Bob Sleigh. Part-Two.

Jerking About!

It is amazing how much this unstable sled has proved to be a lasting success from the Lapplanders in northern-Finland to the Eskimos of Alaska and Canada. Simple to build from wood to the present day fibre glass and polyma plastics, from animal power to a small engine?

Some designs were developed as nothing more than a wooden bow, but all continue to be effective in keeping goods dry, transporting young children to older folks and on to slaughtered animals?

The only community not to use them on a small scale is an off shoot of the Evenki in northern Siberia, Russia who are the only ones to have developed a sled house-caravan, which they power with reindeer and live all year around in. 

During the summer they visit the shore line and remain staic, but seem to do more moving about in the snow covered month?

Bob Sleigh. Part-One.

A very happy Christmas?

Father Christmas is now preparing his sacks of goodies for all the good children, before setting off next week to do his high speed 24 hour delivery? 

The traditional image of Father Christmas is him riding or flying on a sleigh pulled by reindeer and one known to us as Rudolf with his bright glowing red nose!

From this information we gather that this story comes from central Europe, Austria, Germany and Switzerland? These are the nations where there always has been a need for this type of winter transport, but there are many takes on the word that we get from the old Dutch meaning to slide along?

Sleds, sledges and sleigh's could be pulled either by dogs, horses or reindeer and was based on the toboggan being developed into a carriage. 

Jingle bells as a song comes from an old Russian folk tale of Father frost delivering presents with the bells of his sled ringing out the joy of the season.

Bus and Coaches. Part-Two.

Internet Access.

The history of the Coach and bus has progressed from moving just people from A to B/Z? Over the years comfort has been one consideration from curtains to smoking facilities? Ventilation to on board toilets and adaptions for sleeping and television.

Today both the single and double-deckers have internet facilities and chargers for all our electronic needs or demands? The coffee bar has been bi-passed and what the future holds is perhaps speed, because there is not much more that one can do with a coach or bus that has not been thought of?

Automated driving may be one course for the years ahead since many vehicles can access toll-gates without the need to stop.  Both the concept of the trailer and the bendy bus has come and gone, trolley buses of the 1950's were advanced for their time, perhaps a double decker bendy bus might be the next idea?

Interstellar Travel. Part-Two.

New Discovery!

A British designer has invented what was considered ten years ago and Electro-Magnetic engine, which defies the laws of gravity explained by Sir Isaac Newton? This was thought to be another crank working in a shed, because his engine would do nothing here on Earth?

But once the machine is in a vacuum, it does something that defies all the known ideas we have on gravity? It works by  being bounced off the magnetic field of the Earth and is powered by the radiation, that already exists in Space.

I don't think they are ready yet to build one, in case they might loose control of it?

But now Star Trek is not as science-fiction as it was, and the development is continuing with the hope to fly one in Space soon? They have already worked out at NASA that a smaller object would move much faster than a larger one, but this new propulsion system may give Interstellar travel much sooner than we thought was possible?

New Life. Part-One.

Secondhand military Market.

Most of the worlds military forces have to decommission their stock after a number of years and these end up in storage. So begins the journey of a Newer Life for this equipment, refurbished and checked with perhaps a new paint scheme they are sold on to whoever the government permit them to go to.

U.S. machines have ended up in Afghanistan, the Balkans and Iraq, Meanwhile British vehicles are sold world-wide to both other military and also to missionary agencies. France, Germany, Spain and Italy follow suit.

Vehicles from Land rovers, Unimogs, trucks are the versatile types to sell on to both civil and military usage? MBT, armoured cars ARV's go along with artillery to developing countries. The sale of older type helicopters and training aircraft is very popular. The life span of most machines, with re-fits may be endless? 

Aircraft are a different subject, after withdrawal they have a limited time because of wing fatigue which is hard to detect and expensive to repair. The training jets such as BAE Hawks and French Alpha jets have done well.

Rockwell/North-America A-10 Bronco. Part-Two.

The need to be Fulfilled.

With the capture of much Axis powers hardware this former German design was now updated met a new era of work in the rushed Vietnam war scenario. The aircraft proved to be an invaluable tool against both Soviet Russian and Chinese aircraft and other roles were found for it in search and rescue by both the U.S. Marine corps and USAAF/Navy.

West-Germany, Thailand and several other countries bought into the type from the 1960's to the mid 1980's, but since then this role has been replaced by unmanned drones which are cheaper and safer to use? In fact this has become the fate of the many Nazi-German aircraft, clever and advanced in 1944/45 but they have now seen their days over the last fifty years.

Stagecoach to Automobile.

The design of the Car.

The origins of the motorcar began with a steam version of the stagecoach minus horses, but it was not popular at least 60 years before the car was conceived? The public in London were scared of this way ahead concept, because it sometimes ran out of control.

Today the car has not changed in its layout since 1890, various chassis and body shells expanded it from a four seats to seven, anything after that is considered to be a mini-bus. Fast cars have come and gone, engines, materials have changed and improved? While fuels have moved from steam to petrol, diesel to LPG and now we are entering the age of electric, bio and hydrogen?

Cars without drivers in the idea of the Android is being developed, but the design of these new types are still based on the original layout? Perhaps some bright spark might come up with a round car in this new field, so people can relax and rest in the open planned vehicle?

Rocket Deign. Part-One.

Russia leads in the Field.

Getting into space is the most expensive thing that humanity has undertaken, in its known history. The rocket at the moment or since 1957 has been the only way to get outside the earths gravitational field!

