Christmas.

In light of a wet Christmas in the U.K

Perhaps everyone across the northern hemisphere has had some ammount of snow, the U.K. has seen very violent storms, winds rain with severe flooding. Instead of sleds, it has been the boats and inflatables to the rescue.

The inflatable, Zodiac and even the standard rowing boat continues to be part of the invaluable tools used for basic search and rescue across the globe, in all types of flood zones. Little and easy to inflate, they can work in tight spots. Speed is also an essential element to small craft used in this role along with depth levels changing suddenly.

I think we sometimes forget so easily about the very little machines that we use around us, that they do thr very simple jobs and roles. We also tend to forget how much, we could not do without them.

The Age of the Steam Train.

'How Long?

With a hike in the price of coal in many countries, the question must be asked how long has the steam trains left? Is it still viable to run them, even in the state of preservation and how do you raise enough funds to make a profit anyway?

There are still a few nations around the world with access to coal, that will continue to run some steam perhaps for another few more years. 

The problem with Steam is that it is dirty and polluting, many people do not want to be covered in the soot, as these trains pass through built up areas.

Some of the older Diesel locomotives are now cheaper to run, than newer versions and still cheaper than even electric trains. Much of this has to do with infrastructure and planning of railways, if you did the plan 50 years ago then you will be fine. 

One can budget rail for your own economic needs, and then there will be no problems.

The Concorde Story. Part-Two.

Supersonic Bombers.

Both the Concorde and the Soviet Tupolev TU-144 Charger were civlian off shoots of their military counterparts. It was inreality only the super powers of Soviet Russia and the United states that employed these types of aircraft. 

Toay many of the survivors of the 'Cold War era' have other uses, than what they were initially intended for. America has its B1 and B2, while Russia its Tupolev Blackjack and Backfire.

These types of aircraft have been superceeded by more advanced fighters such as the F-14/15, MiG-31/33 and Sukhoi Su-50. On the otherhand we also have the ICBM and new missile platforms today along with longrange drones. 

Floating Cities.

This would appear to be a new concept?

 Currently this is being developed in the Netherlands to relieve the use and price of land. But there are already many waterborne city dwellings found in China and Hong Kong and many other places around the globe.

Many people have chosen to live on boats in Marinas, harbours and on canals, but this new idea plans to commit to floating houses and apartments. With land running out for some countries around the world, this might be a good idea.

Would you want to live on a barge?

Road-Rail Vehicles.

Atlas to Unimog.

The means to have any type of vehicle, wither it be a boat, aircraft, truck or other to have a double capability role is ever great advantage. Land and water ability, cuts out the need to depend on bridges, while aircraft do not need an airport or land, but can land and take off from water.

The next advantage is to have a truck capable of using the railway network to cross a country at speed and safer from hurting people or damaging the surface. I must admit that I have a limited knowledge to these types of vehicles, only knowing about the Atlas and the Unimog.

There are many more other Russian, American, Australian and Chinese types out there. Many vehicles (MAC, Ural, MAN) have as powerful an engines as a Locomotive, but these come to their own, when railway infustructure may not be available or defunct. 

It is not just the movement of tanks and armour, artillery that the military use such vehicles.The need to move ICBM's and other missiles can be done quickly and smoothly. Civil uses,can be large cranes and buildings.

The Concorde story . Part-One.

Four Nations.

Only four nations used two types of supersonic civil aircraft, Britain, France and Singapore used Concorde and the former Soviet Union the Tupolev Tu-144. The Russian version was faster and a better aircraft, but all this came a heavey cost to design and the testing programme.

Meanwhile the joint British-French aircraft was more versitile and had a very long service with three long-haul airlines. Concorde was the aircraft of the rich, filmstars and the real jet-set. Both types of supersonic aicraft were the fist of their kind, and despite pleas by Virgin airlines boss Sir Richard Branson, it does not seem that they will be returning in a newer form just yet.

As a boy I remember seeing all three of them during my summer holidays, make their final approaches to London Heathrow International airport. In recent weeks I seem to have the same dream of seeing the BA Concorde against a blue sky. 

These aicraft were grounded since the trajic crash in Paris France. Russia had retired theirs much earlier, due to cracks and financial constraints.

