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?
Tuesday, 15 March 2016
Tuesday, 8 March 2016
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.
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.
Tuesday, 1 March 2016
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.
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.
Tuesday, 23 February 2016
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.
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.
Tuesday, 16 February 2016
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.
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.
Tuesday, 9 February 2016
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.
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.
Tuesday, 2 February 2016
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!
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!
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