Thinking outside the Box?

Design and Concepts!

What makes engineering and development into new inventions is to come up with something completely different from what we see and understand now? 

This is the product of genius and their are a few alive today, but it has to be the right financial backing that will help to take the chances that are needed in research!

When we look at various ideas that are coming to the fore, based on the knowledge that we now have some may be impossible to achieve that is why vision is called for to make these things happen!

Humanity can rush into many things for political reasons and for their own egoism or showmanship, but we do not want to make the mistakes of the past in chancing it and hoping all will go well?

The Electric Engine?

A revolution in machine Technology!

Many countries have now committed themselves to the development of a carbon free source of power and in this century we will see great changes, as much as in past with the steam and petrol engines!

Getting rid of carbon emissions will certainly help the environment and despite as yet unknown side-effects this is perhaps one of the best developments for humanity truly since the wheel?

Many nations claim to already have the ability to produce cars and land vehicles, but the challenge comes with flight and with shipping? We will have to wait a few more years to see what happens and how it will effect and replace what is now conventional! 

The other area that will determine its future is that of keeping down the costs in production and what will be used to produce the electricity, hopefully not the continued burning of more fossil fuels?

Russia Aborts!

Space remains a dangerous Business?

Just like the Space shuttle, we can become over confident and routine about any form of travel and then disaster strikes with the loss of lives! Today that was averted when the Russian Soyuz aborted and landed safety, but history of space shows us the many disasters and losses over the years since 1957!?

Space is still in its infancy and those designers and engineers may have access to newer kit, computers and materials but the old problems of human mistakes remain? 

We see the genius of Elon Musk being wasted on his spiff of marijuana, what if something in his flawed design not seen lead to a similar incident with space tourism one knows not many of these fantasy spaceships have lifeboats?

We are some 500 years away from anything like even the first science fiction Star trek ship, if one is ever built? Outer space flight is revealing obstacles and debris in the outer reaches! We still are not clear on the effects of radiation in stellar space, we know that in our own space around the gravitational field of our sun it could lead to sterilisation! 

Boeing 777X

777-8/9.

These are the next generations of the twenty four year-old design of the Boeing 777-100/200 long range aircraft, that is now to have a second life! It was hoped that the 777, would replace the 747 but it still had some life left in it yet?

Today the 747 is now in decline, but orders for the 747-8 is still continuing, the 777 on the other hand has faced stiff competition from the European Airbus and their A350-900/1000 Extra wide body! But what keeps the 777 is not capacity but range over the A350-900?

These next two new aircraft that will appear in service from next year into the 2020's will have the seating capacity and range to out do the Europeans and keep the type perhaps as the successor finally to the 747?

Off to the Moon! Part-Two.

Stepping Stones?

It is still not known if the U.S. government will keep the International Space station going in favour of commitments to a New Moon base, but what is clear this will be part of the next step to go on to establishing something more permanent  on Mars?

Claims of six to thirty years are still the various estimated times for such missions, commercially it might be six years to pull off a stunt, but to be serious thirty is more practicable since many things still require testing and approval?

With the recent discovery of water on the poles of the Moon, this will encourage the base plans to go ahead perhaps within the next six years, but keeping ISS has a half-way point would be wise in the initial stages of this vast project!

Nothing to Compare to the Bicycle?

Segways and the variety of fun electronic?

But none of these new alternatives are as claver than the original bicycle and it is not known why no one has been able to come up something that is so simple and yet effective?

Tri-cycles are used today for sportspeople with disability and some are available to the general public who can afford them, but they remain a specialist field and have no viable usage outside these two areas!

One does await the day when perhaps we will see a two seat tandem bike-car powered by human sweat instead of engines and electronics, but combing tech on a level for guidance rather than powering?

Airbus New Kids?

Airbus A350-900/100 and the A220-100/200.

Two new types of aircraft are hitting the world, but the question to be asked is the demand their for them? The Airbus A350 is a wide body, but what it lacks is capacity, still being smaller that the successful counterpart the Boeing 777 series!

