I got my A&P in 1984 and worked on super constellations and a C46 among other planes in “corrosion corner” at MIA while attending eastern airline pilot entry program that had me shooting approaches at “dade/collier training and transition” (everglades jetport)………until eastern airlines employees went on strike and effectively ended their own careers and my own path to ATP.
On a side note, that airstrip may become a prison soon.
My last two “careers” had me running Blue Streak america where we tested and rebuilt electronic control units for cars.
I worked on the side fabricating and designing systems for the fastest street driven cars on the planet and testing aerodynamic packages at KSC’s shuttle landing facility after we list access to everglades jetport.
I met the future owner of N13HP (sea fury and with 3350) during an event at everglades jetport and found some interest when I proposed modern engine management and data logging but he crashed on his second flight.
My life experience has always been about getting the most out of a vehicle and I spend a lot of time in the training arena to get better climb, speed, and fuel economy than people who haven’t spent the time doing so.
Experience also tells me that HTCs modeling of aircraft performance is exceptional and surely represents huge amounts of work and research to arrive where the sim is now.
If the modeling here wasn’t accurate, then I wouldn’t be able to enjoy better speed and economy at the same time to the point that people complain.
Keep upping those bombers and you will eventually find an I16 at 30k feet making a single guns pass on you.
Plane performance is one thing but flying a proper intercept is something rare in the arenas.