Brazilian air Crash!

Gyro failure on approach for landing?

There are many theories to yesterdays  ATR-72 crash in southern-Brazil with the plane falling from the sky?

Loss of engine power or running out of fuel, the aircraft would still be able to glide down, but this aircraft just started to spin and drop from the sky killing sixty two people on a domestic flight!

The other explanation is sabotage by a hijacker killing the pilots and allowing the plane to crash in that way on the suburbs of the city, but no one was really about?

The ATR-42/72 has a long and safe record and is used by many airlines around the world, with its STOL ability and short landings it can cope with differing conditions and environments and is popular in the 60 to 90 minute air slots, island operations and there are some military versions too.

Boeing Demise?

Boeing 737-MAX.

Boeing had started to replace several of its older types of aircraft such as the 757, 767, first generation 777 and the long time workhorse of the manufacturer the 737 generation in the hope that the newer Max series would lead the filed along with the 787-10 and 777X!

But two accidents earlier this year scuppered that plan and even the 747-400/8 is still in demand from the second had market. Technical issues with the new computers keep failing with serious glitches and other problems are coming to the fore with the 777X which was to be the 747 replacement?

But Boeing will pull through since it has a large overtake stake in the Brazilian Embraer company and its new business jet developments and various military exploits involving Israel!

Happy New Year 2017.

New Aircraft!

China has two top brand aircraft coming on to the commercial market for 2017 onwards the COMAC ARJ-21 and C919.

These two will be a threat to Boeing and Airbus in China and the far-east in the years to come, but Japan is not to be left out with its Mitsubishi MRJ business jet?

Canada has the Bombardier C-Series, while Airbus its A350-900 now entering service and Boeing plans for the 737-900 and MAX.

What is making these new types attractive is new computing systems, fuel efficiency and improved materials. Embraer and Sukhoi have hit the market with professionalism and there are many more to follow with the business size commercial airliner filling in on the shorter routes?

Modern Armoured Vehicle. One.

Or not so protected?

There are two types of modern APC's now available and moving away from tracked to multi-wheeled, speed is now perhaps the empathises of modern warfare? On the other hand many of the types that were deployed in both Afghanistan and Iraq have become less armoured and more open over the years.

The United States and the Russian Federation have kept to their MBT, ARV and APC which are tracked such as the Abrams MBT, T-90, Bradley and various Russian equivalents, while many supports Humvee's and the GAZ-69. Meanwhile others members of the co-alition such as the U.K. have opted for lightly armoured snatch vehicles such as their Landrovers and Supacat Jackal and Coyote. 

One has to ask are these types cheaper or more effective in their limited roles? Many other nations have chosen to develop sophisticated 6X6, 8X8 vehicles that can act as more than an the standard armoured personnel carrier, to options of a  light tank, SAM, SSM systems! Finland, Switzerland and Brazil have chosen this road, with the SISU and Mowag. 

Ireland's Timoney Division has produced some specialised trucks and APC's for Belgium and several other countries in Europe.

Road Trains. Part-Three.

Helping to Deforestation in Brazil and Indonesia.

Logging world-wide is big business, many countries have taken advantage over the last fifty years of growing forestry mostly pine trees of various kinds. The trucks developed for military vehicle transportation after world-war-II (1939-45), were thus employed to this new role.

Traditionally logging was done with horses pulling one log at a time, but these days are now long gone. Many new machines have been developed, even to cut out manpower and trees are even processed and trucked to the various mills.

Brazil and Indonesia are seeing the worlds fastest deforestation, with little or no new growth being introduced. In Brazil deforested land is used for farming, while in Indonesia natural forests are being replaced with Palm oil trees that are not suitable.

Road Trains. Part-Two.

Problems.

The problems with road traffic is the quality of the roads, from Highways to dirt tracks. This is what limits the use of heavy haulage traffic who need to keep on the smooth, rather than getting stuck on broken ground. 

Russia, China, America, Brazil and many other better developed nations can take advantage of this type of long distant haulage and there are many new concepts coming on the the commercial market. The moving of machinery is the main need for some road trains, but it can be animals and general goods that would be cheaper than flying or sailing them in?

The one disadvantage seems to be the side moving bus development is still not available to heavy haulage and would be of benefit to expand into countries with worse road conditions?

Modern trains and Metros. Part-Two.

Upgrades and Extensions.

Many countries around the world today are starting to see the value of what they have in relation to joint rail and Metro systems and have began the upgrading of stock. Meanwhile some have also extended their networks, lines and have brought other closed or planned sections back into operation.

In some cases the advancements being made in design, speed and comfort may look good to the eye, but sometimes they fail on reliability and age.

The United Kingdom, France and Germany have been able to do much, while some south-American countries Brazil, Argentina have the opportunity to start new projects along with Australia and New Zealand. India is trying and has started to grasp the need for the metro network.

Eastern Europe and Russia and many other nations have perhaps neglected what thy have and are now in financial constrains to start doing anything. The far-east Singapore, Japan, China and south-Korea in my mind always has the vision to take full advantage, but has to turn back to Europe and the United States for the design and engineering that is required.

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.

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?

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.

Drill Rigs.

The oil and gas rigs at sea are perhaps some of most impressive structures that the human mind has conceived. Many rigs are towed from construction/ship building yards to the point of drill work. But now dedicated ships have been built to perform this type of work off the coast of South-America (Brazil).

The future looks more interesting, if this type of vessel could replace the standard platforms. Meaning that during severe weather it could be moved?

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.

Glorified Tri-jets?

There are many new types of commercial aircraft now coming out of China and Russia, like the C919, MC-21 and Sukhoi Su-100. But are they what they seem or just clever copies of the DC-9, Boeing 717-100/100?


And the question that could be asked are they as good as western designs from Europe and Embraer in Brazil.


What markets are the Chinese and Russians after, when most countries are drawn to Brazil, Airbus and the extensive U.S. Boeing families of aircraft.

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?