Keir Starmer and our toy armed Forces!

 Pocket remote boats and drones for the Forces?

When working alongside what we already have this may be of great help, but what is not clear what are the Army and Air-force getting in this limited budget, that defeats the purpose of NATO and any further cooperation with the United States!

During the 1930's after the Great war, Britain chose to go light and we were caught out by Adolf Hitler in the second world war, but things had to be adapted quickly, the Spitfire was a success, but the Churchill MBT only really arrived in later 1944-45?

Without the United States and clever intelligence work and many brave men and woman, we would have been crushed and this will happen again more so with Iran, China and various proxies, maybe not tomorrow, but it will come!

British Police get E-Bikes!

 £16,000 pound bikes to get into narrow places?

With the rise of electric powered vehicles and the deployment of drones, the E-Bike has arrived and it will prove it-self on various estates as a real winner over crime!

These new bikes of course have been adapted from civil use to police and will be used to intercept criminals on the run, with the rise of phone crime and the theft of bikes, this a really invaluable assit to the forces across the home nations and also eventual further afield?

Speed is not known, neither is the use of cameras more so with stabilization as yet, but in other countries such as Brazil this system is working well, even in civil disturbances, demonstrations and other!

The horrors of drone Warfare!

 Being hunted down?

A new development has come to the fore in the use of drones, that involves landing on a individual with an explosive device!

It is believed what the IDF is using the drones in Lebanon, which originated in the Ukraine by he forces to take out Russian soldiers, with the cheap ability to mass produce and develope a small device that can be made cheaply a new era in urban warfare has began?

Meanwhile the Hezbollah have also taken advantage of the situation with a large bomb drone, that causes considerable damage and is hitting targets in N-Israel with effectiveness!

U.K. No Air-defense Cover!

 The Bloodhound Last!

We once lead the world in military production, but with joining the European union and having various Labor parties in government, we have lost out in many areas including air defense, because NATO relied on the U.S.

But now that relations have soured with the U.S. we will either have to buy from Europe or develop a new system, despite the big words to Russia over the Ukraine, we are really defenseless to Russian attack?

Hoping that they won't attack is a bit arrogant and asking the U.S. is now off the table, so where do we go and what do we do, who knows and who cares!

Tehran Metro!

 One of the most Interesting?

There are many great sites to see, if one ever gets to visit Iran, ancient, historical, but the Metro system in the capital is a joy to see and travel on!

Most of the line dates from the end of the Shah in 1979 and was encouraged by the Soviet Union, but Iran has gone on to do their own work and improved the lines into the city with connection to mainline rail?

One does not think that the recent bombings by both the U.S. and Israel targeted any of the structure and that they system is providing air raid cover for civilians!

Most of the stock is modern, compared to other underground systems around the world and they are well maintained and safe, signaling has been improved over the years and comfort designed for large numbers of passengers?

Tinned Fish!

 A life line business for Many?

The continued processing of tinned fish is still profitable, despite the issues micro plastics and Dolphin sustainability!

Many nations operate huge fleets of long range operations, such as Japan and they go for some of the rarest species off Argentina and the southern Oceans and much of it is illegal?

Even in our own shores catfish is being sold as haddock and cod and the law is clamping down shops for doing this, but how many people really care, as long as they get what they want!

A whale going through a factory ship will be processed very quickly and with not many countries caring, this secret world continues for Norway, as much as a few others?

Film making Industry!

 Machines for Effects?

Most people believe that film making is a simple process made complicated by cameras and scripts and the addition of a green screen for special effects!

But it is far more complicated than meets the eye with many specialist machines to carry vehicles causing accidents and others to create explosions, gunfire and smoke?

There are also many moving background scenery, that is much more complicated than, the old curtains used in the past of early days of black and white!

Computer graphics and model making show some of the best artistic skills for the dramatic events, but the engineers behind the rest would blow you away with their expertise?

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker's!

 Susceptible?

Overnight we have seen two more of these air refueling aircraft damaged in Saudi-Arabia, about two weeks ago one crashed and the other was damaged over Iraq, with the loss of eight crew and now another twelve injured!

The C-135 was a 1954 concept and went into service in 1957, most of today adapted fleet are fifty years old and they may not be able to deal with new weapons enemy fire, but its pot luck with these Iranian missiles barrages, that Israel is experiencing hourly?