Landing Craft.

LVTP 1-7. (Landing Vehicle Tracked).

The United States took great advantage of developing the amphibious vehicle during the second world war (1939-45), both for the European front and the Pacific campaign. It was the DUWK or 'Duck which was mostly seen in Europe, being a road truck, that slowely waved through water.

This was slow but it did the job, in the Pacific it was the LVTP-1  tracked landing craft, that since successfull use agains the Japanese over the years has been developed into the modern -7 type.

Both the LVTP-5/7 comprise a massive ammount of troop carrying capacity. The -5, a crew of 3/4 and 34 troops, while the -7 is more flexable with a crew of 2/3 and up to 25 troops. Russia and Czechoslovakia developed their own mass types, the BTR-50 (2+20) and  OT-62/64, 2+15/20+).

But i think that the U.S, has had the better over all in this field, as proved with the two Iraqi wars.

Caravaning.

(Please note update on space on the space page this week).

The Caravan.

The caravan is essentially just a wagon that is towed behind a automobile/car or truck and has no real motive power of its own. Yet it is one of the biggest business pullers across the globe both in N-America and Europe.

Caravaning took off in the United Kingdom in the 1920's and up to 1960, one could park anywhere and enjoy the view. But today we have Caravan sites and trailer parks, unless you are part of the travelling showman circut. 

The temporay home on wheels has progressed from a wooden box with basic facilities to the present state of the art mobile homes. With everything now from power shower to sat nav, microwave cooking to solar panel powered.

Even comforts that are better than we have in our houses and heating systems. But despite all these wonderful things, accidents in towing from A to Z remain a problem.

Oil Rigs.

New Frontiers.

Recently we saw 'Green Peace activists try to scale a new Russian oil rig in the Artic sea. This is the beginning of new frontier for the oil industry globally, as the ice seas warms up for the fist time in 600 years.

This is nothing new, as the global hoaxers would want you to believe. With new technology man will be enabled to exploit the resources in Alaska, Canada, Danish Greenland, Norway and Russia.

When we come to think about the oil rig at sea, it is quite a feat of engineering achievement for a towed vessel. Much has been gleaned as to its design and its history in development, from the various disasters over the years in the North-sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

The rig must contain everything from drilling equipment to living accommodation and its own power plant, perhaps now it will also have support rigs for hospital and storage etc.

The winters will continue to freeze over, but the summers will have less ice for at least two hundred years.

Ambulances. Part-One.

Rescue Carriage.

Ever since men have known the concept of anger, there have been wars and skirmishes. With battles also came rescue carts, waggon's, chariots, it was probably only the king or chieftain and his immediate family and or generals who were rescued to be sorted out by either the priests of shamans.

In British history this claim was attributed to Florence Nightingale who set up medical facilities during the Crimea campaign. The truth was that it was an Black freed American slave women who did mot of the real work. Medical carts were employed during the Crusades 1080-1190 and it was Islamic physicians who helped with the casualties. Which is kind of ironic, because they were the enemy. Yet out of it the Knights of Saint John did establish Guys hospital in London and many other similar institutions across Britain and Ireland.

In the U.S. it was the Christians communities in both the war of Independence and the Civil war who used everything that was available to rescue the wounded and the dying on both sides

Coin Aircraft.

Counter Insurgent Props.

The arms industry has always been a big business in human history, with the advent of aviation this is even more so. We will first take a look at some of the propeller driven aircraft, which are on the market. these aircraft have been purchased as advanced trainers. But they have a secondary role as light attack aircraft.

It is usually the smaller nations, who cannot afford to buy jets that opt for these types. The Italian SF-260Warrior, Swiss Pilatus PC-7/9, U.S T-34 Mentor, Swedish Saab MF-117 and the joint Brazilian/British Embraer/Shorts EMB-321Tucano. 

There are many other types, which you could add, but these will for now give you a good idea.

These two seater aircraft can be fitted with one or more 7.62mm gun pods and light rockets of different possibilities.

Most are used to attack insurgents, with surprise attacks or for anti-drugs operations. While others have been purchased by mercenary forces.

Narrow Gauge Railways. Part-Two.

Modern Systems...

(New article now on the Space Page for those who are interested).

