Marines assigned to 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, board a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 for extraction from Landing Zone Canes, Hawaii, April 29, 2016. HMH-463 conducted personnel extraction and insertion in support of 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment during their Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation.

 

(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Julian A. Temblador)

Assigned to the 149thFS 113thFG Virginia ANG prior to sale to Brazil

Assigned to 410 (Cougar) Sqn. with call-sign "Cougar 14" and here arriving on a cross-country navigation exercise.

Assigned To An Unknown Chief

Having dealt with both of their guards who were assigned to protect their tower from intruders, the Outlaws were quick to track down the controls for the tower’s dispersal system. At first, the trio were rather taken aback by the simplicity of the controls as well as the poor condition of their maintenance. Clearly, they had not been used much if at all in a long, long time.

 

Red Hood: Hey, focus! We’re up against the clock.

 

Arsenal: If you think you could do it any faster than by all means, be my guest!

 

Scarlett: It’s not a race you two.

 

Arsenal: You can bet it will be if Grayson gets his tower offline first.

 

Red Hood: Assuming he has any idea how to take it offline.

 

Arsenal: He won’t have to, Barbra will have their tower offline the moment she gets her hands on the controls if she hasn’t already.

 

Scarlett: Just…try not to mess this up. They’re counting on us to take this tower offline before it makes it to Blackgate or Arkham.

 

Arsenal: Don’t worry I’ve got this, just make sure you’re covering my back. The last thing I need is a sword sticking out my chest.

 

Red Hood: Relax, we’ve got you covered. Just focus on shutting this thing down.

 

Arsenal: Hearing you say that doesn’t exactly put me at ease.

 

Scarlett: Just….focus…..

 

Arsenal: But knowing that you’ve got my six as well does.

 

Red Hood: Are you calling me a bad shot?

 

Arsenal: Wouldn’t dream of it. I’m not one to call people names am I, Moody?

 

Red Hood: ....Don’t get carried away, Last Place.

 

Scarlett: Grow up you two.

 

Red Hood: Sorry, Mom.

 

Rather than rise to the jibe, Scarlett chose simply to roll her eyes instead. It was obvious to her that Jason and Roy were simply joking with one another to try and lighten the mood between all of them. After all, with how uncertain things were, it may well be one of their last times together. All the more reason to make it a good one.

 

Scarlett: That’s the wrong lever.

 

Arsenal: Very funny.

 

Scarlett: No seriously, you want the one on the left. The right just controls the airflow in the pipes.

 

Arsenal: ….

 

Without saying a word Arsenal realises the reason it’s been taking him so long to shut down the tower’s output is because he’s been lowering the airflow in the pipes rather than sealing the loading chamber off from the rest of the system. As quietly as possible, he reaches over to grab hold of the left lever and slowly moves it towards him.

 

Before either Jason or Scarlett can say anything a loud creak echoes throughout the room causing the pair of them to instinctively draw their guns. It’s only after quickly surveying the room and finding nothing that they slowly lower and holster them.

 

Arsenal: Itchy trigger finger?

 

Red Hood: You could say that.

 

Scarlett: It’s a side effect from when Pyg abducted me. Can’t help it.

 

Arsenal: I take it your’s is from the clown?

 

Red Hood: No, it’s just force of habit. It’s one of the first things Bruce drilled into me.

 

Scarlett: Didn’t Ollie ever teach you stuff like that?

 

Arsenal: Oh he did, I just didn’t feel worried. I knew you guys had my back.

 

Scarlett: And the fact that your bow and quiver were out of reach?

 

Arsenal: There’s also that.

 

Red Hood: Well warn us next time you’re about to do something like that. We’re on edge enough as it is.

 

Arsenal: Don’t worry, all I’ve got left to do is put this stuff Lucius gave us into the loading chamber and I’m done. Have you guys inoculated yourselves?

 

Scarlett: Yeah, we’re both good.

 

Arsenal: Alright, get ready. I’m opening the chamber now.