Since 1961 they have been had several adaptions made to them, as there is so many you can do your own research into the differing versions!

The aircraft are not armed, but they do operate at very great heights and so far they are only operated by France and the U.S.A?

Old bombers for Iran!

 From the 1960's B-52 to the 1990's B-2?

What fire power the USAAF are deploying is old kit perhaps with modern computer chip technology and new types of bombs like the buster ammunition's, but last time around in the twelve day war they were not as effective, as the U.S. president wanted everyone to believe!

Now with the introduction of the Stealth B-1 there is hope tthat hey the will do a better job that the aging B-52's and forty year old B-2's, but in their own right they are old too some fifty plus years and nothing really new has been invested in the bomber fleet over that time?

As to fighters, only the F-22 and F-35 are newer kit, perhaps with improved long-range drones such as the triton, which is limited to day-light operations!

The truth about the USAAF is that even its air refueling KC-135's were new in the Vietnam war, proving a lack of investment, but they may do a good job in breaking the missile power of Iran, but ending the religious fanatics is a different matter?

Battery powered Trains!

 Filling in gaps between Mainlines?

Beaching in some ways destroyed Britain's railway networks, because of lack of traffic in the 1960's without vision, but today many of these branch and freight lines are being returned to public use!

The battery powered train is the future here for all the new housing projects and the need to connect with other mainlines, as is already at play in west-London with trials completed a small line is now operational and many are to follow?

Only the Newcastle Metro has met the tram-rail as yet, but is to be soon met with the Cardiff city expansion to the valley lines to reinforce commuter traffic to the capital morning and evening and at the weekend for night life!

There are at least one hundred connection that could be made across the U.K. and N-Ireland, if not many other islands that have existing rail or tram lines?

ARTEMIS!

 Back to the Moon?

It is claimed that this four person mission is a fly around and not a landing, so why send four, when it could be done with less, unless some form of landing is to be attempted just to check-out what was left can be re-used!

Maybe China and Russia have already made out and are building their join southern base camp, what a blow would that be to the United States and Europe?

But maybe that 70's space race is not a big deal anymore and more collaboration missions will be undertaken to explore the moons of our Solar System than wondering off the the nearest star!

The final frontier has much to offer up in visiting many places and wonders still near and far?

CONCORDE!

 Joint French-British Venture?

It is now the 50th anniversary of this supersonic civilian airline that was grounded after the Paris crash some 25 years ago, and despite many attempts to replace it nothing as yet has come to the fore!

The U.S. have a smaller test version, which is making some headway but as yet the past and present promises have come to nothing?

Over the years the billionaire Sir Richard Branson has wanted to restart the programmne but have been blocked by the British government, because after the accident at Paris, it was thought that the aircraft was vulnerable to ISIS inspired attacks!

Other reasons may have to do with aviation fuel consumption and zero carbon issues, the other is limited build and passengers, despite the Paris/London U.S. routes were the mainstay of the aircraft, with Singapore also operating it a replacement might go down very well if nations cooperated more so?

Pirated Crude!

 It will be hard to sell it On?

The U,S, now have five crude oil tankers seized and no one with any sense will want to buy them, since the sanctions on Venezuela are not UN, Congress or Internationally approved and the U.S. President is discovering it is hard to get rid of stolen goods!

His justification will not work for the oil companies ethos to both update and recover the industry, when it appears to be colonized and taken without a Internationally recognized treaty?

Meanwhile the capture of Greenland will be another headache for a leader who refuses now to drill and dig in his own backyard and create those promised Jobs.

New fuel for Shipping!

 Cheaper than the Electric engines for the New Year?

It is amazing that this has now been discovered and that battery powered tramps working on a loop keep steady power, something that could be adapted in the U.K. for the London Underground Circle line and also the clockwork orange in Glasgow in Scotland!

If investment could open the Hirwaun loop in south-Wales it would be an eye opener for travel and business, with many other applications in Cardiff and elsewhere?

Military drones are becoming more effective in the Ukraine and its security situation with Russia, but this is not same in the Middle-East, so one has to wonder is it really true or just British/European propaganda!

