My name is Benjamin Zhang, and I’m a transportation correspondent for Business Insider who covers Airbus, Boeing, and international airlines. I have also driven and reviewed hundreds of cars. AMA!

Do the wheels on the airbus go round and round?

Indeed they do.

Do you think SpaceX's plans of Earth-to-Earth commercial rocket travel (e.g. traveling from one continent to another in 30 minutes) is at all realistic?

It sounds interesting. However, I don't cover SpaceX, so I don't know much about it. I'd ask Insider's Dave Mosher about it. He's the expert.

What do you see to be the future of air travel? Are we ever going to get SuperSonics like the Concorde or more twin engine long haulers like the 777/ a350?

The market is dictated by what consumers are will to pay for. For what I see, the future is about quieter, more fuel-efficient aircraft. Until, supersonic airliners can fly the same route as their subsonic rivals at equal or similar costs, it's going to be 777s and A350s from here on out.

Which car had the worst drive feel?

Out of everything you've driven, what would you drive in a zombie apalcolypse and why?

Generally, big pickup trucks apart from the RAM 1500 are not great to drive, but then again they aren't designed to be "fun to drive."

​

As for the zombie apocalypse, The Toyota Land Cruiser is the only choice. It's the toughest and most robustly built vehicle in the world.

I am a huge fan of aviation and have probably studied every single aviation disaster in history and the reasons are almost always organization, coordination and communication more so than design. What current aviation practice do you think is the most likely to lead to the next big aviation disaster ?

It's tough to say. I don't think the industry is paying enough attention to fume events.

With the negative coverage of Boeing in recent months, what is your opinion on built quality in comparison to Airbus? I am in no way an expert whatsoever and this is purely anecdotal and could be very well biased given that I am an American, but most pilots I have talked to say that Boeing still delivers a more quality product all around. I am interested in what someone who knows both companies believes.

Also, do you see an end to the duopoly of Airbus/Boeing in the future?

Both Airbus and Boeing have proven that they can build quality planes. Especially when both OEMs source of many of the same component suppliers. Traditionally, Boeing's philosophy has been to focus on giving control to the pilots and letting the tech be there to help. While Airbus has been more tech-centric and that pilots play more of an oversight role. Which is why a lot of pilots especially in the US love their Boeings.

​

With the Boeing-Embraer JV and the Airbus acquisition of the Bombardier C Series, the duopoly is only getting stronger. There are now zero true rivals for the two.

Which cars have the best auto pilot?

Cadillac Supercruise works well.

What is your favorite automaker and why is it Subaru?

I really like Subaru. a strong brand with great cars. It's not my favorite. To think of it, I don't actually have a favorite brand.

What is your favorite plane?

The Boeing 747. The jumbo jet is still the Queen of the Skies.

Hey Benjamin! Thanks for doing an AMA!

What do you think about the rise of budget airlines in the US?

Budget airlines in the US have brought down airfares in a lot of markets. It's helped democratize air travel in the US. People who would have traditionally driven or spend days on a bus are now flying. So they've certainly done some good.

Hi Benjamin! How familiar are you with the Comac C919? Do you think it has the potential to challenge the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320?

The C919 is China's first true attempt at a modern mainline airliner. It's not going to a viable challenger for Airbus or Boeing. However, a successor to the 919 may be.

Which middle eastern airline do you think is the best based on the price and quality it provides at that price?

Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways all have really impressive product. I've only had the chance to fly Emirates and they delivered a solid experience at an affordable price.

Do you have any air travel tips?

Prepare your body for jet lag ahead of a long trip. Start adjusting your sleep and eating schedule to match your destination days before your trip. Your body can only adjust 1.5 hours a day to time shifts.

Thanks for responding. As a new driver, is there anything that I should know about cars?

There are very few really bad new cars out there. Also, certified pre-owned is a good deal.

Any jobs going doing what you do?

Business Insider is actually hiring for an airline reporter. Check our careers page.

How exactly did you acquire this job? What led up to you being able to do this?

I applied to be an intern in early 2014 and have been here ever since.

What's your daily driver?

My daily driver is a 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan 4Motion that I never drive. I take the subway to work and I drive test cars on the weekend.

If you never drive it, is there a particular reason you keep it around?

My fiance drives it.

What airline is the most worth it?

Depends on what you are looking for in an airline.

What should we be looking for in an airline? What makes some airlines stand out from the others?

Look for a strong safety record, strong customer support (i.e. they are really responsive to people online), and have a reputation for great service.

Do you think the mystery of MH370 could be solved?

Unlikely.

The best car you have ever driven? Personal opinion, driveability etc.

I've loved every Porsche 911 I've ever drive. Brilliant around corners, fast in a straight line, and easy to live with.

Does your last name mean "Excellent! 👍" in Cantonese?

Have you ever flown a plane and given a review of it like a car review?

How do you keep your sentence structures fresh in your writing?

I don't speak Cantonese, but from what I know, it does not mean excellent. I although I think my last name is excellent.

I've flown simulators but never actual planes. I wouldn't trust myself at the controls of an airplane. Unsafe at any altitude.

I read. Taking in the writings of others is a great way to infuse your writing with fresh diction and syntax.

How far off do electric planes seem to you? Any other "cleaner" fuels for planes like biofuels or hydrogen fuel cells in development?