Narrow gauge railways have over the last 100 years have been adapted for Metro system travel, such as in Paris, France. While Iceland built a 27 mile long network of narrow gauge railway to help in the building of an energy hydro plant. This is the longest underground service railway in the world.

Nuclear power plants have employed narrow gauge into their systems as well as mainline railways.

Many new engine designs are now available, replacing the improvised tractors and the early steam. Meanwhile many others railways are now great historical tourists pullers, while others like the bog or peat production continue to do both, work and tourism.

Narrow Gauge Railways. Part-One.

Easy to Manage.

It was during World-War 1 (1914-18) that the British army discovered that the Narrow Gauge rail system was easy to manage over a conventional railway. This meant that if the lines where bombed, they could quickly be replaced.

It has traditionally been the quarry that narrow gauge is most suited for, but by the 1960's in the UK this was coming to an end. Most of the types of engines used had small weights of between 4-15 tonnes. Narrow gauge railways were designed for mountain workings and they take narrow corners also.

Wales was I suppose the home of these engines and trains, but today narrow gauge engines still work the Board na Mona bog lands across Ireland and also the Preypet marches of southern Belarus and the northern Ukraine.

Motorway Service Vehicles.

Highway, Autobahn etc.

Most people across the globe today have traveled on one type or another of these roads. But it takes a fleet of many types of vehicles to maintain and service the needs of modern travel. 

Sometimes in our journeys we will notice cone crews at work in a most dangerous environment. We will also see various other vehicles doing jobs such as changing signage and bridge repairs, while also monitoring traffic flows.

The fleets are made up of common civilian trucks, cars, vans and tractor units, because these are cheaper to replace at the end of their working lives.

Yakolev Yak-24. Horse.

Twin Rotor Helicopters.

Everyone likes to think that it was the Americans who where the first to concieve this type of helicopter, the Boeing-Vertol 107 Knight and the YHC-1B Chinook. Both these machines made their public debut in 1961 and since then it has been the Chinook CH-47 that has taken the field.

But these helicopter platform systems developed by the United States were the end result of an abandoned Soviet project known as the Yak-24, which was developed from 1954. The Soviet army needed a helicopter that could move troops and more than one vehicle to the battle from. A civil version for Aeroflot known as the Yak-24P could carry 39 passengers and fly at 130 mph, cruising at 112mph and a range of 186 miles. It could had a weight ratio of 35-38,500lbs.

Later development of the machines into the 1960's was halted, after stability problems and the Russians felt the development and deployment of the Mil Mi-6/10K was a far better option.

Cranes.

Free Standing and Telescopic.

We today live in a world where we think cranes are something new? But we have had a pulley crane of some description since humans needed to lift heavy weights. Those fantastic monuments of the past such as the Pyramids in Egypt, the great wall of China and the many neolithic monuments needed cranes.

Today cranes come in all sizes and formats. They are the centre of the construction of high rise buildings and also entry work to underground tunnels. Cranes in the telescopic type are used to lift heavy weight objects, from piping units to wind turbine segments to skips of materials needed at certain heights or depths. 

Some cranes work on a segmented construction basis, while others are deployed from an eight to twelve wheel truck unit.

Yachts.

Yachting...

The modern Yacht captures the charm and the challenges of the sail ship on a much smaller scale. But to captain or work a Yacht is a very demanding event, especially in a racing event or a single handed around the world trip.

Yachts are for pleasure and sport, but in earlier days some were used in world exploration trips. Racing yachts of various types have helped in the development of improved hull design in bigger ships and military patrol vessels. Speed and stability are the two keys to ship design improvements.

As a carrier they have only really become associated with the smuggling and illegal importation of narcotics.

The Sci-fi Reality. Part-Two.

Too Much?

Some would say that we have gone to far and done too much in such a short time span?

With the positives also has to come the negatives of advancement, science has provided humans with flight, medicines and machines. New materials and sources of energy to drive our new found world.

But we have also developed new weapons, poisons gasses and biological agents.

Humanity has the capability for the first time to wipe himself off the face of his own world. We wonder what happened to the dinosaurs?  From Tanks to Intercontinental ballistic missiles, from Mustard gas to Cyclone-b, to Genetic engineering and robotic drones. Lasers in space, to a new breed of high speed aircraft, believed to be known as Aurora.

