Main Battle Tanks. Part-II.

Tried and tested.

You really need some sort of serious conflict, such as an outright war to test a tank's performance and vulnerability? Security conflicts, such as Afghanistan, the Balkans, Mali do not really test heavy equipment like the MBT.

There are many great claims about the German Leopard-II and the British Challenger and I am sure against a T-55/64, may be even a T-72 they would do very well. but the reality is that we do not really know. 

It is only the U.S. Abraham's that over the last twenty years, has taken the full brunt of war in Iraq.

Bi-Planes.

Is the day of the Bi-Plane over?

The Soviet Russian built Antonov An-2/3 still remains in active operation across the world, in it various guises. 

This 12/13 seat utility-transport is now some 75 years old and is still being found difficult to replace. Russian design teams have come up with improved engine performance, various types and payloads etc. But so far none fit the same category of the An-2 exactly. One or the other of the new designs lacks something that encompasses the original. 

Meanwhile in the rest of the world, this type of aircraft has been restricted to either sports or agricultural uses. There are also now many restored historical types flying again.

It would seem that the An-2/3 perhaps will soldier on in remote places for another 75 years?