New Delhi Chronicle later reports US claims it’s a plane. US military – not a credible information source – has always denied the existence of ET spacecraft therefore if not a plane, missile, weather balloon, or swamp gas, it’s unidentified. UFO.

It’s obviously not a plane, as one can see at :38 in the RT video, there is a bright flame at the head of the exhaust plume, and the object has a skyward trajectory. Compare to any stock footage of a shuttle launch. Experts around the world say it’s a missile. Whose missile, is unknown. UFO.

Four engines is not necessarily safer than two. Twice the number of moving parts means more risks of failure of one engine. Moreover, a four-engine plane is going to have a very hard time to stay aloft on two, especially if they fail on the same side.

The new twin-engine airliners have a lot of power and can actually climb easily on one engine.

Sure, the comfort of modern airliners has come down, but for many airlines, it's that or going belly up, not a matter of making more profits. Let's face it, airline tickets are extremely cheap, considering the alternatives. If crossing the Atlantic for $500 seems too much to anyone, they live in a fantasy land. Fat passengers? Easy, charge by the pound, problem solved. The days of luxury ocean liners are over; their customers paid a fortune to cross an ocean, not a mere few hundred dollars. You get what you pay for..

20 years old is nothing for an airplane. Airlines have strict maintenance programs. I feel more comfortable in an older plane that has had all the bugs ironed out than in a brand new one. I probably won't board a Dreamliner until it has flown at least a year..

"Terrorism [a real eminent threat to any one who travels regardless of the particular mode of transport]" Are you kidding me? That threat is practically nonexistent. Terrorists are much less likely to target a plane today than before 9/11. They know passengers won't stand for it, even if it means risking their lives to take the bad guys down. Airport security, while not perfect, is better.

I am convinced that flying is safer than ever, and keeps getting safer. Every accident is analyzed and airplanes are upgraded consequently all the time. What other industry can claim that?

One thing the article does not mention is, because BSFC is so much lower, the helicopter's range can be improved pretty radically. I'm curious how the added torque specifically affects the performance of the helicopter. I imagine a higher top speed but not a particularly stellar climb rate. Thoughts?