Showing posts with label Union. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Union. Show all posts

Thursday, 27 March 2014

The Biz Jets. Part-Two.

Enter the Jet Age.

With the end of World-War II (1939-45), the development of the jet engine was going to change aviation for ever. It was the United States of America, Britain, France and the Soviet Union that were going to lead the way in fighter jet development, but this also lead to jet airliners such as the De Havilland Comet and Sud-Est S.E.210 Caravelle.

The very rich stilt wanted to enjoy the flying experiences of the years prior to the second world war and the comfort and private factor. It was the Americans who where the first to cotton on to this market, with the Lockheed (C-140) Jetstar and the North American T-39 Sabreliner. 

A private jet was for 4 to 20 people, but most have since favoured 4, 8 and 12 seats.

France had developed a 4 seat touring version of its two seat military trainer the Morane-Saulnier M.S.760 Paris, which could be said to be the first private jet in 1956.

Thursday, 13 February 2014

Fast-Attack Boats.

Gun Boats.

The age of the Gunboat was perhaps in World War-II. (1939-45), when both Nazi-Germany with their E-Boats and the British equivalent deployed similar vessels to work the English/French Channel. The U.S and Japan also deployed basically similar types boasts in the far east and Pacific.

These boats were well armed and could have the advantage of operating in shallow waters, but could also move fast from A to B/A to Z. There role was to patrol and observe, but they became a handy and cheap tool to do other work, such as planting and recovering of individual spies. 

Initially they were not as well armed as they are today, and they ran the risk of being spotted and attacked by aircraft. 

Today these craft are more larger and have a host of guns, missiles and torpedo tubes fitted. They are popular with smaller navies, such as in the Persian Gulf states. It was he former Soviet Union (Russia) who during the 'Cold War years became one of the largest producers of these types of boats, but it was the British company Vosper-Thorny craft that is perhaps one of the best builders of the Fast Attack Craft type world wide.