Since we have a disagreement about said shape of the earth, the truth of it remains a matter of belief.
No, it doesn't. The earth's shape is what it is.
We might have different beliefs about what that is, but the truth exists independently of that and is unaffected by your belief, or mine.
First, there is no such thing as "escape velocity."
There is no earthly craft capable of generating the power necessary to propel any object to a speed of 7 miles per second.
Well, there's no escape velocity in your FE model, but you understand that the faster you throw something upwards, the higher it goes and the longer it takes to come down again. In the RE model where the earth is a globe with a gravitational field, there is a velocity at which something won't come down again. Do you have any evidence that we have no craft capable of escaping earth's gravity, or are you just arguing from incredulity?
For the record, the space shuttle orbits at just under 5 miles a second. Escape velocity is only the speed you'd need to project something from the ground in order that it leaves earth's gravity
No it isn't and it is good I am not exercising that type of logic.
I genuinely can't see the difference between my "logic" and yours. Your experience of rockets is you launch them and you come down, ergo you conclude that no-one can launch rockets into orbit. It's flawed logic. You don't have the budget NASA does.
The little funny gauge tapping video demonstrates faulty equipment
No. The gauge is clearly shown in the video to go down as the pump operates to create a vacuum
See point 14 of this paper which explains why someone might tap the a mechanical gauge:
https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/2203666/Beamex_White_Papers/Beamex%20White%20Paper%20-%20How%20to%20calibrate%20pressure%20gauges%20ENG.pdf See the bulbous areas by the tail? Those bulbous areas house jet engines.
They are part of the Reaction Control System. Diagram here:
https://history.nasa.gov/rogersrep/v1p46.htmMore explanation here:
https://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/sts-rcs.htmlThey are used to manoeuvre the shuttle when it's in orbit.
And fine, you can't necessarily see if the engines are working when a plane lands. The Shuttle didn't use engines to land, but what would be the significance if it did?
I note, as I'm sure others will, that while I am providing evidence and sources for my assertions, you are just stating yours and when offered the opportunity to provide sources or evidence you refuse to.