Despite all the advances, it looks like the U.S. will start mining coal again and the fossil fuel issues is not going away with the piracy of the high seas, driving prices up for all?

Happy New Year and a peaceful Eastern-Christmas!

FATHER CHRISTMAS!

 Is on His Way?

No matter how old you are lets keep our Father Christmas, who gifts his gifts to children and all at heart and may this be a peaceful Christmas season for all the different denominations, east and west!

By tradition he is coming on his sleigh from the north pole, but one is not sure how he operated down under, and with come gifts for good ones and not for naughty ones?

St. Nicolas of Greece is the one who gave toys to the children in a village were he lived and this is marked by the feast day on the 15th, which is also Chanukkah the festival of lights in the Jewish faith and both religions are combined in many ways and share much!

The United states will be monitoring Him as he flies over N-America also a good time for the U.S. Air and Space forces to check their missile defenses from the cold war era?

Happy Christmas and a peaceful New year to All!

Venezuela!

 U.S. Invasion coming Soon?

The training videos off the Puerto-Rico look impressive, but will they be able to land without loss. one thinks that there will be casualties and loss for what, more oil and a change of government under the guise of fighting drug crime!

Meanwhile the pardoning of the Honduran president makes the whole affair hypocritical, because peace will not be achieved in any of the Presidents ventures, just the bluster of his own aged dementia, like the guy before him!

It is at this time hard to know what new tech may be deployed and how good it will work or not, the marine landings look impressive when not under fire and we cannot be sure if other nations will not step in to help or China attack Japan, Taiwan and others with N-Korea, will Iran and the Houthis attack Israel and what will Russia do, may hit the U.K. and Europe?

Trump has already told his military to prepare for the third world-war and it looks like its coming sooner than we thought!

More A.I. for the Police!

 Robotic K-9's and Robotic assisted car drivers?

Tech is now moving very fast across the globe in relation to security, military and the police and within the next twenty-five years we will see the introduction of the robot K9 and the police robot driver, as well as a host of tech in the vehicles that is connected to drones and other flying devices!

This is to be a revolution in its own right, as the helicopter may become obsolete over the next 75 years for a drone and robotic model? 

With the expansion into Mars and other mining colonies across our solar system the helicopter may be an essential craft, for transporting people and machinery, if not rescue and the possibilities are to be endless with A.I!

End of the McDonnell-Douglas MD-11!

 Is this the final demise of the McDonnell-Douglas MD-11?

These aircraft operated by United Parcels Services (UPS) and FedEx have now been stood down, but is this really the end of them or will they be scrapped, after ten years of the last incident called for their retirement in the freight business for postal services or other unknown or not disclosed loads!

The history of this type has been successful, but the earlier version the DC-10-30 had a engine tail flaring problem, which lead to disaster and great loss of life?

The MD-11 was to be more, but safety concerns drove into its current role, but these aircraft are old and no match for say the Boeing 777-300/X or the earlier 747-300/400. It is not clear what other operators may do in Europe and other parts of the world!

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River Boats!

 River Ferries?

The role of the ferryman is not yet in demise, as many people in London, U.K. want to travel the river Thames for work, cutting out the car and all the costs that now go with it, as well as fines!

There are many places were the building of a bridge is not suitable, but there is a demand for traffic to go from A to B/Z and thus not much has changed over the years with the craft, except the introduction of GPS and more comforts for the passengers?

Journeys will vary from fifteen to forty-five minutes and the weather can play havoc, but despite all this there remains a demand across many parts of the world, were safety standards are not kept, ranging from Greece to W-Africa, and the far-east with occasional great loss!

Gliders!

 They were at their hey day during World War-II (1939-45).

During the D-Day landings these enginless birds, if they made it safely down were a God send to the operations to crush the Nazis in Northern France, carrying in weapons, men and essential equipment?

Both the American Jeep and the British Bren carrier with light artillery were the importance of the day, allowing troops to move fast ahead of the main divisions and their heavier armor

But many did fail and many lives were lost, but after all is said they did have their respective successes, as in comparison today the glider is more of a sporting craft, towed up and glides back down again allowing many people to experience real flight!

It is unlikely that the transport gliders will ever be used again, technology has moved to helicopters and now to drones and their aircraft equivalents?