Comments on: Take flight, Grasshopper

By: Matthew Ota

Matthew Ota — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 08:31:33 +0000

Yes, partial pressurization in the Environmental Control system. That is why the pilots were wondering if hypoxia had settled in. I remember an altitude chamber run at Reese AFB in 1980 where I got a taste of hypoxia at a simulated altitude of 10,000 feet. Just like getting drunk.
But I declined to reenlist so I did not get my 20 minute joy ride. Left the USAF as a Sergeant…..after 4 years.

By: Bob Munck

Bob Munck — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:04:43 +0000

He took a duck in the face at two hundred and fifty knots.

By: LarianLeQuella

LarianLeQuella — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:44:56 +0000

This was a Standard USAF T-38 from Laughlin AFB, in Del Rio, TX. Since Pilot training has changed since I was there, the student (if it was indeed a student as opposed to a dual IP flight) was on the fighter/bomber track (since students going to “heavies” fly the T-1). Also, the T-38 only has a partial pressurization system. Pilots have to wear the mask to fly. (I can’t recall the pressurization rate, but “cabin” altitude is pretty much always over 10,000 feet.) He was inside the whole time (besides, at the speeds the T-38 goes, there is no way he could have hung on in the slip stream).

Any other questions I can answer? Remember, the last time I flew a T-38 was in the spring of 1994!

By: Mark Hansen

Mark Hansen — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:37:16 +0000

Their debugging software needs some serious upgrading.

By: Michael L

Michael L — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:47:49 +0000

The T-38 also acts as a Shuttle pilot trainer. I wonder if this was a Shuttle Pilot?

By: Marcia

Marcia — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:37:36 +0000

I put T-38 into wikipedia, and this was one of the results: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slingsby_T.38_Grasshopper

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:13:46 +0000

I for one welcome our insect overlords, and as a respected person in the media I can help round up people to work in the sugar caves.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:02:47 +0000

Ha, beat me to it, Sir Eccles.

Also…

That’s no insect, that’s and insectoid UFO and clearly we are being invaded! The audio was dubbed to cover up the conspiracy!

By: Chip

Chip — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:01:08 +0000

That has to be a highest grasshopper on record, though with some help for a different species (known as “pilots.”)

Anecdotal, but this isn’t the highest an insect has gone above Earth on its own. I don’t know the type but there is apparently a tiny spider that spins a long strand and catches the wind. This insect has been found on jet fuselages after landing and (the story goes) “nose cones” after reentry.

By: John McBryde

John McBryde — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:36:53 +0000

Wayne-
As I see it the grasshopper is just in front of the Heads Up Display (HUD) which is on the top of the panel inside the cockpit.
The T38 is a pressurized cockpit but I am unsure if it is oxygenated (the crew wear oxygen masks), this may explain the hypoxia comment.

By: Sir Eccles

Sir Eccles — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:19:45 +0000

Only one quote seems approriate.

“And I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords” Kent Brockman

By: Cairnos

Cairnos — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:01:11 +0000

@ Jose – Not only is it wrong but you can’t assume that the test results will be applicable to later human consumers of the product, everyone knows that lab testing on animals is unreliable. For all we know gravity may have a completely different effect on grasshoppers than it does on human systems

By: JB of Brisbane

JB of Brisbane — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:57:22 +0000

Two comments –

1. What’s the last thing that goes through a grasshopper’s mind as he hits your windshield?
His butt.

2. If you think the correct spelling for parakeet is hard, try budgerigar (that’s why we Aussies call them budgies).

By: IVAN3MAN

IVAN3MAN — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:42:57 +0000

Master Kan: “To suppress a truth, is to give it force beyond endurance.”

Master Po: “Yet it is eyes which blind the man… Because a man can see, he does not look.”

By: Wayne

Wayne — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:39:54 +0000

I admit I’m not that familiar with T-38s or any jet aircraft for that matter, but it was my understanding that the grasshopper was not inside the cockpit (note the reference to it not being hypoxic yet). Obviously, it’s not in the airstream or it would be blown off, so can anyone explain exactly where the critter is? My thought was some sort of unpressurized housing for the camera, but I didn’t catch all the technobabble.

By: IVAN3MAN

IVAN3MAN — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:35:31 +0000

Todd W.:

What, no David Carradine references yet?

By: The Chemist

The Chemist — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:18:08 +0000

“I’ve had with these motherfraking grasshoppers on this motherfraking plane”

Cardoso wins the internets!

By: Todd W.

Todd W. — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:09:21 +0000

What, no David Carradine references yet?

By: Joe Meils

Joe Meils — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:06:00 +0000

Grasshopper: Wah HOOOOOooooooo!

Grasshopper: (alternate, to other grasshoppers) Here, hold my beer, and watch what I can do!

By: Michael L

Michael L — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:14:02 +0000

@Todd W>:

That’s it! I’m calling Pamela Anderson!

By: Todd W.

Todd W. — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:11:28 +0000

@Michael L

How petty.

By: Michael L

Michael L — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:06:07 +0000

I’m a member of P.E.T.I (People For the Ethical Treatment of Insects)…

My fellow PETI posse is not amused. We’ll be protesting this…

By: Larian LeQuella

Larian LeQuella — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:47:35 +0000

Doh! BUSTED!

Although, the AF has a policy of “Continual Education” that every person should endeavour to follow. So, I am only following that regulation and getting a continuing education here!

By: John Paradox

John Paradox — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:47:11 +0000

It’s the Beginning Of The End

J/P=?

Getting all Mistie….

By: Todd W.

Todd W. — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:23:42 +0000

@IVAN3MAN

Goofing off at work, eh?

No one on here would ever do that. Nope. Not a one.