OK one question: the TPS on the bottom: "hafnium diburide". Shouldn't it be "halfnium diboride"?

I think I'd like that playback better with a Colm Meaney 'Miles O'Brien' voice. . .

I like.

You humanize your characters pretty well. When I write all my stuff I read it back and hear it in a Miles O'Brian type voice (from "This Week In Space").

Well, all air racers already have an onboard and completely internal pure oxygen system for the pilots. This is because the exhaust stacks are ahead of the pilots. They had a number of pilots pass out from the exhaust gases early on, so they've always had the capability for compressed gasses. Although, those hydraulic suts are also used by F-22 crews in the States, IIRC. Either way, it's going to be interesting to see what happens.

It would pretty hard to implement classic g-suits in such planes anyway because of the lack of an suitable air compressor, but you could use the modern hydraulic Libelle suits that many European Typhoon II pilots use. They need no compressed air, and the problems with the pneumatic g-suits don't exist, especially not the delay between onset of g force and full deployment of the suit - those Libelle suits react very fast.

And they are already used for the Red Bull Air Races, so they should be no problem to use. You still need training with them, for better performance.

Reno's been a different animal for quite a while, so they have their own subset of rules, IIRC. Also, it's been only recently that airshows have become as heavily regulated and monitored as they are in Europe. Aircraft can still fly over the crows if they are high enough, and will often do so at a good head of speed in what is refered to as a "sneaker pass", since they sneak up behind you. Blue Angels are famous for it as a start to their show.

'Shifting the Unlimited course to remove the turn towards the spectators'

In Europe this change was implemented in the 1980's after a horrific accident when an aircraft plunged into the crowd. I am surprised that the US didn't follow this change as it just seems to be sensible.

More please.

Awesome!

Nice!

Why would you insult O-F so?

you really do have a fanbace. Welcome back!

Welcome back! In the last six months you've become a father to a meme: the word 'bace'.
It's also spreading to our dysfunctional sister, the Kerbal Space Program Forums. Congrats man, you're famous here

Great writing! This is written quite well and I like your style. I look forward to reading more!

Thanks a lot, it's really making me think back to the days when I had to do creative writing for my english exams.

I suppose Houston Intercontinental (KHOU) would have a long enough runway to launch Constitution from . . . but then again I've noticed my own takeoff rolls tend to take up a good half to three quarters' length of the Shuttle Landing Facility when I fly her out of there. She definitely takes up almost all of the runway on the landing roll-out; I'm usually left with about 2-300' left of runway before the displaced threshold, and that's assuming I touch the mains down at the touchdown point on the opposite end of the runway and just use the aerobrakes on the wings and the vehicle's own rolling resistance to slow her down.

Another advocation for using the SLF for exclusive flight operations is the logistical requirements. I haven't gotten around to (learning how to) model(ing) it, but I envisioned placing OPF-4 quite close to the runway (like immediately north of the ramp that's just off the RWY 33 threshold). This would be a low, hardened structure that's both blast and hurricane resistant, and would only require back-taxiing the vehicle the length of the runway upon arrival, for storage and processing.

That, and the taxiway/service roads leading to the KSC main complex as I've previously observed are just too damn narrow to fit her through to the historical OPF's.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad this is still good stuff coming out.

I like it! I have flown an XR5 a lot, but never thought of it in real-world terms like this. OPF4, towed to the runway, Houston still in control (Can't they fly from an airport in Houston?). Very descriptive, keep up the good work.

great, love it

You just blew me away, again!

Thanks for the update, be sure to post your new YT channel! I hear what you say about keeping a website/blog going - I managed to keep mine (gkastro.tk) going for nearly 2 years, but I then received ANOTHER message from my hosts saying that they are no longer hosting free accounts. It was kind of sad, but it was awesome keeping it going for so long! Good luck!