On the other hand Airbus has agreed to buy the Successful Canadian Bombardier CS-100/200 and rename them the A220-100/200 to save the workforce in N-Ireland, after being pressured from the U.K government!

Since Farnborough it is not known how many Airbus A220's have been ordered, but the second generation A321 and the Boeing 787-9/10 seem to have done very well! Sometimes rushing into projects is not wise and knowing what is wanted ahead is a wise move to hold back for a time?

Aerobatic/Racing Aircraft. Two.

Always a Demand!

Speed and aerobatics will always be a challenge to the aviator and records want to be broken all the time? Sport flying is adventurous, despite its dangers, people like the thrill and excitement of aircraft in this category?

There are always new concepts and ideas  coming to the fore in aircraft design and many of the worlds light training aircraft started off as competition aircraft before they became the SIA-Marchetti  SF-260 Warrior, Epsilon, Yakolev YAK-9/11, 52, Sukhoi SU-26, Shorts/EMB-Tucano, Pilatus PC-7/9, and many others too numerous to mention from around the world!

Many bi-planes developed from agricultural spray aircraft today fulfil the role of wing walking and other enjoyable aerobatic events!

RAF 100th Anniversary!

Wales National Air Show 2018.

This year despite it being the RAF's 100th Anniversary, it was perhaps a little bit disappointing in Swansea, when the Catalina Flying boat was cancelled and it was just the re-run of last year without any naval helicopter display team?

What was on show represented the spirit of World War-I (1914-18) with Biggles (Tom and Jerry) and some Ariel 'Dog fighting.' The display of the RAF Boeing-Vertol CH-47 Chinook Transport helicopter and the RAF Typhoon jet made up for many things?

But it was the RAF Red Arrows who once again stole the show with their continued amazing aerobatic displays and paid off team work, that make them one of the best if not well known combination display teams in the world!

Flying Boats Today? Part-Two.

Viable usages!

We tend to think what was popular seventy years ago would not be today, but many nations with little land and plenty of water are considering the re-introduction of the flying boats to save the development of prime agricultural lands!

Canada, China, Germany and Russia lead the way in flying boats, but the U.S and Japan have revitalised their own boats to re-join their maritime fleets. The flying boat is a very versatile platform, with the obvious they can also be used for military and civil transportation of good and people!

Their advantages are long range and the ability to land on the sea working with shipping in various roles, more to do with the military. Both Japan and the U.S.A. at one time used their aircraft in the search and rescue role and this is now a viable option once more to cover their vast coastlines and islands?

Aerobatic/Racing Aircraft. One.

New Concepts?

Older ideas from the bi-plane era and smaller lighter material has moved us away from agricultural spraying to aerobatic displays and racing. Now some of these bi-planes did put on shows back in the 1920' to 40's in the various showmen and stunt shows, but they seemed to have died out with the introduction of the jet age in the 1950's, when speed was all the new thing-craze?

But in recent years there has been a demand for air racing and many successful light training aircraft have been super-charged to meet this demand. Thus so has stunt flying returned and aerobatic displays, we will not cover the types of aircraft in this blog because there are so many!

That will be something for you to check out for yourself, meanwhile there are also many other machines, home or kit builds that meet the requirement of Micro-lights that too are meeting this new demand, Gyro-copters are coming back into the airshows around the world.

Flying Boats Today! One.

Beriev, Canadair, and Dornier?

These are some of the main manufacturers of flying boats today around the world and it is Russia that is leading the way with its Beriev B200 firefighter and other variants. This aircraft was based on its former Soviet military version developed for maritime reconnaissance and it is not clear if it is still operational?

Other manufactures such as Canadian Canadair developed two smaller flying boats that have had some success in the firefighting role the CL-214/215. But in recent work in both the United States and Portugal aircraft and crews were lost in wild fires work!

The third builder is German Dornier, who having much experience has opted for a smaller pleasure model, but this still has other options with it in relation to patrol work? The Peoples Republic of China have now developed its own long-range four engine flying boat making it the largest in the world, currently this is believed to be only a military venture?

