Wind turbines are not Viable?

 Many nations believe in Them!

Recent long term studies done in both Israel and the United States has found that what was believed to be an alternative energy source is no longer viable, because when the winds pick-up the turbines have to be shut down for the fear of the blades getting sheared off!

Many have been placed at sea in areas of low lying waters and despite some advantages in the short term, they do not provide enough power as fossil fuel burning or Nuclear power?

As yet we do not know or perhaps will never know what Russia has achieved in its wave power alternatives, since the western world want to make money on their shares and investments in fossil fuels while they last?

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?

Romanian-Yugoslavian Aviation. Part-One.

Orao/IAR-93.

This was a joint venture between the two named countries above to develop a single seat fighter based around the Roll-Royce Viper turbojet engine. Speed was in excess of Mach1.6, with a cruising height of 16,000 metres and a 1 minute36 seconds to 36,000 feet (11,000 Metres).

This was some aircraft used as a ground-attack fighter and not really reported in the west, at the time of a viable fighter jet. It was armed with two 30mm cannons and had five hard points capable of carrying 3000 Kg of mixed weapons loads? 

Entering service with both the Romanian and Yugoslavian air forces in 1974, a second two-seat trainer and reconnaissance version was proposed as the IAR-93-B

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?

Animal Power.

Viability?

Despite so many technological advances being made in the last two hundred years and humanities reliance upon oil and gas, there are still millions of people who rely on animals to haul themselves and their goods.

We are not just talking about far flung places, but both Europe and the U.S.A. people maintain animals instead of vehicles. The question is are these forms of movement viable to be introduced back into cities in some cases, or is their time gradually coming to an end?

If we look back to the era of the stage coach, we do find a sophisticated method of working. This is not just four horses tied up to a coach or waggon. To operate such a vehicle requires some skill.

New Year 2012/13.

New Year 2012/13.

I wonder what new innovations in the world of machines will be revealed to us this year? 

Perhaps if the price of oil and other fuels continues to increase, we may have to turn back to steam trains, trucks, engines and airships? 

Is there still a viable future for such machines again? 

Hopefully engineers will be using alternative energy sources to power their new ideas and concepts.