Breakthrough in Hydrogen development!

 BMW has the first hydrogen powered vehicle?

For many years now the engine of converting them to other fuels has been something of an issue, but the German car maker claims that they have developed a converter motor withing the axle of their prototype car and this will be the future for motoring, since it requires no conventional engine and a smaller fuel tank if that!

But what it has is it will be far lighter than electric vehicles, while also not over heating in summer and catching fire, while in winter loosing up to 30% of power. 

Something which have caught many drivers with these expensive cars and the waste of time charging them up before moving and having to keep doing so, since the lithium drains in cold weather even when the engine and the vehicle is moving!

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.

Land Rover Defender, Returns. Part-One,

The Land Rover 110 Defender.

It was sad to hear that the British were dropping their most sucessful product, but some wise spark is now determined to continue the production of this range of 4x4 vehicles? 

Land Rovers do rule the world in the sense that they can be found in nearly every country and noe on this world, from the Series 1 to the many and various adaptions of the standard 90/110.

Between 1970 and 1990 the series did suffer some serious competition from Mercedes-Benz, but it was able to ovecome those unproductive years. Military and police sales have kept it very popular, with many options for Command, Riot-Control and Light-Armoured Cars.

The Landies are good at hauling and pulling and both in civil and military roles can tow boats to surface to air missile systems, radars and even at one time the Bloodhound Mark-II Surface to Surface missile. The ability to tow artillery and other radio-communications. The supply of spare parts and the size of enthusiates clubs, collecters is extensive world-wide.

Originaly desinged for the British SAS, the vehicle is easy to modify and adapt and in the civil role are already covered is up for a large variety of uses.

Modern Armoured Vehicle. Two.

BAE Systems Republic of South-Africa.

The British army and a few others have opted for a new range of light armoured-less vehicles, believing their speed will help them on the battle field. But light vehicles were tried in the past like the British Crusader light-tank and they were of no value with great losses.

Urban environments demand armoured trucks and Jeeps, as commonly seen in N-Ireland and SWAT teams at work in the United States. In fact nearly every country that have their own automotive industry will produce some form of an armoured vehicle.

The enemy on the battle field uses Anti-tank guided weapons, from the RPG to something more sinister. While in the urban situation it will be either a home-made pipe bomb or a nail bomb of which both can kill and cause very serious injuries.

BAE Systems have taken several of the South-African security vehicles from the 'Aparthied days and re-designed them. The Republic of Ireland, Belgium and a few other countries have bought into some of the more basic designed vehicles that suit their UN military standard.

Engines. Part-Two.

New propulsion, materials and Fuels.

Metal has been the main key component in engines for the past two hundred years, but now that most machines are becoming lighter in their construction and the demand for polymer plastics is on the rise. The aviation industry has developed stronger aluminium and other light metals to incorporate in overall design.

Lighter means more fuel efficiency, while engines no longer have to rely on the need for petroleum!

Hydrogen fusion, water and gasses work better with these newer materials. There is not worry about rust or engines dying so quickly. The newer materials and these new engines will last much longer and probably never really run out because of replacement parts.

The first commercial electric cars are now entering the European market en-mass and they will be followed by many other new innovations. Airbus has broken the market in alternative fuels, while new Russian commercial jets such as the Sukhoi super Jet will take the market. 

The one time business jets are now replacing the low capacity market with Mitsubishi, Bombardier, Embraer and Fairchild-Dornier offering layouts for between 20-30 seating.

This will undermine the Boeing 737-600/700 and the Airbus A319-100, who have tried to compete with Embraer E-Jet success.
 
Many machines such as locomotives are cutting down on the need for large body shells, some are aero-dynamic for extra speed.

Rockets such as SpaceX if combined with the Progress modules could lead to some interesting space developments along with improved nuclear engines for faster space flight?

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.

Modern Trams and Metros. Part-One.

Improved Technology.

Modern trams and the various other light rail systems today are a far cry from say seventy years ago. These newer systems and machines have better design and layout, but that is to be expected. We can only learn to improve by experience, trail and error in anything.

The computer, battery technology and design for capacity layout has been a great advantage. Speed and comfort are also improved considerations, employed in some countries with security measures.

The building of town extensions, new town has forced planners to improve the use of both the metro and tram to go to the best pic up and dropping points for both day and night use.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Docklands Light Railway. Part-One.

DLR.

The development of the East-London (UK) Docklands light railway was to open up the old docks for new building regeneration and expansion. Light rail was chosen as a easier means than say an Underground extension or a tram way. The DLR was to be an automated train, no driver. but the guard could over ride the system in an emergency. 

Initially the train ran from a new station at Tower Gateway, near to the Tower of London castle to Island Gardens on the southern end of the Isle of Dogs. Not really an island, but becoming one because several of the older docks cut up the area.

Gliders..

Today gliding is a popular hobby for many people, but 70 years ago gliders were used as a cheap way of transporting cargo and troops to the European battle fields. 

All of the powers involved in World War-II built their own versions. Horsa, Gotha. The idea was to use an aircraft without engines to replace engined aircraft desperately needed for bombing missions.

Meanwhile it perhaps was not a wise move, since many lives were lost in the mass crash landings of these aircraft.

Gyro-Planes. Part-Two.

One of the first gyro-plane designs was the German Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 (water wagtail). It looked more like a helicopter kite, than a gyro. but it did the same job. A modern version of this is the micro-light Brock KB-2 operating in the U.S. for a $1000 dollars. 

The gyro platform is one of the cheapest ways of enjoying both hover and movement in an aircraft. Police and survey work of several kinds can be achieved. But to go beyond, one needs the Beagle-Wallis, which can be armed with a light machine gun and rockets pods.

MBT (Main battle tank).

Since the development of the tank in the first world war (1914-18) the British female Mk-1, great strides have been made to reach the level of today's machines. It was during world-war-II (1939-46) that the tank really came into its own. Nazi-Germany built just over 400 Tigers and believed that was a sufficient number to decimate any opposition. At first this seemed to be proved right, opposing the Germans were light machines, such as the British Matilda's and Crusaders, the Polish had ex-British Mark-ones, while Russia still were developing its T-34 in secret and the U.S. had not yet got involved in the war.


But both the U.S. and Russia came up with lighter vehicles such as the Sherman and T-34, which were more manoeuvrable and fast.


After 1945 both super powers entered into supporting other conflicts and an arms race ensued with many improvement being introduced. Today there are a number of what could be described as great machines. The U.S. Abraham's, Israeli Merkava, German Leopard, Russian T-74/82 family, British Chieftain and challenger.


But what does the future hold? Perhaps computer controlled unmanned vehicles will prove better?