Air Ambulance.Part-One.

Helicopters verses Aircraft.

Which is better? 

Both, because one helicopters can recuse/land from/in confined spaces. Aircraft can travel long distances. The Air Ambulance is one of the best invention adaptions in aviation history. From city copters to out back bush flying doctors, a whole host of machine types are employed. Light is perhaps a key essential here in this vital role, while pilot skill is another.

Nearly every nation now employs some form of aircraft to do this role, civil and military. The Cessna generations have proved invaluable in remote areas in Australia, Africa and Equatorial jungle. While the European EC-135/145 Helicopters are the most popular in Air Ambulance roles.

The U.S Sikorsky AH/UH/S-60 and the Russian Mil Mi-17 and derivatives possibly cover all other areas.

'Take the Train.'

Railways.

I wonder how many people today still use the train to travel long distances. Back in the 1950's it was really the hey day od travel in the U.S. Rail travel was going from A to B or Z in style. But today modern trains are fast and design of style has been lost.

Around the world train travel continues at very different paces from country to country. Diesels rule more so than steam and electric, because they are cheaper to buy and build. Many nations do not have a commuter service and rely on a regular train probably only one a day.

Railways and trains will continue to be around for a long time yet, because for many developing nations they are a life line in communications.

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.

China and N-Korea.

The Long March.

I did not plan for this to coincide with current events? My list was written last year and next years was composed in January this year.

We may today be on the verge of a nuclear war, it will be the first time since 1945 that a nuclear weapon has been deployed in a hostile action and millions of people are going to die because of it. 

Both China and N-Korea have developed a series of ICMB (Inter-continental ballistic missiles) from former Soviet types, these rockets are the only ones that can catapult into space.

We do not really know what N-Korea has developed or improved on, but it is estimated that their ICBM's can reach to the Caspian Sea. So you can then work the rest out for yourself.

China has joined the space race by getting a man into orbit, while N-Korea has sent up a satellite which is kind of advanced for a backward nation?  What is the next target, is it in space or is it in hitting the U.S.A over the north pole with a nuke?

Technology moves on and many nations are and will develop their own deterrents ans space programme's for good and bad. The U.S./Russian club is now coming to an end one way or the other, that the way it is with every machine ever invented and so it goes on.

Kamov Helicopters.

The Kamov family.

The Russian Kamov helicopter has a unique design in that it is a twin rotor machine, one being placed above the other. Very little was really known about these machines that were seen operating with the Soviet Navy during the years of the cold war. KA-25, 27/32.

Today we know that they were much bigger than earlier thought and more stable than many western designs. The newer twin boom KA-226 is another breakthrough in the helicopter platform and many varients continue to be built.

Meanwhile Kamov also pushed the bounderies with the KA-50 Alligator, probably the fastest helicopter ever built. Powered by two jet engines.

Man on Mars.

This is the next target.

Man on the moon 'One big step for mankind.' Man on Mars 'Second big leap for Humanity.' It is claimed that within the next 30- 50 years, we will see a manned mission to the red planet Mars. Currently the rovers on Mars are finding interesting earth like clays only a few inches under the top soil. Humans on the planet would be much better to do a variety of work.

Radiation exposure is probably the biggest problem with living in the Martian environment. There is of course always the unknown factor?

It is also very probable, due to financial restraints that the Mars mission will be very much an international one. Unless other nations, such as China, N-Korea and Iran make it first?

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.