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
The Russian SU-30 is famous for its “Cobra” manoeuvre but can it do a Flip?
Raptors rule OK.
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 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
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
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:
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
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.
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.
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.
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!)
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
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!
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
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
Flight International posts the result: [UPDATED]: USAF selects Boeing for KC-X contract
Those of you with good memories will recall that in my post Aussies Steal a March on the USAF I bemoaned the fact that the USAF couldn’t seem to make up its mind on who should get the KC-X contract.
Well now it has and, surprise surprise, its Boeing with a modified B767 to enter service as the KC-46A, mostly because it was cheaper than the EADS A330 offering and has a lower T/O weight (see the main article for details).
The contract is worth $USD 35 billion and General Norton Schwartz the USAF Chief of Staff says “I’m pleased at how this produced an outcome … that we will get about delivering a capability that’s long overdue and we’ll stop talking about it.”
Meanwhile the RAAF is expecting delivery of its first Airbus A330 MRTT very soon.
Check out the World’s biggest fire extinguisher from Evergreen
Now isn’t that quite something. Need a couple permanently based in Melbourne during the fire season.
On the basis of the Met Office’s performance this Winter the answer must surely be a resounding no. Throughout the Winter the Met Office forecasts have been completely different to the BBC, Metcheck and the Weather Channel, at least for Dunblane (and to be fair the other providers are different from each other – I have blogged about this before).
Of particular difference between the providers has been the forecast temperature. Often the Met Office has been up to 10 degrees different from the BBC (which uses the same raw data feed) – on the pessimistic side usually, often changing their mind markedly every half hour. For example below is the current forecast from the Met Office for Dunblane. The actual conditions today (at 1800) are clear sky and a temperature of 4 degrees! This is by no means an unusual disparity.
In the current Winter it’s really important to know what sort of weather is coming. So come on Met Office get yourself a new Cray or better meteorologists.
Wowie, Zowie a new Ferrari, replacing the 612 Scaglietti, and what an elegant four seater it is. Totally different to Porsche's try at the the same thing which is Totally Teutonic and hence by definition pug ugly.
But not this Ferrari. Does FF stand for Fab Ferrari?
Read all about it at Autoblog
The latest lot of RAF Regiment gunners have returned from Helmand and we are relieved and proud to see them back. Read more…Ministry of Defence | Defence News | History and Honour | RAF Gunners welcomed home from Helmand
One of the accompanying photos is captioned “The Mayor of St Edmundsbury, Councillor Ian Houlder, and Officer Commanding 1 Squadron RAF Regiment, Squadron Leader Dave Crook, take the salute”
Now SQNLDR Crook must have had a good deployment because he has apparently been promoted to Group Captain as you can see from the photograph:
It’s a real pity (and a bit worrying) that the truth makers at the MoD don’t know their badges of rank and can’t tell a Group Captain from a Squadron Leader!
Probably yes is the answer if this add for Aston Martin is anything to go by: http://www.astonmartin.com/eng/rapidetruepower
Puerile, hackneyed and utterly toe curling (who on earth is it aimed at?). Can’t wait for Part 2 to feed my masochistic tendencies.
Like the appearance of Halley’s comet or the discovery of donkey horse droppings a completely new Caterham is the rarest of automotive events. The UK manufacturer of niche sports cars has announced a brand new car at the Autosport International show at the NEC and incredibly exciting it is too. For all the details see PistonHeads Headlines
This is just so different from the Lotus 7 inspired Caterhams that we all love and that go like stink but, if truth be known, are now just a tad old fashioned.
But the new Caterham changes the game and has so many firsts for the company. Stunning looks, even more stunning performance and an emphasis on track days and motorsport.
Can’t wait to see the UK model. Regrettably it is certain that I won’t be able to afford it.
It seems that former Life Guard and international crooner James Blunt had a bad experience trying to get to a morale boosting concert in Afghanistan.
On the face of it everything that could go wrong at the hands of the RAF did and the concert had to be cancelled.
As former air force officer (in my case the RAAF) it really hurts to hear these tales of woe. Being a fighter jock is great and glamorous but the real projection of strategic power in the sorts of conflicts we chose to fight these days can only be achieved by the so called “trash haulers”. But it appears that they aren’t very good at it. A big size 12 boot up the arse is definitely required here.
Now that the Harrier is history the question arises as to how we will provide close air support for land operations in Afghanistan.
Big fast jets, whilst being able to deliver a large precise punch are not really very good at sustained close air support (CAS) to troops on the ground.
During the Vietnam war although F-4s, F-100s and F-5s were all used successfully for air support one of the most effective CAS aircraft was the A-1 Skyraider in various guises. It carried a big load of munitions and could loiter close to the forward edge of the battle area and so be on call at short notice.
The modern version is the A-1 is the Warthog but I can’t see us buying them for the CAS role.
But we could buy AT-6 Texans, probably quite cheaply at that and since the Mod has made the first step in buying non-Brit gear there seems no argument not to.
At last the coalition seem to have taken a sensible procurement decision to forgo “Made in Britain” kit and acquire three US RC-135 W Rivet Joint aircraft for the joint electronic intelligence role. These will replace the ageing Nimrod R1s.
This will provide four advantages over the Nimrod:
Lets hope that the Government and its recently appointed new head of MoD procurement will will take lots more sensible defence procurement decisions rather than buying only British kit (because it keeps British jobs) like the previous and utterly incompetent government.
Is it just me or are we entering a period, like the 70s, when all new cars seem to look the same irrespective of make?
Autoblog is currently covering the Los Angeles auto show so take a look at today’s blog and see for yourself. The style isn’t exactly elegant!
When I was living in Surrey I used to frequent the Noah’s Ark in Lurgashall West Sussex, one of the most picturesque pubs you could imagine, situated on the perfect English village green where the gentle click of willow on leather can often be heard on the long Summer evenings.
I often wondered what car would be best to arrive in at the pub to create the maximum attention. After much contemplation of the usual suspects: RR Silver Ghost London to Edinburgh, Jaguar XKSS, AC Cobra 427, Tipo 61 Birdcage Maserati, P4 Ferrari etc, etc. I concluded that something out of the ordinary would be better. So I decided on a J2 Allard which seemed to me to fit the bill – masculine, loud and very hirsute.
I have only ever seen one and that was at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu so my ambition seemed doomed. But now a Canadian company is making replicas so good that they could be like a sort Sanction 2 a la Aston Martin DB4GT Vantage Zagato. See: PistonHeads Headlines
Now all I need is the dosh and I can knock ‘em dead art the Noah’s Ark!
From the always entertaining Autoblog:
Spy Shots: Porsche 911 struts its stuff — Autoblog
How terribly exciting a New Porsche that looks, well er, like every other new Porsche for the last 20 years.
Audi decides how cars will sound driving down electric avenue...
I should have thought that the answer for Audi was fairly obvious…a loud Bavarian voice repeating endlessly Achtung, Vorsprung Durch Technic, Dumbkopf
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