Insurance Quotes

[Schllc]

2 hours ago, aviatoreb said:

Now you are being just silly Skates97.  And sort of picky.

By the way did anyone notice a technology announcement of sorts in avweb yesterday of a chineese company that has claimed to have produced a nuclear battery that is in some sense all things good - it emits no notable radiation externally, its decay products are eventually normal copper, and the current product is very small only suitable for medical device implants - they run for 50 years in that setting, and they claim upscaling it slightly it would keep a drone aloft for years.  I am not confirming or denying how much this is vaporware but a fun article on topic with the hidden actual EV message of this not about insurance thread.

Millions of tiny nuclear batteries made in china, floating around….

what could go wrong?

[aviatoreb]

24 minutes ago, Schllc said:

Millions of tiny nuclear batteries made in china, floating around….

what could go wrong?

Well - even worse - they are being pushed as for medical devices.  So think of eating (implanting) a tiny chinese nuclear battery.  Ill wait a few years and wait to see how it goes for everyone else first....

https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/chinese-company-creates-nuclear-battery/

[GeeBee]

54 minutes ago, Echo said:

Diesel is a more simple fuel to refine, yet it costs more…

Not since ultra low sulfur diesel came out.

[A64Pilot]

1 hour ago, GeeBee said:

Not since ultra low sulfur diesel came out.

Not too long ago and you just about couldn’t kill a Diesel not so long as you changed oil and filter, oil and fuel that is.

I’ve seen the old straight six Cummins with mechanical injection that was used in the Dodge trucks last until literally the truck fell apart, and this in S Ga or N FL with no salt on the roads, then some shrimper would pull the motor out in the junk yard put it in a shrimp boat and it would drag nets for at least another decade or more.

The old Mercedes mechanical Diesels would run forever. I loved Diesels back then drove them almost exclusively, and put up with them being heavy, slow, noisy and stinky because they were cheap to drive and own, once purchased that is because they weren’t cheap to buy.

Then just around 2006 or so we got ULSD, fuel went from being cheaper than unleaded to costing as much as Premium unleaded, before it was cheaper to drive my 3500 Diesel Dually than a little truck, after not at all. It was a dry fuel and ate up fuel pump and injectors so we added things to it to try to compensate, Common rail came along and it was magic, except there were injector problems, a set for my Duramax was if memory serves about $5,000.

Then along comes EGR and so much EGR is recirculated then we had to have EGR coolers that when they go coolant gets into a cylinder and may hydro lock it, around that time we got Urea injection, then maybe after that we got DOC and DEF after treatments to go with the Urea.

Now Diesels are totally computer controlled, take enormous amounts of electricity to fire the injectors and the emission controls run into the thousands of dollars for each engine.

Honestly I’m embracing electric as a return to simple mechanical, Computers are here to stay, average consumer want the toaster connected to their Wifi now, they aren’t going back, but from a mechanical perspective at least a Tesla is a very simple machine, very few moving parts, and no emissions controls.

 

[GeeBee]

Yeah the old mechanical pumps were easy to work on and diagnose.

[LANCECASPER]

1 hour ago, A64Pilot said:

Then along comes EGR and so much EGR is recirculated then we had to have EGR coolers that when they go coolant gets into a cylinder and may hydro lock it, around that time we got Urea injection, then maybe after that we got DOC and DEF after treatments to go with the Urea.

DEF is Urea.

[A64Pilot]

1 hour ago, LANCECASPER said:

DEF is Urea.

DEF is also Diesel Exhaust Filter (AKA DPF) (Diesel Particulate Filter) as well as Diesel Exhaust Fluid, I was speaking of the Filter, the huge can looking thing connected to the exhaust.

All these Acronyms sort of illustrate the issue

[LANCECASPER]

2 minutes ago, A64Pilot said:

DEF is also Diesel Exhaust Filter as well as Diesel Exhaust Fluid, I was speaking of the Filter, the huge can looking thing connected to the exhaust.

DPF is a Diesel Particulate Filter

[A64Pilot]

Reread my post, it’s a filter in the exhaust that filters particles, that good enough?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_particulate_filter

 By whatever name it’s failure prone and expensive to replace, has caused fires etc

[Schllc]

17 hours ago, A64Pilot said:

average consumer want the toaster connected to their Wifi now

I don’t disagree with what you said, but this quote I’m not sure about.  
do people want these things on WiFi or do the manufacturers assume we do?  
we did a house a while back and the electrician wanted to install these new breakers that he said I could monitor through an app. 
I said can I reset the breaker in the app?  
he said no. 
so what exactly is the point? 
I know technology is not going backward, but sometimes you have to wonder if these things that are supposed to enhance our lives is doing the opposite. 
Yet while our toasters are at the cutting edge of technology, the engines in our airplanes are relegated to 1920’s tech. 
This dichotomy in aviation innovation is what frustrates me so much about the FAA. 

