It looks like Tsu will be flying in a MIG

[Ivan Seeking]

If I told you I'd have to kill you.

 

[Cyrus]

Damn, I don't have a blue badge yet...maybe you can tell me after next summer. (I need to get me an orange one, Top Secret...O 'la la).

I think blue takes 6 months background check, orange 1 year.

I am white, along with the janitors and building services...

 

[Ivan Seeking]

It is a truism of most defense technology that once built and deployed, that is to say, once we hear about it, it is virtually obsolete wrt to the cutting edge.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Also, back to the bit about money. You know, Tsu and I are in a somewhat unique situation since we never had kids. But we also work to get by just like everyone else. And trying to keep up with the demands of our property is terribly labor intensive and expensive, so that is a huge liability as long as we live here. But we have either learned or chosen to do things we can't really afford because, well, you only get to live once. There is a balance to be sure, and one must plan for the future, but I think too many people are willing to pay a fortune for things that have no value - keeping up with the Jones' - while passing on what can be life changing experiences of much greater value - the memories of a lifetime. I personally cherish every dollar wasted.

 

[Cyrus]

If you want to waste money, buy a ferrari. Ok, let's be more reasonable, a Porsche or something.

Don't wase 20 grand on a 30min flight, that would be stupid. (unless your flying in spaceship 1)

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Get me a Ferrari for 20k and you're on.

Besides, I just said that I was thinking about it... okay, drooling, but still just thinking. Maybe an hour in a 21 would make more sense.

Keep in mind that you are flying, not just riding.

 

[Cyrus]

Eh, maybe I should elaborate. Ok this is what a 30 min flight REALLY means.

Engines are on...tick tock tick tock...do an engine run up, engines fine, check the gages, gages fine, talk to tower, "hello tower, just chatting it up as I waste this guys flight time, hows the weather?"...tower-"weather is fine proceed to taxi to the furthest runway of your choice at the slowest allowable taxi speeds"...taxi to the runway...do de do do do still taxiing....10 mins later your at the runway and now have 20 min left to actually fly in the air...Ok now your in the air...wee this is fun...one, two,up, down: time is up time to land!

Thanks for flying, now give me 20k!

I don't think so!

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Okay then you're not invited to the PF Mig flying party.

btw, it was ONLY 11K for the flight. I figured the other nine for travel, which is probably way too high.

 

[Evo]

My vacation to Japan and Thailand cost $30K, and had an experience I will never forget. (luckily I didn't have to pay). This is an incredible opportunity that you will remember the rest of your life, I say go for it!

I blew $9,000 just to put a fence around my back yard. Over $10k in damaged furniture, appliances and othe misc items destroyed by the jaws of death, and I have no happy memories.

 

[Astronuc]

Have you seen the new F-22? It has thrust vectoring. It might not fly backwards, but it will shoot down the Su-30 before he ever catches sight of the Raptor visually or on radar. It is stealthier than the F-117 Night hawks used in Gulf War 1.

Many years ago, we had an airshow locally. A couple of F-15's did a demo. Right before the show opened, they F-15's were flying around the area. I was holding my daughter while standing in the front yard as they flew over our neighborhood. The came back right toward my house, tilted sideways, and the pilot of the lead jet waved to us as they did a tight U-turn over our house. INCREDIBLE!

 

[turbo]

My hairiest ride was with a hotshot Maine Game Warden pilot in a Cessna 185 on floats. He took off using much less water than I would have thought possible, and the trees were coming fast. I had my 2 Bronicas with me, since I was photo-documenting the final field-training exercises of the trainees. The head of training for the wardens was a good friend and he wanted some aerial photos of the training facility (several large old farms on an island). There were bald eagles nesting on the island, and I mentioned that to the pilot, telling him that I had a number of good shots of the parents and yearling, but no good ones of the chick. He asked me to point out the nest, and I did. He made a turn and said "get ready" and turned the plane on it's right side when we were directly over the nest so I could shoot straight down into the nest. He did a number of other "interesting" manuvers designed to see how good I was at keeping my lunch inside me. I was fine. BTW, I got "arrested" quite frequently that week, mostly for night-hunting and poaching deer. I had a real sawed-off 12 gauge and a lot of blanks and along with several senior wardens, we joined the ranks of the "dark side". Those exercises were quite realistic and I brought home the cuts and bruises to prove it. The fun part was when we got to court - to see if the trainee had amassed enough evidence to make the charges stick.

Like Ivan, I think my favorite prop "ride" would be P38. Those rascals can really scoot and they are about the coolest-looking plane ever. The PBY Catalina would be fun, too, especially if the destination was a tropical island with good fishing!

 

[Astronuc]

P38 would be cool, but so would a Spitfire, Hurricane, Warhawk, Thunderbolt, Corsair, Mustang, or any of the others.

