Pete "Pig" Fleischmann

Hey Gregg- Yes! Chugging along. I've got threads up on Z5 and LSP that are more up to date- Regards, Pig

Wow! Really beautiful, clean scratchbuilding- Thanks for posting, and looking forward to watching this come together! Regards, Pig

Just finished "American Patriot, the Life and Wars of Colonel Bud Day" Highly recommended, incredible story. I heard him speak at SOS-Just amazing to be in his presence. Col Day holds the highest award for Valor from two nations (USA and South Vietnam). This guy is the real deal. Pig

Hi Thorsten- Just to piggy-back on Jakes comments; I agree whole-heartedly. This is not an F-16 reference book, and I tried very hard not to have any cross-pollination with any of Jakes outstanding Viper books. I did however want to bridge the gap between reference material and the workbench, and show modelers how to manage a project..especially simple and complex conversions, and illustrate some common and not so common techniques they can apply at the bench. Part of managing a viper build includes a clear understanding of the differences between production blocks and accurate answers to tho

Austin! That has got to be the coolest thing I've seen in a very long time! Fantastic and impressive work! Regards, Pig

Nice job Cyrus! Gorgeous model- Hats off on the cover! Regards, Pig

Thanks you guys-I really appreciate your support! I hope you like it- So you know, the following ARC'ers contributed their time and talent for this book, and their incredible ability is showcased within its pages- G-dub Guy Wilson Gambler Geoff Martin Jens Brandal Viperbite (Jin) OISHI Pavel Smetana Pavol Vilinski David Splendore Everyone I listed, look for a PM from me in a few days- Regards, Pig

Hey guys, The scale converter app I helped develope can now be seen here: Scaleconvert I use this app-My scratchbuilt T-38 project has really progressed quickly as a result.. Much faster than a calculator or doing it by hand; plus I know it's accurate! Check it out- Pig

Hello everyone, As some of you know, I've been working on a book over the past year or so. I'm happy to announce that it is complete and is now available. This book is for modelers interested in building the F-16, and consists of detailed, step by step construction chapters on building the Viper. Several ARC members contributed to the book, without them this project never would have come to fruition..and for that I am truly grateful. Several different F-16 builds are detailed from start to finish. Each covers construction, detailing, conversion (where appropriate), finishing and markings. T

Par for the course. Personally, I love the rivet counters and look forward to hearing from those folks who really know the F-22. Regards, Pig

Those are good too-

It matters tremendously. It gives me a point of reference that speaks to your experience. Go back and read Alf's response to my post. Here is another highly experienced professional aviator, who held my assertions up against the litmus test of his experience and agreed with me. I tried to add the insight of a professional pilot to the discussion-to add truisms not based on empty assumptions. gross generalizations, and mis-informed opinion, but those things we know to be true from real-world experience as pilots. I'm pitching but you are not catching. That's OK..no big deal. Regards, Pig

Not a pilot. Got it. Thank you. That's what I thought. Pig

Kelley Are you a professional pilot? Seriously. Not to be rude or condescending-but this is too big a generalization to be taken seriously... I think anyone who has been through military pilot training (even lately) would whole-heartedly disagree with you here. A ride along during a typical six hour sim session at my airlines' training center would also illustrate how wrong this statement is. Blind faith in technology did not bring Turkish Air down. Ignorance of the technology (see also lack of systems knowledge) and lack of airmanship did. Regards, Pig

The F-16 Flight Control Computer System is 4 way redundant. Due to the negative static stability of the design, you can't fly the Viper without the FLCS. Period. GLOC and CFIT have killed way more viper drivers than a 4-way failure of the FLCS. These FBW designs are incredibly safe and reliable. I have thousands of hours in the F-16, A320, and 777..all FBW jets. I understand the system and their unique characteristics and limitations. The argument of FBW vs. traditional control is uninformed and pointless. I can give you just as harrowing examples of how conventional flight control jets b

This is based on what? my 10000 hours of heavy jet airline experience reinforces the fact that the safest way to land a jet CAT II and CAT IIIA/B is to let the jet do it and have the pilots monitor. Treat the autopilots like an inexperienced copilot-trust but verify always. I can't land the jet zero/zero, but the autopilot can. You get it-I agree. The crew is still required to maintain aircraft control-even when all the automation is on. They are pilots, right? If the automation is screwing them up, turn it off and fly the jet! If they had simply turned the autopilot and autothrottles off a

I'd be surprised. Those jets were practically given to United by Airbus. We got a sweetheart deal on those. They are the newest jets in the fleet. Prior to the merger United was working on a narrow body order to supplement the A320 fleet. They were looking at E190's and the new CS, among others. I have no idea how the merger will play into that plan, or how the CAL pilots scope clause (which is more stringent that Uniteds) will affect it either. Guess we'll see- Pig

I agree. I'm surprised that they will now repaint/re-touch all the jets vs. just repaint the Continental jets to match the UAL livery. The UAL "tulip" has been around for a while-Sorry to see that go-But I shouldn't be surprised at anything UAL does anymore. We had our 75th anniversary a few years back..Perfect time to do a retro "stars and bars" livery. That would have looked great on a 757 or 777, but nope-another missed opportunity. Hopefully they'll use a better vendor to do the work this time. The newer United scheme is coming off in sheets already. The photoshop job they did slapping

This is the funniest thing I've read on the web in weeks! Thank you! My sides still hurt...Oh, I gotta go lay down I think-You guys.... Pig

Fair enough- all valid points. However, I contend that governments true role is to restrain evil and get the hell out of the way. I don't see a big airline as inherently "evil".To approve the merger, the DOJ will look specifically at those routes / city pairs where UAL would have a monopoly, and force them to pair-back their service. I get that. I don't agree that UAL will have an overall monopoly. Someone has to be the biggest. There are plenty of routes and city pairs to go around. If we are for less government, than why not let it happen free from government interference? United should b

Anyone who doesn't understand the economics behind these airline mergers hasn't been paying attention to the industry for the last 20+ years. Frankly, I hope ticket prices go up as a result. Consumers have been getting a great deal for a long time. Startups, low cost carriers, and the internet sales houses make it very difficult for the legacy global carriers to have much pricing power. A rising tide lifts all boats: all ticket prices will rise for all airlines accordingly and I am all for competition and choice. If ticket prices climb, then perhaps the airlines wont have to tack on fees for b

Hi Guy! Great to hear from you-Thanks for stopping by! I wish I could say the bulkhead-locator trick was my idea...this was just one of the many pearls of wisdom that Timmy! hath bestowed on me :) Regards- Pig

Thanks Fang! I made enough to cover any mistakes on this build, and make one for Kristi too- :D Regards, Pig

Hi Mike, Thanks for the support! I know what you're saying, but there really isnt any room for that with the nose gear bay, cockpits, speedbrake bays, main gear wells, and two full intake trunks and burner sections...all of that is inside the fuselage..Plus all of the CAD work has already worked out all the internals-That'd be a pretty big mid-course correction. In a perfect world I'd 3D print the whole fuselage...Maybe next time! Regards, Pig