[Fly Boomer]

3 hours ago, Schllc said:

I know technology is not going backward, but sometimes you have to wonder if these things that are supposed to enhance our lives is doing the opposite. 
Yet while our toasters are at the cutting edge of technology, the engines in our airplanes are relegated to 1920’s tech. 

None of my cell phones have ever equaled the communication experience of a good ole Western Electric 500 or 1500 or 2500 phone connected to the network by a copper wire.  That said, I never had one of those Western Electric phones that would work in my car.

[A64Pilot]

I don’t know if the average consumer wants Wifi or Bluetooth in their toasters or is it just that is what’s marketed.

I don’t but more and more often the higher end appliances etc are “smart” I assume somebody wants to connect to these things with their cell phone, but I can’t imagine why.

Not understanding why is part of getting old I think, when I was younger it used to drive me nuts when I’d visit my Father and the clock on the VCR would be flashing, now I understand, it wasn’t that he couldn’t set it, he just didn’t see the point I think.

My washer and drier are Bluetooth and LG has an App to connect with them. I even downloaded the App and connected to them and afterwards thought what’s the point?

https://www.lg.com/us/lg-thinq

It’s like they used to buzz when done, now they all play little songs. One works as well as the other but I guess the little songs sell better than an old fashioned buzz.

World is changing, what I wanted and what my Grandkids want is vastly different, I couldn’t wait until I could drive for instance, they don’t care, and they don’t live in an Urban area where public transportation exists either. Neither has a license and has no plans on getting one.

When they lived with us, we lived on a farm, couple hundred acres, I had a big pool, trampoline, couple of Honda motorcycles and a big friendly Chocolate Lab that would follow them anywhere they went, pond they could fish in, even hunt if they wanted, but they wouldn’t go outside. I made them and they would just sit in the yard and pout.

Grandson said he could ride a skateboard so my Wife bought him one, he fell off skinned his knee and never touched it again. We think as his Xbox had Tony Hawk on it or something that he thought that he could ride the real thing, but he skinned his knee and that was it, he had no use for it after that. 

I think though it’s deeper than that, I think Gen Z doesn’t want to drive because cars are stupid expensive, and that means working long hours and saving for one etc. But if forego the whole car thing you don’t have to do anything, you can sit at home and play X-box.

[Hank]

1 hour ago, A64Pilot said:

.World is changing, what I wanted and what my Grandkids want is vastly different, I couldn’t wait until I could drive for instance, they don’t care, and they don’t live in an Urban area where public transportation exists either. Neither has a license and has no plans on getting one... 

I think though it’s deeper than that, I think Gen Z doesn’t want to drive because cars are stupid expensive, and that means working long hours and saving for one etc. But if forego the whole car thing you don’t have to do anything, you can sit at home and play X-box.

Gen Z doesn't need to buy a car, buy gas, buy insurance and do maintenance, because they have people (you) to drive them around. 

[Will.iam]

1 hour ago, A64Pilot said:

. But if forego the whole car thing you don’t have to do anything, you can sit at home and play X-box.

That is until the electricity cuts off because you didn’t pay your bill. Our son didn’t want to drive either and my wife was perplexed until i said stop driving him around everywhere he wants to go and then he will want to drive, there in lies the problem. My wife and i have vastly different opinions on how to raise a child but i digress. 

[A64Pilot]

2 hours ago, Hank said:

Gen Z doesn't need to buy a car, buy gas, buy insurance and do maintenance, because they have people (you) to drive them around. 

I know what your saying but they haven’t lived with me for years.

I don’t think anyone is driving them around, I think they are fine sitting at home, their Social life is the cell phone I think.

You are thinking they are like we were, but I can assure you as a Teenager the last thing I wanted was my Father’s girlfriend driving me around, so that doesn’t work either, They aren’t like we were, that’s the point. I can’t imagine either of them learning to fly for instance.

Military can’t get recruits, have to wonder about that and the ones they are getting frankly are problems. These kids are different.

When they stayed with me Summer before last, I offered them the golf cart to drive around the neighborhood, they didn’t want to, and I have no X-box or whatever, they sat in their rooms and played with their Ipads.

Their Father txted me the other day asking if I could teach him how to fly, kid has Graduated High School and is of course completely unemployable, Father thought if I taught the kid to fly he could get a job flying.

[Pinecone]

14 hours ago, A64Pilot said:

Military can’t get recruits, have to wonder about that and the ones they are getting frankly are problems. These kids are different.

They are now doing "pre-Basic" to get them into good enough shape to show up at Basic Training.

[GeeBee]

My 15 year old grand-daughter cannot wait to drive. She already saved up money and bought a car she cannot drive yet. 

[A64Pilot]

2 hours ago, Pinecone said:

They are now doing "pre-Basic" to get them into good enough shape to show up at Basic Training.

Only 1/3 of the I guess it’s 18 to 35 yr olds meet Military service requirements without a Waiver now and I think that’s historically low.