America had to play catch-up to the Russians in the 1960's but made it to the Moon, which many scientists believe was the biggest waste of resources? Since then America built the Space shuttle, which did a fantastic job, apart from a few losses?

But President Barak Obama cut the programme on two accounts, one cost and two old technology. There may be many other reasons in relation to its bad fire tiles safety record? Meanwhile the U.S has to share with Russia it Kazakhstan facility, to get their crews up to the ISS (International Space Station).

Half of the ISS is made up of the latest MIR sections, while the U.S. and Japan have their various modules and ESA may have one or two attached.

Russia has lead in rocketry from 1926 and its ideas on Spaceships, it has just kept on improving what it has and despite its many other developments such as the Progress Robotic modules and Mir Components both have again improved with time and reliability.

What does the future hold?

The development of a reusable plane concept has ben on the books, since the 1960's, but only up until recently was a new type of non-rocket development in the U.S. by NASA which is the first Electro Engine?

Rockwell/North-America A-10 Bronco. Part-One.

Origins of!

The appearance of the A-10 Bronco of  the Vietnam war 1967-74 was an amazing site at this years Wales National Air show in Swansea (WNAS16), but I knew that I had seen something similar in aviation books about World-War-II (1939-45).

The A-10 Bronco is one of those types that seem to come out of the blue and the United States don't normally do that type of design idealism, but rather improve and expand on what they already have.

This aircraft was used in the role of reconnaissance during the Vietnam war, but it had several other roles in transport and light or counter insurgency (COIN). West-Germany was one of its first to receive the export versions, apart from Thailand.

But this aircraft looks very similar to Nazi-German Focke-Woulf  Fw-189 deigned in 1937 as a short range tactical reconnaissance aircraft. It entered service with the Luftwaffe in 1938 and into serious production in 1940, by the end of World War-II 864 had been built by Aero in Czechoslovakia 17 by Sud-Quest in France. Fourteen of the type was supplied to Slovakia and 30 to Hungary.

After the second world war many German aircraft and other military equipment became as always the spoils of war and were returned for storage in Britain, Russia and the United States, who got what is still not known today, but it can be easily guessed upon?

Hollande Types.

United States and Great Britain.

The age of the submarine is a long one going back to the ancient Greeks, but we will look at its early years from the late 19th Century to the early twentyeth. France, Germany and Italy developed their own versions almost totally separately from the first Holland prototypes.

But it is these eleven or so types that has gone on to influence all modern design, up until recently when the British Royal Navy is going with an advanced copy of an early French designed hull.

All submarines in some ways have their shape based on or around the Holland original, because this fish like structure works well under the water for speed and manoeuvrability. 

But the French design which was taken on by Soviet Russia and now several other navies has more to do with the ability to dive deeper, hiding being the new game in submarine warfare.

Never seeing the light of Day. ONE.

Bores.

Boring machines come in various sizes and uses, we tend to associate them with tunnel construction as in the London Tubes, Channel Tunnel and the new London Cross rail project?

But there are as many used in a variety of roles from water well sinking to the present day need of fracking. Many of the surface drillers are set up for short-term workings, where as the boring machines are constructed under ground and when the jobs are completed they are buried or encased.

Smaller boring machines where developed for the mining industry to take men off the coal face, but today many are no longer used.

Despite computer or robotic automation, humans are still required to clear obstacles and this has lead to some very serious and devastating accidents in China, Russia and South-America.

New Aircraft Types.

Over Southern-Wales, U.K.

Aviation, shipping and train spotting remain great hobbies for the choice of designs or types to be seen. Many countries have varied types of stock still in active operation for years past their date of service?

But with aircraft there are many new types coming into service or some are already in mainstream service, but are replacing some older types in this region of operations.

When I heard that Irish airlines Aer Lingus was going to purchase two Sukhoi Super Jets, I was not sure if this was a practical joke, but now that they are in service on the Dublin-Cardiff and other routes one awaits the opportunity to film the type.

Meanwhile the Embraer 170/190-5, Airbus A350 and Bombardier 6000 (being used by Swiss Air) is over flying the region. Some older types such as the McDonnel-Douglas MD-11F, Boeing 757 and 767 remain in service.

Army Transportation. Part-Two.

Modern Commercial Transportation.

Over the last twenty years or so many nations are now opting for civilian commercial transporters over that of their own military equivalents. This is because of two key factors cost and civil disguise in the upsurge of International terrorism.

Many other areas such as training demand the continuation of the usage as these dedicated vehicles, while many age quickly and are sold off from various arms dumps around the world. Some vehicles go overseas to continue in this role, while others are painted in commercial colours and schemes and continue in that disguise.

Heavy lifting of the Main Battle Tank was the initial role for the military transport, while also other vehicles have been designed for recovery or heavy vehicles themselves. The United States, Canada, Russia, China, India and Brazil, Australia still maintain a dedicated military fleets, because of the expanse of their less populated land mass.

There are many other types of Amphibious landing tracked vehicles such as the U.S. LVTP's, large Armoured Personnel  carriers and Surface to Air missile platforms that need to be moved over shorter distances that either their own power or that of the use of the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, C-130J Hercules, Airbus A400M, Russian Antonov An-22, 124 Ruslan and Ilyushin Il-76TDM. Embraer KC-90 transport aircraft.

The Typhoon Class.

Worlds largest Submarine.

Soviet Russia was one of the most ambitious nations in the history of the world, especially in the last one-hundred years of civil engineering and the invention of machines. They launched the Space race with the Sputnik and Gagarin and by their fall they had the largest aircraft ever built the Antonov An-224 Miry (Dream), the Buran Robotic Space Shuttle and the elusive Typhoon Class Submarine.