Both the U.S. Navy and Japan have also taken a fresh interest in revitalising their last designs with modern electronics and weapon systems for sea, and coastal patrols. We will look at these later on to see more about them!

Movable Drilling Platforms. Two.

The ability to build a rig at Sea!

This is to be the future for gas and oil drilling at sea, it will cut out the shipyards and the need to tow rigs by barges! The two reasons for this change is the costs in ordering and the insurance, you think you have problems each year with your car?

These vessels will still have to dock for certain components, but Meccano and Lego ideas have now come to fruition in the drilling industries? Crew transfers may be made directly from these vessels and pumping to a hub if to far out in that of laying cable!

Much has been learnt in this industry over the last fifty years, despite the many accidents! This technology will open the Oceans of the world up to exploration and with the melting of the North pole the possibility to take advantage of seasonal drilling. It is also hoped that in time these ships and their larger variants will also be enabled to disable rigs new and old?

Battery and Electric Engines?

Ending fossil fuels Pollution!

It not if, but when and the faster these new technologies are implemented the better for all with breathing problems in our large cities! Poland is leading in the field at the moment with their lithium battery vehicles that are being introduced right across the board in public transport, postal delivery and many other service areas!

These new fleets are cutting down fossil fuels carbon emissions and improving the air quality, but more has to be done and one idea is the introduction of classic or vintage vehicle conversions to electric?

The infrastructure and the demand has to be there to meet the need, but as we see that Diesel is now not safe and is being withdrawn hopefully battery and electric will replace more and more and perhaps an enticement would be to keep the prices lower so that ordinary folk could be encouraged to make the changes?

New Technology! Part-Three.

Driverless?

Where will we be in fifty years when it comes to the design of transport that does not need a human driver? The automobile will perhaps be the first to change shape from a box to a saucer, while trains will be much slimmer and more aerodynamic for long distance travel?

Many existing Tube, Metro and Underground railways along with levitation and monorails are driverless! The problems with this technology is that of employing in a car, there have been several death resulting from computer malfunction and human recognition?

What other areas would benefit are perhaps hazardous work places and the Nuclear industry, even mining as well as hostile Space and the Oceans? Much of what we already have working in these areas are either military or government funded research and it would seem that we still have a long way to go in some areas over that of others?

New Technology! Part-Two.

Visual Space and Computing!

Many advances are being made daily in 3D imaging and visualisation, while computing is getting faster? A revolution has began with cameras in mobile phones and computing through one spectacles or sunglasses was tried, but has not as yet been abandoned!

The world of medicine will be the main beneficiary of such technology, cancelling out the needs for screens and monitors and many other equipment being controlled over a distance! Airports and traffic control already use 3D visualisation!

Most aircraft, trains and shipping take full advantage of computer systems, but like many no driver trams and metro the days are approaching for many other areas of these applications! The Netherlands is trial of an automated container depot, with a limited use of humans! This again is a step up from the existing automated warehousing and luggage and postal sorting?

New Technology. Part-One.

Drones to Robotics?

Much of what we are terming new has been around for some time in one form or another, but the applications are perhaps newer rather than new? Drones are improving all the time and plans for deployment in the Mars mission as a helicopter have been suggested, while back on Earth the police and search and rescue are using them with effective search and observation results!

Robotics, as in Androids are also improving but no suggestion as yet for sending into Space has been made? On the industrial front, they will perhaps in years to come have a great advantage with helping older folks and young children and the disabled as in both cases!

There are many military applications for both, at this time many poorer nations will probably opt for drones over that of Robots or Androids for border patrols and police work? Drones are much cheaper to deploy than helicopters, unless a large area needs covering or someone in trouble needs to be rescued?

Movable Drilling Platforms. One.

Pioneer Spirit.

This is a new kid on the block that has come to help in the development of oil and gas drilling, while it is also capable of them constructing a rig if that area is profitable? This ability cuts out the need to waste time and money building rigs, that may have no value!