 

Though confident in Lucius’ ability to synthesise an effective neutralising agent, the three of them still choose to put their rebreathers back on before Roy proceeds to open the loading chamber and drops the canister containing the neutralising agent into the chamber. Almost immediately, the former side kick quickly slams the chamber shut and jumps back expecting a large explosion.

 

The trio race through the door back into the hallway where the two league agents who were tasked with guarding the tower remained, still unconscious. As Roy slams the door behind him, the trio patiently wait to hear a loud explosion erupt from the control as their heartbeats race uncontrollably.

 

Any second they thought.

 

Any second now……

 

Yet nothing happened.

 

All that could be heard was the familiar sound of the pipes groaning once again as all the gas in the system was neutralised rendering the tower worthless to the League.

 

Scarlett: Is that it?

 

Red Hood: Looks like it.

 

Scarlett: I thought there be an explosion or something.

 

Arsenal: Makes two of us.

 

Red Hood:Not all of Lucius’ toys end up going boom. I hope.

 

Arsenal: Just the best ones.

 

Scarlett: I know that look on your face….he didn’t give you more exploding arrows did he?

 

Arsenal: You never know, they might end up being useful.

 

Scarlett: In the right hands maybe.

 

Roy slowly climbs back onto his feet as he seemingly appears to take Scarlett’s remark as more of an insult than a joking remark.

 

Arsenal: You got something you want to say, Scarlett?

 

Scarlett: Relax Roy, I’m just trying to keep our spirits up.

 

Again, Roy remains silent for a few seconds before steadily walking towards Scarlett with visible anger on his face. Jason steps forward to try and put himself between both Roy and Scarlett but his fiancé stops him, clearly intent of dealing with the angered archer herself.

 

Coming to a stop just two steps away from her, Roy lifts his left arm up for both of them to see it clearly.

 

Arsenal: This is what happened when Ollie and I were too busy trying to keep each other in a good mood to actually focus on fighting Prometheus. We were arrogant, silly and above all reckless. Acting that way in the face of life and death situations puts all of us at risk. I’m lucky it only cost me my arm.

 

Jason was a tad bemused by Roy’s remarks. It was not often that Roy spoke positively of his cybernetic arm which he couldn’t help but find somewhat unsettling. The former Speedy had changed significantly since his time serving under the Green Arrow but Jason hadn’t realised how serious all of this was to him.

 

Arsenal: I’m not optimistic about our chances tonight. With how Ollie used to take about Bruce, the fact that we’re apparently up against an army of him scares the crap out of me. So we can’t afford to foolish. We can't afford to be stupid. But most of all we can’t afford to be reckless. They’ll tear us apart if we pull another stunt like you when you ran in here alone.

 

Scarlett: I know. I wasn’t thinking. Guess I’m lucky to have you guys.

 

Red Hood: We all are. Alone we’re vulnerable, we can be defeated. But together? I think we’re unstoppable.

 

Arsenal: I wouldn’t get carried away like that…

 

Scarlett: Yeah…..saying something like that is just daring them to destroy us.

 

Red Hood: Guys, I’m serious. Together we’ve accomplished things others could only dream of. We toppled Flamingo, we beat a privately financed militia and possibly found the only substance in the world that can take down the League of Assassins. Don’t see what that all means?

 

Scarlett: We should apply to join the Justice League?

 

Arsenal: I’m sure Bruce could put in a good word for us.

 

So much for remaining focused and not fooling around, Jason thought to himself as Roy blatantly contradicted what he’d just told Scarlett about the need to take this seriously.

 

Red Hood: No, it means as a team there’s nothing we can’t do. Hell, Batman trusted us with what could maybe be the thing that decides whether Gotham stands or whether Gotham falls. The goddamn Batman!

 

Scarlett: Did you seriously just call him that?

 

Arsenal: Christ, he must do some form of conditioning on you Robins if you call him that. Suddenly losing an arm doesn’t seem so bad.

 

Scarlett: I may take you up on that offer.

 

Alfred: Bunker to Outlaws. Please respond.

 

Red Hood: Outlaws here, go ahead bunker.

