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!

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!

Liaison Aircraft.

 Developed in 1945.

The four seat aircraft came too late at the end of world war-II, since the helicopter would replace it as was then thought, but this was proved untrue, when in the 1950's many nations developed their own and Cessna came to the fore with a series of types that met the role required.

Today the survivor of the class lays in the Cessna 172 and its variants around the world that fulfills many roles both military and civil and despite it being replaced by drones pr the larger Cessna Caravan-II it remains very popular?

Many poorer or small nations have maintained the type for civilian usage, police and training before moving on to more complicated aircraft.

Aviation Zigzags?

Radon Scanning or map Making?

It perhaps will not be admitted by the governments, why aircraft are mapping for Radon leakage in the middle of a pandemic, but this is a fact that we are dealing with radioactivity in the atmosphere and the first thing that troubles that is radon gas leaking out of the ground!

Map making could be an added need especially over the populated areas of the country and the need to get accurate mapping in our times of high criminality and terrorist activity?

There are many areas of the world that have radon gas veins and in the event of a nuclear explosion, large amounts of this gas are released from the ground causing exposure to skin and body cancers!

Pollution levels have recently been discovered to effect this SASR-COV2/Covid-19 outbreak and the probability of ending fossil fuel burning is high on the agenda after this quarantine ends?

EASTER is still On!

More Air Freighters?

Most of the aircraft now flying across Europe and the Atlantic are air freighters, carrying essential equipment to combat COVID-19 which is a new plague for the 21st Century! Compared to one hundred and one years ago air travel is now far more complicated than those flimsy light bi-planes that could only carry two people and a bag of mail?

The jet engine in commercial airlines from the 1950's revolutionised air travel world-wide and with various military conversions, such as the Boeing 707 made dedicated air freight big business until the arrival of the of the 747 Jumbo in 1967-71!

Today a whole host of older aircraft fly postal and for Amazon supplies, some airlines as mentioned last time are civilian contractors for the U.S. military or Israel/N.A.T.O! Russia has its own dedicated fleets too built up from the now defunct TU-154M that had a chequered history and the newer Ilyushin Il-76 and its many newer developments!

Meanwhile many smaller propeller air craft are deployed daily, both civil and military to carry medications, sick people and other essential supplies. Helicopters are now an essential in rescue, air ambulance and police work, some may be replaced by drones and despite much promises we are not quite yet there with the big stuff?

Easter blessings to one and all!

Italian deployments for COVID-19.

IVECO .

At this time most of us across the globe cannot escape the serious requirement to stay indoors because of this virulent virus that is spreading and worsening as it has in both China and now Italy?

It is noted with the deployment of the army to maintain a lockdown some vehicles deployed came from the Iveco range, Trakker At190T, LMV (2) Light, the MUV utility M40.is Torpedo and the WNS Ambulance version.

These type are the basis of a paramilitary support to the Police and are the versatile end of a successful range of good quality military hardware!

We tend to only know Iveco for limited number of heavy goods vehicles in which they are employed in the building industry, but Italy has its own manufacturing base for many important types and their own equivalents the Jeep?

Helicopters 75 Years! Part-One.

Come a long Way!

The day of the helicopter is not yet over, despite many new drones are cheaper than keeping an helicopter in the sky? The helicopter derived from gyro-dynamics in aircraft to act like an early form of the Boeing-Vertol Osprey BV-22, which still occupies U.S. military research into the development and deployment of much newer and stable platform, which is changing the battlefield from science-fiction to reality!

Today nearly anyone can go up in a helicopter from pleasure flying to search and rescue? The small machines are in the Robinson family, while Bell and Sikorsky have held both the military and commercial market, go to any horse racing event and there are more helicopters between the tracks now parked up since riders cover more than one meeting a day?

The largest machines are still dominated by the Russians and Ukrainians with the Mil Mi-26 capable of carrying three tracked vehicles and one hundred and twenty-five combat troops! This helicopter was a development of the Mi-6 well known is Russia as the Cow because it was slow and vulnerable to ground rocket fire?

Mid range giants are the Chinook, Boeing-Vertol CH-47, which has been around since the Vietnam wars of the 1960s and the Sikorsky CH-53 Super stallion, S-92 SAR after that is the successful Westland-Leonardo EH-101 and the various derivatives of the Puma SA-330 to the H332 Super Puma that dominates the North Sea oil and gas supply rigs and wind turbines.

