Jalopnik - Obsessed with the culture of cars

Why Many Modern Electric Trains Stick With Diesel Engines Over Power Lines Or Batteries

staff@jalopnik.com (Benjamin Gracias) — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 17:05:00 +0000

Despite recent advancements in battery technology and electrification, most freight trains in the U.S. still rely on diesel engines. Here's why.

FAA Tries To Convince Gamers To Become Air Traffic Controllers With Manic Ad Campaign

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 22:04:57 +0000

According to the FAA, gamers have "demonstrated high cognitive functions." Uh, say that after you try playing Call of Duty with a squad of stoned randos.

Don't Expect Air Travel To Get Cheaper Anytime Soon

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:17:04 +0000

Regardless of the ceasefire status, oil production and refinery damage mean that the cost of traveling by plane isn't likely to come down for several months.

Gas Prices Are Bad, But Diesel Prices Are Even Worse — And Much Closer To Breaking All-Time Record Highs

staff@jalopnik.com (Logan K. Carter) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:00:14 +0000

The price of diesel fuel is nearing all-time-record highs, which has broad implications for increasing prices and operational costs in all sorts of industries.

Ope! We've Got Another Plane Baby!

staff@jalopnik.com (Collin Woodard) — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:15:58 +0000

This time around, the plane baby showed up on a Caribbean Airlines flight from Jamaica to New York.

Subaru Boxer Engines Keep Showing Up In Small Airplanes: Here's Why

staff@jalopnik.com (Nico DeMattia) — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:25:00 +0000

The Subaru EJ engines seem to have caught the eyes of people building experimental light aircraft at home, but why are they so well suited to the job?

We Can't Decide If James Brown's Lincoln Mark III Or His Learjet Has More '70s Swagger

staff@jalopnik.com (Brian Corey) — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 15:25:00 +0000

He was the first Black American to own a private plane and also had a beautiful Lincoln Continental. Which was cooler? Read the story, then take our poll.

These Airport Buses Would've Changed The Way We Board Airplanes

staff@jalopnik.com (Shane Schmid) — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 15:25:00 +0000

Airplanes require some creative thinking to get passengers on board. In 1982, a company in Hungary sought to provide a bus-style alternative to gangways.

U.S.-Iran War Is Stranding Sailors In The Strait Of Hormuz

staff@jalopnik.com (Justin Hughes) — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 21:18:42 +0000

Around 2,000 ships are stranded in the Persian Gulf, according to the United Nations, with over 20,000 civilians on them.

Apache Helicopters Flew Over Kid Rock's House After No Kings Protest And Pete Hegseth Says 'Carry On'

staff@jalopnik.com (Ryan Erik King) — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:35:21 +0000

The scheduling of Saturday's training flight might have been a coincidence, but the actions of the pilots once they climbed into the cockpit weren't.

Why Do Most Cruise Ships Have Diesel Engines?

staff@jalopnik.com (Kiran Menon) — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:25:00 +0000

You've probably heard about pollution from cruise ships' engines, but why do they usually run on diesel, and how are they cleaning up their act?

United Airlines Unveils Ultra-Premium Coastliner Airbus A321neo For Cross-Country Routes

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 22:25:00 +0000

This is all in keeping with the airline's United Next strategy, in which it tries to position itself as a premium travel offering.

You Could Book A First-Class Airline Ticket That Turns Out To Be On A Bus Instead Of A Plane

staff@jalopnik.com (Logan K. Carter) — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:00:00 +0000

The primary miscommunication appears to be caused by folks using third-party booking sites that don't show the fine print clearly.

Elon Musk Could Legally Help Struggling TSA Agents Get Paid With This One Weird Trick

staff@jalopnik.com (Collin Woodard) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:19:56 +0000

As far as I can tell, there's no law that would prevent Musk from donating to a union's worker hardship fund, even as a federal contractor.

Florida Man Crashes Ford Mustang Through Airport Fence, Nearly Hits A Taxiing Plane, Then Tries Entering It

staff@jalopnik.com (Logan K. Carter) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:08:19 +0000

Using his Mustang to crash through a fence, a "highly-intoxicated" Florida man tried to gain access to multiple planes on the taxiway at Daytona International.

Trump Rejects Another Offer To Pay TSA Agents, This Time From Elon Musk Himself

staff@jalopnik.com (Collin Woodard) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:06:39 +0000

Believe it or not, the suggestion here is that the Trump administration decided not to take Elon's money over legal concerns.

United Airlines Will Give You A Lie-Flat Bed — If You Buy Three Economy Seats

staff@jalopnik.com (Ryan Erik King) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 19:44:36 +0000

United plans on offering Relax Row seating on over 200 Boeing 787 and 777 planes by 2030.

LaGuardia's Runway Warning System Didn't Activate Before Fatal Crash Because The Firetruck Didn't Have A Transponder

staff@jalopnik.com (Andy Kalmowitz) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:23:06 +0000

One element that certainly remains unclear right now is why the fire truck made the decision to cross the runway.

What Are The Biggest Differences Between Jet Drive And Sterndrive Boat Engines?

staff@jalopnik.com (Shane Schmid) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 01:25:00 +0000

Jet drive and sterndrive engines differ in more than just how they're propelled. Each has strengths and weaknesses that make it better for specific scenarios.

Delta Tells Congress To Get Bent, Suspends Perks Amid Partial Government Shutdown

staff@jalopnik.com (Andy Kalmowitz) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:55:21 +0000

Congress is going to have to fly like the rest of us Joe Jerkoffs until it finds a way to fund the TSA.