Maybe they are trying to avoid the blame been blamed on the captain and have to face the angry Chinese passenger relatives seeking compensations... just like certain 767 from EgyptAir and soured US- Egypt relations.

(Written on 2018年05月24日)(Permalink)

I haven't heard any airplane was lost due to broken windows... Heck, because of people are so paranoid about the windows they were extra reinforced. That is one reason why purpose built freighter can carry more than converted freighter

(Written on 2018年05月22日)(Permalink)

RIP Boeing

(Written on 2018年05月10日)(Permalink)

But aluminum alloy price will go up so Boeing will need to pay more for things they make themselves and US made parts.

(Written on 2018年04月11日)(Permalink)

If all world leaders can do this, man kind would reach a new level of mutual understanding... Of course, it is just a utopian thought. The only other president I think ever done that was the president of Switzerland

(Written on 2018年04月02日)(Permalink)

Not a new idea, years ago (in the dawn of jet age) there were ideas of "air bus". Where a Simi truck like bus come to pick you up in cities, then drive to the airport, then the passenger compartment detaches like a cargo container, and straight attached to the air frame. This idea had been revived after 2000s where people suggestion that way there will be no chance of hijacking and in case of emergency, parachutes can bring the passenger comparment down safely. Ultimatly, because the extra mechnisum will cause the overall weight become very uneconimal and complicated, these idea never left the paper...

(Written on 2018年04月02日)(Permalink)

787 have 330 min ETOPS which is 5 and half hours. Since I thought which airport to divert is always pilot's discretion, so if the pilots are comfortable flying on one engine for that long, they might even fly all the way to destination airport. (Of course if I know an airline might do that, I may go with others instead...)

(Written on 2018年03月30日)(Permalink)

It will be heavy, can't turn, can't run, more than 17 years in development with a lot of cost overrun, and claimed as "combat ready" with more than 200 critical issues. Jokes aside, it will be super heavy. In fusion reactors yes you nolonger need a cumbustion chamber, but you still need a fuel tank and magnets for controling that ball of plasma in a reactor. The greatest obstetrical in jet engines is how to prevent combustion chamber and down steam components from melting.

(Written on 2018年03月30日)(Permalink)

Yes, but F-35 program really yields zero commercially viable technology. Airlines don't need stealth or VTOL or single engine reliability. The only thing that might have use for us is that fancy VR helmet

(Written on 2018年03月29日)(Permalink)

What I am saying is they might cancel the orders in retaliation. I heard China put a tariff on transport equipments (including cars and jets) on the second day US set one on their steel and aluminum.

(Written on 2018年03月29日)(Permalink)