[luvdemwhoppers]

Here's a place to post up things that you feel are amazing. I'm into avation and just about any mechanical, facinated by the progress.
Others, feel free to share what makes you take a second look. Tech, science, Whateva, share, we'll all benefit.

This is the A380 Airbus,  the worlds largest passenger airliner. Depending on the config, can fit 800 peeps. yes. 800

[MrsPacman1]

I share the aviation fascination with you. My dad was in the Air Force and also loved aviation, so airshows were something we never missed. I can sit at an airport and watch the passenger jets take off and land for HOURS. I'm also fascinated by why they crash, when they do.

In Oshkosh, WI, there's the EAA AirVenture every year. It's called "The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration". I've never been to one, however, I believe they had the A380 there last year.
http://www.airventure.org/about/

I was fascinated with Space Shuttles as a young person. I was fortunate enough to see The Challenger land at Edwards Air Force Base in CA when we lived there (briefly for a few years). I also saw The Challenger explode a few years later from my elementary school's baseball field. 

Mrs*looking forward to the Dreamliner*Pacman

[brakblake]

I share the aviation fascination with you. My dad was in the Air Force and also loved aviation, so airshows were something we never missed. I can sit at an airport and watch the passenger jets take off and land for HOURS. I'm also fascinated by why they crash, when they do.

In Oshkosh, WI, there's the EAA AirVenture every year. It's called "The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration". I've never been to one, however, I believe they had the A380 there last year.
http://www.airventure.org/about/

I was fascinated with Space Shuttles as a young person. I was fortunate enough to see The Challenger land at Edwards Air Force Base in CA when we lived there (briefly for a few years). I also saw The Challenger explode a few years later from my elementary school's baseball field. 

Mrs*looking forward to the Dreamliner*Pacman

Hey, I'm fascinated by planes crashing too and buildings exploding...but that is more a by-product of an appreciation (but not complete understanding of) the physics of the situation. 

Physics = awesome.

[espy]

I share the aviation fascination with you. My dad was in the Air Force and also loved aviation, so airshows were something we never missed. I can sit at an airport and watch the passenger jets take off and land for HOURS. I'm also fascinated by why they crash, when they do.

In Oshkosh, WI, there's the EAA AirVenture every year. It's called "The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration". I've never been to one, however, I believe they had the A380 there last year.
http://www.airventure.org/about/

They used to have a really cool air show in town, but it lost steam and went away just before I got all my upscale photography equipment.  I'd LOVE to attend one for the photo ops.  Maybe I should go to Oshkosh -- I know that's one of the biggies.  MrsPac, you really need to attend that one, too. 

(I can see it now --- I'd come home with 3 airplane pictures and 15 memory cards full of MrsPac bending over to pick up the quarters I keep throwing on the ground)

[PregNut]

Progressive Banking.

More and more tracks are installing progressive banking (banking which increases as you go higher in the turns) which allows for more side-by-side racing through the corners. As a result, racing has become more exciting, and has reduced the 'bump-and-run' pass from a necessity to an option at most tracks, specifically Bristol Motor Speedway.

[MrsPacman1]

Hey, I'm fascinated by planes crashing too and buildings exploding...but that is more a by-product of an appreciation (but not complete understanding of) the physics of the situation. 

Physics = awesome.

I totally get what you mean, there. Maybe it's the same for me...? I used to love the "Seconds from Disaster" shows they used to run on NatGeo. I have a second cousin who works for the FAA as a crash investigator. Between you (everyone else who reads this) and me, he doesn't fly commercially. Unless it's an absolute life and death emergency. Which is more often than I step aboard a plane myself. No thank you. 

