If DL or any airline abuses this policy, which is already basically Federal law - I think 'the market' will respond appropriately, don't you ?

(Written on 01/22/2021)(Permalink)

Perhaps if you (we) showed that 'bitter FA' a bit of kindness it might improve his/her day, eh ? Frankly our expectations back in the cattle car are way too high- I simply want to arrive in one piece and if possible, be left alone, period. I bring my own food, drink, and electronic entertainment on board and am thus never disappointed by the 'service'.....

(Written on 01/22/2021)(Permalink)

Its about time. Of course any rule can be abused, in this day of everybody filming everything- I highly doubt it will be. I/we have never once had an issue with any of the flight crew- yes as in any profession some are better than others, to be expected. Have appropriate expectations and if you have special needs, make sure YOU make accommodation for them. The FA's cannot wait on you hand and foot back in the cattle car- its just not possible and for a $200 plane ticket- it simply ain't gonna happen ! Don't bring a carryon on board you personally cannot place in an overhead bin- this is also not the FA's job and some physically cannot (or should not) do it, either. For gosh sakes if you do see the frail or elderly passenger flailing with an overweight bag- get off your butt and help them and be thankful you are physically able to do so ! Civility will go a long way, the agonizing process of boarding will go faster, people will be happier, we all win.

(Written on 01/22/2021)(Permalink)

The SINGLE engined F-35 is also expected to perform Marine/Naval carrier operations and, VTOL, STOL, and fly reasonably well despite being overweight and under-powered. In fact its flight performance requirements were reduced several times since it could not handle little stuff like rate of climb, turns/G-forces, etc..... I guess thats one way to meet the performance specs, reduce them !

(Written on 09/21/2020)(Permalink)

I've worked in that field since the mid 1980s, as some of the earliest practitioners of '3D CAD' , while there really wasn't much analysis capability like ANSYS around, even then we had the ability to transfer 3D digital data (no 'drawings') to suppliers for prototyping. Now and for the past couple decades everything is modeled and much of it analyzed, before anything is built.

(Written on 09/21/2020)(Permalink)

I believe from my father a Naval Aviator's comments from many years ago, the real problems occur when government procurement 'experts' try to have a jack of all trades aircraft built for all military branches, including Naval carrier operations. Of course with 'slight modifications'. You end up with an overweight, under-performing (and I refer to its flight characteristics) 'master of none'.

(Written on 09/21/2020)(Permalink)

I cannot remember any designs we copied from either Russia or China, I can remember plenty of the US designs they copied, though...

(Written on 09/18/2020)(Permalink)

"The NGAD, in contrast, was first designed and tested digitally before it was physically built." Not sure on that point, having worked in those industry(s) since the F-22 development in the 80's , everything is mocked up digitally and extensively analyzed and tested before anything is 'physically built'.... Hopefully the NGAD shares more of the F-22's flight characteristics, and none of the F-35's.... For reference, remember the SR-71 was designed in the 50's when most planes had reciprocating engines and a cruise speed of about 250kts....... It flew well beyond mach 3 and 80,000 feet......

(Written on 09/18/2020)(Permalink)

Why were the issues- at least those we are aware of, only with foreign carriers and crews ?

(Written on 09/18/2020)(Permalink)

How does all this happen and why were there no issues with domestically trained and operated flights?

(Written on 09/18/2020)(Permalink)