After the fall of Communism came the dismantling of the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons on both sides and there were many cutbacks of fighter bombers and submarines, and other military equipment. 

It is not known, if all as claimed how much was actually cut back, because today it is estimated by N.A.T.O. that Russia is as mighty as it ever was!

The Typhoon was designed to carry the largest number of multiple Inter-continental ballistic missiles that was possible to get on a (36) Submarine, meanwhile each missile was capable of having 12 to 16 warheads!

It was also the first of a new generation of robotic operated systems, with less crew (125) than would be required normally. 

Russia like many nations had discovered that the submarine was one of the most effective weapon systems to have, because they can go undetected for months under the sea.

Interstellar Travel. Part-One.

Our nearest Neighbour.

Much of space science is currently being employed into the idea of sending a Laser powered sail spacecraft on a thirty year trip to our nearest neighbouring star, which is four light-years away. With our current technology it would take us two hundred years plus to get there and back.

At this time the only manned Space ship is the International Space Station, which is three-hundred miles up making a 45-minute circle of the Earth. The Russian Progress robotic and U.S. Dragon supply vessels are the only way of getting up and down, since the retirement of the ageing former Space Shuttles.

The next objective in to get a manned mission to Mars by 2035 or establish a southern-hemisphere Moon base, as a first step by 2028?

Prof. Stephen Hawking's is very keen to encourage the Solar sail project, but some believe it would be wise to test it out first within the known confines of the solar system? making a four hour journey to Pluto, instead of the ten years it took the New Horizon probe. 

It also remains unclear what is beyond Pluto in the Kuiper belt, which the second phase of the New Horizons will arrive at in 2019. One of the six believed moon type objects has already been spotted and a new planet Niku is on a 110 degrees plane between Neptune and Pluto. Meanwhile this small world is blue and is travelling backwards to the normal pattern of all the other planets rotation around the Sun.

The problems with Interstellar travel is the possibility of another rocky domain well beyond the Kuiper Belt that would be like a mine field to exit the Solar system, there is also believed to be another planet known as X9 somewhere out there with a very large gravity field?

Engineering, Maintanance and Building. Part-Two.

Differing Requirements?

Because there are so many different gauges around the world and types of systems from mainline, to metro and tubes there is need for the same types doing the same jobs at differing scales. This has been tried on the London Underground, who purchased smaller Class 66 locomotives.

In days gone by steam cranes and open waggons carried material and crew gangs to build, but today a whole section can be laid by machine as we have already seen. It is the complex electrics overhead that cause expense and delays, computer systems have to be accurate with signal commands.

This new requirement when in place allows high-Speed travel and less point switching for passenger trains, but freight remains a different matter. Most recovery over the last forty years has been carried out by a second locomotive, but in the years to come this with under floor motors as on both tube and metro stock will overcome all of the old problems.

Much of the maintenance of the old days may be carried out more by robotic controlled vehicle based on the current stock with video equipment. Not every nation will be able to afford this so depending on where they are many older methods will remain.

Entertainment Trailers. Part-One.

Ancient times to the Present.

People have always wanted to be entertained or to see something new?

Today many trailers are designed for music systems or mobile bands, in fact a trailer can be used for many things in this area? In ancient times a long waggon was used like a caravan or stage coach for the transportation of Royalty or other military usage.

The recording of the first serious entertainment trailers was in the 16th Century when showmen appointed by various wealthy families where commissioned to display Menagerie's of animals, lions, wolves, birds, elephants, snakes and other unknown animals to the British Isles.

Similar developments also travelled across the rest of Europe, while Italy and France may have seen the first mobile plays. But the trailer did not come to the fore until the development of the steam engine and the German inspired organs, where today these fascinating machines can be seen at the many steam and vintage fairs across Britain.

Ten Day Civil Alerts.

Germany and France Issued Today.

What is one talking about?

During the years of the Cold war between NATO and the Eastern-Block Soviet pact nation regular alerts were sounded in both East and West-Germany. This morning one was issued in the unified Germany for the first time since the fall of the Berlin wall?

Within two hours supermarkets were cleared out of food. Civil alerts were issued in the event of a nuclear strike, but it has been announced in Germany that from tomorrow the alert will be in effect for a serious emergency situation over the next 10 days?

There is much one can do in a nuclear war situation, but just continue life and hope for the best. This may be more in connection with reports of heavy weapons fire reported in the Eastern-Ukraine and the possibility of the shutting down of both the gas and Oil pipe-lines from Russia?

Unmanned Craft. Part-One.

At Sea.

We tend to quickly forget that when we come to discuss unmanned its either in the air such as the U.S. Reaper or the Israel Scout drones or other Robotic devices used on land?

But there are as many equally strange under-water counterparts also and many of them have still never been seen from mini-subs (Midgets) to remote torpedoes?

In fact the first remote Torpedo was a development by a man called Brennan at the Chatham British Royal Naval yard in Kent, SE-England. U.K. From the expertise gathered by manned mini-subs during World War-II (1939-45), remote devices have proved very successful ever since.

Many more countries have developed their own types from the major powers, some are simple while others expensive and very complex.

Satallites Military and Commercial. Part-One.

Reagans Laser Satellites Plus.

About two years ago amateur astronomers noticed a unidentified flying object making regular orbits of the Earth, at first they thought it was a satellite in an inner orbit?

But that would mean it might collide at some point with the International Space Station, NASA then had to reveal it was a new type of mini Space Shuttle known as the X37.

