Flight Test Sagas 001

Much has been said and written about recent Boeing 737 Max incidents but one simple fact remains for me!

Assigned to de Havilland Hatfield mid-1963 by Rolls Royce. To assist the Trident Flight Test Crew. I was therefore present: when a flight test airaft crashed. Resulting in the deaths of all onboard. The Chief Flight Test Engineer and a Pilot delegated for training on this new aircraft. 

  Designed with three new Rolls Royce Spey Engines fitted to the rear of the fuselage! It soon became apparent the aircraft was subject to superstall. i.e  Total loss of pilot control.When the angle of attack dropped: below a certain angle in its forward motion.

   Where the bottom lip of the engine intake effectively reduced the inflow of air to the engines. causing them to stall: as the aircraft plummeted earthbound in Superstall.

   So measures, we're incorporated to prevent such occurences. Namely a parachute at the tail. Which could be deployed to lift the, aircraft to straight and level flight and a stick shaker/pusher to alert the pilot, to adjust the angle of attack!

    Need I go further: in suggesting; measures such as a stick shaker/pusher incorporated onboard a 737 Max may have alerted the pilot to abort the computer. Take over the flight controls and so avoid superstall and a nosedown incident.

Time for an Exposé

Back in the Mists of Time circa turn of the Century as midnight rang out 12 p.m. turn of the century. New Horizons entered a lifetime of adventure and www perspective few could ever equal! As a Fairy Tale I never anticipated appeared above the Horizon!

    The opportunity to reume a political career: long resting on the back burner and long believed to be of little consequence! Though it 'bristled' with half a lifetime of www experience through wars and a conflagration few if any could equal. 

   So hereto begins a saga in the telling: which may not go down to well in present day political circles! For it bombs whole heartedly on carefully exploited Vanities that need to be exposed in Living Colour!

   To reveal a backdrop of deceit and double dealing;  long thought to be dead and buried; by a latter day exponent  in the Mastery of Deceit and Illusion: To leave you guessing in respect of a True Identity and hereby hangs the Tail

So look out for further chapters. By installment as the saga unfolds in Living Colour at the Beating Heart of 21st Century Conflgrated UK Political Diggery Do.

Here endeth 'die erste Kapitel'!!!

Dave Black World Record Tunnel of Fire

 EDITORS COMMENT

Captured in this remarkable print is the awe-inspiring moment Dave Black emerges fearlessly from the blazing Tunnel of Fire, marking the triumphant finish of his audacious world record attempt. The scorching flames serve as a backdrop to this heart-stopping spectacle that unfolded in Southall Park, Middlesex. As: Alisdair Macdonald's skilled lens freezes time, immortalizing an adrenaline-fueled feat that defies imagination. As Dave Black navigates the fiery inferno on his roaring self built Triumph Powere Tribsa motorbike, one cannot help but marvel at his unwavering determination and unmatched courage. This image encapsulates the essence of stuntriding;  to transports us into a realm where boundaries are shattered and limits cease to exist. It serves as a testament to human resilience and our relentless pursuit of pushing beyond what is deemed possible. The Core 69 team behind this extraordinary endeavor showcase their expertise in orchestrating such breathtaking spectacles while ensuring utmost safety for all involved. Their meticulous planning and attention to detail shines through every frame captured by Macdonald's camera. This print from Memory Lane Prints not only captures an exhilarating moment frozen in time but also invites us to reflect upon our own aspirations and dreams. It reminds us that with unwavering dedication, anything can be achieved – even emerging triumphantly from a blazing Tunnel of Fire!!!

How the UK Electorate Lost the Plot

 Opportunity Lost

As Labour Gov't took hold circa early '60s a whole new paradigm exploded across the British Isles and its Commonwealth of Nations. Without rhyme or reason; the electorate fell for Wilson's lies and deceit, as he sought to exchange the whole ethic of Britishness for a Europewide identity, more befitting his Socialist Ideals

 The first thing he needed to do was to free up cash, for his intended 'White Hot Social Revolution' and it really was, in short supply. We had barely recovered from the vast resources swallowed up in the WWII fight to defeat Nazism.

  But they soon earmarked a couple of £zn projects which were swallowing vast amounts of precious luchre and were set to guzzle even more. Precious assets he'd need to divert to his pet hobby horse Social Change. Something they had set out to do post-WWII by nationalising everything they could get their grubby lttle mitts on.