The future will see deep space travel, cloned humans and new types of chemical and biological warfare, if not a nuclear war.  

We just need to sit back, think and question a bit more?

The Sci-Fi, Reality. Part-One.

How much?

Humanity has progressed at a very fast pace in the last 150 years, what was written as pulp fiction eighty years ago has now become a reality. Man has gone into space, to the Moon, has built a Space station and is sending robotic probes to more than just the planets in our solar system.

We have massive ships and fast trains, Levitation railways, and automobiles that are both fast and comfortable. The Cell or Mobile phone now dominates our lives, we cannot live without them. Microwave cooking, Solar panels, computers, inter-active TV.

What we have developed now is amazing, but what will we have achieved in the next 150 years?

Ski Planes and Floats.

Aircraft and Helicopters with...

Many aircraft and helicopters are capable of operating from ice and water, because they are fitted out for the job. This is seen in both Canada and Russia, were even aircraft up to medium size can be adapted.

 Aircraft from light Cessna's and Pilatus to DHC Beavers and Caribous to dedicated helicopters such as the Mil Mi-14 Haze. operate in hard and difficult conditions to supply essential goods to their respective isolated communities who depend on these types.

Nearly every helicopter can be adapted to carry floatation gear, but the Mil Mi-14 was designed with the hull of a flying boat.

Railways.

Trains.

In the recent months we have seen three major train accidents in France, Spain and Switzerland. Speed was one of the key factors, but there was also human failure and bad track maintenance involved. We have asked the question before is speed essential, people today do seem to want to get from A to Z quickly?

Railways since they were created have become an essential life line for all the nations around the world who have them. Locomotives, wither steam, diesel or electric do not matter as long as they work. But it is still human error and negligence over speed issues and will to repair tracks that are and will continue to lead to failure, leading to accidents and deaths sadly.

Animal Power.

Viability?

Despite so many technological advances being made in the last two hundred years and humanities reliance upon oil and gas, there are still millions of people who rely on animals to haul themselves and their goods.

We are not just talking about far flung places, but both Europe and the U.S.A. people maintain animals instead of vehicles. The question is are these forms of movement viable to be introduced back into cities in some cases, or is their time gradually coming to an end?

If we look back to the era of the stage coach, we do find a sophisticated method of working. This is not just four horses tied up to a coach or waggon. To operate such a vehicle requires some skill.

Fire Engines. Part-Two.

Tenders and Engines today.

Our world today is very advanced since the days of 1900. The fire services have developed to many other areas than just dealing with fire. Chemical, biological and Nuclear units now exist, along with specialist cutting equipment used in accidents and similar crash incidents.

The fire service has not to just deal with the cat up the tree, but also work on water, deal with aviation fuel, foam spray and underground concealment. ''Fire man Sam', will even fly into douse the flames of the forest fire with water and chemicals. Have to be the nurse and Doctor in some situations and also be on hand in riot situations too and this is world wide.

Specialist tenders such as the Panther have been built for London's Heathrow airport. Basically they have a wide roles of use all in one vehicle and similar units operate in other countries.

Fire Engines. Part-One.

Water Carriers.

Humanity has developed because it has been able to harness fire, to make it and to use it in daily survival. But at times fire can attack us, with devastating consequences. The construction of large villages, towns and cities has lead to the development of mobile water carriers.

The river and bucket system will not work in a large city, so the concept of the first fire carts came with the invention of the pump. London, New York, Paris all developed their take on this horse drawn water tank. Each vehicle had place for water, ropes, ladders and sand. The crew sat on an open cab or hung on to the sides.

Even with the development of the engine this outlay continued, right up to the 1940's era.

From ISS to Moon Base?

Living on another world.

Many people have envisaged that in the space race humanity would eventually build a moon base to something akin to the British 1999 sci-fi take.

But it looks like that it will be Mars who gets the credit for the first other world base. This will probably happen for reality in the next fifty years. Maybe the first Martians will be human colonists, this will of course start an interesting ethical debate.

Any base that is eventually built will be modeled on those that are being constructed in Antarctica now. They will have to be small and easy to transport there in one piece, solar panels or a small nuclear reactor will probably be used as already on the International Space Station.