 

Arsenal: (quietly whispering) You sure you don’t mean the goddamn Outlaws?

 

Scarlett: Could be worse, at least he hasn’t started calling himself the goddamn Red Hood yet.

 

Arsenal: Yet.

 

Jason couldn’t help but roll his eyes as he awaited news from Alfred on the team’s next assignment. Great, he thought. This won’t be going away anytime soon.

 

Alfred: We believe the League of Assassins are moving to instigate chaos by targeting key parts of the city.

 

Red Hood: Do we have intel on where they’re hitting?

 

Alfred: Not at present I’m afraid, but Master Bruce believes their targets will be Gotham General, the GCPD and Arkham Asylum. Given your current location, Master Bruce wants the three of you to secure Arkham and stop the League from releasing any of the convicts out on to the streets.

 

Red Hood: Have we heard anything from Arkham recently?

 

Alfred: I’m afraid not. The camera footage has been altered so we suspect the League are already there.

 

Red Hood: Crap. We’d better hurry. Red Hood out.

 

Arsenal: So what’s the goddamn butler got to say?

 

Red Hood: The League’s moving to the next stage.

 

Scarlett: So what does that mean for us?

 

Red Hood: We’re going to Arkham.

 

ArsenaL: Arkham? That place where all those psychos Bruce has fought are locked up?

 

Red Hood: Yep.

 

Scarlett: Is....he there?

 

Red Hood: He should be.

 

Scarlett: Then...are you sure we should go there?

 

Red Hood: We don't have a choice. Bruce is counting on us. He wouldn't be sending us if he didn't have any other choice. Come on, we've got to move. The League might already be there and the last thing we need is a riot at Arkham.

ASSIGNED TROOP:: Sergeant Lize

LOCATION:: Former Old Republic Sector, Trandosha, Sewage Disperse Outposts.(T'di-Ahk Cliff Area)

MISSION:: Scout out 3 Trandoshan Criminals Taking refuge in the decommissioned Sewers, Bringing Them to a Mercy, Finalizing their punishment.

BIO " I have been briefed the mission and the challenges I will face. This will really test my survival and hunting training like they have never been before.."

   

My 16x16 Vig off against Spencer Hubert on Best Bricker.

 

Improvements, Complements and Favorites are very much welcome! Thank you!

SN/NC: Syagrus romanzoffiana, Arecaceae Family

 

This is a palm with an identity crisis! A few decades ago the queen palm was assigned the name Cocos plumosa. During the late sixties and seventies most experts began referring to it as Arecastrum romanzoffianum. Now this queen has been placed in the genus Syagrus, the species name became romanzoffiana - hopefully Syagrus romanzoffiana will stick! The Queen palm is mostly found in Subtropical areas. It was once very popular as a garden tree; but in areas like Southern California where the climate is considerably dryer, it has since been taken over by other palms, such as Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, and other Archontophoenix as well, it is still the dominate pinnate palm, in places like Central Florida, where it thrives on the humidity, and tolerates the occasional 25 degree F. nights. Its fruit is edible to wildlife, often being sought after by birds. It was originally classified in the Coconut or Cocos genus, was moved to Arecastrum, then Syagrus. As a result of this, they often retain a previous name in retail trade. Usually called the "Cocos plumosa palm". (Palmpedia.net)

 

Esta é uma palmeira com crise de identidade! Há algumas décadas, a palmeira rainha recebeu o nome de Cocos plumosa. Durante o final dos anos sessenta e setenta, a maioria dos especialistas começou a referir-se a ele como Arecastrum romanzoffianum. Agora que esta rainha foi colocada no gênero Syagrus, o nome da espécie passou a ser romanzoffiana - espero que Syagrus romanzoffiana permaneça! A palmeira rainha é encontrada principalmente em áreas subtropicais. Já foi muito popular como árvore de jardim; mas em áreas como o sul da Califórnia, onde o clima é consideravelmente mais seco, desde então foi assumido por outras palmeiras, como Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, e outras Archontophoenix também, ainda é a palmeira pinada dominante, em lugares como a Flórida Central, onde é prospera com a umidade e tolera noites ocasionais de 25 graus F. Seu fruto é comestível para a vida selvagem, sendo frequentemente procurado por pássaros. Foi originalmente classificado no gênero Coco ou Cocos, foi transferido para Arecastrum, depois Syagrus. Como resultado disso, muitas vezes mantêm um nome anterior no comércio varejista. Geralmente chamada de "palmeira Cocos plumosa". (Palmpedia.net)