 Two projects were mopping up cash like there was no tomorrow! The British Aircraft Company; formerly Vickers, was flight testing it's lastest ground attack interceptor the Tactical Search and Reconissance Arcraft, TSR 2 and the Anglo French Concorde. A supersonic passenger jet to fly the Atlantic London to New York and back in the space of a workingiday.

  So in his tiny minded view; of a Socialist future for the United Kingdom, one if them had to be scrapped. Main contender was the ill advised attempt; to produce a, sypersonic airliner. But he gibbed at thus for fear if upsetting le General en Francais. So he decided the TSR 2 had to go.

   The Yanks had been canvassing for both to go. Mainly due to the fact TSR 2 the previous day had flown supersonic in straight and level flight on one engine. They had nothing to compare with this, it had put the heeby jeebes up 'em. So they too were canvassing for TSR2 to be cancelled and offered a deal, to further this end.

  We could have a UK version; of their ageing F4 Phantom aircraft, fitted with a Rolls Royce engine to update the ageing US version. Together with their recently announced F111 a strategic new interceptor cum bomber to replace our whizz bang TSR 2. Bearing in mind this would virtually de-fenestrate the UK aircraft industry in favour of buying American secondhand junk.  

  But in mattered not a fig; to his pathetic, tiny minded Socialist way of thinking, as he set about introducing his 'White Hot Socialist Revolution'. If we were to believe the new catch phrase now glibly poised, on every Union Baron's lip!

End of!

What more needs to be said?         

 

Sir Isaac Newton

 

 Sir Isaac Newton (Courtesy of Wiki)

Sir Isaac Newton PRS (25 December 1642 – 20 March 1726/27) was an English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, and author (described in his time as a "natural philosopher"), widely recognised as one of the greatest mathematicians and physicists of all time and among the most influential scientists. He was a key figure in the philosophical revolution known as the Enlightenment. His book Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy), first published in 1687, established classical mechanics. Newton also made seminal contributions to optics, and shares credit with German mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz for developing infinitesimal calculus.

   In the Principia, Newton formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation that formed the dominant scientific viewpoint until it was superseded by the theory of relativity. Newton used his mathematical description of gravity to derive Kepler's laws of planetary motion, account for tides, the trajectories of comets, the precession of the equinoxes and other phenomena, eradicating doubt about the Solar System's heliocentricity. He demonstrated that the motion of objects on Earth and celestial bodies could be accounted for by the same principles. Newton's inference that the Earth is an oblate spheroid was later confirmed by the geodetic measurements of Maupertuis, La Condamine, and others, convincing most European scientists of the superiority of Newtonian mechanics over earlier systems.

   Newton built the first practical reflecting telescope and developed a sophisticated theory of colour based on the observation that a prism separates white light into the colours of the visible spectrum. His work on light was collected in his highly influential book Opticks, published in 1704. He also formulated an empirical law of cooling, made the first theoretical calculation of the speed of sound, and introduced the notion of a Newtonian fluid. In addition to his work on calculus, as a mathematician Newton contributed to the study of power series, generalised the binomial theorem to non-integer exponents, developed a method for approximating the roots of a function, and classified most of the cubic plane curves.

Newton was a fellow of Trinity College and the second Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge. He was a devout but unorthodox Christian who privately rejected the doctrine of the Trinity. He refused to take holy orders in the Church of England unlike most members of the Cambridge faculty of the day. Beyond his work on the mathematical sciences, Newton dedicated much of his time to the study of alchemy and biblical chronology, but most of his work in those areas remained unpublished until long after his death. Politically and personally tied to the Whig party, Newton served two brief terms as Member of Parliament for the University of Cambridge, in 1689–1690 and 1701–1702. He was knighted by Queen Anne in 1705 and spent the last three decades of his life in London, serving as Warden (1696–1699) and Master (1699–1727) of the Royal Mint, as well as president of the Royal Society (1703–1727).

   As Warden and afterwards; as Master of the Royal Mint, Newton estimated that 20 percent of the coins taken in during the Great Recoinage of 1696 were counterfeit. Counterfeiting was high treason, punishable by the felon being hanged, drawn and quartered. Despite this, convicting even the most flagrant criminals could be extremely difficult, but Newton proved equal to the task.