Most rigs today can be towed around the world in good weathers, but this is a self contained everything and thus the days of building on shore may be soon coming to an end?

The company who built this first one is planning a second in S-Korea for 2023 and it may not be the last, with the opening up of the Artic ice sheet Russia, the U.S. and Canada with Norway will want their own ships to do similar work!

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar.

A glider concept Engined.

World War-II (1939-45) produced many concepts in military transportation, one being gliders by both the British and Nazi-Germany to move troops and equipment! But despite being clever and useful they were easy targets for the artillery on each side!

After the war the Fairchild company produced a concept that may have been copied from Nazi-German ideas, and this proved to be on of the first effective designs from 1947 to at least 1970. Speed was not fast compared to later machines, but sixty-two troops and vehicles could be moved over at least 3.400 miles with a crew of four.

The French Nord N2501 Noratlas developed from 1960, but much smaller was based on the same tail configuration design! it carried forty-five passengers and five crew at a range of 1550miles and was exported to Chad, Greece and Nigeria.

The aircraft was exported to Ethiopia, India, Italy, Morocco and Thailand, apart from early U.S. service. The C-119G was converted to the AC-119 gunship version, this was later superseded by the Fairchild C-123 Provider of a more conventional design from 1949.

Many nations who received these initial aircraft, went on the buy the long serving Lockheed C-130 Hercules.

Classic and Vintage Vehicles. Part-Two.

The Easter Weekend?

This weekend will be marked by a host if not plethora of fairs, shows and galas covering every form of old machinery from ships, to locomotives, cars, to farm implements, steam engines to even early computing?

This will be the world over and their is so much to see, more so outside the U.K. and the U.S. Many countries have developed this own industries and some of their old stuff is much better than ours?

Maintaining them is a love and their is no end of collectors and people wanting to get involved in restoration and may it long continue? If you have the opportunity please visit and don't mind the cost, enjoy teach both the young and old?

Because we do  not know what our little ones one day might invent, get an idea to go with in another direction and come up with something completely different?

Space now is too becoming vintage, one knows that both in Russia and the United States there are some great collections in museums to be seen of the early space race from 1957 to 1971 worth investigating!

Chemical Weapons. Part-Two.

Who poisoned the Skripals?

Britain has begged many nations to support its anti-Russian stance, but many have refused to go the whole way? Why would they do this and what is the real truth behind this alleged Salisbury attack? 

Did Skripal want to make up with the Russians and return home and so the British had to kill him, or did his daughter fail to deliver the goods smuggled out to the west? These are the two most probable truths to why they were poisoned!

The world has made many agreements in relation to the use and non use of such weapons, but they still exist and Porton Down has as many and are able to create new ones if desired, but they claim they have Been pressured by the British government to pull into line!

We hear much today about the use of chemical weapons in Syria and the media twist the truth in relation to who has them and uses them? ISIL/S has perhaps the largest stock of weapons in the world, while many other nations may too have their own stocks of chemicals, gases and other agents one being N-Korea?

Chemical Weapons. Part-One.

Delivery Systems.

Big news in the United Kingdom, is the alleged murder by the Russian secret services of a former traitor by a nerve agent known as Novichek, which was created in the soviet era 1970 to 1985?

We don't usually discuss this type of subject here, but most of these chemicals used in warfare have to have some kind of delivery system? Most are used in a bomb, missile or shell and most nations use legal weapons, but they still cause tremendous damage and leave people crippled!

The British hold many dangerous substances at their Porten Down facility, but so does the U.S.A., Republic of China and N.A.T.O. members. Many agreements have been signed to end the use of these weapons that also include Anthrax and Mustard gas and they are banned around the globe?

The problem with nerve agents and chemicals is that no one can really do much and how they are delivered remains a problem for detection. Britain is acting in the wrong way at this time and we could soon be facing another world war just over the spite of one silly woman covering her tracks of lies to her own people?

But if it is true, and these agents are in the hands of rouge elements, from gangsters to Terrorists then we are in some serious trouble!

Embraer a Brazillian Success?

Taking the World Market!

