The Peckish Synapse

[Atlas]

Holy smokes... UPS plane crashed in Kentucky. It looks like people were hurt.

 

What the heck is going on - more planes have fallen out of the sky in the last year...

 

Maybe the FAA shouldn't have been Doge'd, maybe pay shouldn't be withheld from ATC's. I'm not saying that's the cause but it sure as heck isn't helping bolster safety.

[customboss]

3 minutes ago, Atlas said:

Holy smokes... UPS plane crashed in Kentucky. It looks like people were hurt.

 

What the heck is going on - more planes have fallen out of the sky in the last year...

 

Maybe the FAA shouldn't have been Doge'd, maybe pay shouldn't be withheld from ATC's. I'm not saying that's the cause but it sure as heck isn't helping bolster safety.

I retired from American Airlines and we were worried 20 years ago about quality pilots that were scratching and sniffing to claw way to majors. The military feed and critical screening is long gone. You make more $$ and get better lifestyle being in military than a pro pilot. We are getting bare minimum quality. I’m sure AI will correct all this need for professionalism.  

[customboss]

1 hour ago, Atlas said:

Holy smokes... UPS plane crashed in Kentucky. It looks like people were hurt.

 

What the heck is going on - more planes have fallen out of the sky in the last year...

 

Maybe the FAA shouldn't have been Doge'd, maybe pay shouldn't be withheld from ATC's. I'm not saying that's the cause but it sure as heck isn't helping bolster safety.

MD-11 a tricky jet to fly especially heavy ON TAKEOFF. We sold FEDEX and UPS ours when 777 finally showed up. 
Both have crashed them more frequently than any should have. Shelter in place a pretty serious order! Gee.  
 

https://www.lpm.org/news/2025-11-04/shelter-in-place-issued-in-louisville-following-reports-of-plane-crash

 

[Atlas]

26 minutes ago, customboss said:

MD-11 a tricky jet to fly especially heavy ON TAKEOFF. We sold FEDEX and UPS ours when 777 finally showed up. 
Both have crashed them more frequently than any should have. Shelter in place a pretty serious order! Gee.  
 

https://www.lpm.org/news/2025-11-04/shelter-in-place-issued-in-louisville-following-reports-of-plane-crash

 

 

That sound serious. Also terrifying to think AI could be responsible for flying a plane someday - or would it reduce errors? I don't know. I've heard nothing good about people trying to make their way up the chain being commercial pilots. It's a tough gig, all-consuming, and the pay isn't there like it used to be.

[customboss]

12 minutes ago, Atlas said:

 

That sound serious. Also terrifying to think AI could be responsible for flying a plane someday - or would it reduce errors? I don't know. I've heard nothing good about people trying to make their way up the chain being commercial pilots. It's a tough gig, all-consuming, and the pay isn't there like it used to be.

Seriously, hauling cargo and boxes going automated. As soon as the tech bros buy off the administration. PS AA never crashed a MD11. 

[txab]

 

[customboss]

9 hours ago, txab said:

 

Looking at a takeoff catastrophic LH engine fire and seems the crew forgot to fly the jet. Fires are terrible and usually you don’t want to take it into air but he ran outta runway. Full of fuel. Vertical stab is a fuel tank too.  

[Grumpy Bear]

On 11/4/2025 at 11:40 PM, txab said:

 

 

I saw last night the death toll is now 12 with 16 missing. Crew was only 3. That was allot of fuel. Will be interesting what the authorities find out. Truly sad event. 

[customboss]

1 hour ago, Grumpy Bear said:

 

I saw last night the death toll is now 12 with 16 missing. Crew was only 3. That was allot of fuel. Will be interesting what the authorities find out. Truly sad event. 

40,000 gallons if I recall. 

Edited November 6, 2025 by customboss

[Atlas]

Interesting that the FAA decided the day after the crash to reduce commercial flights by 10%, stating they are doing it to maintain air safety. Pray for our air traffic controllers in these difficult times. They need relief.

[customboss]

 

By Josh Evans 

 

Stephens Ford Flathead OHV conversion is one of the rarest and most fascinating performance adaptations ever developed for Ford’s famous Flathead V8. During the late 1940s and early 1950s, before Ford introduced its own overhead-valve engines, several independent engineers and speed equipment companies designed conversions to give the side-valve Flathead more breathing ability. Among these innovators was Bill Stephens, who developed a unique overhead-valve (OHV) cylinder head conversion that dramatically improved the Flathead’s performance and efficiency while maintaining its original block design.

Stephens’ conversion was designed to solve one of the Flathead’s biggest limitations restricted airflow caused by its valve-in-block layout. By moving the valves to the cylinder heads, the conversion allowed for more efficient combustion, higher compression ratios, and increased power output. The system replaced the original L-head cast-iron heads with custom aluminum heads that featured pushrod-actuated overhead valves, a rocker shaft assembly, and redesigned combustion chambers. This gave the Flathead characteristics similar to later overhead-valve V8s while retaining the iconic Ford block.

The Stephens OHV setup was produced in extremely limited numbers, primarily for racing applications and high-performance enthusiasts. It was seen as a competitor to other conversions of the era, such as the Ardun (designed by Zora Arkus-Duntov) and the Navarro OHV kits. However, the Stephens design was unique because it used a crossflow configuration, meaning the intake and exhaust ports were on opposite sides of the head, improving airflow and reducing heat buildup a common issue with traditional Flatheads.

Mechanically, a Stephens-converted Flathead could easily produce over 160 to 200 horsepower, depending on compression and carburetion a major improvement over the roughly 100 horsepower of the stock engine. Builders often paired the conversion with dual or triple carburetors, a high-lift camshaft, and custom headers to take full advantage of the improved breathing. The result was a smooth, powerful, and durable engine capable of competing with early overhead-valve V8s from Cadillac and Oldsmobile.

Today, a Ford Flathead with a Stephens OHV conversion is considered an extremely rare and valuable piece of hot rod history. Few complete examples survive, and when they appear at shows or auctions, they draw significant attention from collectors and historians. The Stephens conversion stands as a testament to the ingenuity of early American engine builders, who pushed the limits of what was possible with the original Ford Flathead design long before factory overhead-valve engines became the norm.

[asilverblazer]

On 11/6/2025 at 10:33 AM, Atlas said:

Pray for our air traffic controllers in these difficult times.

To whom, your "false... fairytale" God?

[Grumpy Bear]

3 hours ago, asilverblazer said:

To whom, your "false... fairytale" God?

 

Atheist I assume. An Agnostic believes he exist but doesn't care about his creation? Am I close?  

 

 

Edited November 8, 2025 by Grumpy Bear

[Grumpy Bear]

I noted on the news last night the death count is now 13 with 9 missing. Found a few? 

[OnTheReel]

Looks like UPS and FedEx grounded their fleets of MD-11, at least temporarily. Antiques that probably should have been retired years ago. But UPS especially penny pinches like nobody else. Have a few friends there and it does take a tragedy to get anything fixed.