Get off my LAWN! "Grumpy Old Farts"

[Al Kraft]

Wasn't doubting, just couldn't think of any. Forgot about Buddy Holly and the American Pie bunch.IIRC Denver was flying his own plane.

I know what you mean...I'm always surprised when I see a list show up in an article or somewhere else. In some cases the world lost an number of musicians (e.g. most of Reba McEntire's back-up band, most of Lynyrd Skynyrd).

 

[GwenOnBass]

Ever wonder what happens when an airline passenger croaks en route? A flight attendant has no legal authority to pronounce anyone dead. A toilet door is closed and locked until the first opportunity to land .... One FA tells of one death on a Newark - Orlando run, and another died as all the paperwork and administrative work was being completed. Please, please don't die on me, one FA is heard to say — if you knew how much paperwork I have to fill out!

FAs are pro, I witnessed an entire scene a a passenger had an epileptic seizure.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Ever wonder what happens when an airline passenger croaks en route?

Ever since I was hatched, that has been the foremost thing on my mind. That's probably what causes my insomnia.

 

[2tonic]

What does all this mean for us non-racing, but interested parties?

If you're still interested, bracket racing is a type of drag racing that allows wildly disparate cars (both performance and cost wise) to compete on equal footing. The goal is to eliminate everything except the reaction time, consistency, and skill of the driver (and mechanic/tuner) from determining the outcome.
To achieve this, each driver initially completes several timing runs down the track, in order to establish a baseline E.T. (elapsed time) for the car. This baseline needs to reflect the best performance of the car/driver, because if you surpass this during race conditions, you "break out", and automatically lose.
Imagine your "bracket" is 11.0 to 11.03 seconds, and mine is 9.0 to 9.03. My time is much quicker, so a "flag drop" start would be to your detriment (aka....you didn't bring enough motor!).
In bracket racing, a computer controlling the start lights figures precisely (based on our bracket baselines) how much of a head start to give you, so that we arrive at the finish line simultaneously.
This diminishes the advantage of high cubic dollar performance, and renders racing back to a contest of skill and consistency.
Amateur racers, running everything from daily driver commuting cars (with a little added safety equipment) to street racers to full wood competition cars, can have a great weekend of intensely competitive racing, on the cheap.
The better reaction time, at the start line, and control of the car (staying in the racing groove, that is the sticky part of the track) will win.......

As long as you don't do everything perfectly, better than you've ever done it before, and break out!

Oh, and @12BitSlab had a license from NHRA (National Hot Rod Association, the largest sanctioning body in drag racing) to drive a vehicle with an E.T. as low as 9 seconds in the 1/4 mile. Probably running 180~200mph as it crossed the finish line.
In NHRA you have to recertify/upgrade your license with every full second decrease in E.T. (10 to 9, to 8, to 7...etc) as well as when you step up in car classification, based on fuel used (gasser to alcohol to nitromethane). That is to be read as fast, to faster, to " Holy God, please let it end!!!"
He also held an IRL (Indy Racing League) certification, allowing him to compete in open wheeled cars, I'm guessing probably sprint cars on asphalt, or modifieds on dirt tracks.
Hope this helped.

Kentucky has a long history of racing down backroads with mason jars. The contents of those jars can also make a hot fuel for a vehicle.

View attachment 3997112

Georgia does, as well!
This was the roots of NASCAR.
Cash strapped "runners" (clandestine moonshine deliverymen) started using their hopped up mules to compete on improvised tracks, for wagers and glory!

IIRC, Richard Pryor starred in a 70's movie, "Greased Lightning" which did a credible job of depicting the story of Wendell Scott, the first black NASCAR driver, and his introduction to the sport in the post-WWII-era.

 

[Deleted member 268085]

Ever wonder what happens when an airline passenger croaks en route? A flight attendant has no legal authority to pronounce anyone dead. A toilet door is closed and locked until the first opportunity to land .... One FA tells of one death on a Newark - Orlando run, and another died as all the paperwork and administrative work was being completed. Please, please don't die on me, one FA is heard to say — if you knew how much paperwork I have to fill out!

FAs are pro, I witnessed an entire scene a a passenger had an epileptic seizure.

Almost all are. But there was this one First Class FA on a flight I took often (Chicago -> Tokyo). I will spare you the details, except to say that I spent part of my 3 hour layover sending an email to American's SVP of the AAdvantage program, describing what I had witnessed during the flight.

Once I checked into my room in Hong Kong, I checked my email. I had an apology and an extra 20,000 miles in my account (to go with the millions already there).

I flew that route twice/month, and I never saw that FA again.

 

[GonePlaid]

I know what you mean...I'm always surprised when I see a list show up in an article or somewhere else. In some cases the world lost an number of musicians (e.g. most of Reba McEntire's back-up band, most of Lynyrd Skynyrd).

The only one piloting was John Denver. The rest were passengers in chartered flights.

