Happy New Year all

Good evening Guys,

Thanks for the posts, hope everyone had a nice New Year eve and a hangover free day yesterday.

My last bet was Saturday lunchtime (the Nicky Henderson shortie) and looking at cards for the next few days, it will probably be this weekend before my next one, so i may start the 2024 thread then.

Lucky Luciano

Thanks, a quiet one last night, i didn't bother going into München centre, the weather wasn't so good and my daughter is in Edinburgh with her boyfriend for a few days. There are restrictions on fireworks (21.00-02.00) in the Marienplatz area anyway, although i could see several displays from where i am.

A visit to the Küblers stable syndicate open day is not definite, but if i don't go, i expect a comprehensive report on our horse.

I'm back home in Linköping on 26th for the weekend, and over to Ireland for the 2 day DRF on Feb 2nd, it looks like a decent meeting, as it generally is. There's also the Clarence House Chase at Ascot on 20th where El Fabiolo is a possible runner, but as much as i would like to go, it's probably unlikely. 

Happysandwich

I did find a cheap mode of travel to Bristol, Flix-Bus and National Express on the return. Flix-Bus are as cheap as chips, certainly compared with NE, but not bad, i can recommend them, or Mega-Bus that i have used before.

WD with the 2023 profit.

Have a nice Tuesday evening all.

This is what I mean, I asked for £25 e/w for Saturday and immediately get pushed back for 50p e/w. Sick.

Good afternoon Guys,

A public holiday (Epiphany) in many European countries including Germany with most shops closed as a consequence, so a stay home day with ITV4 racing for me and a chance to post a few words.

Trusty/PHS thank you for the posts. Limitation of betting stakes and financial checks are a recurring theme in the UK gambling industry that is slowly drowning in a self-conceived cess-pit and a real threat to the sport of horse racing we love.

We are all aware online bookmakers are only interested in casino game players and even placing a bet on the high street is not what it used to be in bygone days, i know this from personal experience (requests for ID at Korals and PP when placing a few bob on). I doubt it will improve in future either, the only answer is a complete overhaul across the spectrum, not only with bookmakers, otherwise it will go the same way as Greyhound racing.

Inclement weather has played its part in course abandonments this afternoon; what's left is not so welcoming and it's very doubtful i will be backing anything, in fact my previous bet was a week ago in a Newbury hurdle.

I thought a Paul Nicholls runner, Individualiste at his local track Wincanton (3.15) was a lay, even though he won by 16L at Taunton LTO. The race basically fell apart, the form is questionable and it was only 6 days ago. Has to contend with heavy going that will be really stamina stretching, up in trip and class in what looks to be a very open handicap. Currently trading around 3.50.

Good luck and have a nice Saturday all.

Changing topic, regular readers know i work in the military and civil aerospace industry, and a few posters have shown interest, so i occasionally post a few muses of information.

Several days ago, we all saw media reports of the Japan Airlines Airbus A350-941 that collided with a Japan Coast Guard DHC-8-315Q MPA turboprop aircraft on the runway at Tokyo-Haneda Airport. It appears to have been a ATC issue as the latter, much smaller aircraft should not have been situated where it was. Sadly 5 of the 6 crew died, but miraculously, all occupants of the Airbus aircraft survived.

Before any aircraft can fly, it has to be approved by regulatory authorities (i.e. EASA in Europe or FAA in USA). Part of the certification process for 44+ pax configurations is an emergency evacuation test where all occupants (including crew) have to egress the aircraft in less than 90 seconds using 50% of the exits (others are blocked off). There are many factors involved with this test and i don't have time to describe them all, but you can see videos on You-Tube. One example :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_8hbsWKoOU

What made the 100% survival rate all the more astonishing, of the 8 emergency exits in an Airbus A350, only 3 (L1, R1 and L4) were used due to external fire. The aircraft has a significant amount of composites used in manufacture of the fuselage, including interior lining that has to pass stringent flammability tests, therefore buying valuable time for the evacuation, in fact, the pilot was the last person to leave, 20 minutes after the aircraft stopped. Testament to superb design of the aircraft and professionalism of the cabin crew.