I would like to ride in a Mosquito. I would be happy to see one live.

 

[FredGarvin]

Damn, I don't have a blue badge yet...maybe you can tell me after next summer. (I need to get me an orange one, Top Secret...O 'la la).

I think blue takes 6 months background check, orange 1 year.

I am white, along with the janitors and building services...

You are such a loser. I think that because of your lack of security clearance that I will have to put you on my ignore list.

Good day............I said good day!

 

[FredGarvin]

P38 would be cool, but so would a Spitfire, Hurricane, Warhawk, Thunderbolt, Corsair, Mustang, or any of the others.

I would like to ride in a Mosquito. I would be happy to see one live.

You pretty much run the gambit there Astro. I wouldn't be picky either.

A Mosquito? Now there's a plane! Not too many wood and cloth planes around anymore though. I don't even know if there are any flyable airframes left...I'll have to consult the oracle on that one (my Dad).

 

[Astronuc]

A Mosquito? Now there's a plane! Not too many wood and cloth planes around anymore though. I don't even know if there are any flyable airframes left...I'll have to consult the oracle on that one (my Dad).

Two Rolls-Royce Merlin 76/77 engines, each 1680hp, 2 stage superchargers.

There is at least one left! It's over in England, AFAIK.

This might be the one.
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/album/data/549/medium/b0d0d934c7c4db370a24c5bb1aae620f.jpg

There is one restored in Australia
http://home.gil.com.au/~bfillery/mossie.htm
http://home.gil.com.au/~bfillery/mossie11.htm

 

[Cyrus]

You are such a loser. I think that because of your lack of security clearance that I will have to put you on my ignore list.

Good day............I said good day!

Hey screw you Garvin!

 

[FredGarvin]

Hey screw you Garvin!

I'd reply, but you're on my ignore list, you non-clearance having low life.

 

[Aether]

Zero-gravity flights in a "vomit comet" are commercially available for $3,000:

A typical parabolic flight lasts about 90 minutes, with 15 up-and-down parabolas at an altitude of 24,000 to 34,000 feet. Two "Martian" arcs simulate one-third Earth gravity, three "lunar" arcs feel like one-sixth Earth gravity, and the final 10 provide the full zero-gravity experience.-- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5992077/

 

[Andre]

Okay then you're not invited to the PF Mig flying party.

btw, it was ONLY 11K for the flight. I figured the other nine for travel, which is probably way too high.

Okay, If it includes going to Russia, better not underestimate the costs. I've heard some stories of what they make you pay.

Second, if you go for the dogfight, be sure to be well prepared, otherwise it will be just a vague experience in gray outs and black out's. How? Get plenty of roller coaster rides in the worst killers that are available to work up g-tolerance. And learn to "strain", put max tension on the muscles and press your breath, the way that gets your face red, normally. It will not do that under 4+g but it's the only way to stay in there and maintain situational awareness.

And you're right it's great. Fortunately my boss payed me for doing it a few hundred times.

 

[nazzard]

Mission patch

Hello Tsu and Ivan,

every "mission" should have a proper mission patch, right?

I'd like to share my attempt.

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/1620/pfaa2do.jpg

I know it's no MIG, but a nice toy nevertheless.

Regards,

nazzard


I'd like to thank Adrian Pingstone who published the picture of an Extra EA300S at wikipedia and released it into the public domain.

 

[Tsu]

Hey!111 SWWEEETTT!1111 Thanks!111

 

[Math Is Hard]

That is so freakin' cool, nazzard!

 

[Ivan Seeking]

And you're right it's great. Fortunately my boss payed me for doing it a few hundred times.

I would have signed on in a heartbeat if I had a chance of passing the physical for fighter pilots - not a prayer.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/1620/pfaa2do.jpg

Very cool nazzard
Thanks

 

[Cyrus]

Thats a nice job.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

It's a Mig 21. Currently I am still trying to track the guy down. Apparently he travels around doing this, so it may take a little time to make contact. When I have the information and I know it all checks out -probably after we go - I'll post the contact info for anyone interested.

 

[Cyrus]

I don't think we can afford to contact him Ivan.

Mig-21, not bad, not bad.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I don't think we can afford to contact him Ivan.

Now now, patience. One good job and something like this is nothing to manage... if you are willing to throw aside reason and go for it once in a while.

Yes, I was thinking "please say twenty-one, PLEASE say twenty-one..."

 

[FredGarvin]

A MiG 21. Cool. I'll be interested to hear what variant the person actually flies.

 

[nazzard]

A MiG 21. Cool. I'll be interested to hear what variant the person actually flies.

I hope it's a two seater!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-21#Variants I'm sure Ivan would like to test them all one by one.