The last question is who will be the first to do such an venture, traditionally we would assume it to be the U.S. and Russia, with the ESA in support. But it may be China and a host of smaller developing nations such as Brazil, India and Iran that achieve this dream goal?

Bulk Carrier.

Large Cargo Vessels.

As long as humans can go to sea and there will be trade between nations, there will always be a need for large cargo vessels. Super tankers for crude oil and gas, bulk carriers for all dried goods.

These are the best means of moving 70-80,000 tonnes of coal, mineral ores, wheat, other grains and man made goods. Ships seem to be getting bigger and crews to service them lower, yet more vessels are being built every year. South-Korea and Japan seem to be the places to get the latest vessels, with their state of the art computer control systems.

Main Battle Tanks. Part-II.

Tried and tested.

You really need some sort of serious conflict, such as an outright war to test a tank's performance and vulnerability? Security conflicts, such as Afghanistan, the Balkans, Mali do not really test heavy equipment like the MBT.

There are many great claims about the German Leopard-II and the British Challenger and I am sure against a T-55/64, may be even a T-72 they would do very well. but the reality is that we do not really know. 

It is only the U.S. Abraham's that over the last twenty years, has taken the full brunt of war in Iraq.

VW Beattle.

Volks Wagon. (The Peoples Car).

What we know today as the 'Beattle' and probably one of the best ever designed automobiles, started life as a Porsche. 

Designed for the German Dictator Adolf Hitler, as his peoples car. Meanwhile this design has well stood the test of time, coming off the board in the 1930's it is mustering on.

Curved lines and simplicity are its good points. It is different from other cars, because of the small engine in the traditional boot and larger space at the front.

The car was not popular in Nazi Germany 1931-45, but after the war and the take over by the British of VW, exports around the world and especially to Mexico booted its appeal. 

Today many cars continue to survive, because of their attraction to be converted to 'hot rods.'

Drones.

Pilot less Aircraft.

The drone was chiefly developed by Israel for reconnaissance missions in hostile territory, such as South-Lebanon. IAI developed a series of drones, the Ranger and Scout which could be launched from a mobile unit using a small air strip. 

Israel also worked on the now abandoned helicopter drone Helistar. but it is the U.S. who have gone one step further and have invented a plethora of types. The Predator is probably the most well known of them, some of this is shared with the cruise missile computerization.

Drones are far cheaper and safer than risking the lives of aircrew in a hostile environment. Civilian casualties will always remain a factor in war of any kind.

High Speed Rail.

From Bullet Train to ?

Most modern countries around the world today have developed their own version of a high speed concept train. France TGV, Germany, ICE and Japan the 'bullet and newer versions of it.

The UK plans to build a high speed dedicated network from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, with much controversy. 

The question to be asked, are these projects viable for everyone? Is speed essential and what about the movement of freight? 

Meanwhile many countries will have to continue with their current express trains.

Helicopters SAR.

Search and Rescue.

What are the best helicopters employed for search and rescue operations?

The Sikorsky S-61 and Westland Sea King have probably in the British isles been the best to serve in this role. France has used the Super Frelon, Russia and Eastern European countries the Mil Mi-14/17/117. All basically the same machine with additions added on.

First things with SAR is you need range, you also need capacity. It would be no good going out 250 miles to a tanker sinking fast with 17 crew and a SA-365 Dolphin? 

The U.S. have used a variety of machines, but it looks like the S-92H will be the helicopter for the beginning of this century. Meanwhile Canada has joined many other nations in buying the Westland-Augusta AW-101 Merlin.

Construction Vehicles.

The Bulldozer.

All modern construction across the globe today is supported by a series of vehicles to help tear away the earth, to dig, to tunnel underground and erected up to support building up. We cannot live or do anything without machines. 

The bulldozer has been around now for some time, its origins come from the caterpillar tractor of U.S. 1920's. Tracked vehicles work well on rough and unstable ground, but with the introduction of the JCB double powered 4 wheel machines the bulldozer is not now limited just to heavy construction.

A tractor type based on the Unimog multi-purpose off road vehicle has allowed  a more basic machine to expanded into road building scene. but despite this the old bulldozer cannot be done without. Caterpillar in one of the biggest producers in the world. These Cats' are widely used by the military also.