 

Dit is een palm met een identiteitscrisis! Enkele decennia geleden kreeg de koninginnenpalm de naam Cocos plumosa. Eind jaren zestig en zeventig begonnen de meeste experts het Arecastrum romanzoffianum te noemen. Nu deze koningin in het geslacht Syagrus is geplaatst, is de soortnaam romanzoffiana geworden - hopelijk blijft Syagrus romanzoffiana behouden! De Koninginnenpalm komt vooral voor in subtropische gebieden. Ooit was hij erg populair als tuinboom; maar in gebieden als Zuid-Californië, waar het klimaat aanzienlijk droger is, is het sindsdien overgenomen door andere palmen, zoals Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, en ook andere Archontophoenix. Het is nog steeds de dominante geveerde palm, in plaatsen als Centraal-Florida, waar hij voorkomt. gedijt op de luchtvochtigheid en tolereert af en toe nachten van 25 graden F. De vrucht is eetbaar voor dieren in het wild en wordt vaak gezocht door vogels. Het werd oorspronkelijk geclassificeerd in het geslacht Coconut of Cocos en werd verplaatst naar Arecastrum en vervolgens naar Syagrus. Als gevolg hiervan behouden ze vaak een oude naam in de detailhandel. Meestal de "Cocos plumosapalm" genoemd. (Palampedia.net)

 

Questa è una palma con una crisi d'identità! Alcuni decenni fa alla palma regina venne assegnato il nome Cocos plumosa. Tra la fine degli anni Sessanta e gli anni Settanta la maggior parte degli esperti cominciò a chiamarlo Arecastrum romanzoffianum. Ora questa regina è stata inserita nel genere Syagrus, il nome della specie è diventato romanzoffiana - speriamo che Syagrus romanzoffiana rimanga! La palma regina si trova principalmente nelle aree subtropicali. Un tempo era molto apprezzato come albero da giardino; ma in aree come la California meridionale, dove il clima è notevolmente più secco, da allora è stata sostituita da altre palme, come Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, e anche da altri Archontophoenix, è ancora la palma pennata dominante, in luoghi come la Florida centrale, dove è prospera sull'umidità e tollera le notti occasionali di 25 gradi F.. Il suo frutto è commestibile per la fauna selvatica, spesso ricercato dagli uccelli. Originariamente classificato nel genere Coconut o Cocos, fu spostato in Arecastrum, poi Syagrus. Di conseguenza, nel commercio al dettaglio spesso mantengono il nome precedente. Solitamente chiamata "palma Cocos plumosa". (Palmpedia.net)

 

Esta es una palma con una crisis de identidad! Hace unas décadas a la palmera reina se le asignó el nombre de Cocos plumosa. A finales de los años sesenta y setenta la mayoría de los expertos empezaron a referirse a él como Arecastrum romanzoffianum. Ahora que esta reina ha sido incluida en el género Syagrus, el nombre de la especie pasó a ser romanzoffiana. ¡Ojalá Syagrus romanzoffiana se mantenga! La palma reina se encuentra principalmente en zonas subtropicales. Alguna vez fue muy popular como árbol de jardín; pero en áreas como el sur de California, donde el clima es considerablemente más seco, desde entonces ha sido reemplazada por otras palmeras, como Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, y también otras Archontophoenix, sigue siendo la palmera pinnada dominante, en lugares como Florida central, donde prospera con la humedad y tolera noches ocasionales de 25 grados F. Su fruto es comestible para la vida silvestre y, a menudo, lo buscan las aves. Originalmente se clasificó en el género Coconut o Cocos, se trasladó a Arecastrum y luego a Syagrus. Por ello, en el comercio minorista suelen conservar su nombre anterior. Generalmente llamada "palma Cocos plumosa". (Palmpedia.net)