Like all things we can rule the nest for a while but then find ourselves undone by either the older or a new upstart? Embraer has slowly developed both its civil and military divisions from the C-23 to the 110/111 and on to its commercial jets EMB-135 to the E-Jets EMB-195.

It has had a long success with the Tucano advanced trainer counter-insurgence two-seater and various version of the Maritime EMB-111, but now it has become a threat to Boeing with the KC-95 medium transport?

Embraer is able to fill a gap that the more expensive Airbus and Boeing has failed in, many countries have opted for the 170, 190 and 195 to counter the Airbus A319, 320/321 and the Boeing 737-600/700. But Embraer has also successfully taken on the business jet market with the Legacy 100 and 500, while the smaller jets have been welcomed by many rich Arab nations!

What the future holds is the slow progress with the E-Types that will counter the Airbus A321LR and neo!

Russias Nuclear Powered Drone?

Unlimited Flight!

Russia has revealed a series of new weapon systems, including a claim it has the worlds first nuclear powered drone! This is a major breakthrough in unmanned flight and may lead eventually to commercial aircraft being powered in a similar way?

Finally we have an alternative to fossil fuels, but what of the dangers and radioactivity, if they are shot down or captured by hostile forces? These claims come with the upgrade of several former Soviet era missiles and other technologies and a warning that when they wanted peace they were ignored by the world or left behind!

But now that they were back the world was all worried again and so the New Russia is going to defend its allies India and the Republic of China, while perhaps this is an indirect warning to the U.S. and NATO that they will not stand by to allow N-Korea, Iran or Syria be walked over?

The Railways 2018. Two.

Practicality?

It was hoped that Britain would see all diesel locomotives withdrawn by 2020, but this has now been changed to 2040?

Because new stock is already playing up and with the changes with franchises there is also a demand on the existing fleet of locomotives to be shuffled about on the British system!

The Class 43 or well known  HST-125's are getting another modernisation to keep them in service to at least 2040. Freight operations will continue with what they have, but some older engines in good nick will be kept for reserve recovery workings?

This has much to do with the price of fuel at this time and they remain more reliable than some of the new stock? The Class 66 service is now complete and it is unlikely anymore new orders will be made for the time?

Lithium battery technology is improving all the time and the Diesel Multiple Unit fleet is expected to also be withdrawn by 2040 in suburban operations, where electrification will continue for long distant speed and travel!

Changes in Shipping?

Container World!

Shipping containers has always faced problems in rough weather, because of the ships listing some containers fall off and are lost! But this is about to all change with a new type of fixed ribs being built to hold a certain number of boxes in place!

These vessels may look a bit strange or ugly to the eye when empty, but this new system will save the insurance of goods a lot less and the safety of other shipping having a collision with underwater or surface floating containers?

These are on of the main changes, there are few more to do with engineering and rig support vessels and their ability and stability to work at sea, cutting out the expense of installing rigs until it is definitely confirmed that a potential profit will be made from either gas or oil!

Classic and Vintage Vehicles. Part-One.

Keeping history Alive?

So far we have done just fine in preserving both steam and Diesel/petrol powered vehicles, but this is running out with all the new technologies that are to come? This is because they will be  built from bespoke parts perhaps unique to each individual manufacturer and thus the restorer will hit a road block in say twenty-years time!

Most vehicles have now been saved in one form or another luxury and sports cars are the most popular, followed by interesting construction and military equipment. But some have not, either for lack of parts or because their design remains classified!

This is because many designs follow on from the one before, being improved as they proceed through time and this is true of the Swedish manufactures Saab and Volvo! There may be many others around the world former Soviet and Communist Chinese to the present?

Even the British and U.S have many similar vehicles such as the Abraham's/Challenger MBT that no one will get the chance to pry upon along with the Israeli Merkeva, not anytime too soon!

The Railways 2018. One.

Improvements?

Every nation in the world this year will be making or trying to make improvements to its railways infrastructure, wither it is new stock, new expanded or changed railway track layouts, signalling or ticket operations and security?

