AT-6 Texan Close Air Support Aircraft

 

I have previously blogged about the need to replace the now withdrawn Harrier in the close air support role in Afghanistan and suggested that the AT-6 Texan would fit the bill.

Now Aviation Week has an extended video telling more about the idea.

Pre-flight on Air New Zealand

 

I always thought that Kiwis were a bit odd but not anymore. 

No More Mess

Now that’s a nifty gadget.  I want one (no not really but I sure need one)

The Rapide Video

Recently I blogged about the Aston Martin Rapide video Would David Brown Roll in his Grave?

Well here it is in its full awfulness

A Bad Sport Week

 

It’s been a very bad week in sport for me.  Australia got dumped out of the Cricket World Cup (Ponting and the team must die), Mark Webber didn’t win the Aussie Grand Prix at Albert Park and today Wasps were unceremoniously beaten 39-3 by Northampton Saints.

The only ray of sunshine was Australia topping the medal table in the World Track Cycling Championship and particularly Anna Meares showing Victoria Pendleton how it’s done by winning three Golds.

Final score Australia 8 Golds, UK 1 Gold.  A harbinger of London 2012?  Let’s hope so.

The Robotic Bird

Festo, a leader in robotics, has created a robotic bird inspired by the Herring Gull which flies in a pretty realistic way.  A bit of a gimmick at present but with obvious military potential.

 

 

Whatever next?  Engadget has the full story Festo's SmartBird robot takes off with elegance, doesn't poop on you (video) -- Engadget

Who Needs a Cobra?

The Russian SU-30 is famous for its “Cobra” manoeuvre but can it do a Flip?

Raptors rule OK.

Serious' cyber attack on EU bodies

 

You can read all about it here 

One of the “bodies” was the EU External Action Service which sounds rather sinister, almost like the EU’s own special forces, and was a “body” that I was not familiar with.  So I looked it up and after reading its mandate I am none the wiser.  See if you can figure it out:

“In fulfilling his mandate, the High Representative shall be assisted by a European External Action Service. This service shall work in cooperation with the diplomatic services of the Member States and shall comprise officials from relevant departments of the General Secretariat of the Council and of the Commission as well as staff seconded from national diplomatic services of the Member States. The organisation and functioning of the European External Action Service shall be established by a decision of the Council. The Council shall act on a proposal from the High Representative after consulting the European Parliament and after obtaining the consent of the Commission”

No?  I thought not.  I bet some Brussels senior official was paid several grand to draft this gobbledegook.

Actually the High Representative is a she – none other than Baroness Ashton…..we’re in good hands.

Boeing's biggest jet takes flight

Boeing has flown its new big’un at last, the 747-8.  Bigger than the B747-400 and even more graceful the airliner will offer the lowest seat-mile cost of any commercial airliner.

The Airbus A380 might be bigger but the 747 is still Queen of the Skies.  Which do you think is more beautiful?

This:

or this:

  Get the full story at Engadget   Boeing's biggest jet takes flight, promises lowest 'seat mile' cost of any commercial airliner -- Engadget

BBC News - Sea eagles given more protection

 

Good news that (White-tailed) Sea Eagles, Haliaeetus albicilla, are to be given more protection.  The Sea Eagle was reintroduced into Scotland in 1975 having become locally extinct.  Gradual recovery has occurred but this magnificent bird, one of the greatest wildlife sights in Scotland, is not out of danger quite yet.  For all the details see BBC News - Sea eagles given more protection

Don’t Worry About Crashing in Libya

 

The recent F-15E Strike Eagle crash in Libya highlights every aircrew person's fear that they will crash behind enemy lines, whether due to enemy action or mechanical failure.

In this case the latter seems to apply.  By all accounts the crew were quickly  rescued by US Marines in a complex operation that may have included  exfiltration using a USMC MV-22 Osprey in one of its prime roles of combat search and rescue.

Whilst the Pentagon are heralding the rescue they are thin on the particulars as this video shows:

Enter the Avenger

The latest UAV from General Atomics is the Predator C Avenger, an upscaled Predator with a turbofan engine.

Designed for long endurance surveillance and precision strike the Avenger will be a powerful anti-terrorism platform.