 

C'est un palmier en crise d'identité ! Il y a quelques décennies, le palmier royal a reçu le nom de Cocos plumosa. À la fin des années soixante et soixante-dix, la plupart des experts ont commencé à l'appeler Arecastrum romanzoffianum. Maintenant que cette reine a été placée dans le genre Syagrus, le nom de l'espèce est devenu romanzoffiana - j'espère que Syagrus romanzoffiana restera ! Le palmier royal se trouve principalement dans les zones subtropicales. Il était autrefois très populaire comme arbre de jardin ; mais dans des régions comme la Californie du Sud où le climat est considérablement plus sec, il a depuis été remplacé par d'autres palmiers, comme l'Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, et d'autres Archontophoenix également, il est toujours le palmier penné dominant, dans des endroits comme la Floride centrale, où il se développe grâce à l'humidité et tolère les nuits occasionnelles à 25 degrés F. Ses fruits sont comestibles pour la faune sauvage et sont souvent recherchés par les oiseaux. Classé à l'origine dans le genre Coconut ou Cocos, il a été déplacé vers Arecastrum, puis Syagrus. De ce fait, ils conservent souvent un ancien nom dans le commerce de détail. Généralement appelé « palmier Cocos plumosa ». (Palmpedia.net)

 

Dies ist eine Palme mit einer Identitätskrise! Vor einigen Jahrzehnten erhielt die Königinpalme den Namen Cocos plumosa. In den späten sechziger und siebziger Jahren begannen die meisten Experten, sie als Arecastrum romanzoffianum zu bezeichnen. Jetzt wurde diese Königin in die Gattung Syagrus eingeordnet, der Artname wurde romanzoffiana – hoffentlich bleibt Syagrus romanzoffiana bestehen! Die Königinpalme kommt hauptsächlich in subtropischen Gebieten vor. Einst war er als Gartenbaum sehr beliebt; Aber in Gegenden wie Südkalifornien, wo das Klima deutlich trockener ist, wurde sie inzwischen von anderen Palmen wie Archontophoenix cunninghamiana und anderen Archontophoenix-Palmen übernommen und ist immer noch die dominierende gefiederte Palme, beispielsweise in Zentralflorida lebt von der Luftfeuchtigkeit und verträgt gelegentliche 25-Grad-F-Nächte. Seine Früchte sind für Wildtiere essbar und werden oft von Vögeln gesucht. Es wurde ursprünglich in die Gattung Coconut oder Cocos eingeordnet, dann nach Arecastrum und dann nach Syagrus verschoben. Dadurch behalten sie im Einzelhandel häufig einen früheren Namen. Wird normalerweise als „Cocos plumosa-Palme“ bezeichnet. (Palmpedia.net)

 

これはアイデンティティクライシスを抱えたヤシです！ 数十年前、この女王ヤシにはココス・プルモーサという名前が付けられました。 60 年代後半から 70 年代にかけて、ほとんどの専門家がそれを Arecastrum romanzoffianum と呼び始めました。 現在、この女王は Syagrus 属に属し、種名は romanzoffiana になりました。Syagrus romanzoffiana が定着することを願っています。 クイーンヤシは主に亜熱帯地域で見られます。 かつては庭木として非常に人気がありました。 しかし、気候がかなり乾燥している南カリフォルニアのような地域では、その後、アルコントフェニックス・カニンガミアナや他のアルコントフェニックスなどの他のヤシに引き継がれていますが、中央フロリダのような場所では、依然として優勢な羽状ヤシです。 湿気で生育し、時折25℃の夜にも耐えます。 その果実は野生動物に食用とされ、鳥がそれを求めて訪れることもよくあります。 元々はココナッツ属またはココス属に分類されていましたが、アレカストルム、次にシャグルスに移されました。 この結果、小売業界では以前の名前が残ることがよくあります。 通常は「ココス・プルモサ・ヤシ」と呼ばれています。 (Palmpedia.net)

