# 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:** 452
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9023 "2025-12-15T00:45:44Z")
Wow, thanks. There also seems to be little concern for getting anything sucked into the engines. At least at taxi speeds, I guess they’re pretty tame in this respect. ---
**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:** [December 15, 2025, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9024 "2025-12-15T00:50:26Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > There also seems to be little concern for getting anything sucked into the engines. At least at taxi speeds, About like the big jets. Sweep the asphalt before you fly, keep moving, and it all works out. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9025 "2025-12-15T00:51:38Z")
I guess. 🙂 But won’t someone think of the _cows_? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9026 "2025-12-15T00:51:58Z")
Supposedly, a Russian An-22 crashed on December 9th during a test flight. I searched a little, and it seems to have happened. There is [alleged video](https://www.reddit.com/r/CatastrophicFailure/comments/1pmczm1/surveillance_footage_of_the_russian_an22_military/) of the crash, but it looks fake to me. (Not aerodynamically reasonable, no explosion, very convenient video…) ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9027 "2025-12-15T00:55:34Z")
As mentioned, some models use ducted fans to simulate jet engine(s), but these are the real deal. Someone(s) have put model jet engines on a small person carrying airplane (at least I think that is the case) Brian ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9028 "2025-12-15T01:18:01Z")
Crazy. Here’s a link to a “real deal” gas turbine engine (40 lb of thrust): > **[KingTech K-180G5 | KingTech Turbines](https://www.kingtechturbines.com/product/kingtech-k-180g5/131)** > > The retail price tag of this engine is $3,490.However, you're welcome to take the advantage of our MAP pricing displayed if you check out now.\*\*\*Delivery can be up to 4 - 6 weeks depending on the inventory status\*\*\*K-180G5 SPECIFICATIONSDiameter:... And, one to an electric ducted fan: > **[VasyFan](https://vasyfan.com/vf-250-standard-1)** …just as examples. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9029 "2025-12-15T08:11:35Z")
We use to have an RC event at the Air Force Museum every year but they stopped doing it because of insurance issues. They had some spectacular planes. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9030 "2025-12-15T14:58:23Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Supposedly, a Russian An-22 crashed on December 9th during a test flight. Here you go: > **[There’s Likely No Way Back For Russia’s An-22 Turboprop Heavy Transports...](https://www.twz.com/air/theres-likely-no-way-back-for-russias-an-22-turboprop-heavy-transports-after-fatal-crash)** > > The An-22 that crashed was reportedly the last airworthy example of what was once the world’s heaviest aircraft. The An-22 that crashed was reportedly the last airworthy example of what was once the world’s heaviest aircraft. No fireball, hit into a lake/swamp. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9031 "2025-12-15T15:57:04Z")
Back when I lived in Seattle, someone put one of those RC model-sized jet engines on the back of a bicycle and rode it around the neighborhood I worked. Made quite a racket and had a decent top speed but it took a long while to get a guy+bike moving. Not the folks from my story, but the first result in a search… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_GlocFzRqQw/maxresdefault.jpg "Jet Powered Bicycle \_ It's Insane!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GlocFzRqQw) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9032 "2025-12-15T16:05:05Z")
Fantastic!! ---
**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:** [December 15, 2025, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9033 "2025-12-15T16:12:13Z")
Ref the An-22 crash … An observation that could go here or in the “Russia Ukraine war regional situation” thread. … That article points out that a sizeable fraction of the Soviet aerospace industry was located in Ukraine. When the SU fell apart and Ukraine became an independent but closely allied country that was still reasonably OK from Moscow’s POV. As Ukraine’s politics moved westward in fits and starts, the risk to Russian military and commercial aviation only grew. More and more the Ukrainians had a rope around Russia’s neck even if they didn’t put it there deliberately and even if they didn’t choose to pull on it (much). I do not know what other strategic Soviet industries were concentrated in the Ukraine SSR which later became the westernizing country of Ukraine. It would not surprise me to learn that some of Putin’s decision to invade in 2022 was related to this factor. Note I’m not suggesting this legacy of ancient Soviet decisions justifies the invasion in any way. I’m only suggesting it may well have been one of the factors on Putin’s scale. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9034 "2025-12-15T19:29:29Z")
Last Friday a JetBlue flight had a near miss with a USAF tanker while departing Curaçao, a Caribbean island close to Venezuela. > **[JetBlue flight near Venezuela avoids midair collision with U.S. Air Force tanker](https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2025-12-14/jetblue-flight-near-venezuela-avoids-midair-collision-with-u-s-air-force-tanker)** > > A JetBlue flight from the small Caribbean nation of Curacao halted its ascent to avoid colliding with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker, and the pilot blamed the military plane for crossing his path. ---
**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:** [December 15, 2025, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9035 "2025-12-15T19:47:25Z")
Non-paywalled source: [https://simpleflying.com/outrageous-jetblue-a320-avoids-mid-air-collision-us-tanker-curacao/](https://simpleflying.com/outrageous-jetblue-a320-avoids-mid-air-collision-us-tanker-curacao/) ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9036 "2025-12-15T20:18:12Z")
Great story. Would this event have helped his career in anyway? If I were hiring pilots for an airline, I’d give some preference to one who handled a tough landing like this, all else being equal. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9037 "2025-12-15T20:34:37Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > Not the folks from my story, but the first result in a search… And of course there’s a can of Red Bull in the drink holder. ---
**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:** [December 15, 2025, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9038 "2025-12-15T20:36:49Z")
Hard to say back then. Might go either way. In the modern era I bet it would’ve destroyed his career. Because some AI screener would just have noted his ID number connected to an NTSB accident report and screened him out with no possible appeal to human reason. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9039 "2025-12-15T21:22:00Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Non-paywalled source: Huh, the LA Times wasn’t paywalled for me; I never would have used it as my source if it was. I bet there’s a free article limit that I was under, but others might not be. ---
**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:** [December 15, 2025, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9040 "2025-12-15T21:35:47Z")
I used the wrong terminology. Sorry to mislead. I have a fairly aggressive adblocker / tracking blocker. No seeing any LATimes articles with that enabled. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9041 "2025-12-15T22:20:01Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > Back when I lived in Seattle, someone put one of those RC model-sized jet engines on the back of a bicycle and rode it around the neighborhood I worked. Made quite a racket and had a decent top speed but it took a long while to get a guy+bike moving. “Help Jane, how do you stop this crazy thing?!” They need an afterburner upgrade…if it doesn’t melt the rear tire… ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499/9042 "2025-12-16T01:16:25Z")
I was going to ask this earlier in the discussion of the BD-5J, but what’s the commercial case for making small jet engines? Is there enough of a hobbyist market for a company to justify the expense of designing, prototyping, and creating all the tooling to build small jet engines just for the people who build these large-scale RC planes, or is there some other application that’s more commercially viable and they wind up with something they can sell to the RC market as well? If someone wanted to make a successor to the BD-5J, without the weaknesses of the original, what engine would they put in it? How much thrust would they need, and is there an existing engine in that class? If there is, what was it designed for; what else needs a small jet engine like that? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499.md?page=451) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-aviation-thread-general-and-other-part-1/600499.md?page=453)