There are many in the industry working on electric and hybrid electric commercial airliners right now. JetBlue and Boeing actually invested in a startup called Zunum Aero. They are working on a hybrid/electric regional airliners. Weight remains a big hurdle and batteries are heavy.

What are your thoughts on the long term future of the Max 8? Now that it's dirty laundry has been extensively aired and revealed to be due to short cuts and the bottom line, will this significantly alter confidence in the product and upcoming purchases? There hasn't been much coverage yet, either, regarding how the Airlines really feel about the product they purchased and all its 'quirks'.

The long term future of the 737 Max is unclear. It really depends on whether Boeing can really come up with an effective fix and how short the traveling public's attention span is. At this point, Boeing has a backlog of more than 4,000 737 Max aircraft on the books, they won't be short on cash as long as they can deliver them.

Airlines are all about the dollars and cents. If the plane is safe, passengers are cool with the plane, and the crew feels safe, the 737 Max will still make economic sense.

We just bought a Nissan Rogue; what are your thoughts on the car?

Well designed, comfortable, fuel efficient. good cargo capacity. Good choice.

What’s your favorite weird quirk or cool feature from either a car or plain?

I'm a fan of the augmented reality landing systems that many private jets and airliners have. I believe it's called synthetic vision.

What do you think of self driving cars?

They are really cool. But probably a decade or more away from being truly viable.

What's one thing most people don't know about flying on private jets?

The comfy seats are nice, but the biggest advantage of private jets is the convenience. Imagine having a plane that operates on your schedule? It goes when you are ready. Definitely a power move.

What is according to you the best car in terms of fuel efficiency without sacrifice in safety?

I don't think high fuel efficiency sacrifices safety, even in a smaller vehicle. There are tons out there that deliver tremendous economy with great safety ratings like the Honda Accord Hybrid, Honda Insight, and Lexus ES300h.

Dude, you went to UGA right? I think I knew you.

I did go to UGA. Go Dawgs

A lot of auto makers are moving factories outside the US. Do you think people really care about where their vehicles are built?

That's not technically true. US automakers are shutting down factories in the midwest and the northeast. But the auto manufacturing sector is strong in the south. Alabama has Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Hyundai. South Carolina has BMW, Volvo, and Mercedes-Benz Vans. Georgia has Kia. Tennesee has Nissan and Volkswagen.

​

US automakers have built plants in foreign markets, but that's to build cars sold locally or within that region. It's much more feasible financially for them. Also, local production helps support growth in the local market. Which is why Honda makes Civics in Ohio and Toyota builds Camrys in Kentucky.

Hey Benjamin! I’m currently studying to be a part of the aviation industry (B. Sc.) in firms focused on the administration of either airports or airlines.

Do you think any will have more negotiation power/leverage than the other in the future or will a new business model prevail for air travel?

Thanks :)

I think both industries will continue to evolve. Not sure which side will have more leverage. Sorry, I wish I had more.

Will Comac be able to challenge Boeing and Airbus in the coming 10 years?

No. Not even if the Chinese government forces the state-owned airlines to take them.

Since you've done a boatload of car reviews - what cars do you own?

And what would you want to own if price did not matter?

I own a 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan 4Motion and 2000 Nissan Maxima SE (That I don't drive anymore). If price didn't matter, I'd had a 1998 Honda/Acura NSX-T.

Which year Electric beats Conventional cars by market share across US, wild guess?

Hmm....2040? Not sure exactly, but EVs still make up roughly 1% of US auto sales, so there's a long way to go. Expense, slow charging times, and lack of charging infrastructure are major hurdles. Also, range anxiety is a real thing. Even in a Tesla.

What tips or advice do you have for choosing an airline?

Safety is #1. Look at their operating history and see if they've run afoul of regulators for operational and maintenance shortcomings. Could be a sign there are corners cut.

I'd also look at their responsiveness on social media and how they assist passengers. What truly separates a good airline from the bad is when things go wrong.

Do you like vegimite?

Never had it. Could be fun though.

Why are GM products such garbage?

GM products aren't garbage. They are offer quite a large number of compelling products. The Cadillac ATS -V was one of the best sports sedans I've ever driven the Cadillac CT6 is the best luxury sedan America has ever produced. The Chevy Bolt EV is probably the best combination of the range and value in the EV market.

Is there any other thing about the avaition industry that you feel we should be talking more about?

I think fume events are something we brush aside often.

Do you like the Porsche Panamera?

It was our 2017 Car of the Year. https://www.businessinsider.com/porsche-panamera-is-business-insider-2017-car-of-the-year-2017-11

Do you know my friend Graham? If so, tell him hi and that we should geek out over transportation stuff next time I'm in NYC.

I know a couple of Grahams. But I'm always game to geek out about transportation.

Which is better? The Bentley Bentayga or Lamborghini Urus

Urus. It's a really likable and easy to live Lamborghini. The Bentayga just didn't feel "Bentley" special to me. I know both cars built on the VW Group MLB evo platform, the Urus feels more like a Lambo than the Bentayga does a Bentley.

What’s your favorite car that you’ve driven?

The Porsche 911 never fails to please.

You look Singaporean. Are you Singaporean?

No.

Benjamin, me ol' mate! Let's get down to the real questions.

Do you like Marmite?

Never had it.

But have you flown hundreds of planes?

No. You don't want me flying around out there.

Your experience with the flight simulators you have flown is that bad?

In an actual airline flight simulator, I quickly realized I didn't have the talent for the job lol