We can only go forward with technology and with comfort, many countries will not focus to much on safety but will rather make some changes somewhere within their remit? Others may do little or nothing to what they already have or they will cut back in place of buses and coach travel for one reason or another!

The battery train looks promising over the demise of Diesel and electric over that of the same and steam, this is the future for modern railways! But it is not the end for some countries who as yet cannot afford this or are stuck and have to make do with their existing parameters?

Off to the Moon! Part-One.

The Trump Mission?

For humanity to return to the Moon will cost billions if not trillions and something will have to give way, so it has been decided that the International Space station will have to go within the next few years? 

The United States of America is determined to beat China getting to the Moon in this next fifteen year period and the U.S. wants to do what JF Kennedy pressured NASA to do forty years ago, but with a base rather than just landing and coming home!

The problems with this are enormous, if their is no Space station as a stepping stone on these proposed missions! The ISS has at least another twenty good years of operational service and Russia will perhaps have to foot the bill for its replacement?

A Moon base may never really become that stepping stone to Mars as is being promised, to maintain it will be very difficult even with 6% gravity over that of none? Trump wants to undermine the Kennedy legacy as much as he is doing politically to Obamas!

A changing aviation Market?

Airbus A380 and A350-100 at a loss!

The world wants smaller aircraft, rather than larger ones and in the civil commercial airline market one does not get any bigger than the Super-Jumbo and the Extra-wide bodied? 

New aircraft such as the Bombardier C-series are more desirable, Embraer has taken the market with its E-Jet series and new comers from Russia, China and Japan are quickly following suite with their own versions!

Boeing has kept to a tight ship in its developments, staying with the 747-8bio-fuelled and struggling with the Dreamliner? But it has given up on the DC-9/717, for the expansion in the 737-800/900 and MAX, all of which is in demand around the globe.

Airbus has taken on the C-Series with reluctance, because it clashes with the A321-neo and similar designs that will be forthcoming?

Elon Musk!

In trouble over a failed Launch?

Space is still a tricky business we may be able to launch rockets weekly up the International Space Station as well military spying, but from time to time there will be failures since humans are not perfect and make mistakes?

Musk has promised much in relation to taking men back to the Moon after forty years and reaching to Mars, with his new re-usable rockets? But this is still new and untested systems that need to be fine-lined, even the Space Shuttle still had teething problems that NASA failed to address at the cost of precious scientific lives for the prestige!

We are only sixty-one years into the Space race exploration, man has reached Pluto and now beyond! Gone to the Moon and built several Space stations culminating in the ISS! Soviet Russia/Russia and the United States were the first to dominate this race from 1957!

But now other nations have now joined this Space club, China, Japan, Europe, India, Israel and more are coming along such as Brazil, Nigeria and Iran!

The Electric Age?

2018 Promises to be the Electric Everything!

Electricity is nothing new when it comes to machine technologies but we are now talking about a new form of fusion drive that is none fossil fuel based? The U.S. will reveal their X-57 electric space plane, but it is one of many designs that are being planned or in development around the world!

The electric lithium powered cars, buses and trucks are already here and boats, trains and ships are to follow, but many of them remain bio-fuelled and are not truly what they claim to be?

Ecology and the environment is pushing for cleaner engines that do not cause or will cut pollution levels in our large cities.

Much of what is planned is well behind by in some cases up to forty years and it is not clear as yet if the new technology will just be like diesel replacing steam, with no knowledge that it might be worse in some health aspects?

The North-Korean Crises. Two.

The size of my Button?

It is most pathetic that a  world leader would reduce themselves to the deaths of 30,000,000 million people over the size of their nuclear buttons on their desks? Spineless heartless bastards, who only care for their prestige and for nothing else?

The western world is telling lies about N-Korea, while it is lying to its own people about what it claims it cannot really do? But this does not excuse the limited means that both or all have to start a devastating war!

The dangers lay with the spread of nuclear radioactivity from the far-east to around the world, many nations will be effected and those who are already struggling with financial and medical costs will not be enabled to cope!