[Rain-maker]

Like Landing a ‘Flying Brick’ http://abcnews.go.com/sections/science/DailyNews/shuttle001024.html
It may seem surprising that clouds, wind and rain can prevent an advanced vehicle like the space shuttle from touching down, but Laura Rochon, a NASA spokesperson explains the shuttle has less flexibility when it comes to landing conditions.
     “This vehicle is like a flying brick — once you make the de-orbit burn, the shuttle is committed to land,” she says. “It can’t circle around an airport and wait for better conditions.”

 

Tons of references to the shuttle being a flying brick:

http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&as_qdr=all&q=+shuttle+%22flying+brick%22

 

 

NASA doesn't coin terms for AF jets btw.

[Zavien Doombringer]

I understand the reasoning, it was a joke. The F-4 was always called the "flying brick" by us mechanics, it wasn't with out saying "goes to prove if you strap powerful enough engines (j-79s) to a brick, it will fly"