 

هذا كف يعاني من أزمة هوية! منذ بضعة عقود مضت، أُطلق على نخلة الملكة اسم كوكوس بلوموسا. خلال أواخر الستينيات والسبعينيات، بدأ معظم الخبراء يشيرون إليها باسم Arecastrum romanzoffianum. الآن تم وضع هذه الملكة في جنس Syagrus، وأصبح اسم النوع romanzoffiana - نأمل أن يظل Syagrus romanzoffiana موجودًا! تم العثور على نخلة الملكة في الغالب في المناطق شبه الاستوائية. كانت ذات يوم تحظى بشعبية كبيرة كشجرة حديقة؛ ولكن في مناطق مثل جنوب كاليفورنيا حيث يكون المناخ أكثر جفافًا إلى حد كبير، فقد تم الاستيلاء عليها منذ ذلك الحين من قبل أشجار النخيل الأخرى، مثل أرتشونتوفونيكس كننغهاميانا، وغيرها من أرتشونتوفونيكس أيضًا، ولا تزال هي النخلة المهيمنة، في أماكن مثل وسط فلوريدا، حيث يزدهر على الرطوبة ويتحمل أحيانًا 25 درجة فهرنهايت في الليل. ثمارها صالحة للأكل للحياة البرية، وغالبًا ما تبحث عنها الطيور. تم تصنيفها في الأصل ضمن جنس جوز الهند أو جوز الهند، وتم نقلها إلى Arecastrum، ثم Syagrus. ونتيجة لذلك، غالبا ما يحتفظون باسمهم السابق في تجارة التجزئة. يُطلق عليها عادةً اسم "نخيل

كوكوس بلوموسا". (بالمبيديا.نت)

  

SN/NC: Agapanthus Africanus, Fam. Amarylidaceae

 

The great majority is purple-blue. This one is a bit intermediate between white, purple and blue. Agapanthus /ˌæɡəˈpænθəs/ is the only genus in the subfamily Agapanthoideae of the flowering plant family Amaryllidaceae. The family is in the monocot order Asparagales. The name is derived from scientific Greek: αγάπη (agape) = love, άνθος (anthos) = flower.

Some species of Agapanthus are commonly known as lily of the Nile (or African lily in the UK), although they are not lilies and all of the species are native to Southern Africa (South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique) though some have become naturalized in scattered places around the world (Australia, Great Britain, Mexico, Ethiopia, Jamaica, etc.) (Wikipedia)

 

A grande maioria é azul-roxo. Este é um pouco intermediário entre branco, roxo e azul. Agapanthus /יæəəəənφəs/ é o único gênero na subfamília Agapanthoideae da família de plantas em floração Amaryllidaceae. Algumas espécies de Agapanthus são comumente conhecidas como lírio do Nilo (ou lírio africano no Reino Unido), embora não sejam lírios e todas as espécies sejam nativas do sul da África. (Wikipedia)

 

De overgrote meerderheid is paarsblauw. Deze is een beetje intermediair tussen wit, paars en blauw. Agapanthus /ˌæɡəˈpænθəs/ is het enige geslacht in de onderfamilie Agapanthoideae van de bloeiende plantenfamilie (Amaryllidaceae). Sommige soorten Agapanthus zijn algemeen bekend als lelie van de Nijl (of Afrikaanse lelie in het Verenigd Koninkrijk), hoewel het geen lelies zijn en alle soorten inheems zijn in Zuidelijk Afrika. (Wikipedia)

 

La grande majorité est violet-bleu. Celui-ci est un peu intermédiaire entre le blanc, le violet et le bleu. Agapanthus /ˌæɡəˈpænθəs/ est le seul genre de la sous-famille des Agapanthoideae de la famille des Amaryllidaceae. Certaines espèces d’agapanthes sont communément connues sous le nom de lys du Nil (ou lys africain au Royaume-Uni), bien qu’elles ne soient pas des lys et que toutes les espèces soient originaires d’Afrique australe. (Wikipédia)