Video from Aviation Week

The Cone of Silence

Agent 86 would instantly recognise this as the 2011 version of the Cone of Silence:  BBC News - Barack Obama's top secret tent

Plus ca change.

What Happened in the KC-X Tanker Saga

I have blogged before about the long drawn-out saga of KC-X, the USAF program [sic] to replace the ageing fleet of KC-135 aerial refuelling tankers (see USAF selects Boeing for KC-X contract and Aussies Steal a March on the USAF ). 

Now the evergreen and delightful Popular Mechanics provides a chronology of the tortured process U.S. Air Force Tanker - Boeing Governent Contract - Popular Mechanics

Well worth reading to find out how not to do it, how Boeing eventually won and how one person can be a national hero or a right pain in the butt depending on where you stand.

Croatia offered German Phantoms to replace MiG-21s

So that mightiest of aeronautical war horses is not done quite yet:

Croatia offered German Phantoms to replace MiG-21s

First flown in 1958 that most evocative of all modern combat aircraft, the Mighty Rhino, has seen more service and been used by more operators than just about any other Warbird. With its outer wing dihedral and tailplane anhedral its shape was utterly distinctive.

Even the RAAF used the F-4 while it was waiting for its F-111s so that’s how old the mighty Phantom is.  This is the 1972 RAAF display team:

Most closely associated with the war in Vietnam the F-4 has had many devoted Phantom Phlyers and Phixers over the years and now it seems like it may soldier on until God only knows when.

It is indeed primus inter pares.

Rare albatross is unique species

 

The rare Amsterdam Albatross only discovered in 1983 on Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean has now had its DNA analysed to show that it is not a sub-species of the Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans but in fact a species in its own right.  For the full story see:BBC - Earth News - Rare albatross is unique species

There is only a handful of very large diomedeans so the discovery of a new one is hugely significant.  Hopefully its rarity, only 170 individuals, will be a benefit in its survival and will persuade us to make a real effort to protect it.  Since it apparently only breeds on Amsterdam Island we can be confident that it will be monitored properly.  Its scientific name is Diomedea amsterdamensis (rather dull but suitably specific!)

Spy Shots: Latest look at Porsche's upcoming 911 Turbo — Autoblog

Why do the Elves of Zuffenhausen bother trying to disguise their “new” cars.  They all look the same and have for years.  I suppose some people like that kind of certainty

Autoblog has the story at Spy Shots: Latest look at Porsche's upcoming 911 Turbo — Autoblog

Internet Explorer 9

I downloaded Internet Explorer 9 today on its release having previously been running IE9 RCT the pre-release final version. 

You may recall that I rated the Beta version quite highly but regrettably it only flattered to deceive.  Over time it got slower and slower and wouldn’t run some things like RoboForm (an absolutely vital piece of software to tame your passwords) so in the end I gave it a miss and reverted to Firefox which although it has huge functionality looks like a junkyard dog and Chrome which doesn’t have much functionality but looks good.

So when MS announced the release candidate for IEP9 ( which looks great and has great functionality) I thought I would try it.  And it has been very good: reliable, stable, quite quick (although not as quick as Chrome) and pleasingly convenient and good looking.

So far (today!) IE9 has lived up to the hype and seems even quicker than the release candidate.  So is it smooth sailing or more tears before bedtime like so many MS products?  Watch this space…I live in hope!  

BMW 6-series coupe revealed - Shanghai motor show 2011 - Picture Gallery - Autocar.co.uk

New BMWs are becoming anodyne and so similar that they’re really hard to tell apart.

 

Come back Chris Bangle all is forgiven.  Your cars may have been ugly but at least they were interesting and distinctive!

The Germans now seem to lack any imaginative creativity for their production cars. Or are they specifically targeted at a particularly boring clientele?

BMW 6-series coupe revealed - Shanghai motor show 2011 - Picture Gallery - Autocar.co.uk

A400M Production To Begin; Revised Deal Still Awaits Approval - Defense News

So it’s still not there yet. Is it too late?  Can we really afford it?  Why do we need it?  Will it do what is claimed?  Key questions indeed. 

Does the Government have misgivings too?  We should be told!

For the lowdown see: A400M Production To Begin; Revised Deal Still Awaits Approval - Defense News