(I can see it now --- I'd come home with 3 airplane pictures and 15 memory cards full of MrsPac bending over to pick up the quarters I keep throwing on the ground)

MrsP only bends over for hundreds and diamonds, darling. It has to be worth the extra damage to my back 

Mrs* *Pacman   

[luvdemwhoppers]

^^I've lost interest of late in NASCAR except for following Danica Patrick. She's at Bristol this weekend, let's see what happens.
As far as the "progressive" goes, I think it may well be a waste of $$$. Seems in NASCAR, when they go to fast, the braintrust attempts
to slow them down, i.e. restrictor plates. IMHO the track will never determine good racing. It's the driver/car ownership $$$.

I stopped watching NHRA top fuel when they shortened the track to 1000 feet. Bad, if not a sacrilege. If they're going too fast
drop the nitro to 70% and or adjust the blowers downward.

Through biz, i became friends with Darrell Russell his brother Chris and Mother and Father., I worked (mostly gopher) pit crrew when he ran Top Alcohol Dragster.
Darrell perished in June 2004  when his dragster broke apart close the the finish line.

For those members who might not know about Nascar or NHRA, Nascar racers routinely run about 200 mph round and round, NHRA
Top fuel dragsters 1000 feet in under 4 seconds well over 300 mph.

[PregNut]

My brother was friends with Scott Kalitta, whose fatal crash in 2008 was what convinced the NHRA to shorten its Top Fuel and Funny Car races to 1000 feet, as well as several other driver safety measures.

NACSAR's use of restrictor plates came about after Bobby Allison's car nearly went into the Talladega grandstands after a cut tire at over 200 mph.

[luvdemwhoppers]

^ Hi there, racing friend. Yes very sad about Russell, Blaine Johnson &
Scott. daily I pass Mia  Int'l  airport and see the Kalitta Air 747's,
A daily reminder. Brother Doug carries the  torch.
Back in the day most of the short blocks/heads were
built and sold by BAE, BradAnderson Ent.  Shelly Anderson his issue, Greg Payne( now her husband) and I shared hot dogs when
Gerg was running TAD.

1560 LBS, 430cu, injected/blown and 2700/3000HP

[espy]

(I can see it now --- I'd come home with 3 airplane pictures and 15 memory cards full of MrsPac bending over to pick up the quarters I keep throwing on the ground)

MrsP only bends over for hundreds and diamonds, darling. It has to be worth the extra damage to my back  

Fifty cent pieces, and I'll place them on picnic table benches instead of on the ground.

es*everything's negotiable*py


Seriously, this has me googling (and at MY age). I really would love to take photos at an air show.  Aircraft, old and new, really are marvels...

[luvdemwhoppers]

Have ray guns arrived? flyswatters?
more to follow. brb

[pedonbio]

How about this? It's recent, but retired from service. There was a moment when nobody was certain whether satellite surveillance would work or not, so somebody --either Ike or JFK-- approved buliding something that would fly so fast, so high, nothing could touch it:

[rtpoe]

BAGGER 288!!!!!

This is the Bagger 288! A monstrous, titanic killing machine the likes of which the world has never seen! A horrific leviathan of unimaginable power designed with merciless destruction as its sole purpose! But it is here for the defence of mankind! It was created as our only hope of survival! We have written this lovely song to honour it in its terrible beauty.

[DruulEmpire]

Love the fox and the gorilla.

"De-meated"?

I still like Airwolf.

[prinz]

How about this? It's recent, but retired from service. There was a moment when nobody was certain whether satellite surveillance would work or not, so somebody --either Ike or JFK-- approved buliding something that would fly so fast, so high, nothing could touch it:

Well I was gonna wait till I had some art work done for my 3000 post...but ya got me guys! Ships ,aircraft, and boobs have always interested me! Pedonbio I believe there were only 3 or 4 of the SR-71 Bs built with the raised rear cockpit. I know one crashed . We are lucky to have the one that NASA used into the 1990s at the Kalamazoo air zoo in Michigan...Incredible aircraft.. She is on a raised display with lights shining up at her belly in a hanger. She is the centerpiece of there modern aircraft display. cheers!