Europe has also taken the lead of the world market with the H-135/145 helicopter in Air Ambulance and police, electric line work along with several other smaller types?

Norton is back!

British racing Bikes 2018!

It is amazing that the Norton motorbike manufacturer is back with a new composite design and making fifth place in the Isle of Man TT races!

Some will say for how long in comparison to what is coming out of Japan and others such as Italy and BMW, but some of these countries have started to slacken off a bit economically and Britain can once more get a foot on the rung?

Individual designed bikes look like the future course and the introduction of electric versions are also another course in the development of these machines? Only time will tell if the British police forces buy this new Norton model or not!

Emergency Vehicles Electric!

Conversions to alternatives Underway!

The emergency services are to introduce a new breed of electric vehicles soon, this will be the first service to do so, followed by the Fire and Police? It is hoped that these new vehicles will cut down on emissions and one supposes this change has to start somewhere?

This will be a test run in relation probably to speed and their viability for range between charges! Batteries means more can be done on board maybe before getting to the Accident & Emergency rooms!

Eventually technology will improve and most service vehicles along with the emergency services, buses and trains will start to pay off with the cutting down of carbon monoxide in the air? We still have a long way to go, but at least we are getting there!

British RAF 200th?

Drones, more drones and Space?

This is not a probability, but a fact that is already in the fore with the RAF and N.A.T.O. seriously deploying drones! Afghanistan, Libya and many other areas of the world, Reapers and their UAV equivalents are operational with great success and the saving of aircrew lives!

Farnborough showed that a new joint fighter is to be developed by BAE and others in that it will be a conventional Jet fighter or interceptor and also a drone equivalent! It is one of many projects underway, others being the deployment of smaller drones for the search and rescue services, police, military and many other civil projects which may include the fire service?

The ability to go into small spaces, operate in difficult conditions, that does not risk immediate life is a wise move! But Space is the next frontier, because many more nations around the globe have access to ICBM missiles and are doing their own thing!

N-Korea may have stopped but Iran and a few other nations could potentially attempt to carry out a Nuclear strike? The other problem is that of the Ronald Reagan,s 'Ray gun' becoming a reality in space and a threat to communications? 

Meanwhile everyone is now trying to reach the Moon and eventually Mars for a piece of the cake!!!

Day of the Drones. Part-One.

Cheaper and safer?

In the long run lives will be saved in the armed forces by the introduction of battle field drones, air and sea, space and underwater!

Many people are worried and concerned about the introduction of self-thinking robotics, but we have had them in service since the 1960's and at the end of the day, they are only machines?

The British Police were seeing using a drone recently in a Midlands incident, and one believes this was to great effect to end that siege? What is to come will be of great advantage and many military aircraft programmes will be replaced by drone aircraft?

We are someway off still in relation to the drones of science-fiction, but robots are being introduced in Japan to hotels, hospitals and schools!

Specialist Police Vehicles. Part-One.

Riot Control and Dispersal.

Every police force and Paramilitary Police have developed their own types of riot dispersal vehicles to meet the needs of the various situations that may occur? Many countries including the U.K do use semi-militarised vehicles as in N-Ireland, but France, Belgium and the U.S.A. have also those types to deal with bomb and gunfire.

The riot control vehicle was developed from both the early armoured cars and armoured personnel carriers, which were of military usage. From 1947 what we have today began in the United States, being developed from military trucks adapted to deal with the Gangsterism of the 1920'-30s.

Shorts-Landrover developed the Simba series of armoured vehicles from the early 1970's to the present, armour plating was an essential to these waggon's from IRA, Loyalist and other smaller factional groupings. Blast, nail, pipe bombs, Snipers, sustained machine gunfire, petrol and other mixed concoction bombs were the main threat in the major towns and cities!

But the former RUC Royal Ulster Constabulary, had relied on the Thompson's Handy Andy truck conversion from 1922 to 1969, but in the Ulster countryside it was the landmines and home-made Culvert bombs that were fatal to these new Land rovers?

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.    

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.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016.

More of What?

It would seem that the idea of the drone was the future last year, but now with so many incidents of near misses with aircraft and many other machines perhaps not?

Military and Police drones are perhaps being perfected for future use, but not the near future. NASA has twins with a new rocket propulsion system and the first SpaceEX return rocket from 125 miles up in one piece, this is technology where money is to be made in the commercial satellite market.

