AggieBand2004 said:

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Surfaces fixes can be done in just a few hours, rather than in a couple of days.
Closing down an active runway can get expensive.

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Yep. As a mechanic's helper for a highway company one summer, I was doing fueling and greasing at different sites on Fridays and Saturdays (I fueled and greased while the fuel truck driver drove and did the paperwork). One of the company's sites was at Love field for some concrete patching, and I was out there several times to fuel their batch plant generator and other equipment. To get to some of the equipment, we had to actually go to it wherever they were patching. With how they had to cut out, tie in rebar, and pour new concrete, it really wasn't something you couldn't just, "do." All of their asphalt jobs seemed a lot easier and faster.

ThunderCougarFalconBird said:

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Makes sense. Is the timing for the change to asphalt roughly around when the useful life of the previous surface ends?

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If it's anything like highways you'll replace the blacktop about 3x for every 1 of concrete.

Since you guys dig airplanes - we were doing something last week that looked cool. The test for y'all...



1. What the heck is that thing?
2. Wat the heck is happening?
3. Extra Credit - where is it being done?

1) F-35 mock up
2) Some sort of engine testing
3) Uhh... Edwards AFB?

My guesses:

1. Ejection seat tester
2. Testing a new seat or maybe 2 piece flight suits
3. Holloman High Speed Test Track

falcon09 said:

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My guesses:

1. Ejection seat tester
2. Testing a new seat or maybe 2 piece flight suits
3. Holloman High Speed Test Track

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1. Close - just transparency separation testing - that's the shape charge blowing through the acrylic - and we did this because...

2. We are qualifying another transparency supplier who is having to go through sled testing

3. Dead on - a real garden spot Holloman is.

Cloud Croft is a short drive away from Holloman

CanyonAg77 said:

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Cloud Croft is a short drive away from Holloman

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And we drove up for dinner. But otherwise Alamogordo is it.

wbt5845 said:

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falcon09 said:

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My guesses:

1. Ejection seat tester
2. Testing a new seat or maybe 2 piece flight suits
3. Holloman High Speed Test Track

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1. Close - just transparency separation testing - that's the shape charge blowing through the acrylic - and we did this because...

2. We are qualifying another transparency supplier who is having to go through sled testing

3. Dead on - a real garden spot Holloman is.

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I thought that looked like the Tularosa Basin.

Spent some time back in the 90s blowing up tanks at WSMR. Yeah - Holloman/Alamogorda sucks.

Unfortunately, no photos, but the B-29 'Doc' just flew over my house near EFD. I will post photos if I get any.

https://www.lonestarflight.org/events/incredible-b-29-superfortress-visits-lsfm/

May the force be with you!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/747_Supertanker

Parked in San Antonio right now. Looks like it's retired and looking for a new owner.

Airshow today

https://air.show/livestream-dashboard-oc/?utm_source=AirDotShow&utm_campaign=a21265d7a7-MAIL-OC-Livestream-Jun19%2721&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_01e413e615-a21265d7a7-158786593

Somewhere in the Atlantic....

At 1:37, is that an MQ-25 at the bottom left?

Freight dog at the old Kai Tak checkerboard approach in Hong Kong.

ABATTBQ11 said:

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At 1:37, is that an MQ-25 at the bottom left?

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I don't know what that is but I don't think it's an MQ-25. There's no arresting gear on the Brit carriers so it shouldn't be able to operate there. Plus it looks a little more rounded.

ABATTBQ11 said:

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At 1:37, is that an MQ-25 at the bottom left?

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I don't know what that is.

ABATTBQ11 said:

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At 1:37, is that an MQ-25 at the bottom left?

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It's another F-35. The light is hitting the tail fins just right so that they appear to be missing.

Makes sense. Still think the fuselage is weird. Looks like there's no cockpit.