The future is coming

and fast.  I expect within 5 years the USAF will have these systems entering service.

I still find it very interesting

that the USN’s first autonomous aircraft are going to be refueling aircraft.  There is more here than meets the eye.

Boeing learns

something from its recent partial Starliner failure.  It really does seem that we’ve lost some expertise that we had in the 1960s.  Possibly that is due to the fact we are dealing with private companies.  Who knows.  I just hope they get things moving forward quickly. (post in memory of Mike Nofsinger)

This is a good idea

I know it is somewhat controversial, but allowing tourists onto the ISS will stimulate the entire private space travel industry.   Yes, at first only the super-rich will be able to afford space travel, as it grows and normalizes, it will become cheaper and more open to everyone. It will lead to more people in space, more space stations and then development to the moon and beyond.  Faster, please. (post in memory of Mike Nofsinger)

Boeing Starliner

NASA has put out a statement on the recent Boeing Starliner uncrewed mission test.  The mission failed to dock with the ISS because it failed to achieve the required orbit.  This statement makes clear that another uncrewed mission might be required by NASA, but it has not been decided yet. (post in memory of Mike Nofsinger)

F*ck

Damn.  We need to get this done and get it right now. ( Post in memory of Mike Nofsinger who would be really pissed off right now.)

It is not a new idea

Stories like this get under my skin.  The writer hasn’t got a basic historical knowledge.  If he or she did, they wouldn’t write this as if this is the first time the idea has ever occurred to anyone.  I think there is a real opportunity for a major manufacturer to do something bold like this, but it isn’t a new idea.

More on the 737-800

I’ve previously mentioned that I want to get the BPK 737 kits.  They’ve now shown the box art for the 737-800 kit.  I was hoping for SWA, but it looks like I’ll have to look to aftermarket.

B-52

Another B-52 is being resurrected from the boneyard.  Not many left at AMARC.  Boeing may end up having to put them back in production. 🙂

The plane that accidentally flew around the world

A great story from WWII.  I had never heard it before.  It makes me want to build a Boeing 314.