Science fiction and the dupe of former U.S President Mr. Ronald Reagan had become a reality. In one of the James Bond films a recovery vehicle was deployed to capture satellites from both the Soviets and the Americans.

The X37 was being used to maintain damaged military reconnaissance equipment in lower orbit, if not replace or update. Speculation arose that Israel and NATO were probably also having a share in the U.S. Project?

Double-Deck Railroads. Part-One.

Train lengths shortened.

The United States takes the bite in the biscuit when it comes to it new fleets of double-deck coaching stock. Four cars and a double height locomotive replaces the length of the original eight.

These high capacity units means loading more quickly and faster times between departures and arrivals. America has made the breakthrough thus far and a few other countries around the world have followed.

But it will be sometime before many escape the traditional mode of platform and train infrastructures? In the British Isles the choice has been to have back to back DMU/EMU stock, that overcomes the use of switching engines, but the high platform looks like it will stay on for some time yet.

Even HS2 will be of this conventional style that fits in with the Eurotunnel -TGV. 

Army Transportation. Part-One.

Unipower Commander.

This has been the replacement to the Thornycroft Antars of the heavey lift transports such as the Challenger Mk-I and II Main Battle Tanks. 

The Unipower started life as a Scammel in concept from 1976, but has changed over to the present with main production starting in 1983, with an order for 125 vehicles.

Two types of Diesel engines are available the Cummins KTA 600 and the Perkins Rolls-Royce CV12.

As time has moved on and Britian being part of N.A.T.O. there is a wider choice of heavey transportation available with civil haulage types such as the Germany Mercedez and Swedish Scania trucks. I think that both of these types where unloading and uploading before and after the Wales National Air Show WNAS16 in Swansea.

Apart from the acceptance and procurement of the German MAN trucks the U.S may be providing some of its Oshkosh MTVR units for the movement of heavy weight requirments of tracked armour and refulling tankers.

Engineering, Maintenance and Building. Part-one.

Railways need cared For!

Every railroad or way around the world has a dedicated fleet of rolling stock to cater for all engineering types work, from general maintenance to rebuilding sections that are outdated. 

Millions is spent each year on the upgrading of rail track, signals and preventing flooding? Every country has many different situations in realtion to climate from ice and snow to desert!

Much humour is made about wet leaves on the lines in the fall, but to some systems this is serious in relation to wheel slippage. Older trains are more prone to this problem, but it is hoped that the newer types of rail alignment and layout of the track sleepers willin the future not happen again.

Engineering trains were once the speciality of each company or country meeting the local needs or costs, but now that a standard fleet is available such as Bombardiers and Plieser's track machines and they can be exported around the world.

WNAS16. Part-Two.

Ground vehicles and other Equiptment.

Unfortnutaly this year they were mostly up beyond the War Memorial and I missed quite a few Army vehicles arriving and leaving. 

One can go by what was on show last year, but I saw nothing tracked this time around. Most of the MAN trucks looked like they had to do with the RAF, Royal Engineers and Radio Communications, various Landrovers and a lone fuel tanker.

Many of the vehicles that were seen rushing by, are shown on various films that have been put up in connection to the Queens Royal Hussars Regiment.

The show is a great event for military recruiting and if the Governemnt listens to Prince Harry, we may soon see the re-introduction of compulsary military service or Conscription. Something that will help to cut youth crime across the United Kingdom?

'As many of my older relatives would say, 'It never hurt them and gave them much more than sitting around doing nothing!

WNAS16. Part-One.

Wales National Air Show 2016.

Thousands came out for this two day event on the Swansea Bay seafront to enjoy a mixture of aircraft types.

New to the show were the North American-Rockwell OV-10 Bronco, the Mikoyan-Gurevich MIG-15UTI, HM Coast Guard Augusta-Westland AW-139 SAR Helicopter G-CILP and G-CILN, Jet Provost Mk5 and the World War-II (1939-45) American USAAF Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, restored and based at Duxford.

Apart from that everything was about the same, The Red Arrows BAE Hawks T.1, Boeing Vertol Chinook CH-47H, RAF Eurofighter Typhoon, Battle of Britain Hawker Hurricane and Super marine Spitfire, Team Raven (formerly Ospreys), with there Vans RV-4/8's,  two Augusta-Westland AW-159 Wildcats of the Black cats Royal Navy display team. The Auto-Gyro, Gerald Cooper completion flyer in his Xtreme Air Sbach 300  G-IIRI, racing aeroplane, Team Yakovlev with two Yakovlev YAK-18 aircraft and the DHFS AS-350BB ZJ-260 Squirrel from RAF Shawbury.

The HM Coast Guard Augusta-Westland AW-139 SAR helicopters and interacted with the local Mumbles RNLI Lifeboat 16-27 Roy Harvey.

Was it worth it? Yes it was free and good entertainment for two sunny days, after a winter of Bristol Channel murk.

Ground displays were limited, I did not get the chance to film more than a few Army/RAF MAN trucks. There was a funfair and loads of other, with stalls and food.

The Rockwell OV-10 Bronco proved to put on an impressive display, showing off its STOL (Short Take-Off Landing) capabilities and manoeuvrability for its service in the Vietnam war in 1968. This was the first YOV-10A that first flew on 16th July 1965 version, on display of the US Marine Corps and US Navy, but was painted in the colours of the German Air Force.

Pilatus Britten-Norman Islander/Defender. Part-Two.

Military Versions.

The first military version of this one plus nine passenger aircraft appeared in 1971. Capable of carrying an assortment of bombs and MATRA 68-mm rocket pods along with two 7.62mm guns in the Counter Insurgency role on four wing pods. It was closely followed by the Maritime Defender , which was modified to house a search radar in its nose.

