The Glade 4.0

....on my first experimental flight test Tuesday. Empty 737, max rate climb to 41,000, max rate decent to landing, then some other stuff.

I can't wait.

Are you the pilot?

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"Hysterical children shrieking about right-wing anything need to go sit in the corner and be quiet while the adults are talking."

I wish. I'll be one of the engineers monitoring cabin pressurization.

Almost sounds like a vomit comet. Sounds like fun, though, enjoy.

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This cold and dark tormented hell
Is all I`ll ever know
So when you get to heaven
May the devil be the judge

Sounds flippin' awesome. Enjoy it!

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"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

Not (necessarily...depends on the pilot) a vomit comet. It is a production 737, just a couple rows of seats will be replaced with test equipment racks. I've been told, the flight profile is the most fun you can have without any lose your lunch maneuvers (again, depending on the pilot).

Preflight tomorrow 8AM.

Based on actual experiences in Military cargo planes, I'm going to suggest that the Pilot will probably be the only on having any fun. :p

You are not the first person to tell me this within the last 48 hours...

I spent a few years meandering around the cargo bays of Air Force C-130's back in the early 80s.

The flight crew got a kick out of jostling us around the back of the plane while we were trying to pack up tie downs and rollers and such.

I remember one flight, out of Howard Air Force Base in Panama, during the peak of "Iran Contra" when, during the return cruise after a L.A.P.E.S drop (more than a little exciting in it's own right), the loadmaster and I were in the cargo bay stowing tie-down chains, when suddenly we found ourselves pinned to the ceiling. I managed to grab hold of a cable trough before the plane leveled off at tree top level, which prevented me from slamming into the metal floor. The loadmaster wasn't so lucky. He ended up slamming into the floor, suffering a broken hip, pelvis and tail bone (yea, ow). I came away with some scrapes on my forearms, and some bruises, but was otherwise unscathed.

(Anecdote: This experience caused me to ponder my practical understanding of "up" - To this day when people ask me "What's up?", I'm inclined to respond with "you have NO idea" )

This wasn't a case of the crew Commander having fun though. They saw tracers coming up from the Jungle, and took evasive action (dive to the tree tops to cut off the angle).

I found a 2" hole in the vertical stabilizer the next day. This was not the only incident involving aircraft damage as a result of combat during the execution of those missions.

Hopefully your flight will be more fun and less 'exciting'.

A little tip. Try and stay close to a window and look outside as much as possible.. especially if you can see the terrain. It will help. If that isn't possible.. well.. good luck.

I thought the combat landings in Iraq were kind of cool.

Then there was the whole "jumping out of the C-130" thing, but that's a whole different ball game.

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"Hysterical children shrieking about right-wing anything need to go sit in the corner and be quiet while the adults are talking."

Knowing someone in the Canadian Air Force who is an aviation mechanic and does ground runs, I can tell you the pilots can be sneaky sons a ***** at times. I can't tell you how many times he has told me of things they have done on test flights and ground runs.

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"Said I never had much use for one, never said I didn't know how to use one!"~ Matthew Quigley

"nothing like a little meow in bed at night" ~ Bruskey

"I gotta float my stick same as you" Hondo Lane

"Fill your hand you son of a *****!"

Test was nice and successful, but I am a bit disapointed that a 737, no matter how lightly loaded, doesn't really handle like a fighter jet. But I enjoyed a nice steak sandwich while landing and taking off with my seatback NOT in the upright position. The max rate decent was pretty fun though.

No barrel rolls, eh? I bet it was still a lot of fun! Did you ride in the cockpit?

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"Hysterical children shrieking about right-wing anything need to go sit in the corner and be quiet while the adults are talking."