F-22 Raptor (#4195)

2nd Cav getting field time.

Note:  I'm really starting to dig that Mobile Gun System.  But what's got my head spinning is that we haven't seen even a prototype of the Marine Personnel Carrier version of this vehicle.  My bet is that they're putting all there eggs into winning the M-113 Replacement Program for the US Army.  Compared to that program the MPC is small fry stuff.  But back to the MGS.  I'd love to see that on a Lockheed/Patria Havoc or a BAE/Iveco Super AV.

Short Belfast.

General characteristics

Crew	Basic aircrew 5 (two pilots, engineer, navigator and loadmaster)
Length	41.70 m (136 ft 5 in)
Wingspan	48.1 m (158 ft 10 in)
Height	14.33 m (47 ft)
Empty weight	59,020 kg (130,000 lb)
Max takeoff weight	104,300 kg (230,000 lb)
Powerplant	4× Rolls-Royce Tyne R.Ty.12, Mk. 101 turboprops, 4,270 kW (5,730 ehp) each
Maximum Speed	566 km/h (306 knots, 352 mph)
Range	8,368 km (5,200 miles) with capacity fuel load of 80,720 lb
Service ceiling	9,100 m (30,000 ft)

Length

41.70 m (136 ft 5 in)

Wingspan

48.1 m (158 ft 10 in)

Height

14.33 m (47 ft)

Empty weight

59,020 kg (130,000 lb)

Max takeoff weight

104,300 kg (230,000 lb)

Powerplant

4× Rolls-Royce Tyne R.Ty.12, Mk. 101 turboprops, 4,270 kW (5,730 ehp) each

Maximum Speed

566 km/h (306 knots, 352 mph)

Range

8,368 km (5,200 miles) with capacity fuel load of 80,720 lb

Service ceiling

9,100 m (30,000 ft)

Hmm.


A nice blast from the past.


Too bad the British have allowed their avaition industry to die in pursuit of joint programs.  The French have fought to maintain there manufacturer as have the Swedes.  The Brits should have done likewise.

MP7 with Larry Vickers.

A couple of things.  Endo-Mike at Everydaynodaysoff gets my hat tip for finding this vid....check him out for fun gun stuff...next Larry is back in the gym...I'm happy to see that.  He looks good after dropping pounds, I hope he keeps it up.  Next is HK.  Great gun makers, lousy marketers.

Last.  Why is Aimpoint beating EOTech when it comes to small optics?  The EOTech is easier to gain a sight picture with, has better battery life and has a strangle hold on the military optics market.

I keep coming back to style over substance...and thats a shame.  The EOTech is the better piece of gear but I guess the CHE is showing its power (Costa-Haley Effect)....If Costa and Haley run it on their guns then the whole gun community turns into a bunch of giggling school girls and follows the popular kids.

Astronauts drop the F-bomb on the moon.

The F-22 is broken. Why is it still flying?

The Aviationist has an excellent article on the F-22's troubles and USAF leadership's attempt to fix the issues while keeping the plane in the air.

I won't rehash his work, just go to his blog to read the details.  What has me confused is General Hostage's statement...

“In a peacetime training circumstance, we want to operate at as low of risk is prudent for the level of training we get out of a mission,” he said. “When we go into combat, risk goes up, but the reason to assume that risk goes up as well.”

That's pure and utter bullshit.

This airplane should be grounded and everyone in the USAF knows it.

This is another example of dysfunctional leadership and a broken command structure.

Avengers the movie.

Uh.

That's the best I can say after seeing this movie.

Uh.

From Cap's uniform looking rather dorky to Black Widow double wielding Glock 26/27's (blow up this pic and you'll see a good view of her weapons...geez...Black Widow is better than that...at least Glock 18's!), the movie just didn't hit my wow spot.

Quite honestly the best parts of the movie was Iron Man (Downey is great...again)...the Hulk, mainly because his character is getting fleshed out a bit and finally Thor didn't disappoint but he didn't wow...

Save your cash and catch this on Video on Demand.