It also carried a parachute dingy rescue pack, loud speakers, flares and alternative weapons points. Both the speed and range of the aircraft remained similar to its civil version, the Islander. Range was increased with the options of two fuel tanks in place of the two inner 750Ib (317.5Kg) bombs to 1,723 miles (2, 772Km's).

Sales and exports were world-wide Angola, Ghana, Guyana, Israel, Jamaica, Malagasy Republic, Malawi, Mauritania, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Zimbabwe (Rhodesia), Thailand and Turkey.

HMS Sentinel Plus.

Patrolling the English/French Channel.

We have a problem that has mushroomed and will continue to exist wither we Brexit or not, that of smuggling people from France to the southern-England. The English Channel is one of the busiest in the world, with one ship every eleven miles apart east to west and mostly Ferries every five miles north to south, this does not include fishing boats, yachts and other military vessels.

One only has to go to Marine traffic to see the complexities and congestion of this sea!  Meanwhile the French navy has dedicated 30-40 ships to patrol their waters and the British Royal Navy 3-4 of the HMS Sentinel type cutters.

We have not heard much in relation to France intercepting these migrant smuggling boats? But it has mostly been the general public on this side of the Channel who see these flimsy craft sinking, if not the smugglers themselves.

Serious cut backs in the armed forces have over the last few years been pointed out by the U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama, as having a potential on N.A.T.O. deployment capability of lack.

These boats are fast and very manoeuvrable at sea and they are effective in use as Customs Cutters, the problem of just twelve for the U.K.'s waters is a serious lack and by the time more vessels are built and commissioned we may be swamped, as Nigel Farage is pointing out to the E.U. open borders policy?

Bus and Coaches. Part-One.

IRIZAR.

This is one of the latest types of coach on the roads of the U.K and Ireland today, it is a luxury vehicle designed for comfort and speed. Built in Spain from 1979-1983 as the first generation, by 1993 the Swedish Scania K-series chassis was adopted. 

The Irizar body was introduced from 2002, but in 2005 the redesign and current body type with a 3.3 metre extention was added. The two types are the K and the S, which is sold in the U.K with a 70 seat layout.

The two main operators in the United Kingdom are Red Arrow of Trent Barton and National Express. The Wales RugbyTeam coach is also of the same type.

Pilatus Britten-Norman Islander/Defender. Part-One.

1965 to the Present.

First flown in 1965 the 10 passenger BN-2 Islander light transport has been sold all over the world, with 1100+ built. Licence production was granted to Roumania and the Philippines. Many small airlines operate the type here in the U.K. and across the world as the islander.

The aircraft BN-2A-85 Islander was popular for island hopping and getting into small landing strips, because of its early development and Lycoming piston engine choice, it was able to take a market demand for the type. Speed is about 257km/hr (154mph) and range about 1400km (840miles).

Later military versions came under the name Defender or where known as the BN-2-T Turbine. The Allison turboprops were the option here. Under wing hard points can be fitted to take 7.62mm machine guns and various small bombs and or rocket pods.

The Jamaican Air Defence Corps operate both civil and military types and they are used in anti-drug operations in the Caribbean Sea. Meanwhile one is used civil airlines east to west-coast daily flights along with one with a Tris-lander. The former Royal Ulster Constabulary also operated one type for high flight mapping and data gathering operating from Sydenham (Now George Best Belfast City Airport).

Space Flight.

Pluto, Mercury, Mars and Juno.

This last two years has seen a rise in Space flight activity with new film and photography being returned from several planets and the International space station having the first British space man Tim Peak.

The eight year mission to the dwarf planet Pluto paid off with dramatic clear images of this far flung world having a three layered atmosphere and mountains of ice. Mercury being the closest to the Sun, also now seems to have ice polar caps.

It is confirmed that Mars has flowing water and loads of silica has also been discovered proving that this planet once had oceans of water. There are many areas of the planet that remain undiscovered and its is known that the southern regions are active in some way.

Juno is now half way to the largest planet, it will be arriving near to this gas giant 100X the size of the earth in two moths time. We know know that Jupiter has more than sixty-three moons and the great red spot has changed.

New Horizons has left Pluto and is now half-way to the outer Kyper Belt, with the first moving observation of a object in that region. As to planet 9X, that is still to be found, but New Horizons and other astronomical devices have measured an object 10X Earths size in the outer regions.

A visit to the NASA, ROSCOM,ESA websites, will give you much more detailed information and host of wonderful pictures and much, much more.

Boaty McBoatface.

'I just could not resisit it.'

What a name for a southern oceans research ship?

Humour or not, they had to go with number two Sir David Attenborough?

Many nations employ these types of vessels, mostly to protect their isolated assests? The British case being the disputed Falkland Islands, South-Geogia and the Sandwich group.

 These vessels measure sea tempratures and study aspects of underwater volcanism and many other supposed secret of the deep on of them being the level of radioactivity from the dumping of deep water waste.

Russia and China have huge fleets of such vessels mostly used for spying in the name of science? They too have their intrest now with the illegal occupation of the spratley Islands between Vieatnam and the Philippines.

Cable laying, monitoring of submarines, oil slicks and plankton activity are a few of the other areas.

These vessels are of a new design to cope more with their longer periods at sea. The helicopter deck is now at the front, while the rear has winches and cranes. Mini manned and robotic subs are carried along with internal scientific facilities.

Land Rover. Part-Two.

Not all a success Story.