 

[Deleted member 268085]

The only one piloting was John Denver. The rest were passengers in chartered flights.

I'm sorry, but I just can't call him by that name. I call him Gary Indiana, after the song in Music Man.

Were the buried gas storage tanks found on his Colorado property after his death, or before?

His personal solution to the gas crisis didn't sit well with his neighbors, I remember that much.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Almost all are. But there was this one First Class FA on a flight I took often (Chicago -> Tokyo). I will spare you the details, except to say that I spent part of my 3 hour layover sending an email to American's SVP of the AAdvantage program, describing what I had witnessed during the flight.

Once I checked into my room in Hong Kong, I checked my email. I had an apology and an extra 20,000 miles in my account (to go with the millions already there).

I flew that route twice/month, and I never saw that FA again.

What?!?!?!?!?

You're going to leave us hanging, like that?!?!?!?!?!? Is there some sort of gag order, or something, that you can't spill your guts (figuratively speaking, only, thanks )?

 

[Deleted member 268085]

What?!?!?!?!?

You're going to leave us hanging, like that?!?!?!?!?!? Is there some sort of gag order, or something, that you can't spill your guts (figuratively speaking, only, thanks )?

If you must. Just the lowlights.

AA flew 777s on the route. Four rows, 6 across in First. No fancy compartments like there are now. Seats 4A and 4B reserved for crew rest.

I was the first pax to board. Said FA was blocking the aisle. Physically. She was huge. Had to turn sideways to waddle down the aisle. She had an armful of newspapers and just threw them in a mess on 4B and told me I could have one if I wanted. And disappeared during boarding. She was the f'ing pursor, no less. Served dinner. And disappeared. For the remainder of the flight, up to landing prep. I had to go up to the galley and help myself when I wanted something. More champagne? Rummaged through the cabinets, found another bottle, and popped the cork. Poured some for other passengers, I did. Wanted something to eat? Back to the cabinets. I felt like the chef rat in Ratatouille.

Absolute worst service I've ever endured on an international flight.

Real good thing no one on that flight had a medical emergency.

 

[Polish Thunder]

If you must. Just the lowlights.

AA flew 777s on the route. Four rows, 6 across in First. No fancy compartments like there are now. Seats 4A and 4B reserved for crew rest.

I was the first pax to board. Said FA was blocking the aisle. Physically. She was huge. Had to turn sideways to waddle down the aisle. She had an armful of newspapers and just threw them in a mess on 4B and told me I could have one if I wanted. And disappeared during boarding. She was the f'ing pursor, no less. Served dinner. And disappeared. For the remainder of the flight, up to landing prep. I had to go up to the galley and help myself when I wanted something. More champagne? Rummaged through the cabinets, found another bottle, and popped the cork. Poured some for other passengers, I did. Wanted something to eat? Back to the cabinets. I felt like the chef rat in Ratatouille.

Absolute worst service I've ever endured on an international flight.

Real good thing no one on that flight had a medical emergency.

So does FA stand for Flight Attendant or Fat A$$, ... or in this case both?

 

[Jeff Scott]

More champagne? Rummaged through the cabinets, found another bottle, and popped the cork. Poured some for other passengers, I did......

Absolute worst service I've ever endured on an international flight.

I don't now about that. Seems like the other passengers got first-class service from you.

 

[GwenOnBass]

There's a big difference between international first class and domestic first class.

 

[beans-on-toast]

There's first class and there's first class. I like Lufthansa.

 

[GwenOnBass]

Singapore Airlines first class is also oooh la la, according to a friend who split her time between homes in Singapore and France. She also tells of one of her worst flights in first class. A crying baby flight from hell.

 

[GwenOnBass]

It doesn't matter to me what class I'm in if I cross enough time zones. I'm going to be zonked for at least a day, no matter how I attempted to "sleep".

 

[SoulReflection]

There's first class and there's first class. I like Lufthansa.

Yes, but with covid, I am not flying anytime soon...not worth it.

 

[beans-on-toast]

People can be jerks and there's no shortage of them. One cross country, east to west flight comes to mind. An idiot brought a wheel of really stinky cheese onto the plane in their carryon. People were complaining about the smell. The FA's thought that there was a dirty diaper stuffed somewhere, they were checking all the compartments in the cabin. They eventually found the cheese and stored it somewhere.

 

[Al Kraft]

I tend to be listening to air traffic control when I can and paying a lot of attention to what I expect to hear and feel during take-offs and landings - hazard of the profession I guess. Cruising at altitude is the only time I typically sleep on a plane, and even then I tend to listen to ATC rather than music or a movie.

 

[GwenOnBass]

That cheese sounds pretty good!

 

[beans-on-toast]

I never undo my seatbelt. Lesson learnt when a plane I was on many years ago hit an air pocket and everything, including people, went flying. One exception is when you are ordered to not do up your seatbelt. This can be required during refueling.