Conversely, another aircraft i have mentioned here before (not in a positive light) the Boeing 737-MAX is in the news again. All operators of the aircraft have been requested to check the rudder control system as 2 airlines have discovered a bolt without an associated nut, clearly indicating lack of quality control during manufacture.

On a more serious note, yesterday, an Alaska Airlines was subject to a decompression during ascent at 16,000 ft when a mid-cabin emergency exit 'blew-out' leaving a large aperture in the fuselage. Oxygen masks were automatically deployed (common practice in such an event) and a young boy sitting directly next to the exit had his T shirt torn completely away due to pressure; h was very lucky to be wearing a seat belt. Other passengers lost mobile phones.

Alaska Airlines have subsequently grounded all Boeing 737-MAX aircraft and the FAA are investigating, not for the first time with this aircraft type.

Came across this from TheAnorak, 'Premierisation' was the final straw for him as an owner

https://www.simonnott.co.uk/blog-racing/professional-punter-but-now-ex-owner-replies

Good evening Guys,

A chilly (-3c) München with snow on the ground.

Lampus

Thanks.

George

Thanks, i hadn't seen the Simon Nott article until you posted, but i knew Alan had given away Eagle Court and is giving up on ownership. He still can't post on here, but i keep in contact with him via email. The prize money comparison is just one of the negatives in the racing industry these days and Alan is not the only one packing the game in.

Tommy

Thanks, i'm an aircraft nerd 1st and massive racing fan 2nd, all stemming from 11+ years living on a RAF camp in Cornwall and then Bristol where my dad was at BAC Filton (home of Concorde, although he didn't work on it). This led me to a lifetime in the aerospace industry, worldwide.

More on the Boeing 373MAX, as suspected the FAA have temporarily grounded all US registered models (the -9 variant) for a mandatory inspection. In my opinion the fault will be in the attachments used to install the exit panel on the skin, possibly a quality inspection issue. This incident could have been far worse if it had occurred at a cruise altitude of 39,000ft instead of 16,000ft during an ascent, the cabin pressure would have been much higher and it's even possible the child that only lost his T shirt, could have been sucked out of the aircraft.

The aircraft is possibly the most scrutinised ever, but for valid reason and i've stated before i will not fly on it, at least until it's had a couple of years with incident free service.

Have a nice Sunday evening all.

^

No Airman ever lived in the same MQ for 11+ years never mind had a posting for so long at a defunct Station in the 70s, far less a Sac clothing storeman. hth

Are you snowed in Adnrew.

Where is Andrew, have he stopped posting.

Thank you Andrew, missing your posts.

Busy plane spotting at St Eval. (closed in 1959) hth

Deary me !

Change the narrative to fit your earlier BS, no previous mention of Of St Mawgan which is in Wales btw and where I did a few courses, never near Cornwall. As for 11+ years in AMQ, no airman ever had a posting of that length never mind staying in AMQ at a closed base (1959) or a disbanded command 1969.

Simple facts that are irrebuttable and the difference between you and I as you point out is that I mentioned St Mawgan on here over a decade ago and posted my certificates of service and unlike you I did not have to google unlike you did. You started with lies regarding Coastal Command at St Eval and 11 years in AMQ in the 70s probably thinking nobody would pickup on the fact it did not exist after 1969 and St Eval closed in 59.

You said you became obsessed with aircraft at the base, there were none after 59 based there, so tell us what porkies I have told regarding this or rebut the facts?

TIA

Little hint for you,beware the trip up of Saints!!

Too late you did!!

Still disbanded 1969!! FACT, no aircraft based there from 1959!!

Your tolerance is amazing Andrew but probably wasted.

Bit confused.
So is st mawgan in wales or Cornwall  cg

Ah ,I thought you said it was in wales ,and you had done a few courses there