Yakolev Yak-40.

 The Russian jet that just keeps going?

One reason for the longevity of the Yak-40 is that there is no alternative to it in Russia, compared to western types in business jets has big profits financially behind them and a demand for comfort and entertainment, if not rest and relaxation?

But the Yak-40 has held its ground as a small airline, a business jet and in the field of being an air ambulance, which is handy when dealing with long distances to be covered across Siberia, but it also has many other functions with the military and with combined-cargo operations moving smaller things to remote places!

The Yak-40 may be coming to the end of its working career, but until a new replacement is found it will soldier on in the role of being an essential air ambulance for remote places and moving essential staff to where they are needed!

Boeing sales Down!

 Poor build and management?

People are no longer wanting to travel on the Boeing 737-MAX, after various accidents and incidents and no one wants to buy, since Embraer and Airbus are taking the market with better more reliable aircraft that meets the needs of most airlines.

Meanwhile Boeing is holding its ground with the 787-8/9/10 Dreamliner, and 777X for their long-haul capabilities matching the Airbus A.330-900 and the A.350-900/1000 respectively.

But despite the popularity of the airbus 320/321N/NX, Embraer is taking the market with its E190/195 jets?

The military market for Boeing is doing well with the MR Posidon and Embraer with their EMB-390 transport, but Airbus holds the ground in air tankers based on the A330.

What ever happened to the Boeing 797?

 Boeing 737-MAX and no replacement for the 757?

Boeing has shelfed the 797/757 replacement to further develop its popular 737-MAX and extend others such as the 777X, 787-8,9,10 Dream liners and keep the 767-400 going?

Since they believe this is the future as they face stiff competition from Airbus and Embraer, since both are cheaper and more reliable, if not a better safety record than Boeing and are way ahead in the neo-fuel and NX next generation technology.

Boeing has several concepts, such as a Supersonic business jet, but we have been here before with that one and it came to nothing, where Europe is considering the wing concept and are progressing with it?

On the military front Boeing is doing well in it's C-17 Globemaster-III transport, but Embraer is catching up with their C390. Weapon systems always do well and the MR variant's of the 737 air frame are now entering British and NATO air forces after another long technical wait!

In the Biz jet market and short haul Embraer is taking the lead with their popular range of craft and military sales are good with smaller nations military and civil.

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!

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?

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-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?

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.

Sukhoi Super Jet 100-95.

Now in Service.

This will perhaps be the beginning of new revolution in Russian aircraft design and exports world wide? The best aviation has marked Russia as a world leader from its first take to the skies? 

Apart from the many accidents of the past Soviet era, which may have much to do with the weather conditions played upon by the western propaganda?

Sukhoi was only know to us until recent years as a military jet producer, but this break into the civil field come in the light that Antonov and others are based in the Ukraine?

Economical fuel consumption jets are the future for the ever expanding fleets and the problems with global warming and climate change issues? Speed and comfort are the next along with reliability, new design and smaller layouts seem to be more in demand than the larger aircraft?

The Land Rover Defender Returns. Part-Two.

Very much still Loved.

So many countries around the world have bought into this most successful vehicle type that none of them want it die? Technology has to progress and their are as many successful new type of the Range Rover and other types that are just as good claimed by the company?

But the series 90 and 110 has captured a market that was lost for year to Mercedes-Benz and remained much cheaper? This new venture takes on the many spare parts that remain in circulation and in the developing world there remains a demand. But at the same time many countries may adapt what they have to last for a longer time in both military and para-military police roles.

What has the Land Rover got that the newer type do not have. The build is with metal, rather than plastics, reliability and optional fuels is another key factor to their success! The other is that they can be converted to every known configuration in both civil and military use and changed at short notice?

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.

Submarines.

Still less Utilised.

The world of the submariner seems to remain in the hands of the military in relation to the commercial procurement of its use in shipping and travel?

Submarines can be developed to move cargo and is used on a limited scale for underwater tourism, but is it not time to harness this extra form of travel over that of air pollution and the expanse of the claimed carbon foot print.

Many robotic small subs are being harnessed daily by the scientific community to explore the depths, to search for sunken treasure and to do seabed pollution investigation.

Vehicle Carriers.

Vehicle Movers.

These are but some of the strangest ships on the worlds seas today, moving mostly cars and jeep types from country to country. 

Between 5-7000 vehicles may be carried and stabilisation of their loads are crucial in case of slippage, Many also carry mechanical excavation equipment and farm machinery.

This allows for choice of different types to be available across the world. some may be also carrying military vehicles under the guise of civil and other tracked type heavy vehicles. 

Civilian shipping covers a host of military exports and imports and this is seen across the board in commercial merchant shipping. Those thousands of containers, may contain more than meets the expected eye?

The Coast Guards. Part-One.

Multi-Role.

Nearly every nation has a rescue service of one kind or another, from being embedded within their police or military. Some are a separate division dedicated to its own provisions of equipment and personnel.