No manufacturer can claim a perfect record and not all the products, even some present ones have been a success? The Land Rover truck for the British armed forces was one such flop, it was well meant and looked really good, but when in service it just did not perform as was expected.

In recent years some of the newer Range Rover designs sold to various Police forces have the aesthetics on the looks, but lacked on performance as was claimed. Much was spent on advertisement, which has helped sell record numbers in recent years and now again exported world wide.

But the dropping of the long established Defender has come as a disappointment to many, because the vehicle still has much civil and military potential. The history of the company from the series Mark1 to the Defender and various other adaptions has seen massive sales and promotion, with nearly every country in the world using the type.

Mercedes-Benz was the main competition in the European and Arabian market for some years, comfort, capability and performance out ranked Land Rover, but they caught themselves on and were quick to introduce more versatile designs and retake the market.

The RNLI, HM Coast Guard, Mountain Search and Rescue, Electricity Maintenance, Military Patrol vehicles, Police, other Emergency, Security, Farming.    

BAE Jetstream 31 and 41.

Military to Civil Turbo-Prop.

One of the most successful British designs to hit the world markets. This aircraft as the 31 series was developed by Handley Page, before passing over to Scottish Aviation where it was operated by the British RAF and Royal Navy as T1 and T2.

These first thirty early examples where powered by the Astazou power plants, but later when Scottish Aviation became part of Aerospace, the series 31 was more modified as we know it today. The new power plant for this twin engined nineteen-seater is the Garret Turboprop, over 252 Jetstreams had been sold by 1989 aimed at the commuter and light business markets.

The Jetstream 41 is a Super version of the 31, powered by the TPE 331 engine and capable of carrying 29 passengers. Today Links Air of Humberside operate three British Aerospace  Jetstream 31s, G-GAVA, which is stored and G-JIBO, G-LNKS which are both operational. 

Meanwhile Eastern Airways also based in Humberside operates seventeen of the Jetstream 41.

Registrations G-MAJA-L, G-MAJT-U, W, Y-Z.

Bristol to Swansea Electrification.

Promised for the upgrading of the GWR.

Most people know of Wales, but they think its part of western-England. Very insulting and this may be applied to the overdue delay in the promised electrification of the Great Western Railway line from Bristol Parkway to Swansea.

Cardiff is the capital and plans are a foot to get this far and no further, in fact the railways of Britain have always been slow on modernisation. Electric trains have been around since 1890 and still by 1960 steam was the main pulling power.

It was the London underground and Southern that employed fourth and third rail conduction, from 1900. The 1950's saw the introduction of early electric locomotion between London-Birmingham and Manchester. By this time one could get an electric train from Fenchurch Street in London to Clacton in Essex, but Paddington was the only station not to have any overhead-electric trains.

Since the privatisation of the Rail Network, the first dual-electric trains served the GWR. The Class 73 have been employed from time to time on various duties, wearing the BR blue and Swallow liveries, but that has been about it. 

Hopefully pressure by big business and the Welsh assembly government will see the development to Swansea, the real capital of Cymru/Wales?

Sea power in the Med. Part-Two.

HDMS Absalon Visits Swansea Bay.

This Danish (Denmark) Command Vessel L-16 came to Swansea Bay southern-Wales, United Kingdom on the Queen Elizabeth's 90th Birthday. She is one of a number of European Warships that are tasked with working in the Mediterranian sea to pick up immigrints fleeing current conflicts in North-Africa and Syria. 

Her other role within the N.A.T.O. and the E.U. Armed forces is to protect International shipping, as it passes through the Gulf of Aden, between the Red Sea and the Arabian sea. 

Shipping here face daily Somali Pirate attacks, mostly for kiddnapping and ransome demands.

The HDMS Absalon is quite a modern vessel with the capability to carry more than two medium transport helicopters and an array of other weaponary, from guns to missiles. She is based at Frederikshavn in Denmark and arrived in Swansea Bay from Glasgow, Alba-Scotland.

Wind Turbines.

Love or hate Them?

Me I don't like them, they have ruined Wales, but it seems they must be making money?

One has to get up close to them to see their size, a windmill is amazing but these are bland. Currently BBC Chatering ships are bringing them into Swansea to then be taken by road from the docks to various hill tops in south-Wales.

Wind farming work out at sea, where one may not always see them, but inland they are an eyesore. The Welsh government seems to be dragging their feet over the Swansea lagoon and the two elections may have excused them from dealing with the crises at Port Talbot.

Two years ago these turbines were being here in east-Wales, but now they are coming in from Denmark. It is a pity and a disappointment that when the company was in production Cardiff would not make up its mind?

Britten-Norman Trislander.

1984 Taken over by Swiss Pilatus.

This is perhaps one of the strangest aircraft still flying today and operated in the U.K. by Channel Islands Aurigny Air Services. Call sign AYLINE, they have four aircraft in service G-BDTO, G-BOVT and G-RLON. Each has a 2+16 capacity seating. The fourth aircraft G-JOEY is stored at Guernsey airport. 

Meanwhile the origins of this three engined BN-2A Trislander has 75% components of the earlier Islander/Defender, which we will take a look at further on in the year. 

The 1984 Mk-III-4 embodied a rocket motor for the event of engine failure on take-off. Passengers designed for 16/17, powered by three Lycoming piston engines, cruising speed 175mph (282km/hr), range with full payload 160 miles (257km).

This aircraft was produced for a time in Belgium and has been exported to the U.K, Africa, Australia, U.S.A, Canada, Indonesia and South-America.

Re-Cycling.

Machines die Too.

