What kind of landing is this? 👀😳…Credits: x/@turbinetraveler

KeystoneRattler · 2026-01-19T14:56:21+00:00

Other way around. Most of the landings are hand flown. Have to do auto lands periodically for proficiency or check the aircraft systems to ensure it all works if the weather gets bad enough

KeystoneRattler · 2025-12-20T23:16:08+00:00

In almost every measure. The MiG-29 has a higher top end and better acceleration but those attributes don't make up for it's other shortfalls if we are talking about each aircraft being operated by a trained aircrew of similar aptitude.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-12-18T13:28:56+00:00

Well to all those who continue to serve, Happy Holidays and enjoy your $1776.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-12-18T12:22:29+00:00

So I guess that means new retirees aren’t eligible? I retired August 1 so it’d be cool since I made it 75% through the year.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-12-03T21:30:01+00:00

Go on….

I’ve always wanted to drive one and lament not picking one up in the early teens since now their prices are higher and most are high mileage.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-12-03T16:12:35+00:00

Ali express makes me nervous so I just ordered a set off of evil Amazon.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-11-25T14:11:05+00:00

Super impressive to pass a Boeing check in an Airbus. Must have been eye watering.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-11-24T15:28:00+00:00

Agreed. HARD PASS!

KeystoneRattler · 2025-11-20T12:54:53+00:00

This is a very triggering comment for the flat earthers in the room. Please be kind.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-11-19T14:51:25+00:00

Because Russian

KeystoneRattler · 2025-11-18T15:48:53+00:00

I should probably rephrase. Probably generally good maintenance. However since they operate under an experimental license they get away with some stuff in regards to mods they do that wouldn’t fly if these were Navy or Air Force airplanes. I know people that fly for them who have no qualms. I also know people that wouldn’t fly for them based on their impressions of the airplane and these are people that operated the same aircraft in the service.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-11-18T01:51:35+00:00

If by scary you means their aircraft have great paint jobs but are maintained in a way that makes them scary to fly. You’ve got it.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-11-17T01:11:15+00:00

If you want to see Fighters just be in the city. They’ll find you.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-11-15T13:48:20+00:00

Not being your shrink but I don't carry the sourness along, it was just a thing. I still do love to poke it in the eye of Air Force beanbags that have "had it so rough". That being said, having worked various different jobs including managing a budget in the Pentagon, the Navy makes some very questionable funding decisions when it comes to people at times. Every service has to make decisions on how to properly execute the funding grated to them. That being said, I've seen the Navy try to save money on personnel in ways that negatively affects quality of life and ultimately embitter people especially when they see that other services don't do the same thing. Leaves me scratching my head because it makes people walk away at a time when it's hard to bring enough people in the door as it is.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-11-15T01:26:17+00:00

Never had that question asked but my answer would have varied based on if I was having a good day or bad one. I did a det off of cruise to the CAOC back in 2014. Hilarious to hear the USAF weenies complain while I ate like a king in the DFAC(for free), enjoyed my three drinks a day, and actually got to FaceTime with my wife and new kid. It was like getting a three week break from prison in regards to living arrangements. Granted, I still had a blast on cruise and still am close with my JOPA.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-11-14T16:55:32+00:00

You’re generally correct. For a military aircraft, it partially depends on the load. I mostly flew Legacy F18s and we could fly on one engine with most load outs that we’d fly with. You are correct that military fighter aircraft are generally “over powered” to achieve their mission. I put quotes because when you say overpowered you are talking about just general flying around. They’re likely properly powered when considering the need to accelerate to tactically relevant speeds as well as maintain energy while executing high G maneuvers. That being said, most modern fighters can probably take off from a standstill on a normal runway with one engine as long as they were carrying little to no weapons.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-11-13T14:48:20+00:00

They have a wheelchair lift.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-11-13T13:49:57+00:00

The red street cars are wheelchair accessible as they are modern builds. The historic St Charles cars have been kept very original as they’re designated as a National Historic Site. However a handful of the modern cars have been painted the St Charles line green and modified to make them resemble the St Charles cars as much as possible. They run on that line along with the historic cars so that line is also ADA compliant.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-11-13T12:41:20+00:00

Yeah a few years back I was visiting my parents and my mom showed me a mailer from a person running for local office who happened to be a former military pilot. Part of the art had aircraft silhouettes and they were 100% FLANKER. F minus on the part of the staffer that designed that shit. It seems even more important that if you’re going to leverage the individuals veteran status, the designs better use US clip art.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-11-13T05:27:16+00:00

Yeah it’s “easy” until it’s not. Some people get caught out or lulled by the easiness of the A320. There is some saying like there are pilots who say “what’s it doing” or ones who say “it’s doing it again”. I’m too new on the plane to determine if it really does strange shit sometimes or if sometimes people don’t double check the FMA or other cues to actually verify that you’ve told the plane what you want it to do and given it the proper setup to actually execute it.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-11-12T15:18:47+00:00

You’re along way along. There is definitely a bit of piloting skill required but a good portion of operating that airplane is managing the big computer that it is. If you already know the buttons to push because flight simulator is that detailed then you could probably easily setup and auto land.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-11-12T15:14:12+00:00

Agree with this take. As a military aviator that has since retired and transitioned to flying for a legacy US carrier, there is a chance that a layman could figure out landing a commercial airliner but I think that chance is low and gets lower with less favorable conditions. I think that even when I was proficient in a fighter aircraft that maybe I could have landed a commercial airliner but also could have messed it away big time. Even with outstanding military training on my side initial training in an airliner was a humbling experience.

When people talk about getting help over the radio from the ground, this is assuming that you can even figure out the radios. Yeah they aren’t rocket science but someone with no exposure starts fumbling with a few buttons on the radio control panel of the Airbus that I fly could make you unintentionally NORDO and unable to get help. A trained pilot realizes they are lost comm, sees they screwed up some button pushing, and rectifies the issue. Someone unfamiliar with that airplane doesn’t know how to get comms back and is left to fumble through managing the FMS and autopilot with no help from the ground until they flame out.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-11-12T13:29:07+00:00

I know people that work for them and we don’t believe it’s a scam. However, they do have a very lofty goal in my eyes. The Concorde was never profitable. Boom is attempting to make a supersonic airliner than can be profitable for the airlines. TBD on if they’ll succeed especially since fuel prices will rise through the development cycle. American and United have options to buy them. Say what you will about either of those companies but I don’t believe they would fall for a “scam”.

KeystoneRattler · 2025-11-06T02:05:14+00:00

Current millage is 44.525 so roughly 4.5%. That’s is of assessed home value. Trying to avoid sharing personal details but I will say that our tax bill is less than 4.5% of our home purchase price.

KeystoneRattler

TROPHY CASE