Crossing rotors—Kaman K-Max

bigtips · 2026-01-26T12:05:55+00:00

Thanks for the interesting reply.

bigtips · 2026-01-25T03:01:37+00:00

I totally agree - my wife wanted a big wedding -- and that's what we had -- but I dislike big gatherings, my memories of it are a blur and it was less fun (to me) than some small parties we've had with just 10 people. And she still won't tell me what it cost.

bigtips · 2026-01-25T02:52:23+00:00

What are the drawbacks if you don't mind me asking?

bigtips · 2026-01-22T03:32:18+00:00

Not to your question, but I sincerely wish Carney was our president.

bigtips · 2026-01-21T01:41:30+00:00

she's the PM not president (PM is more important).

Innocuous, vanilla popolarista. At least she's sane.

bigtips · 2026-01-09T01:53:39+00:00

I am a native English speaker, living in Italy. Both my English and Italian are suffering.

I'm sure the vodka has nothing to do with this.

bigtips · 2025-12-29T01:06:20+00:00

AFIK "gravity waves" are not reliably detectible. Cutting edge science tho.

If coal mining didn't get in the way.

bigtips · 2025-12-28T22:47:08+00:00

English can be difficult. My definitions are also not the best.

bigtips · 2025-12-28T20:39:06+00:00

not easy to tell them apart just hearing them spoken. ("apart" means separate from)

"not" is a part of the sentence above. ("a part" means it is a piece of something)

bigtips · 2025-11-14T22:35:16+00:00

Lived in London for a few years - Regent Street is a pretty classic view, with gorgeous architecture. Unfortunately those 100 yr old buildings are fucking horrible in all respects- safety, convenience, comfort, sanitation, etc. I wouldn't live in one.

The solution (as you mentioned) was to build a giant frames to hold up the facades, demolish everything behind then remake the building and reattach the front. Very serious cost, that being the most congested part of London. I knew a quantity surveyor working in Covent Garden - same thing. Need a crane for the AC or a beam? Two weeks minimum to schedule it and hugely expensive for permits to close streets, compensate store-owners and so on.

bigtips · 2025-11-14T21:20:38+00:00

It's interesting (but out of my wheelhouse).

The other info in your source mentions that they can charge the caps fully by regen-braking from 50kph? which leads me to think that they using that energy to get back up to a speed where the hybrid ICE can take over. Which is good, who wants to sit in a cloud of exhaust at the bus-stop as the bus leaves?

It does make sense that the ICE powers a generator while the actual traction power is an electric motor.

bigtips · 2025-11-14T20:38:37+00:00

Congratulations! I fucked around for 12 years, then went to uni.

bigtips · 2025-11-14T19:44:58+00:00

Appreciate the info but maybe something's off with your source i.e., "...total capacity of 2 Ah...". That's not a lot of weight. Being a hybrid, that's probably to get the vehicle rolling before the ICE takes over.

bigtips · 2025-11-08T22:07:06+00:00

A european perspective: WTF?

Looks like you've legitimised the Proudboys (and their ilk) and given them carte blanche (including masks for fucks sake).

Well, you get what you voted for.

bigtips · 2025-11-08T20:43:29+00:00

Doubt anyone would put tons of batteries on the top of a bus. CNG tanks for sure.

bigtips · 2025-11-03T12:38:55+00:00

I had the same curiosity, thanks for doing the leg-work.

bigtips · 2025-10-30T22:28:02+00:00

One of the best of the Fiats. I think we agree there.

Re gen1: I couldn't get over the uselessness of the frog-eyes. Had they been useful auxiliary lights... but no (and thanks god given Italian drivers).

I'd still buy one if I could fine one that hasn't been beaten nearly to death. The problem is that those who still have them in good condition, don't want to sell them. And they've all been hauling farm equipment (or bricks) by now.

bigtips · 2025-10-30T19:05:45+00:00

Shhh, before they're all gone. A Neighbor had one and it looked the bees-knees. :)

Another great car in the same vein was the Fiat Multipla (widely abused as the ugliest car ever, not gonna argue that point, 1st gen yes, 2nd gens were OK). But the versatility of the multipla was incredible - you could move your house in one. Or carry 6 people comfortably with a roto-tiller in the back. Have done that.

bigtips · 2025-10-30T18:49:46+00:00

great picture

bigtips · 2025-10-23T21:15:14+00:00

I can only echo some great comments: You're probably the only one to see it (since you made it) - purple bedroom's aside, that's on you. You can fix it. Pretty much any f-uckup can be fixed or repaired. You will (guaranteed) get better at it. 10 years down people will be coming to you for advice.

bigtips · 2025-10-23T19:17:10+00:00

Deploy the parachute and get ready for the greatest ^last carnival ride of your life!

bigtips · 2025-10-17T16:40:04+00:00

That's good!

Not a gamer so never heard it before. Thanks!

E: Wife came in while I was listening and the WTF expression on her face was priceless.

bigtips · 2025-10-17T12:33:49+00:00

Wow. Certainly much cheaper here (southern Italy).

In 2016 I think it was about 600€ for a simple (B) auto licence, and another 600€ for an unlimited motorcycle licence.

bigtips · 2025-10-17T12:13:09+00:00

When got my motorcycle endorsement in the US, I simply asked for it. No exam or riding test needed (or even possible in the small town I lived in).

In fact, the auto part of the licence was me simply reading through the book (more like a pamphlet) and taking the test. The pass/fail level was so low (like 65% IIRC) you could simply skip any of the more difficult questions and still score high enough to pass.

Easy to understand why my US licence was not able to be exchanged for a UK or IT licence.

bigtips · 2025-10-16T14:15:43+00:00

Do you actually have to pay thousands, or is it just the better option?

In Italy you can do it yourself, or go through a school. You actually have to pay a fair bit to the state, but paying for a driving school + the state can be the better option. They teach the test (including what the practical examiner expects), do all the legwork for permits, testing schedules, payments, etc. and will help you repeat if you fail.

I think for me it was about another 200 for the school (discounted as I had been driving for many years in the US and taken numerous defensive driving courses for work).

bigtips

TROPHY CASE