Santa Barbarans drive *past* the In-n-Out off Turnpike to get to the original Habit in Goleta. That says something.

Look up "boundary layer". Hence, that thing you refer to as a "gap".

Actually, eye, 2 hands, and *feet* coordination. First-time fixed-wing passengers are amazed at how much pedal you're pushing while maneuvering a helicopter. Also managing the collective (power) without overtemping the engine or overtorquing the transmission is another talent.

While the pilot is good, that ship is even better.

Still wishing 'n hoping PL/I makes a comeback. PROC OPTIONS(MAIN); just rolls off the tongue.

Nothing MB may build today will ever top the original W-100, short or long wheelbase. Paul Bracq's and Bruno Sacco's design is timeless in its brutal elegance. And don't forget the locomotive horn buried in the front right wheelwell.

Well, it use to have Toyota and Northrup Grumman, but they left. Just waiting for Chevron to pick up and leave. But hey, we have that capitalist petting zoo they call "Silicon Valley." That'll save us!

You're saying it's business friendly?

I lived in West L.A. for a while and we lived on a street Reagan transited to his home in BelAir. I figure at most 10 cars/war wagons, plus LAPD motorcycles doing the "intersection leapfrog". Fairly low key. And this was after he was shot.

Here's the old girl up at Boeing's Paine field:

Ah, the Aeroproducts propeller. Actually quite common in the 50s and 60s on T56-equipped P3s, Hercs, E2s and 580s. Propeller, hub, and governor were all self contained. Prop itself was hollow and constructed to two parts that were brazed together.

Uh, several years ago, in the same place, David Attias killed 4 with his *car*. Very similar circumstances, so no, guns aren't really part of the problem.

I wrench a V-12 E31 and it's a piece of cake. Late 80s technology, so it's mostly mechanical. Just follow the repair manual and most things pop in and out in logical order. Rollers are essentially straightforward save the bi-level analog climate control system. And in both cases you still get factory parts support…

Hell, the fan is driven off the water pump via what is essentially a tiny torque converter. See, the engineers wanted a variable speed drive so they fill and drain this hydraulic coupling based on water temperature. Rebuilds are around $5K from the factory. Now mind you, that's for a fan coupling. The rear…

Helicopters don't have "negative pitch". What you're seeing is "coning angle" while the blades carry a load (the tips generate the most lift). When the rotor disc unloads, the cone disappears. Most the blade rigging I've seen has a small (1 - 2 degrees positive pitch) when the collective is full down.

Nothing too cutting edge about the Avanti. All aluminum verses all-composite. Starship came with a variable sweep canard versus the Avanti's fixed, non-trimmable foreplane (the rear horizontal surface still trims and holds the elevator). Starship was also the first all-glass cockpit with an integrated Collins…

Actually, the Avanti is pretty blasé. Still has the rear horizontal stabilizer. Aluminum construction and a fixed foreplane whereas the single largest piece of metal in the Starship was the landing gear. The forward wing had variable sweep coordinated with the flap deployment to maintain stall characteristics. …

It's probably just the new controller software not programmed to accommodate a 60K+ enroute. Betcha this particular U2 was either under positive control, or NOT under it since class E airspace ends at FL 600. I doubt lots of aircraft transit ARTCC ZLA at 60K+ and ERAM is fairly new to this center.

The SPS-48 radar is specifically designed to detect sea-skimmers coming over the horizon. My now-departed dad helped develop it and he described it's ability to discriminate missiles from sea clutter as they hugged the water as ridiculously good. Came online in the early 70s and it'll be in use until 2040. Must…