Sleds...

From Santa to the Polar regions.

The sled business remains big business, because they are in their modern motorised form an essential for travelling across and working in all snowy regions. In my research since last time during this part of the year I have not been able to find out much more.

There does not seem to be any books on the subject, perhaps someone will be able to enlighten me to this. There must be many countries involved in the design and production of these machines, such as Scandinavia, Japan, the U.S. and Canada.

The Christmas sled has more of an origin in Russia, than Lapp land or Switzerland. This was used as transport from ancient times in winter and polar conditions. Rivers that are not frozen remain a problem, apart from that military vehicles today seem to be snow tractors of various types over sleds or skies. Many aircraft also are fitted with sleds and skis to cope with winter conditions of ice. 

Railways.

Pricing and new stock.

Every country has set up a different way to run their railways networks or systems. Some remain National, while others are made up of different companies and their own liveries. But what they all share is the cost of keeping their respective systems functioning safely.

There is much more to a railway than tracks and trains, maintenance and personnel have to be paid for. People retire and new recruits need to be both trained and replaced, engines and buildings also need to be repaired and cared for and this all costs a lot of money.

Some nations operate on shoe string of basics, while the richer ones with their privatisation would seem to be progressing. Yet one has to stand back and take notice that many withdrawn and older types are being brought back into service with new fresh coats of paint.

The reasons for this is nothing to do with preservation, but rather thy are cheaper to run in the long term than building new ones.

So next time you face a 'hike in the fare, try to remember all the work that has to be done to get you from A to B or A to Z?

New Combat Aircraft Types. Part-Two.

Mysterious Booms.

There has been recent speculation as to what is going on across the United Kingdom in relation to booms and various explosions. Last month I head one of these and for me it sounded like the old Concorde and its sonic booms.

Then one could hear Concorde crossing the Atlantic if you were living or working out in the open in the south of the Irish Republic. It is viable that both the F-35 and F-22 jets are now on training runs before their respective deployments to the British Royal navies two new Aircraft carriers.

Apart from that, it could be a cover up or News blackout on widespread terrorism in the U.K. But it would eventually spill out if there was?

Lights in the Sky.

More Activity.

There would seem to be more lights seen now at night than ever before and they are being recorded. At one time these were generally described as UFOs and people who claimed to see them as cranks.

But now with the advent of car and traffic cams, phones and tablets, bloggies and many other devices people just leave them running on them or in their respective vehicles to see what they will capture.

These lights may be meteors or they could be failed test rockets. There are also many secretive projects being carried out world wide. If they are Aliens, they are making a big statement by wanting us earthlings to see them!

Cruise Liners. Part-Two.

Many New Ideas.

Design of these new sea ocean monsters are for improved facilities and pleasure, most vessels so far built have kept to a certain genre of dance hall, eating, casinos and swimming pools. Queen Mary-II.

But the future may include theme park additions and underwater viewing galleries. Size and weight may change the out lay of ships that will be able to do this, but there will always be a demand for luxury and being pampered.

ROBOT'S. Part-Three.

A chance to deploy.

Now that the U.S. is leading a coalition of nations in another middle-east war, there will be the opportunity to test out new systems. Robotic aircraft, UAV's and a variety of drones is one thing, but to replace ground troops and the public controversy Robots such as the BIG DOG with an infa-red capability. 

BIG DOG moves at around 3.6 mph and is able to recharge itself, and stand up if it falls over. Meanwhile it also can diffuse bombs, but it may well be armed on its reconnaissance missions to direct aircraft with satellite navigation and give real time images to take out terrorist positions?

New Combat Aircraft Types. Part-One.

The Islamic Caliphate of Syria and the Levant (Iraq).

We are hearing them called 'ISIS, ISIL, Islamic State' and they our in the media 24/7 globally. The United States is committed to a new air war over the region and we will see the deployment of new types of aircraft such as stealth, improved Cruise missiles and Predator-Reaper drones/UAV. 

The F-22/35, F-117 will join the older types which still remain effective, Britain, Australia and a host of regional Arab nations have joined the coalition to help the Iraqi army re-form and the Kurdish forces in the north.

The last air war was the fall of Yugoslavia in the 90's, and after initial success one loss of an F-117 lead to foot soldiers being deployed.