Corvettes and Frigates.

Future?

Which navies around the world still operate Corvettes, and do they not all employ Frigates of varying sizes?  

Since the second world-war (1939-45) many navies have developed greatly with many advances in missile systems over guns and sonar. Meanwhile there has also been many new advances in the gathering of electronic intelligence and systems for counter attack.

What is the differences between a Frigate and a Corvette?
Has it more to do with their role in the theatre of warfare.

Today some navies, if they are not just called defense forces employ the Corvette for inshore patrol, with a bit of a punch. While the Frigate is more of a real warship, missiles, air defenses, Helicopter facility and torpedo tubes.

The Moscow Metro.

Moskva.

Moscow is a great city, it is dominated by the Kremlin and its towers, it is also the capital city of a great and powerful nation, the largest on the earth. For every great city it must have great infrastructure, especially transport networks.

Stalin made sure that Moscow had a good and reliable metro system to match that of London, England and Paris France. This system that was undertaken in the 1930's has withstood the tests of time. 

But he wanted to bring the Russian Imperial court to the people and that is how he did it. Even the trains that have been built over the years have lasted well on the system, comfort, spacious and mechanically efficient.

4X4.

Land Rover.

The four by four off roader vehicle is perhaps one of those mile stones in the invention of human history. A vehicle that is capable of driving over difficult terrain, while also being on a normal tarmac road.

One of the daddies of the 4X4 is the now iconic Land Rover series, from the Mark 1 to the present day Defender. The British Land Rover was based on the chassis of the U.S. Willy's Jeep, which had been around from the 1920's in the United States and nearly never was.

There have since 1948 been many takes on the Land Rover, short wheel base and long and the Australian 110. The Land rover is nearly used by every nation in the world for Police, Internal security, Emergency Services and Military use.

But in the civil role it has been ideally suited for farm work, mountain rescue.

Air Ambulance.Part-One.

Helicopters verses Aircraft.

Which is better? 

Both, because one helicopters can recuse/land from/in confined spaces. Aircraft can travel long distances. The Air Ambulance is one of the best invention adaptions in aviation history. From city copters to out back bush flying doctors, a whole host of machine types are employed. Light is perhaps a key essential here in this vital role, while pilot skill is another.

Nearly every nation now employs some form of aircraft to do this role, civil and military. The Cessna generations have proved invaluable in remote areas in Australia, Africa and Equatorial jungle. While the European EC-135/145 Helicopters are the most popular in Air Ambulance roles.

The U.S Sikorsky AH/UH/S-60 and the Russian Mil Mi-17 and derivatives possibly cover all other areas.

'Take the Train.'

Railways.

I wonder how many people today still use the train to travel long distances. Back in the 1950's it was really the hey day od travel in the U.S. Rail travel was going from A to B or Z in style. But today modern trains are fast and design of style has been lost.

Around the world train travel continues at very different paces from country to country. Diesels rule more so than steam and electric, because they are cheaper to buy and build. Many nations do not have a commuter service and rely on a regular train probably only one a day.

Railways and trains will continue to be around for a long time yet, because for many developing nations they are a life line in communications.

Armoured Reconnaisance Vehicles.

'ARV's.

Most modern versions of this vehicle are now tracked and carry a crew of three. The ARV can be described as a sort of in between, a heavy armoured car and a light tank.

Many nations use either armoured cars with 76-90mm guns or a light tank with guns up to 105mm, but the ARV has many more options available to it. Such as Surface to air missile systems, anti-tank guided weapons and a wide range of guns. The vehicles are also tracked meaning that they can operate cross country and are not limited to ground type.

China and N-Korea.

The Long March.

I did not plan for this to coincide with current events? My list was written last year and next years was composed in January this year.

We may today be on the verge of a nuclear war, it will be the first time since 1945 that a nuclear weapon has been deployed in a hostile action and millions of people are going to die because of it. 

Both China and N-Korea have developed a series of ICMB (Inter-continental ballistic missiles) from former Soviet types, these rockets are the only ones that can catapult into space.

We do not really know what N-Korea has developed or improved on, but it is estimated that their ICBM's can reach to the Caspian Sea. So you can then work the rest out for yourself.