Disguised as a habitué of bars and taverns, he gathered much of that evidence himself. For all the barriers placed to prosecution, and separating the branches of government, English law still had ancient and formidable customs of authority. Newton had himself made a justice of the peace in all the home counties. A draft letter regarding the matter is included in Newton's personal first edition of Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, which he must have been amending at the time. Then he conducted a survey of His Majesty's Treasury, the bimetallic relationship between gold coins and silver coins was changed by royal proclamation on 22 December 1717, forbidding the exchange of gold guineas for other than 21 silver shillings. It is not recorded, whether this was intentional or otherwise?

 

MadVlad the Destroyer Episode XI

                                                           The Brink

As Ukraine teeters on the brink of a Russian Invasion; the rhetoric flows, thick and fast. Poisoned somewhat by a meddling US President not in full control of his Mojo, who appears to bumble. Whilst; what it would take to see Vlad back-off, is open to speculation, Since the sum total; of available chutzpah on either side appears to have evaporated.

   Meanwhile; the extent to which Russian interests are threatened by NATO appears to be minimal, the West cannot appear to be vacillating. The real danger for Russia though; is the extent to which sentiment is influenced by misconceptions, buried deep in the Vlad psyche.

  What he cannot afford; is a perception in Russia that he is not, on top of his game. For though opposition to the way he governs Russia, is limited somewhat; by the tactics he perfected, in East Germany. During his tenure; as the KGB's main man of the Cold War, endures.

  In this new, era; where self destruct, enjoys a hair trigger momentum. It could quite easily escalate out of all proportion, to any real threat of decisive action by NATO and its potential, not to intervene. Whilst leaving any threat of retaliation suspended; not out of any clear intention of de-escalation, more so out of indifference, 

  So the perceptions and misconceptions will rumble on; while the supply of gas to Europe powerfully illustrates. It was naive to believe; Vlad would not use it as a weapon of intimidation. A rather grave and ambiguous mistake. The West and Germany could live to regret.  

MadVlad Episode I

MadVlad’s Last Stand?  Or how the mighty fall

We in the West know full well what the mighty Russian Bear is capable of, so if Vlad the Lad’s posturing over the Crimean Peninsular is not to demonstrate his chutzpah, what is it about?

If these Russian speaking Ukrainians don’t like the politics there, he could offer them sanctuary in Russia, he’s certainly not short of space. I’ve no idea how Russia came to have bases on the Crimean Peninsular but quite probably it happened in Soviet times, for the Soviets ruled almost as long as the Tories have ruled the UK.

We all know how Vlad likes to come-on with the macho image, the bareback riding antics stripped to the waist, besides which, he’s not without opponents inside his own domain. We know this because of recent moves to try silencing them, by denying contact channels to the outside world via the internet.

So, could it be the opportunity to adopt scare-mongering tactics with the West diverts attention from his domestic squabbles, and is what attracts him to this situation. Opting to psyche out the world’s press corps with his infamous deadpan technique is one way to avoid the obvious, I guess.

Whilst a few lessons from ‘Trig’ the acknowledged master of deadpan, before he passed away a few weeks ago, might have prepared Vlad for this role, more so than he seemed able to muster on RT today.

So there you have it, for he must know deep down that he’ll get no kudos from trying to hold people who depend on Russia for energy, to ransom. In the end it will get him nowhere, in addition to which, he’s not going to be there forever.

More than likely I’d say, his posturing is for domestic consumption. Russia is a vast country with diverse interests, and you cannot change hearts and minds in this way. You might change a few hearts and maybe a few minds, but never the twain shall meet. You can’t legislate against attitudes of mind, even if you back it up with Gulags.

In some ways Vlad the Lad is harking back to Soviet days, something he well understands from his time with the KGB. Though when it comes to diplomacy, it looks like he’s not taken too many lessons onboard, and there’s still someway to go. So if he wants to go up against Uncle Sam, that’s just what the Yanks have lacked, since the fall of Communism – a Bogeyman.

Iran and Iraq were never in the same league as the Soviets. Though whether Vlad the Lad fits the bill on this one, I guess we’ll have to wait and see. In the end however, as always – it will be the economics as always that does for ‘em in: >

A story without an end?