Clearest Video Yet of Chinese ‘Sixth Generation’ Fighter Gives Credence to Project's Existence

https://defensemirror.com/news/39140/Clearest_Video_Yet_of_Chinese____Sixth_Generation____Fighter_Gives_Credence_to_Project_s_Existence

Somebody's losing their JOB:

Just arrived thru some nasty TS into KEUG from Rapid City, SD (KRAP, no jokes, been there done that) in my #XPlane #flightsim #Cirrus SF50 Vision jet.

Parked in my usual spot in front of the old terminal, called for fuel, and the driver was apparently suffering "first day on the job" woes.

Drove the fuel truck right thru my left wing. Ever heard of a BRAKE PEDAL?

Called his boss and got: "No worries, that'll buff right out."

This hour's random desktop background image on my #MacbookPro is a shot of "Katy" - my former #Cherokee235 - and I on short final to the rarely-used RWY 2 at Hillsboro, OR (KHIO).

If you look carefully at the airspeed indicator, you'll see it pegged at 70 mph. That was the sweet spot for landing this Cherokee, as the big "Hershey Bar" wings provided a good bit of ground effect over the numbers. I barely had to flare it, seemed almost like autoland.

This hour's random desktop background on my #MacbookPro is this yahoo trying to get his soybean field ready for planting with a business jet.

While certainly faster, I'll bet a nice green John Deere 9620RX would do the job for far cheaper. And much less NTSB and FAA paperwork.

Pentagon Denies Existence of ‘Kill Switch’ in F-35 Fighter Jets

https://defensemirror.com/news/39088/Pentagon_Denies_Existence_of____Kill_Switch____in_F_35_Fighter_Jets

Doctor Luis Maria Argaña International Airport - Mariscal Estigarribia, Paraguay

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Luis_Maria_Arga%C3%B1a_International_Airport
https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=13/-22.046499/-60.621700

Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport - Belize City, Belize

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_S._W._Goldson_International_Airport
https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=13/17.539951/-88.303556

Todays flight to #Malta

Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport - Santiago, Chile

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comodoro_Arturo_Merino_Ben%C3%ADtez_International_Airport
https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=13/-33.393002/-70.785797

If you can't name the first woman to fly solo around the world, this post is for you:

Found another old box of archived papers full of my attempt to write the #screenplay "Three-Eight Charlie" between 2002 and about 2009.

Jerrie Mock was the solo pilot, becoming an "Earthrounder" in her 1953 Cessna 180 "Spirit of Columbus".

In this box was a July 1964 copy of Flying Magazine covering her flight.

1,000s of hours (and $$$) later, I never could sell the project to Hollywood.

This hour's random desktop background image on my #MacbookPro is this cool sunset shot of a DC-3 outside someone's farm. I did not shoot this, not sure who did...but...

I have flown north/south in the Willamette Valley of #Oregon many times, and outside Corvallis I always looked for the farm that had a DC-3 parked outside, clearly visible from my cruising altitude. Not sure if this is the same one, but nice eye candy anyway.

Tonight's toy on my #XPlane #flightsim is this L-39 "Cinejet" parked in front of my old hangar at KEUG after a quick flight buzzing downtown and yes, of course...the tower.

This hour's random wallpaper on my #MacbookPro is the panel of a #Tecnam P2006T. And I just read an AOPA article this AM on their new version the NG.

If you do not know about this awesome "light twin" it has a pair of super dependable ROTAX 912is engines, a Garmin G1000 NXi glass panel, has tremendous one-engine performance (as reported, have not tested myself, but would love to), and sips fuel at only 9 GPH.

Deeper dive:

https://tecnam.com/aircraft/p2006t

Ben Gurion International Airport - Tel Aviv, Israel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Gurion_International_Airport
https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=13/32.011398/34.886700

The new METARs after DOGE induced a "self-inflicted wound" at NOAA/NWS, according to the L.A. Times:

METAR KDCA 286415Z WIND-MISSING ???SM FEWHUH 022/-89 A7833 RMK THIS REPORT GENERATED BY DOGE AI - BUY MORE TESLAS SLP WTF???

Deeper dive at LAT:

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-27/mass-firings-noaa-national-weather-service-ignite-fury

If you follow me, you know I've been flying a Dash 8-400 in my #XPlane #flightsim. Well, I have been having major stuttering issues, turns out it was the plane.

Deleted that plane, and went back to Laminar Research's (makers of X-Plane) rock solid #Cirrus SF50 Vision jet. Flies perfectly.

Modded with significantly increased thrust, ferry tank (because big engine sucks fuel) and replaced sucky landing lights with blowtorches.

Parked at KSEA next to a Virgin 747.

Here's a memo I hope FAA gets before doing anything drastic to general aviation.

via AINOnline.com:

"According to a study commissioned by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), general aviation (GA) contributed $339.2 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023 while supporting 1.3 million jobs across the nation."

Sure, load in user fees, let FBOs add increasingly exorbitant use and parking fees, and strangle GA OEMs with tariffs.

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2025-02-20/general-aviation-contributes-339b-us-economy

China's AS700D Electric Airship Completes First Flight

https://defensemirror.com/news/38912/China_s_AS700D_Electric_Airship_Completes_First_Flight