Underwater Transport.

1960's Concepts.

Since these ideas of using civilian submarines in the 1960's no progress has at yet been made to bring anything outside the tourism industry to fruition. Australia and Israel are perhaps only two countries in the world to see the value of using submarines to view coral reefs and low level sea plains.

It is either the financial viability, costs and safety that has blocked the serious alternative to surface shipping. It would seem that the Submarine is to remain for some time yet the preserve of the military and Navies of the globe.

The advantages of not having to cope with rough seas and the probability of better speed to deliver goods has it would seem been placed on the sidelines of conventuality. 

But perhaps with the need to cut down of fossil fuels and carbon emissions the day of submersed travel might in this century be not far away?

Aviation Lifters. Part-Two.

Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, Antonov An-124/224.

These are currently the three largest giants of the aviation world in the area of heavy lifting, as yet there no cargo version of the civil Airbus A380 on the cards. Lifting of oil and drill rigs parts are the main uses today, apart from the ability to Carry ICBM (Inter-continental Ballistic missile) components. Russia, Canada and Australia along with the Amazon in Brazil are the areas for this type of work. 

We do not hear much about this, because these aircraft really are military more than they are civil. But now with exploration and the ever increasing demand of fossil fuels by developing nations, such as China, India and Brazil there is a demand for commercial contract flying.

Road Trains. Part-One.

Haulage.
Generally most trucking in Europe is a combination of one vehicle plus a trailer, but in Australia, Canada and the United States along with Russia and China there are more possibilities to have a number of trailers forming a train.

What limits haulage is other alternatives such as shipping and railways, because in the long term they are much cheaper on fuel costings.

The movement of livestock is perhaps one of the best usages for this type of haulage in the outback of Australia, were the alternatives are limited.

In the Big Country. Part-One.

Railways in their own Right.

Australia.

To get from A-to B railways are the best for the movement of goods and minerals, Melbourne to Perth and Darwin to Melbourne via Alice Springs in now part of the life line of this Island continent. Australia's out back is harsh, lonely and extremely dangerous.

The trains that cross these wildernesses are operated by hard crews and their machines are some of the best in the world. Australia has plenty of mineral resources from copper and Iron ore to bauxite and Uranium. Many areas of mining are now undertaken by robotic controlled trucks, because of their toxic nature.

The railroad is inland and safer, some countries may use their coasts for shipping, Australia does not have that option, because the mineral's are located in the heart of the continent.

A new take on the Bicycle.

Many new Ideas..

But are all these new inventions really viable or safe over the clever design of the bicycle? At the moment nothing has really come about to seriously replace the original concept, this is perhaps because again and again inventors are not really trying.

The United States and Australia would seem to be the only countries who are trying out new ideas, but what is stopping them is that they can always rely on fossil fuel power.

The bicycle has the great advantage that it could become its own energy producer, peddle power combined with solar could help the cyclists to get up hills without having to do much of the work.

Meanwhile going down the hill would produce enough power re-charge the re-chargeable battery, so it would be ready for the next hill.  

Weight of components is perhaps one of the draw backs and most of the new designs lack the seat, which takes the strain off ones back.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

New Combat Aircraft Types. Part-One.

The Islamic Caliphate of Syria and the Levant (Iraq).

We are hearing them called 'ISIS, ISIL, Islamic State' and they our in the media 24/7 globally. The United States is committed to a new air war over the region and we will see the deployment of new types of aircraft such as stealth, improved Cruise missiles and Predator-Reaper drones/UAV. 

The F-22/35, F-117 will join the older types which still remain effective, Britain, Australia and a host of regional Arab nations have joined the coalition to help the Iraqi army re-form and the Kurdish forces in the north.

The last air war was the fall of Yugoslavia in the 90's, and after initial success one loss of an F-117 lead to foot soldiers being deployed.

Air Frieghters. Part-Three.

Enter the Jet Age.

The 1950's was the start of real cargo flying, this was for two reasons the first being that aircraft were now much larger and second the Jet age had began.

Many World War-II aircraft continued to be in demand such as the C-47/C-46 and there civil versions DC-3/4. Many were to find their way to the outback and remote location workings in Australia, Canada, Africa and South-Central Americas.

From the outset of the British Comet, French Caravelle and early Boeing and McDonnell-Douglas aircraft cargo could now be moved much faster on trans-ocean crossings. Meat, flowers and medical goods were able to arrive fresh in the same 24-hour period.

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.

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.

Aircraft Carriers. Part-One.

Today there are a number of countries who still use these types of vessels, the U.S.A, UK, France, Brazil, Spain, India, Australia and they seem to be an effective platform for military and humanitarian operations. 

But are they still really viable with the development of more sophisticated kinds of warfare?

It was the British who developed the first carriers, basically ships with a flight deck and a control tower built around the funnel. Today it is the U.S. that leads the world with these powerful islands at sea.

Trucks....

They come in all shapes and sizes and we can't really do without them?


The truck, Juggernaut, lorry is truly a most invaluable machine for the movement of all types of goods, from small loads in a local vicinity to big loads across vast distances. No matter where in the world you go, you will find them at work. 


Monster carriers are used in modern quarrying and in similar heavy construction sites. In Australia cattle, sheep are moved across distances in road trains. But it is probably ore that is one of the commonest uses found for trucks. 


Shipping and trains also play their part for the very vast distances, but otherwise it will be a truck of some description in the local area. With the development of newer types, new engines and better cab design, trucks have come a long way. 


But the future for them will be the development of improved fuel, re-performance and new sources of power, instead of diesel, petrol?

Irelands Railways.

New Railway stock.

Has the modernization of the railway network and rolling stock, north and south in Ireland taken away the charm, that it once had? 

Or has the newness of it all improved everything, speed, cleanness and comfort? 

Ireland has that unique limited gauge of track found on the massive railway networks of Brazil, India and Australia

The Coras Impoar Eireann colour scheme of orange, black and white, latterly yellow on those predominantly American 121/141/181/071/111 and the Canadian 201 stock locomotives had seemed to mark out a difference. 

Perhaps I'm getting old and have to many reminiscences that cover the sleekness and modern look of the new?

Am I right or am I wrong?