Wales-Swansea Bay Air Show 2024. Part-Two.

 Westland Wasp.

The second vintage visitor to the Swansea Bay Airshow was the Westland Helicopter, the Wasp was the naval version of the British Army Scout and was used initially for general purpose duties and introduced in 1962, while entering service in 1963, since the potential in naval operations was much needed during the Cold War years!

She could be fitted with two Mk44 torpedoes, but trials following were to upgrade from HAS.1 to more of anti-submarine warfare and the first sixty machines were deployed on various frigates and other shipping across the Royal Navy,

Later over one-hundred machines were fitted with the French AS.11/12 missile systems and other equipment, forty were sold to South-Africa and eleven to its navy, another seventeen went to Brazil.

By 1978 in British service, they were being replaced by the Lynx helicopters and despite this these three to six manned machines remained in service into the 1980;s when they were withdrawn.

Aircraft Carriers Viability. One.

Real estate at Sea.

The United States today posses the largest fleet of Nuclear powered aircraft carriers in the Nimitz class, these ships carry several hundred aircraft of various types from fighter jets, to ELINT and AWACS. They also carry a host of different helicopters from Anti-Submarine warfare ASW to medium transport and the CH-47J the latest version of the Boeing-Vertol Chinook to the CH-53.

Many other nations have smaller carriers such as Brazil, France, China, Russia, Britain, Australia and India, Spain and Italy. Some are nearly as big and nuclear, while the others are conventional diesel and have to be replenished at sea.

These ship carry up to 5000 crew, combing air arms, marines, seals, commando's with their military equipment  and vehicles than can be landed by landing craft or large transport helicopter's?

The military philosophy one would think is the same, but every nation has their own take on how to deal with the foe and these ideas have been developed over the last one-hundred years from the first British one decker's right up to the mini carrier six aircraft VTOL jump jets and six rotary wing.

 

Defence is provided by sophisticated missile systems both anti-aircraft, missile and ship to land such as the Tomahawks. Raptor and Predator drones along with others such as Helli star and Scout/rangers are also used to cut the risk of loosing valuable pilots in hostile territory

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.

Invisible Bombers. Part-Two.

Unseen flying Technologies.

With the advent now of micro computers and new material developed in the vacum of space these combined have lead to the design and development of invisible objects to be deployed on the modern battlefield.

Co-alition forces are now employed in fighting the first mass mobile army in modern history, they may have 14th Century beliefs but they certainly know how to use 21st Century technology.

Many new types of drones and UAV, UCAV are being deployed and the air war at one level will be a success, but alas America has had to return to boots on the ground. Perhaps this is the death knell of the Democrats politically in the United States.