We have mountain rescue, coastguards, Royal Life boat institutions (R.N.L.I.) and many others. Each one plays a specific role on water, in the air and underground. Some fire service units are equipped in this way. There is close cooperation between all the emergency services, during storms, earthquakes, major incidents-accidents and terrorists attacks.

The sea borne operators in the U.S. double up with their vessels to assist narcotics enforcement, apart from search and rescue. This is becoming more so now across the globe with more navies having to deal with people smuggling and ship hijacking.

Military transport Aircraft. Part-Two.

Enter the Giants.

The United States have a choice of three heavy transports from the C-141 Star lifter, C-17 Globe master and the enormous C-5 Galaxy. This has proven invaluable for them as a world superpower over the years.

Initially the Soviet Union and now the Russian Federation to have developed their three types, but all from one manufacturer Antonov with the An-22, An-124 Ruslan and the An-224 Mirya (Dream).

Both superpowers have also the back up of their own large civilian commercials such as the Boeing 747-2/400F' and the Ilyushin IL-89/96.

These dominate heavy lifting capability around the world, in the moving of missile systems, radars, and extra warheads, The Boeing 747-400 and the Russian Antonov An-224 were adopted and developed for both the NASA Space shuttle and the Soviet Buran to piggy back between landing and relaunching.

Most of the aircraft are capable of the movement of between 150 to 250 fully laden combat troops, with essential equipment from vehicles to artillery. Apart from Surface to Surface missiles, there is of course the need to move medium range mobile carriers for Nuclear ICBMs.

Today some of these aircraft also work with the United Nations in medical and food relief to disaster zones.

Military Transport Aircraft. Part-One.

Comparing Types.

Currently N.A.T.O. and most of the western world uses the Lockheed C-130 is one form or another, it has become the most flexible workhorse for medium military transportation over the years. Now the Europeans have introduced the A400M, which some countries have returned because it has not come up to the C-130H/J capability.

Meanwhile depending on what happen with Antonov in the Ukraine, their An-70 will be a third contender. One likes to think that the C-130 is the ultimate transport, but the British had the Shorts Belfast which was probably better.

The United States wanted no competition to its version and so the world has been bullied into accepting the type. With no alternative, military activity in the transport area has been very limited. 

Many countries just converted civil aircraft types to transport troops under the United Nations, aircraft such as the BAC 1-11, DC-10-30 and Boeing 747 became limited carriers.

Antonov Family. Part-Two.

Into the Jet age with the An-72/74.

The need for speed was perhaps one of the driving forces in the demand for this type of aircraft transport, which may also be seen as their copy of the BAE 146-100. 

The same principles for the An-24/32 was still demanded in this jet age version, but it was not initially as successful as the turbo props? Perhaps because it was not offered for export for some time and the turbo-props were good enough for foreign export.

India received the type and like the Antonov-28/32 was permitted a license to build their own. This policy continues to this day. One cannot be sure if the Ukraine is still capable of building and exporting or if the aero facilities have been moved to the Russian federation.

Apart from the giants like the An-124/224, a smaller aircraft to replace the An-22 was long overdue with the development of the An-70 transport. it has very good weight lift capability and uses the twisted propellers of the Tupolev Tu-95 bears.

Antonov followed with its own version of the BAE/RJ-100/300, but only with to engines rather than four. This aircraft has seen better success in the civilian commercial market one believes instead of the military.

The Alvis Family. Part-One.

A British Success Story.

The basis of many British military tracked vehicles from 1969 to the present have been based on the chassis and engine of the Alvis. Two of the most popular have been the Scorpion light tank, now known as a ARV (armoured reconnaissance vehicle) and the Scimitarr with its 30mm Cannon.

The Scorpion has tow choices of gun, the standard 76mm or the option for the 90mm Cockerel which has proven superior for the role of this vehicle with the Irish Army on UN duties in South-Lebanon.

There are many other versions, numbering about thirty-three in all from engineering, recovery and command. Alvis was also very successful in their wheeled vehicles such as the Saladin prior to tracked. All of its vehicles have a good story in the exportation of and use world wide.

Antonov Family An-24-32. Part-One.

Western equivalents of the De Haviland DHC-5-8 and Fokker F25/50.

In fact there are many western equivalents of this most successful Soviet to present Russian federation series of medium transport aircraft. Both the military and civil airlines always have a demand for a capable 30-60 seat aircraft and Antonov made its tremendous hit from 1960 with the introduction of the first An-24 N.A.T.O. code named Coke transport to meet this role.

All four types are basically improvements of the previous and over 1000 have been built, with licence to China as the Y7-100. Over the years with the diamonds of the war in Afghanistan newer versions, such as the An-30/32 could now cope with landing and take off at higher levels. 

The expansion into Siberia to search for more fossil fuels demanded shot take-off and landing (STOL) and the An-32 was well able to meet that requirement with a 2,200 to 4000 km range, while also comping with the colder conditions.

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?