>> I am guessing this accounts for the fact that he couldn't turn the afterburners off until he had lifted off: he didn't have the time to fiddle enough with th

>> I am guessing this accounts for the fact that he couldn't turn the afterburners off until he had lifted off: he didn't have the time to fiddle enough with the controls. Yes, his survival instincts were correct choosing priorities of what to solve first. >>That must be what people mean when they talk about "flying by the seat of your pants" XD Yes, its butt-flying!