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.

Airbus. Part-One.

From A319 to A380/350.

The story of Airbus is the story about European Union co-operation in building a new family line of commercial aircraft, to compete with the U.S. manufacturer Boeing and this has now been achieved.

The Airbus story began with the A300/310 and from one design all the other aircraft have followed in their varying sizes and options. Initially a civil programme, it has now ventured into military conversions and the design of the A400M, to replace the Lockheed Hercules C-130.

Almost all European partners use one or several of the types that are available with the A320/321 being the most common in medium haul. The A330/340 has seen widespread use world wide and there are many versions available 100-600.

The smaller versions are now being converted to neo, which is that they are driven by bio fuel rather than pure aviation oil. The development of the Super Jumbo A380 has taken the market off the long standing Boeing 747-100/SP-300/400 and 8-market world wide.

Buses and Coaches. Part-Two.

100th Anniversary.

For many towns and cities across Britain and Ireland this year marks the 100th Anniversary of the introduction of the firsts bus services. One-hundred years ago they were limited to their range of operation and were in competition with the trams.

Buses had the advantage of going were the tram could not and also the ability to change routes. Today buses are designed for short stop and start between stops, where as the coach is for longer travel and less stopping and starting.

Both means of transport are used world wide today and are the back bone of many underdeveloped countries around the world. We in the western nations tend to get the latest models and various variations, but across the globe our older models soldier on doing the same job they once did on our streets and motorways.