 

La gran mayoría es de color azul púrpura. Este es un poco intermedio entre blanco, púrpura y azul. Agapanthus /ˌæɡəˈpænθəs/ es el único género de la subfamilia Agapanthoideae de la familia Amaryllidaceae. Algunas especies de Agapanthus se conocen comúnmente como lirio del Nilo (o lirio africano en el Reino Unido), aunque no son lirios y todas las especies son nativas del sur de África. (Wikipedia)

 

La grande maggioranza è viola-blu. Questo è un po 'intermedio tra bianco, viola e blu. Agapanthus /ˌæɡəˈpænθəs/ è l'unico genere della sottofamiglia Agapanthoideae della famiglia delle Amaryllidaceae. Alcune specie di Agapanthus sono comunemente conosciute come giglio del Nilo (o giglio africano nel Regno Unito), anche se non sono gigli e tutte le specie sono originarie dell'Africa meridionale. (Wikipedia)

 

Die große Mehrheit ist lila-blau. Dieser ist ein bisschen zwischen Weiß, Lila und Blau. Agapanthus /ˌæɡəˈpænθəs/ ist die einzige Gattung in der Unterfamilie Agapanthoideae der Blütenpflanzenfamilie Amaryllidaceae. Einige Arten von Agapanthus sind allgemein als Lilie des Nils (oder afrikanische Lilie in Großbritannien) bekannt, obwohl sie keine Lilien sind und alle Arten im südlichen Afrika beheimatet sind. (Wikipedia)

 

大部分は紫がかった青です。これは白、紫、青の間の色です。アガパンサス /ˌæɡəˈpænθəs/ は、顕花植物科ヒガンバナ科のアガパンサス亜科の唯一の属です。アガパンサスの一部の種は一般にナイルユリ（英国ではアフリカユリ）として知られていますが、それらはユリではなく、すべての種がアフリカ南部原産です。 (ウィキペディア)

 

الغالبية العظمى من الأرجواني والأزرق. هذا هو واحد قليلا وسيطة بين الأبيض والأرجواني والأزرق. أغابانثوس / ˌæɡəˈpænθəs / هو الجنس الوحيد في Agapanthoideae subfamily من عائلة النبات المزهرة Amaryllidaceae. بعض أنواع أغابانثوس معروفة باسم زنبق النيل (أو زنبق الأفريقية في المملكة المتحدة)، على الرغم من أنها ليست الزنابق وجميع الأنواع هي أصلية في الجنوب الأفريقي. (ويكيبيديا)

assign you a name and we'll create a story.

Marines assigned to 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion (LAAD), conclude firing the FIM-92 Stinger missile launcher after hitting a drone during a live fire exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 8, 2016. 2nd LAAD conducted a live fire exercise to maintain proficiency and accuracy with the FIM-92 Stinger missile launcher.

 

(U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Anthony J. Brosilow/Released)

Our newly assigned Seeing Eye puppy arrived earlier today. "Yellow Girl" will be with us for approximately one year before returning to The Seeing Eye for her formal harness training and being placed with a blind individual. It is our job to teach her basic obedience and socialize her to the world in which she will work as a guide.

 

Day 1

Marines assigned to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, fire a M252A2 81mm mortar system at Range 106 during Integrated Training Exercise 2-17, at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Jan. 13, 2017. ITX is a combined-arms exercise which provides all elements of the Marine Air Ground Task Force an opportunity to utilize capabilities during large scale missions to become a more ready fighting force. 1/3 is currently participating as the ground combat element for this exercise.

 

(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron S. Patterson)

PHILIPPINE SEA (June 13, 2021) Sailors assigned to the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67) heave line during a replenishment-at-sea with the Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock (T-AO-204) . Shiloh is attached to Commander, Task Force 70/Carrier Strike Group 5 conducting underway operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rawad Madanat)

LTEX GP15-1 1616, a former CSX unit sits quietly at Ardent Mills in Mount Pocono. June 7, 2020.