Technology is always moving on and it leaves behind the old, some of the old go to museums and collectors, while the rest goes to scrap. The price of metals has slumped world wide, apart from a few precious ones, along with gold and diamonds. Most commercial aircraft contain many high value materials, along with nuclear powered naval vessels and bomber/fighter jets.

But generally most cars, ships and trains are made of steel and this can be re-cycled! Currently the United Kingdom is facing the end of its groaning steel industry, because of the Chinese glut of steel. One way to save these old plants would be to update them to re-cycle steel. Much is being said that we need to keep these plants, because of the arms industry? 

But what the general public do not realise, that much of Britain's arms industry is now based with BAE system in the Republic of South-Africa. Appledore Devon last year built three frigate's for the Irish navy, Falmouth continues to build a line of small composite-material fast attack craft for the Persian Gulf states. 

While Flint-Wrexham has the Airbus wings production facility. But Britain has no major shipyards, aircraft manufacturing or owns any part any longer in any mass production car plants. Now the E.U is warning that Brexit may see the loss of Airbus and several other European owned businesses.

Sea Power In the Med. Part-One.

European Force. 

There at this time two major areas of European involvement with Naval vessels, the Gulf of Aden between Yemen and northern-Somalia protecting western shipping from being hijacked. The other is in the Mediterranean dealing with refugees fleeing Libya or north-Africa.

Ireland last year donated their Emer Class Corvette LE Aoife P22, to the Maltese Navy as P65. It is the first warship for Malta, since the Crusades 1091-1340. It is now part of the European force, that has seen the U.K. deploy two Frigates and one support ship HMS Hermes.

Everyday the Italian Navy is overwhelmed by the number of crap boats trying to get to the island of Lampadusa, many hundreds of people are drowned each day on these fatal crossings. 

Finland and Sweden, along with France and perhaps the British patrol the Arabia sea, Gulf of Aden and the narrows into the Red sea. The task here is to protect gas and oil tankers heading to Europe with their cargoes from the Persian Gulf. Hijacking and hostage taking is big business for Al-Shabab and other affiliated Al-Quida militants in this region.

Easter Eggs.

The appliance of Science.

Eggs are a unique object in nature, as much as the snowflake! They are shaped to survive being knocked about, while the Snowflake to be able to interconnect with others to form snow.

Much research has been done from the transportation of eggs to using its structure in machines, basically in metal tolerance to impact at certain angles. Even our chocolate Easter eggs some times require a hammer to crack them and I expect their will be a few tears this season in relation to size and quantity, since they have been getting smaller over the years?

Perhaps its my hands that have been getting bigger?

Many light structures from racing cars to aviation have encompassed what has been learned from the humble egg in relation to stress on impact and safety being the priority. So remember this Easter the humble egg and what it has played in improving our world?

The Russian Federation and Syria.

Russia pulls out of Syria!

The five year war in Syria is coming to an end and Russia has achieved the elimination of the Islamic Khalifate's infrastructure. The last few months has revealed why we have Boeing EC-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft flying over SW-Great Britain. 

Russia deployed its whole Sukhoi family from the Su-25 Frogfoot to the latest stealth fighter the Su-34. In between were deployed the SU-32 and the Naval Su-27 Flanker, perhaps because this type never has been used in battle before? 

The powerful Nuclear bomber the Tupolev TU-126 Blackjack was also deployed with devastating consequences on ground elimination of targets, this same aircraft is the main delivery system for Russia's Nuclear cruise missile.

The west still faces many threats from hostile nations and groups and one has to remember that the terrorists who carried out 9/11 in the United States in 2001 said, 'That they would be back to do the same in twenty years time?

NASA Adopts X-Planes.

A British Concept.

I am a bit limited to my night sky videos of only the Moon, since it is the nearest object in the night sky to catch apart from the International Space Station (ISS).  NASA has announced this year, 'That it has found a replacement to its former Space Shuttle, quite a profound bit of tech.'

The Space Shuttle was really 1960's tech in the 1990's and even beyond the millennium was costing a fortune to maintain. A mini shuttle (X37) was developed to carry out sole military operation and was secret, until the amateur astronomers observed its orbits.

The X-Plane that is now being considered was a British concept thought up by the Astronomical Society in the 1970-80's in Vauxhall, London. U.K. 

This concept aircraft could be launched either by rocket platform, as the Shuttle or take off on the piggy back of another larger aircraft and fire off in high altitude into Space. 

It would then make its return under its own power just like a conventional aircraft, where as the Space Shuttle was really a giant glider. If the X-Plane concepts are ever built, we will have our first true Space Ships, now that Star Trek marks its 50th Anniversary.

Land Rover. Part-One.

Landies.

The British Land Rover is one of the most prolific vehicles ever built, it has been exported world wide from its first conception as the Mark-1. The American Willey's Jeep was a great 4X4 in its own right, originating in 1927. 

But the British special forces needed an adaption to meet their own needs, there are in fact about a dozen takes on both the Jeep and the first Land Rovers that have seen widespread undercover service across the world.

Today the production of the long standing Defender has ended, but this is not the end of the Landie. Farmers, rangers, police, emergency services and many others will continue to use this vehicle for its tremendous capability. 

Exported to Australia and re-built as the 120, with a much longer chassis. Israel as the Dav'id APC and 87 other countries for various military roles.

Fighter Jets. Part-Two.

F-18 Hornet.

This is a jet that is now in widespread operational service with the armed forces of the united States of America and its NATO and other Allies, but it is relatively overlooked by the mainstream. Many of the current Russian Federation equivalents such as the MiG-33 and Sukhoi Su-27 are compatible, perhaps more on paper than actually ever seeing combat actions?