With the drop in oil prices and other fossil fuels, the demand for alternative's has been put on hold. With diesel at less than a pound in the U.K. 'I am afraid pollution or carbon emissions are going to be a problem despite the recent Paris, France conference.

One has to wonder sometimes about all this climate change, when military jets and missiles are being fired again in the middle-east how much of a carbon footprint do they make?

Volksvagen Camper Vans. Part-Two.

Pleasure to Icon.

The VW brand has a shaded history in the twenth-century and has now come in for more dishonesty in relation to its cars having the abilty to give false readings. I expect we will be hearing more about this for a long time yet, because many manufacturers are telling lies about the performance of their machines!

Todays models of the classic camper are far more advanced and one feels that something has been lost in the box designs compared to that of the 1950', 60's vehicles. VW originally developed this van for its West-German paramilitary police in several chassis versions and all were based on World War-II ideas to improve thier amphibious scout car.

In 1946 the iconic shape was developed to run along side that of the Beattle car and they both were extremly sucessfull in taking the world market for sales. 

The main reason being both had simple constructed engines that were easy to fix and manintain and the parts were also cheap.

Police Aviation. Part-One.

Aircraft and Helicopters.

Nearly every police force around the world has access either to aircraft and helicopters of various types. The 'Eye in the Sky' is a vital tool in fighting crime from serious incidents such as civil disturbances to full blown rioting, burglary, car crime, chases and searching for missing people, children, bodies and stray or escaped animals.

Helicopters are the ideal tool for large cities and towns where take-off and landing can be made almost any where, if needs be. Bell-206, 222, EC-135, 145, Eccuril, Hughes-500, Robinson R-22/44.

Aircraft need runways and are limiting in that sense, but they can have long duration flights up to twelve hours with some types such as the Britten-Norman Defender. 

Aircraft can also cover huge areas of open land, forests and water and they can be deployed for long range observation annd reconnaissance in the case of para-military controlled or unstable conflict zones. Cessna O-2/337, FR-172, 152, Optica, and similar light and cheap aircraft.

French Military. Part-One.

Long Influence.

France is one of those countries that has a long history of supplying military technology across the world. Controversy at the moment about selling a commissioned warship to Russia, while back in the Falklands war it was the Exocet missiles that did a lot of damage to the British.

France has built a generation of armoured cars in the Panhard series, which serve world wide from basic to powerful and they meet the needs of most small armies. Yet France has a Nuclear capability in its own ICBM's, aircraft carriers, warships and submarines, as well as its own advanced Mirage to Rafael combat aircraft.

It has also worked jointly with the United Kingdom on the development of the Gazelle, and Puma helicopters. Meanwhile following this weeks events in the Paris area we saw some of the paramilitary police vehicles being used.

Eurocopter EC-135/145.

Most Versatile.

The EC-135 is perhaps one of the most reliable and versatile helicopters ever built. Used by the emergency services, police, air ambulances, line inspections it is fuel officiant and has good seating options for a compact light machine. 

As far as I know military versions are in use in other countries. The helicopter has built up a reputation of being it is easy to operate for the trained pilots and push around.

This was all very true up until the Glasgow, Scotland crash on the Clutha pub. We still do not know the cause of this tragic crash, it has been suggested it ran out of fuel? Normally the most feared failure in a helicopter is the Jesus nut in the rotor area.

It's called the Jesus nut, because when it fails you will be calling on his name.

So we will have to wait and see what the enquiry into this crash finds.

Since the grounding of the EC-135, I have only seen the Wales Air Ambulance G-WASN make two dashes over Swansea City. But I have not seen the Heddlu pronounced (Hethli)/police G-WONN flying.

The EC-145 is a slightly larger version and I expect it uses similar components to the EC-135.

Tuesday 4th March 2014.

 It would seem that the EC-135's are back flying again with the Police and Air Ambulance services.

The R.N.L.I. Part-One.

Life boat search and rescue.

The RNLI is a shared service in both Britain and Ireland, it has a long history of saving life at sea and saving people stranded in difficult places. From its orgins and basic open rowing boats it has developed into a high tec' service, which is now an invaluable assit to these islands.

Life boats, inflatables and hovercraft are manned by volunteers, who are supported by donations and annual subscriptions from the general public. 

The RNLI work with the Coastguard and Military/Police search and rescue, on my You tube site I have filmed various life boats and helicopters. Some are on call, while others are on training exercises. 

Please remember them this special season and with out recent and forthcoming horrible weather.