Military service isn’t seen as relevant as it used to be, both our probable US Presidential candidates for instance got out of service by claiming physical disabilities that I have and served 20 years for example, one Asthma and the other flat feet, and no one cares. So younger kids just don’t see any reason to serve, and honestly I can see why.

Overweight is of course one reason, and not being able to pass a PT test another, but a surprising amount have criminal / drug records.

The “quality” of recruits is possibly the lowest it’s ever been and I get from others, some that are still in the the Military in general the military has lost most of its capability. 

Military has always been a sort of social experiment and in truth is one of the most Socialistic things in the US. Where else do you get paid more for being Married with kids for example?

But I think it’s gone overboard and seriously affected readiness from what I hear from my contacts still. I retired 20 years ago but believe it or not but still have contacts. According to them being the best at your job isn’t important anymore, it’s not what’s going to get you promoted anymore.

[MooneyMitch]

Ah, these kids……. “why can’t they be like we were, perfect in every way… what’s the matter with kids today?”

On a positive side and as an example, these kids are building incredible space traveling devices, building and launching reusable rockets which send the modules (with humans) to the space station (I love those great looking space suits)! 

I recently flipped burgers at a local airport for the university aviation club.  The club was compromised of aerospace, electrical, mechanical, chemistry (etc) engineering students. These young fine minds were quite impressive. Intellectually and socially.  All is not lost folks !  

 

[MooneyMitch]

On 1/16/2024 at 1:09 PM, Skates97 said:

Thanks! I wish I knew you were there, would have loved to say hello. I don't know why I was thinking you were based out of SMX. We stopped in to visit my wife's cousin and her husband who are spending a couple weeks there to escape the colder weather up in Washington. Went to Wooly's up in Pismo, the carne asada fries were amazing.

SMX was my hangar location for financial reasons and the fact that there are mostly no environmentally friendly hangars at Oceano.  I live about 1nm from L52 and hangout there from time to time.  
 

Yep, our local beach weather is just the best!! Next time give me a shout and I’ll take you to our little hole in the wall Chachos authentic Mexican yummy place.  Happy Mooney flying! 

[A64Pilot]

1 hour ago, GeeBee said:

My 15 year old grand-daughter cannot wait to drive. She already saved up money and bought a car she cannot drive yet. 

Yes thankfully not all kids are like my Grandkids, things will turn around, hard work, saving etc will become important again.

The difference is when I was young they would have been considered Abby normal, while today they aren’t.

[A64Pilot]

What is an environmentally friendly hangar, and why is it important?

[dkkim73]

7 hours ago, A64Pilot said:

...

Military has always been a sort of social experiment and in truth is one of the most Socialistic things in the US. Where else do you get paid more for being Married with kids for example?

...

But I think it’s gone overboard and seriously affected readiness from what I hear from my contacts still. I retired 20 years ago but believe it or not but still have contacts. According to them being the best at your job isn’t important anymore, it’s not what’s going to get you promoted anymore.

 

The military has definitely been subjected to the social re-shaping (experimentation is not a bad word but it's more intentional than that) even more in the current administration. It was subtlely there under Obama but more brazen now. 

Many of the directions, as well as some of the mandates, have driven out or kept away a lot of people who would normally serve. Some of that is probably intentional. I've had some interesting conversations with former colleagues who chose to leave in the last few years. 

You also hint at another issue which is corrosive to the meritocracy, mirroring similar programs in the civilian world, about identity-based favoritism. Totally corrosive to good order and discipline. 

The generational things re: fitness, werewithal, baby wants his iPhone, etc, are all true, but they just affect the #s. The above things are more systemic and qualitative. 

I've definitely adopted more cautionary advice to my own children in the last few years about military service. 

[MooneyMitch]

7 hours ago, A64Pilot said:

What is an environmentally friendly hangar, and why is it important?

I should have clarified my environment comment was directed at weather conditions for the storage of my Mooney.

Oceano airport is within couple of hundred yards from our beautiful Pacific Ocean.  (We call it our little slice of paradise! ).  The ocean environment is harsh. 

Most of the little hangars on the field are called Port-a-ports, I believe.  Most are rust buckets with open joints and seems.  Isn’t an environment I ever wanted to subject my beauty to.  Too bad, cause our L52 is right close to home. 

[A64Pilot]

1 hour ago, MooneyMitch said:

I should have clarified my environment comment was directed at weather conditions for the storage of my Mooney.

Oceano airport is within couple of hundred yards from our beautiful Pacific Ocean.  (We call it our little slice of paradise! ).  The ocean environment is harsh. 

Most of the little hangars on the field are called Port-a-ports, I believe.  Most are rust buckets with open joints and seems.  Isn’t an environment I ever wanted to subject my beauty to.  Too bad, cause our L52 is right close to home. 

Ah, I understand now, no you don’t want your airplane kept near any ocean if you can possibly help it.