China has joined the space race by getting a man into orbit, while N-Korea has sent up a satellite which is kind of advanced for a backward nation?  What is the next target, is it in space or is it in hitting the U.S.A over the north pole with a nuke?

Technology moves on and many nations are and will develop their own deterrents ans space programme's for good and bad. The U.S./Russian club is now coming to an end one way or the other, that the way it is with every machine ever invented and so it goes on.

Kamov Helicopters.

The Kamov family.

The Russian Kamov helicopter has a unique design in that it is a twin rotor machine, one being placed above the other. Very little was really known about these machines that were seen operating with the Soviet Navy during the years of the cold war. KA-25, 27/32.

Today we know that they were much bigger than earlier thought and more stable than many western designs. The newer twin boom KA-226 is another breakthrough in the helicopter platform and many varients continue to be built.

Meanwhile Kamov also pushed the bounderies with the KA-50 Alligator, probably the fastest helicopter ever built. Powered by two jet engines.

Man on Mars.

This is the next target.

Man on the moon 'One big step for mankind.' Man on Mars 'Second big leap for Humanity.' It is claimed that within the next 30- 50 years, we will see a manned mission to the red planet Mars. Currently the rovers on Mars are finding interesting earth like clays only a few inches under the top soil. Humans on the planet would be much better to do a variety of work.

Radiation exposure is probably the biggest problem with living in the Martian environment. There is of course always the unknown factor?

It is also very probable, due to financial restraints that the Mars mission will be very much an international one. Unless other nations, such as China, N-Korea and Iran make it first?

Armoured Cars.

When is a car armoured?

There has always been the concept of an armoured chariot or device to move ones troops in relative safety near to the enemy. With the introduction of the petrol engine, the car or automobile was born. Having such a vehicle to patrol, the car was made heavy by the introduction of armoured plating. Thus the early form of the Armoured car.

Today we have a host of vehicles which have been specifically designed for the military, para-military police, anti-terrorist operations and riot control. Each has a differing measure of hull plating, while armament varies from smoke dispensers to light machine guns up to heavy weapons and rocket launchers of various types.

Some vehicles have become known as the ARV (Armoured reconnaissance vehicle), these have serious fire power 76, 87 or 90mm guns, some such as the Brazilian Engesa EE-9 Cascavel. They also may be armed with SAM (Surface to air missile) systems.

Canal Barges. Part-Two.

Shipping and Networks.

Canals came before the railways and remain one of the most effective ways to move goods across land locked countries as in Russia, China, central Europe and the U.S. Deep rivers can be connected on the network of ship canals. 

In Europe you can get from the Netherlands to the German Rhine river and then by Canal to the Danube, eventually arriving in the Black sea. Both in Russia and China vast distances can be traversed. The ships that ply these routes fifty years ago would have been called 'Coasters or 'Puffers.'

The future for these networks are very much in demand and as long as they are maintained they will remain viable for developing economies.

Search and Rescue.

Coast Guards, Lifeboats.

Every nation that has a Sea or a coastline, water has a boat and air rescue service of some kind. Big nations have coastguards, while smaller one just have a rescue service. The UK-Eire share the RNLI and Trinity lights. 

Equipment is made up of cutters and helicopters, while on the small scale Zodiac types. The RNLI have a series of their own publicly financed dedicated rescue boats. The Sikorsky Sea king and the Mil Mi-14/17 are the main stay of the worlds rescue fleets, because they have long range flying. Today are are a whole host of newer types becoming available.

The main aims are to get people out of the water, off boats and ships, which are either sinking or they are badly injured. Meanwhile helicopters serve to work with inshore mountain rescues and medivac.

The Paris Metro. Part-One.

A different system.

The French do things differently from everyone else, that is why they are noted for their style and taste. This also applies to the Paris Metro system, which has always been much more of a tramway, than a train network. 

Over the last thirty years it has moved away in some aspects from a track based system to that of rubberized wheels, making it unique in that sense.


The network is large for a capital city, it has gradually been modernized, but the old style has been kept and enhanced where needs be.

Tupolov Tu-95 (Bear).

Unique aircraft.

