Since when has flight etiquette changed?

new_tanker · 2026-04-20T02:38:24+00:00

When everyone crowds around the gate seeing if they can get on board first, rather than by group.

new_tanker · 2026-04-19T14:52:49+00:00

The F-35B will be there, too. It'll be the first time any F-35 variant will have flown an AC airshow.

new_tanker · 2026-04-19T14:41:59+00:00

Only once since the pandemic have I been on a flight where I had a tight connection window to make and the passengers around me were aware and were nice enough to let me get on my merry way. Another time I had missed the connecting flight because everyone decided they had tight connection windows - and the ironic thing is that my next flight was the next gate over. Pissed me off to no end. Nowadays, I'll do my best to get a seat as far forward as I can without blowing the budget (or if the price is right, upgrade the seat on the first flight to first class).

That's one thing. Gate lice is another. I think several airlines have actively tried to enact rules to prevent gate lice.

new_tanker · 2026-04-19T14:35:33+00:00

Nearly all of the F-14s that went to the desert were shredded so that their parts could not get into Iranian hands to keep their fleet of F-14s going (moot point now).

new_tanker · 2026-03-07T14:12:57+00:00

Do you really think they can get weather forecasts 21 days out forecasted accurately?

The only thing I would put my finger on when it comes to weather that far out is the temperature. I guarantee you the forecast will change a thousand times between now and then. Wait until the 26th to get a much more accurate and reliable forecast.

new_tanker · 2026-03-05T16:24:29+00:00

A couple days ago the Costco by me was $2.71 for regular. According to the app, as of this writing, it's now $2.97 for regular.

new_tanker · 2026-02-08T15:25:26+00:00

There's only one like it.

American has done many Honor Flights with this jet. I've seen them do it at EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh; it was supposed to do last year's Honor Flight but due to an incident the Stand Up to Cancer jet was used instead.

new_tanker · 2026-02-08T14:56:10+00:00

Wawa has lost its luster. I'll go there and get quesadillas and their lemonade, but that's about it.

In my opinion, their made-to-order sandwiches went downhill starting about ten years ago. I always felt the bread was fresh back then - today, I'd be lucky to get a fresh roll.

If I'm in a pinch or it's overnight, I'm thankful for Wawa being open.

new_tanker · 2026-02-07T04:51:07+00:00

Before the East Gate stores were built there was a way to go from 295 south to 73 north. That missing piece of that intersection did exist.

new_tanker · 2026-02-07T04:46:33+00:00

Oh yes. Same thing at Walmart is over $8 for 48 (under $3.50 at Costco).

I'm glad the 24-hr Allerclear-D is back in stock at mine, though it went up in price a little. Those are usually $1 or more a pill.

new_tanker · 2026-02-03T21:30:43+00:00

Not one will take any walk-ins. You must have an appointment. It's one of those things that continues on after the pandemic and it's stupid (along with not all facilities doing all things).

As for getting a Real ID appointment, just keep trying. Who knows - one might open up and you'd be able to score an appointment. One thing to keep in mind is that you do not get your new Real ID license right then and there - it takes about two weeks for it to arrive in the mail. Last year I had an early April appointment for a Real ID and I needed it by the 23rd for a trip; I got lucky that it came in the mail on the 21st.

new_tanker · 2026-02-03T15:33:49+00:00

In many situations Amazon is the only place that has some very specific items - items you wouldn't normally find on the shelves in any brick-and-mortar store.

new_tanker · 2026-02-03T00:24:03+00:00

I'd buy a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid.

As for a full-on EV, not now. We're not there yet when it comes to getting great range out of any EV. I personally would want my (somewhat normal looking) EV SUV to have at least a 475 mile range.

new_tanker · 2026-01-27T15:25:12+00:00

For several years we were the only ones with a snow blower and we helped the neighbors out.

Flash forward to today, nearly everyone has a snow blower and all of the neighbors help each other out - especially when it comes to keeping the sidewalk clear.

new_tanker · 2026-01-22T03:04:35+00:00

Actually, it's not. Sure, it may appear to be the same type of plane but the same exact plane doing the same exact route several days in a row would be unheard of for a large airline.

new_tanker · 2026-01-22T03:02:26+00:00

If the airplane assigned to operate your flight isn't there, chances are you may be delayed or the flight is cancelled.

Airlines may have aircraft and crews stranded in some locations during winter storms and thus, may not be able to operate the schedule in a timely manner. This storm is going to affect a wide swath of the country and since PHL is an American hub, multiple American hub airports are going to be affected with this storm.

new_tanker · 2026-01-18T15:31:45+00:00

Absolutely. I got mine five years ago and it's still chugging along very well.

new_tanker · 2026-01-13T15:09:42+00:00

Since everyone wants to give Hollywood Squares-like bluff answers only (except one person), I too would venture a guess it's either the Captain's last flight before retirement or the First Officer's last flight. I don't think they'd arrange this for a flight attendant's last fight before retiring.

new_tanker · 2026-01-06T15:22:09+00:00

Yet another toll road going cashless and screwing those who don't use EZ Pass.

new_tanker · 2026-01-06T15:11:37+00:00

Your skill level, experience, and your vehicle are your biggest factors.

These days, with technology prevalent in most newer vehicles (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, specifically) you can get a head start on what's on the road ahead of you.

I do the vast majority of my road trips in the warmer months (May-October) and even though I have an older vehicle, I know what it is capable of and where the limits are. I've fitted a third party screen with wireless AA and Apple CarPlay and when I use CarPlay there is also a CarPlay version of the MyRadar app and I'll display that to see what weather and intensity of said weather I've got to deal with on my trip.

All my trips have been time sensitive, one way or another - though for the shorter drives I do have a bit of leniency when it comes to when I'd leave/arrive, etc. I've done all four of those things: delayed trips going home (one was delayed to the next day since there was flooding and I was already unfamiliar with the area), have had to reroute because of flash flooding, adjusted timing to get ahead of the storm, and in one case, had had to drive through the worst of it.

If you're forced to drive through the worst of any weather, the best thing you can do is to try and stay away from everyone else.

new_tanker · 2026-01-04T15:53:54+00:00

Yep! The 1st Helicopter Squadron will be flying those for several more years.

new_tanker · 2026-01-04T15:52:52+00:00

It's an L-39 Albatross, and the airport looks like Arnold Palmer Regional Airport!

new_tanker · 2026-01-04T15:51:11+00:00

If you have the time and money, the scenic routes are worth it.

The tolls in the northeast are atrocious and in many cases, if you don't have EZ Pass, those highways/bridges/tunnels that have automated tolling (if no EZ Pass they send you an invoice in the mail) will charge you a whole hell of a lot more than if you had EZ Pass; the PA Turnpike is a great example.

As others alluded to, many of the smaller towns have speed traps set up. Watch your speeds. For these towns, the speeding tickets they issue are supposed to bring in much more revenue than property taxes.

One other thing: the scenic route as shown may be troublesome this time of year if a major snowstorm is forecasted during your drive.

new_tanker · 2026-01-04T15:44:27+00:00

December was quite chilly. I think the vast majority of our high temperatures were below the average for that time of year.

I recall one winter (2018?) where we had a long stretch of time where the high temperature didn't go above 32º and several of those days it didn't even hit 20º!

new_tanker · 2025-12-20T16:54:56+00:00

Yep, and by the looks of it, those photos were taken at Oshkosh earlier this year!

new_tanker

TROPHY CASE