Its probably the openness of it what with not having all that metalwork around you when you cross it.

The freaking narrow lanes, at just under 9 feet across, were hair raising to use, especially when you had a large truck or Semi trying to pass you in the other. Often times, they'd just drive in the middle of the lanes and just block everything behind them.

There is, however, a rest-stop at about the half way point across it.

Replacement planned, but tied up in red tape and money problems. Take the I-210 bypass around the south side of the city. Better bridge there...

"Good repair" being a relative term. It passes state inspections, but definitely needs refurbishment in several sections. Though, if you're driving the I-10 corridor, I'd be MUCH more worried about the Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles. It has routinely failed state inspections, is rated below obsolete and is…

While they do indeed make a few dogs of engines, both GE and P&W engines are NOT known for uncontained turbine blade failures...

Remember, and I can't make this point enough, the news cycle is way more robust than it used to be many years ago. This is wide-spread in that it can and does happen all over the country. However, abuse of this particular corner of the law is still VERY MUCH the exception and NOT the rule. You hear about all kinds…

I currently work with a law enforcement organization in that area. I am not a LEO. I will leave this here for you.

As I commented above, I would suggest the RR/BMW BR715A1-30, which is the same engine used on the Boeing/MD 717-200. It has a very similar fan diameter (within 2 inches), similar weight (within 200 lbs per unit), and power rating (1500 more lbs, can be derated) to the TF-33. For all of that, it has 3/5 the fuel burn…

For the top end russian cruise missiles, they have a terminal attack speed of around mach 3 (airframe thermal limit). At mach 3, the missile is traveling at 1 KM a second. The Rolling airframe missile has an effective range out to about 9km (depends on block and target). This means that, if the missile can be…

The advantages of DI seem to be diminishing as displacement increases. GM uses DI on their DOHC 3.6L V6 and it doesn't produce appreciably more power than the Pentastar at the same displacement. To make the best use of DI, the combustion chamber in the engine has to have been completely designed around the idea that…

Its roughly a Gen 4.75 aircraft. Its stealthier than all of the Gen 4 planes, its got maneuverability that's top 10% of gen 4, its got gen 5 avionics and sensors, gen 4.5 stelathiness (lots of cross section reduction measures, but not true stealth), and has the ability to maneuver in extreme low speed situations. …

The RNZAF's two 757s are somewhat unusual birds. They purchased them as they were being retired from general passenger work, and then had them sent to a company to have them converted to the combi-flex freighter arrangement. There are modular floor panels that can be installed to add passenger capacity for troop…

The competition from Embraer and Bombardier is somewhat limited to competing in the 100-135 seat segment of the market. Both are pushing airplanes that are 2+2 economy. The 737 and 320 series are both 3+3 economy. The end result is that, though the specific fuel consumption for the 320 and 737 is a bit higher, they…

In fact, Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal purchased an ACJ380 (what Airbus calls the business jet version of the 380). The total cost of purchase and upfitting to his impeccable standards was a staggering one half a billion dollars ($400 mil for the plane, $100 mil for the interior). He just had to one-up the Sultan of…

You've got it essentially right. There's one that regularly travels between KMSY and Hammond, LA Regional airport that I get to see fairly often. It has a VERY distinctive sound and is just cool to see in flight.

As for the starship, aside from missing its weight and performance targets, going way over its initial…

My father worked for Delta Airlines for 33+ years as a mechanic and used to turn a wrench on the L-100s back when Delta had theirs. One of their more famous items to haul with it was the TV start Dolphin named "Flipper".

One of my father's favorite stories to tell me was when he was first going to school to learn…

I was under the impression that the B-36 used the Wright R-4360 WASP Major engine, 4 rows of nine cylinders, all air cooled radial...

Think "Independence Day" and the big helicopters with the flashing lights in front of the alien city destroyer over LA. Now forget that and think of a Cessna with a bum radio and a guy hanging out of the window of a helicopter with a big white board and a dry erase marker. Now, forget that and combine the two...

Looking at the pictures of the P-8 with this fancy radar system shows one of the platform's major handicaps. IT has very short landing gear. This is a result of Boeing's decision not to extend the landing gear of the jet in the transition of the -100/-200 with the the low bypass Jt8 jets (long, narrow cylinders) to…