Shortly after leaving the air force, I was a first officer on a 767 from the UK to Sanford, Orlando. Back in those days we’d spend a week there, then fly back. Free holiday - bring the wife and children - superb.

If you ever visit the Republic of Ireland do not turn your local radio station off. Ever. It’s like being in your own episode of Father Ted.

The production decision to host an episode in one country and then throw segments from randomly picked different countries into the show seems odd to me too.

Your Tornado beats my average delivery of rations, ammunition, spare parts and people. We didn’t have that weapons delivery platform. We tended to use the return trip to label all your equipment as ‘socks’ and redistribute as necessary further up the UK chain. Sorry. Common goals and all....

I don’t build aircraft - I fly them. Two very, very different professions. One requires intelligence, to be at the very top of your game and minimise risk whilst maximising the decision process. The other is a pilot.

I think we’ll have to delve into the 1960s Connery Bond for the gentleman’s response to that and it’s probably not politically correct...

And you, sir, will be supping Coors Light in a roadhouse, next to a girl who is mentally trying to shrug off ‘a little bit, yeah,’ and welling up inside.

I’m stunned at what the cars can do in terms of visual recognition, radar sensing, infra red and GPS, for example. The footage of cars running tracks at full tilt on their own, the software knowing exactly how much lateral g the tyres will take, the distance required for a slow down from speed X to speed Y... awesome.

This is an exceptionally well thought out reply to my pessimism and it’s hard to argue with the points you bring up.

I think it’s simpler than that - just registering the title of your aircraft in a tax friendly state but basing it in another and hoping you don’t get caught...

The RRs have a much better reliability record than the PWs, but they are quite fuel hungry compared to modern jets. I seem to remember around 60kg/min was used for planning, but it’s been a long time since I’ve flown a 757. I certainly don’t remember them being underpowered - quite the reverse!

A gentleman always says ‘no’. When cornered, a gentleman will reply that the dressmaker was known for using cheaper fabrics that shrink in the humid Caribbean air, and the gentleman will offer to direct the lady to a house who know what they’re doing.

This is something airlines do to keep purchase costs down and airfares low. As soon as you allow an individual to register a company, they become entitled to the same benefits. If you take that ability away from Trump you’re going to push the cost of aircraft up, lower orders in the States and possibly reduce the…

I think it started because a talented young accountant figured out a way to use shell companies and offshore corporations to purchase aircraft!

Sure. But if I, as a British citizen, buy that car for immediate export to the Cayman Islands, I pay no US tax. I pay no UK tax.

“Redundancy”, “fail safe”, “fail operational.” When I hear those terms, I’ll know the right people are on the job.

I do understand this position but it’s one thing for a holiday charter company to route its aircraft finances through shell companies, tax havens and Serbian weapons dealers, but another for the president of the United States to do the same.

It’s a can of worms. Automation has greatly increased flight safety but it’s come at the cost of basic stick and rudder skills that are needed when something (rarely but inevitably) goes wrong. How poor are drivers going to end up when their self-driving cars work most of the time?

My concern is that this tech. is going to be rushed out to a misinformed and poorly trained public. I understand that clearing the legislative roadblock beforehand is not a bad idea but there are some snags:

Outside of the Middle East where the likes of Emirates and Etihad pay cash, you’re probably right.