Throughout the Cold War period the Russian Soviet long-range reconnaissance aircraft that filled the skies of the world was the Tu-95 Bear. It was large and had a very long range, but what made it stand out from other aircraft types was it engines and the double sets of counter rotating propellers.

This type of propulsion system is still believed to be one of the most efficient ever created? I wonder why no one has ever followed up on them as a serious consideration in western aircraft design?

Today the bear has been sent to the grave yard as more newer and faster aircraft and spy satellite technology has improved capability.

Roll on, roll off..

RO/RO Ferries.

This is the type of shipping that brings in the buck's. Right across the globe, where ever a ferry is needed the 'roll on -roll off system is employed. 

Over the years there have been many accidents and disaster in relation to ships leaving or entering ports with their doors open, before actually docking or leaving. Water has entered and ships have capsized with sometimes great loss of life. Greed seems to be the main factor in many of these cases, despite international agreements on safety.

Originally the 'roll on- off concept was for ships that carried trains and later adapted for truckers. This is probably the best system to date and will continue until some other shipping design replaces what we have today.

Metro Systems.

Introduction.

Whatever you call them, underground, subway or metro systems, railways, nearly every major capital city now has one or more. We will look at four of them over the next few months in Moscow, Russia, Paris, France, New York, U.S.A. and London UK. 

These are probably the four most well known, because of 'Hollywood and the film industry.' They are really 'the daddy systems of underworld urban transportation and are unique in their history and construction.' Today they are old, in need of some 'Tender loving care.'

The other feature that mark them out for further study are there use of new and old stock trains, while also a mixture of wiring and signalling. They also have secret tunnels and stations no longer used.

Maritime Recconaissance.

Reconnaissance aircraft.

With the retirement of the the British Nimrod Mk3/4 MR. The U.K. is still without a suitable replacement. Many nations who have access to a coastline have to have some form of aircraft large or small dedicated to patrol the seas and oceans, even large inland seas and lakes.

Today there are a plethora of civil types which can be adapted for various roles from the big jobs, right down to fishery protection. Aircraft of yester year such as the P-3 Orion, Tu-16 Badger, F-27 and the Atlantique may no loner be as effective as they one were in the Cold War years.

Today's threats come from drug/narcotic smuggling, asylum seekers in overcrowded ageing ships and ship dumping fuel to clean their tanks.

Canal Barges. Part-One.

Britain and the rest of the world.

The canal barge and coaster remain a very viable form of transport across the world today, from the River Rhine in Germany to the many rivers of China. 

These flat bottomed vessels can move from rivers to man made canals to the sea with ease. Today's shipping is far flung from the early days of invention and development in England, UK. 

The UK retains the long barge now almost soley for pleasure and living use. But some river barge industries remain in the river Thames.

Doclands light railway. Part-Two.

The East-London DLR.

With the first phase of the DLR completed, it was decided to extend it to the city of London. This was done by digging a tunnel from just before the Tower Gateway station to the Bank, so the first tunnel was constructed on the system.

A second line was then proposed from island gardens to Mudchute Lane, eventually connecting with Stratford. Initially this would cause problems for the Popular depot, but as the building proceeded it improved. The rolling stock was tram like, it was both clean and efficient and a breath of fresh air to London.

Today the system has a loop line at Popular connecting Stratford to Bank and has been extended under the River Thames first to Greenwich and then on to Lewisham in south-London. Another branch takes the line further east to the Beckton loop and another new depot. This line gives a connection to London City airport.

The line now extends through a second Thames tunnel to Woolwich, deep into SE-London. The system also has introduced new stock, were you can walk the whole length of any train. It is not known if there will be any further extension in the future, but there is enough there for it to grow, if needs be.

'Virgin Space Vehicle'

Richard Branson is a man who is making his mark on history and why not. It is his dream to see space flight in near earth orbit as a reality for everyone. Branson has also been the man who wants to re-vitalize the Concorde and supersonic travel. 

The continued development of the inner orbit vehicle will be the first of a generation, this century anyway of more designs and perhaps one day even the defunct Space shuttle too will allow commercial travel into space. Current space stations such as the ISS could be developed into a type pleasure station, or perhaps flights to a moon base or something further afield.

These are the first steps to the future of space travel. What will be the answers to all this in one hundred years from now?