The Coffee House

[Gary A.]

iPhone

 

[terri33 4]

whew! Gary, you should call that flower shot "acid trip" - kinda stabs you in the brain.

In other news, it's Thursday, hosers!

 

[Derrel]

Would love to see a clearer shot of the chrysalis...I had no idea those were see-through (?)...

 

[table1349]

Actually, the plane seems to have had a mechanical failure and the pilot was able to aim it (I guess) to a wooded area about 100 yards from homes.

A few miles from my old stomping grounds. We still go to the farm store just down the road.
Military aircraft crashes miles from Joint Base Andrews pilot parachuted out

That's going to go on someone's permanent record.

Apparently the plane had a mechanical failure ans started breaking up in the air; one of the tip-tanks (200 gallons of fuel) was found several miles away near National Harbor (on the Potomac just south of the I-95 crossing into VA). The general consensus is the pilot did a great job of "aiming" the plane so it didn't hit anything when it crashed.

One neighborhood is basically a command post - we and the Air Force are still there. A bulletin was issued about what to do if anyone found one of the practice loads (electronic fired 20mm) has been issued.

At a cost of 18.8 million dollars each, I still say it's going to go on someone's permanent record. Good thing they don't have a "You break it You bought it" policy.

It certainly will, but assuming that investigation reveals no pilot error, the main reason will be for potential medical issues down the road. Fast air ejection is VERY hard on the body, and the medical weenies will want to know in 2, 3 or 10 years time if the sore neck or whatever is related to this.

Yep, those things don't just break up for no reason. The Dad-in-law is a retired full bird and pilot from the USAF. He has a degree in mechanical engineering. Spent all of his career west of the Mississippi or in the Pacific. He for 20+ years was on the USAF crash investigation team. Anything like this happen west of the Mississippi to the Middle East and he was TDA as part of the investigation team. It will go on someone's record for sure. Maybe not the pilots, but on someone's. The Air Force hates loosing 18+ million dollars.

 

[table1349]

Actually, the plane seems to have had a mechanical failure and the pilot was able to aim it (I guess) to a wooded area about 100 yards from homes.

A few miles from my old stomping grounds. We still go to the farm store just down the road.
Military aircraft crashes miles from Joint Base Andrews pilot parachuted out

That's going to go on someone's permanent record.

Apparently the plane had a mechanical failure ans started breaking up in the air; one of the tip-tanks (200 gallons of fuel) was found several miles away near National Harbor (on the Potomac just south of the I-95 crossing into VA). The general consensus is the pilot did a great job of "aiming" the plane so it didn't hit anything when it crashed.

One neighborhood is basically a command post - we and the Air Force are still there. A bulletin was issued about what to do if anyone found one of the practice loads (electronic fired 20mm) has been issued.

At a cost of 18.8 million dollars each, I still say it's going to go on someone's permanent record. Good thing they don't have a "You break it You bought it" policy.

It certainly will, but assuming that investigation reveals no pilot error, the main reason will be for potential medical issues down the road. Fast air ejection is VERY hard on the body, and the medical weenies will want to know in 2, 3 or 10 years time if the sore neck or whatever is related to this.

Usually, a fast air ejection is more favorable than no ejection at all.

Any landing you can walk away from is a good landing.

 

[Gary A.]

whew! Gary, you should call that flower shot "acid trip" - kinda stabs you in the brain.

In other news, it's Thursday, hosers!

I believe it is named Double Delight.

 

[Gary A.]

Would love to see a clearer shot of the chrysalis...I had no idea those were see-through (?)...

They start out yellow-green and opaque. They turn translucent when the metamorphosing is fini.

This one is a minute or two old, it hasn't fully hardened.

When it's ready the skin splits to expose the soft/wet chrysalis.

It wiggles around to lose the caterpillar skin.

 

[Derrel]

Wow! I had NO idea, Gary! Thanks for posting these shots so we can see some of the developmental stages.

 

[Gary A.]

We have Milkweed in the yards, consequently, we have a front row seat for Monarch Butterflies. We watch them all year round.

 

[snowbear115 46]

Usually, a fast air ejection is more favorable than no ejection at all.

True, but that doesn't make it a fun experience.

Usually, any experience which elevates your heart rate above 300 ... loses a lot of the fun factor.

@ Charlie: There are a lot of military training and advance training air bases in SoCal, especially over the desert areas, while aircraft failures are never routine, they are relatively common out here.

Pretty common here, too. The 113th TAC is part of the air security (I don't recall full name). Andrews is also home of Systems Command, the 89th MAC aka Air Force One, and a Navy Air Reserve squadron. Many AF helps running mil execs to/from Pentagon.

Patuxent River NAS isn't that far from us, nor are the helicopters, both green and black, from Fort Meade (Army and NSA). Fort AP Hill is a large training facility about 30 miles away. Marine Base Quantico is across the river and a bit south. There are two USCG stations in the area (DC and Annapolis). About the only thing we don't have locally are large bombers and stealth craft. We also have a couple of Naval Surface Weapons Centers in the region.

 

[Gary A.]

iPhone

Emergence.

 

[Gary A.]

Cook and Gary took a walk and when we came back there was a full blown adult Monarch.

 

[vintagesnaps]

For a minute there I went - what?? monarch butterflies are part of air security...??? lol As usual, more than one conversation going here in the coffee house!

It's going to snow!!! in April. After 70 degrees yesterday. Have been hearing the shutters rattling this afternoon, sounds like a wintry wind blowing in. Brr!

Then it's going to do something really strange this weekend - SUN!!! and 60 degrees! how's that happening? lol

 

[SquarePeg36 7]

 

[pgriz]

Yeah, I get that all the time. Wife: "You know, there's more than one person living here. "
A few minutes later... "Um, no that's not the way I do it."
A few more minute later... " It hurts less when I do it, than watching you do it."

On the other hand, when she comes home tired and there's a hot dinner waiting for her, I'm golden.