Weird indeed. If you hit enter on the link again, it loads the page.

Video: Boeing 787 Crosswind Testing

Of the 1,800-plus hours Boeing 787 test pilots have flown so far, few are as dramatic as the recent trip to Iceland for crosswind testing. The 787 team flew to Keflavik airport after weather forecasts indicated conditions most pilots try to avoid — wind across the runway.

Boeing pilots made several takeoffs and landings on Runway 02 with winds of 30 knots, gusting to 39 from a heading of 120 degrees. This gave the 787 Dreamliner flight test team what it was looking for — nearly perpendicular winds at or exceeding speeds most airlines consider the limit for landing.

...

For most pilots, whether a student pilot or a veteran airline captain, making a good landing is matter of pride and something that is never guaranteed. Crosswind landings are typically among the most challenging.

Airport runways typically are normally aligned with the prevailing winds to make landings a bit easier, and many airports have runways aligned in different directions to account for changing wind. But the wind doesn’t always cooperate and at some point, every pilot has to make a landing with the wind blowing perpendicular to the runway.

The video of the huge Airbus A380 doing a crosswind landing is also amazing. Plus check out the last video:

The work performed by test pilots to find the limits of an airplane while landing in a crosswind are put to the test from time to time. In the video below, pilots of an Airbus A320 are attempting to land in Hamburg where winds were reported to be 35 knots, gusting to 47 roughly 60 degrees across the runway. The limit for a direct crosswind for the Airbus A320 is 33 knots, gusting 38.

While the co-pilot (who was flying during the landing) is de-crabbing close to the runway, left aileron input is applied and the left wing touches the runway, damaging the wing tip. The crew immediately elected to perform a go around. The airplane safely landed on a different runway more closely aligned with the wind about 20 minutes later.

After the A320's wingtip hits the runway, the wind blows the plane off the runway to the side (I'm not sure if it was completely back in the air at this point).

As I'm reading here and on FriendFeed.com, I'll often open a link in a new tab. Sometimes, ADDish, I forget to check it out 'til 20 min later. So I just saw this cool story and I'd like to share it with people but I'm in serious danger of sharing it with the people who shared it with me because I can't remember which person on which board linked to it! *headsmack*

Ha! I'm in the clear. I got the link off Twitter!

How our cities come to reflect the shallow, soulless people we Americans have become: [link]

I am not worried about any of the Top 5 Parent Worries, and am worried about some of the actual worries. Does that mean I win something? (I mean, I don't drive for a reason, people.)

Anyone want to see a medieval fortress being built? [link]

Snipers? Really? Or is that poor NPR-speak for "guns in schools"?

I am not worried about any of the Top 5 Parent Worries, and am worried about some of the actual worries. Does that mean I win something?

Right?

Yeah, aurelia. I totally want to go to that place.

Does that mean I win something?

Sanity? I'm picturing a nice certificate with a big red "SANE" stamped across it a la the Simpsons.