The McDonnell-Douglas FA-18 Hornet became operational in 1983 for the US Marine and Naval corps and was designed to be based on Aircraftcarrier fleet. There are various different types available and they have been exported to both Australia and Canada. 

Speed is 1.8 Mach, armaments a six barrel 20-mm canons and 9 wing positions for side-winder air to air missiles and other stand-off weapons.

North American Railroads. Part-Two.

1930's to the 1950's Boom Time.

Despite the depression of the 1930's passenger travel across the United States was improving year by year and the standards were too. The transition from steam to diesel was more to do with clean air and speed, but the rail cars where becoming more comfortable even for the ordinary passenger.

Black people were still segregated to poorer standard of travel, which even today despite the many changes and civil rights there is a return in many areas to the white dominated past.

In these years of prosperity for the U.S. something of the grandeur was lost to the more sleekness of the Art Deco designed cars. In fact the railroads were more luxurious than automobile and air travel, it was in a way on par with the cruise liners, but on a smaller scale.

By the 1950's many of the pre-World War-II (1940-45) trains still retained their names, but as time has progressed this has been lost to more of a standardisation.

Gunboats to Fast Attack. Part-Two.

From the American Civil War 1861-65.

The gunboat in its own right was developed during the American civil war in the deep south, there was a serious need to control the rivers of the region on both the Confederate and Union sides. 

Many conventional ships were re-designed as low flats known as Monitors or Iron Clads and these where armoured with up to 7 cannons per vessel.

In fact any boat with any type of gun could be called a 'Gunboat? The United States despite being very successful with seagoing boats in World War-II (1940-45) had to reinvent in reverse during the Vietnam wars 1965-75. 

This saw the introduction of a selection of machine guns and small cannons of various calibres, because these where found to be more effective than the standard 40mm cannons used on sea going boats.

Fighter Jets. Part-One.

Eurofighter to the F-16.

As technology progresses we start to run into limitations, back in the 1960's despite the U.S. Soviet Russian arms race there was a variety of combat aircraft. Today Europe has chosen with the RAF one type, but other N.A.T.O. countries also operate the U.S. F-16, it in its own right as a standard fighter.

Meanwhile despite the British Panavia Tornado, only Sweden has a stand alone fighter the AJ/JA-37 Viggen in Europe. Many former Warsaw pact nations have now adopted the F-16 as their main combat type.

The Ukraine stands alone with many former Russian types from the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23/27 to the 31/33 and a whole host of other advanced types. France has operated their own design of Mirage from first concept to the present Rafael, since they were outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Which is the best of this bunch, my money would remain on the F-16, because of its versatility, second choice would be the Viggen and last the Sukhoi SU-27. These to for me are the best fighters for interception and combat missions, One cannot really know much, because of the many secrets that all fighter aircraft have to have!

Gunboats to Fast Attack. Part-One.

The Smaller Navy?

One would like to think so, because big nations that have access to the seas or large lakes have Frigates, Corvettes and Minesweepers? But this is not so, the development of the Gunboat has matured into the FAC (Fast Attack Craft), these newer vessels are now usually armed with the latest missiles, radar and sonar. 

The orgins of the FAC comes from the Cold War years, when the Soviet navy required their patrol boats to work against mini-subs in shallower waters and also to intercept at speed unidentified targets. The patrol boats of World War II were good up to a point, but they were limited compared to what is available today. Many countries initially received these new FAC Soviet boats, such as Angola, Cambodia, China, Vietnam, North-Korea and Cuba and from their on they made their own adaptions to meet their own requirements.

It was the rich Persian Gulf nations in the middle-east that preferred the FAC ability to change platforms and this opened the door to both the United States and Great Britain, with a few other countries to provide the latest versions.

Railcars and Railbuses.

British demand For.

One cannot speak for other nations, but it would seem that the 'Railcar is something unique to the British railway system. The first cars with twin cabs were built for the Great Western and saw service between Bristol and Swindon from the late 1940' to the early 50's, despite their popular appeal nothing more was done to improve them.

The 1950's saw the re-introduction of these one coach units operating on small lines, some where termed rail buses rather than cars and they were an essential link prior to Beaching. The Class 101 got the idea off with two to three car Diesel Multiple Units (DMU's), but the 117/121 were demanded for sharper bends in Cornwall. 

Past smaller steam locomotives and limited stock could work these lines, but the newer carriages and locos were to long. By the 1970's plans where in progress for the Pacer Class 150 and 153 units, which is some cases were nothing more than a Leyland bus on a carriage chassis.

Northern-Ireland railways had developed a spread of single and multiple rail cars from the 1930's, many of these originated on the various narrow gauge lines that were still in operation in the province of Ulster. Some were sold to the Isle of Man, but very little was shared I believe with the mainland. NIR did by some unusual vehicles from the Southern Railway one-offs built at Norwood Junction?

Military Trucks. Part-Two.

Ever Changing World.

Most of the trucks that we looked at in Part-One of this series of articles have all over the years been in the process of standardisation for their compatibility to fit the NATO Lockheed Hercules C-130 transport aircraft.

But now we will take a look as what is available around the world and how they have either been exported or licensed built in other nations since, the break up of the old Soviet Warsaw Pact block in the 1990's. 

The Czech Tatra T815 Kolos has been exported to India, while the 6X6 Tatrapan Armoured car was developed for the Slovak army.

Brazil is to soon replace its ageing Engesa EE-50 truck and variants, while it is still in Service in Angola. Western Star is the main producer for the Canadian armed forces, while the Austrian Styr is built in Canada under licence.