# The Great Ongoing Aviation Thread (general and other) (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 23, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499 "2011-10-23T02:17:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 40
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/781 "2017-03-07T05:19:59Z")
Great stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/782 "2017-03-07T05:53:53Z")
By coincidence, I saw these (apparently gen-yoo-ine) WWII collectibles in the Sportys aviation catalog today: [http://www.sportys.com/wrightbros/u-s-a-a-f-flight-altitude-correction-computer-6470.html](http://www.sportys.com/wrightbros/u-s-a-a-f-flight-altitude-correction-computer-6470.html) ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/783 "2017-03-07T15:26:33Z")
I used the flight alt computer for 25 years doing aerial mapping. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/784 "2017-03-08T19:27:10Z")
A Danish boy recently found a crashed WWII German fighter: [http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/08/europe/denmark-wwii-plane-trnd/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/08/europe/denmark-wwii-plane-trnd/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/785 "2017-03-09T08:48:20Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > A Danish boy recently found a crashed WWII German fighter: [http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/08/europe/denmark-wwii-plane-trnd/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/08/europe/denmark-wwii-plane-trnd/index.html) Including the pilot. Cool/sad. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/786 "2017-03-16T13:48:31Z")
Someone is proposing [circular runways](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39284294). It looks to be an interesting concept. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/787 "2017-03-16T15:50:46Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Someone is proposing [circular runways](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39284294). It looks to be an interesting concept. This sort of concept was tested back in the 60s, I think. There was an article about it in Air & Space a few years ago. They used and A-4, as I recall. Will try to find it later. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/788 "2017-03-17T03:08:48Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Someone is proposing [circular runways](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39284294). It looks to be an interesting concept. there’s all kinds of wrong with that idea. I’m not even sure where to begin. On a clear sunny day it would involve a stabilized straight approach that ends with a banking turn. on a dark and stormy night it’s disorienting clusterfuck that ends with a plane missing the bank angle and sliding off the runway. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/789 "2017-03-17T12:20:48Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Someone is proposing [circular runways](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39284294). It looks to be an interesting concept. MPSIMS thread about that [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=821682). My immediate thought was: Is the plane following a curved path in the moments just before touching down? Flying in a curved path increases the stall speed, which might increase the danger of stalling into a crunchy landing. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/790 "2017-03-23T02:35:50Z")
Sitting here, with the lights on, watching TV when someone, probably in the development across the main street painted the house (& window) with a green laser. It didn’t really “come in” to the house as it was absorbed by the blinds, but it was bright (even with the lights on) & it was no ‘dot’; it was a couple of inches wide. I now have firsthand knowledge on how distracting this could be in a dark cockpit on final. Scary! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/791 "2017-03-26T18:49:17Z")
Harrison Ford ID’d himself to the tower as “the schmuck” after his recent landing mishap: [http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/26/us/harrison-ford-faa-audio-recordings/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/26/us/harrison-ford-faa-audio-recordings/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![bizerta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@bizerta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizerta)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/792 "2017-03-27T10:52:37Z")
I have not piloted for 20+ years, but … I was on a red-eye flight leaving SFO when I noticed flashing yellow lights on the airport. There are about 10-12 yellow lights spaced about 15-20 feet apart. They are flashing with half the lights illuminated at any one time. If we number the lights, they flash odd, even, odd, even, etc. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/793 "2017-03-27T23:00:45Z")
