Martin Downey

Aeronautical Engineer, Human Factors nerd, mountain bike nut, budding Audax rider, trail running addict, ADHD advocate, husband, dad.

[Martin Downey @martin_downey]

@farman4x 121

[Martin Downey @martin_downey]

@100Climbs Waiting for the telephone to ring?

[Martin Downey @martin_downey]

@100Climbs @bikeradar I do like a Rohloff. One chainring and 14 evenly spaced gears at the back.

[Martin Downey @martin_downey]

@PaulSuttonKing Swansea University Singleton Campus

[Martin Downey @martin_downey]

@RaySand17710097 The hottest June temperature ever recorded in GB?

[Martin Downey @martin_downey]

@_ZachGriff @Qantas I’m loving the safety moccasins.

[Martin Downey @martin_downey]

@illnevercallitx @RTL_com At least he has tiny little hands…

[Martin Downey @martin_downey]

@CorkTruckDriver I learned how to build VW engines from an old chap called Bob Groves who had been an engineer in the British Army and worked to get the Wolfsburg plant going after the war. He built the race engines for the VW Beetles that dominated the 1959 Circuit of Ireland rally.

[Martin Downey @martin_downey]

@jumpjim @jonostrower The mod entered serial production several years ago; this aircraft is less than a year old.

[Martin Downey @martin_downey]

@hicasamadim 72

[Martin Downey @martin_downey]

@PrincepsPinat 31 of these aircraft were produced for Indian Airlines, not Air India (although they eventually became Air India). The last one retired in around 2018. I’m quite familiar with this landing gear - I worked in the design office.

[Martin Downey @martin_downey]

@MasqueradeBalla @DonalK1981 @Shauns_Aviation Damaged sensors are actually fairly straightforward to fix. Damage to primary structure could take the airframe out of service for months or even render it beyond economical repair.

[Martin Downey @martin_downey]

@MasqueradeBalla @Shauns_Aviation Looking at where they were striking the wing, it would appear that they have worked that one out already.

[Martin Downey @martin_downey]

@BLackgold_5 A330/A340

[Martin Downey @martin_downey]

@fl360aero No post-crash fire, so that’s something…

[Martin Downey @martin_downey]

@BlickyIan I did fleet technical management at VIR and CPA on Airbus mechanical systems. I was back working at VIR just before COVID kicked in, and said goodbye to the final 3 aircraft. Deep down the A330/A340 is my baby, but there’s been plenty of heartbreak along the way 😉

[Martin Downey @martin_downey]

@solliekw @PrincepsPinat The running joke was that the (then revolutionary) auto land was so accurate that the NLG was offset to avoid running over the runway centerline lights.

[Martin Downey @martin_downey]

@airmainengineer Revolving restaurant.

[Martin Downey @martin_downey]

@niko13160 @Fahadnaimb Never underestimate China’s capabilities, especially when the government thrown its efforts behind something.