been spilled arguing over whose code is right. Ron Wanttaja

To an overwhelming extent, such codes were limited to those in the higher social orders. A British gentleman in 1850 might be taught a code to live by, but what about his thousands of contemporaries in the slums of Glasgow? The gentleman might be taught to give his opponent a hand up if he's...

Been many things, but never a Boy Scout. Big brother was a Scout, and there was no way I was going to be a tenderfoot under him. Besides, I loathe camping. Joined CAP instead, went well, got my pilot's license through the program. Only had to camp a couple of times. We had girls in the...

"Our Germans are better than their Germans" - The Right Stuff Ron Wanttaja

Well, technically, ULA is a joint venture between Boeing and Lockmart. So maybe there's a dutch door somewhere.... :) (Admittedly, the Atlas is not a Boeing-heritage vehicle). Ron Wanttaja

If you scare the absolute bejesus out of yourself, it helps to take a little time before you try again. Ron Wanttaja

I used AI to generate a nautical cartoon. This was part of the background.... The legendary Skymaster Gull. Ron Wanttaja

This thread reminds me of a Bill Mauldin cartoon from WWII: (Note that the admin corporal is wearing a combat infantryman badge, which meant HE got combat pay...) The War Department actually started giving medics combat pay not long after this cartoon was published. Ron Wanttaja

Or...you just add ballast. Do what you can to shift weight forward (battery, heavier prop, etc.) then add a set of steel plates as far forward as you can. 30 pounds is equal to about 110 cubic inches of steel. That's a set of 10x6 plates about two inches thick. Need even less if you just...

My January 2024 FAA registration database shows that Rotax/Bombardier engines are installed in about 12,600 aircraft...that's about 4% of the fleet. This will include the two-stroke engines as well as the more modern 912/914 series. 228 have Standard airworthiness (not EAB, not Light Sport)...

You mean, other than 6PC? :) Ron Wanttaja

They DID use real guns. That’s a gen-u-wine Lewis Gun this storm trooper is carrying…. Though, admittedly, they didn’t load it. And Han Solo carries a broomhandle Mauser…. Ron Wanttaja

"I never said that actors are cattle. What I said was, actors should be TREATED like cattle." - Alfred Hitchcock Ron Wanttaja

Thanks for the plug, but you are about 40 years too late.... :) Ron Wanttaja