Those have been added at many places where taxiways cross runways. The idea is to make it very obvious that you’re about to enter a runway. The traditional painted pavement markings are plenty wonderful on a bright shiny day, but can be very hard to see in the rain or snow. The term of art is “Runway Guard Lights”. An alternative version is two yellow traffic light-type things mounted side by side a couple feet above ground flanking the taxiway on each side. They continuously flash alternately in the manner of the flashing red lights at railroad crossings. The official FAA info for pilots (AIM) has one paragraph in a massive pdf; not worth linking to. Here’s some pix and a few good diagrams: [https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&q=runway+guard+light&oq=runway+guard](https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&q=runway+guard+light&oq=runway+guard) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/794 "2017-03-28T13:04:21Z")
The Air Force considers retiring its F-15 Eagles: [http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/28/politics/us-air-force-f-15-eagles-retire/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/28/politics/us-air-force-f-15-eagles-retire/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/795 "2017-04-03T23:37:39Z")
I went to the airshow in Melbourne, Florida yesterday. Before the flying exhibits, the Thunderbirds took Buzz Aldrin on a quick tour over Kennedy Space Center. Buzz didn’t make a speech when he came back, but he did open his flight suit to reveal a T-shirt reading “GET YOUR ASSES TO MARS”. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/796 "2017-04-04T02:46:41Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The official FAA info for pilots (AIM) has one paragraph in a massive pdf; not worth linking to. [This page](http://www.pilotfriend.com/training/flight_training/info_frame.htm) has a table of contents to the chapters of the AIM, with links to a separate page with a section-by-section table of contents for that chapter, each one linking to the exact spot in the file for that section. These are all HTML pages. (Not sure who maintains these pages or if there is any assurance that it’s kept current.) From [this section](http://www.pilotfriend.com/aero%20information/LIGHTING.htm#2-1-9): > [@PilotFriend General Aviation Portal](#): > > **d. Runway Guard Lights.** Runway guard lights are installed at taxiway/runway intersections. They are primarily used to enhance the conspicuity of taxiway/runway intersections during low visibility conditions, but may be used in all weather conditions. Runway guard lights consist of either a pair of elevated flashing yellow lights installed on either side of the taxiway, or a row of in-pavement yellow lights installed across the entire taxiway, at the runway holding position marking. > > _ **NOTE-** > Some airports may have a row of three or five in-pavement yellow lights installed at taxiway/runway intersections. They should not be confused with clearance bar lights described in paragraph 2-1-9c, Clearance Bar Lights._ Now, how would you mark a runway with a four-lane highway crossing it? (Including bicycle and pedestrian lanes) :eek: [Gibraltar, World’s Only Airport Runway Intersecting a Road](http://www.amusingplanet.com/2011/11/gibraltar-airport-worlds-only-airport.html) (Lots of pictures!) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/797 "2017-04-04T03:12:11Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/798 "2017-04-04T03:15:03Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > [This page](http://www.pilotfriend.com/training/flight_training/info_frame.htm) has a table of contents to the chapters of the AIM, with links to a separate page with a section-by-section table of contents for that chapter, each one linking to the exact spot in the file for that section. These are all HTML pages. > > (Not sure who maintains these pages or if there is any assurance that it’s kept current.) > > From [this section](http://www.pilotfriend.com/aero%20information/LIGHTING.htm#2-1-9): > … > Now, how would you mark a runway with a four-lane highway crossing it? (Including bicycle and pedestrian lanes) :eek: > > [Gibraltar, World’s Only Airport Runway Intersecting a Road](http://www.amusingplanet.com/2011/11/gibraltar-airport-worlds-only-airport.html) (Lots of pictures!) That’s the same AIM content as in the FAA’s current pdf. Thanks for hunting it up. A few years ago the Feds used to have the AIM available as a collection of cross-linked and indexed pages like that site too. Then they eventually added a consolidated pdf of the whole umpty-hundred page doc. I was surprised to see the \*bunch of separate pages \*version has since been disappeared. Ref Gibralter: They should have built the road as an overpass. Then you wouldn’t need markings. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/799 "2017-04-04T03:41:24Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Ref Gibralter: > > They should have built the road as an overpass. Then you wouldn’t need markings. 😃 Actually, how common are airports with major crossing roads built as underpasses below the runways? Los Angeles alone has two such airports. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/800 "2017-04-04T03:43:30Z")
Never knew that about Gibraltar. Bizarre! The FAA won’t ding Harrison Ford: [Harrison Ford won't face disciplinary action for landing on a taxiway at John Wayne Airport](http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-ford-taxiway-agreement-20170331-story.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499.md?page=39) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499.md?page=41)