A big success by any standard both in and out of competition, the Lancia Stratos was developed as a homologation Special for European rallying. After production ceased it became a cult car and is now highly priced as the ‘modern classis' it is. Conceived strictly for rallying, the Lancia Stratos however makes an exciting road car, though it is very far from GT standards in both luxury and refinement.

 

The concept vehicle responsible for providing the inspiration for the Lancia Stratos Rally car is the Lancia (Bertone) Stratos. The Stratos featured a 1584 cc V4 DOHC with 115 bhp horsepower at 200 rpm. Designed by Marcello Gandini, the same designer responsible for the Lamborghini Countach and Lamborghini Miura, the Stratos concept was a development of the Bertone designed Alfa Romeo Carabo concept from 1968. The Carabo concept was also a Gandini creation.

 

First revealed at the Turin Motor Show in October of 1970, the Lancia Stratos HF prototype was a styling exercise for Bertone. A futuristic design, the Stratos featured a wedge shaped profile that stood just 33 inches from the ground. Since the vehicle was so low, conventional doors could not be used and instead one accessed the interior of the Stratos by a hinged windscreen. Drivers had to flip up the windscreen and walk into the vehicle. Once inside, visibility was quite restricted since the front windscreen was narrow. The cockpit of the Lancia Stratos was designed specifically for fast forest flying.

 

The body design was predictably minimal to hold down weight and bulk with its most distinctive features being semi-concealed A-pillars and a door beltline that sharply upswept to the top of the daylight opening. The shape of the resulting unbroken expanse of glass gave the tunnelback roof the appearance of a futuristic crash helmet.

 

The main body structure was steel, like the chassis, and weight-saving fiberglass was used for tilt-up nose and tail sections. A small box above and behind the powertrain was where cargo space was held. Bins were also molded into the interior door panels for storing helmets.

 

The same engine utilized on the Lancia 1600 HF Fulvia was used on the Bertone designed Lancia Stratos Zero prototype. A triangular shaped panel hinged upwards to allow access to the mid-mounted engine. Developed for rallying purposes, the legendary Lancia Stratos was unveiled in 1974. The production vehicle Stratos was powered by a 2.4 liter mid-mounted V6 from the Ferrari Dino.

 

Like no other Lancia before or after, the Lancia Stratos was a shock that left enthusiasts and rally fans breathless. For almost a decade the Stratos streaked across the rally landscape much like a brilliant comet, while discarding past principles, it also fearlessly represented something undeniably new. A phenomenal rally car, the Lancia Stratos set an example to every other car manufacturer in the world. The first viable purpose-built rally car ever built, the Stratos was probably the last purpose-built rally car.

 

Created by the Bertone coachbuilding company, the Stratos was both radical, yet fully functional. Fiorio realized that for Lancia to continue to compete in the World Rally Championship, the Fulvia HF would need a much more powerful replacement. A the time, four-wheel drive was not an option, so a mid-engined configuration seemed ideal. To reinforce Fiori's convictions, the Bertone show car was featured soon after with a mid-engine Fulvia V4.

 

The introduction of the Ford mid-engine purpose-built GT70 rally car at the 1971Brussels Motor Show was what truly inspired the impetus behind the Stratos proect. It was after this appearance that Lancia's general manager, Pierugo Gobbato contacted Nuccio Bertone. Though the GT70 was actually never put in production by Ford, it was this that sparked the inspiration of the Lancia Stratos.

 

As always, there was a minimum production requirement, 500 units for the Lancia Stratos. This was an awkward figure that would necessitate funds for at least semi-permanent tooling as well as design and development. This was a job well suited to the Italian industry. Fiorio masterminded the project, and he envisioned a short, wide coupe with transverse midships drivetrain. Bertone was immediately contracted to style the vehicle and built its unit body/chassis structure.

 

43 months passed in between the time of conception to the actual birth of the Lancia Stratos. The vehicle was developed to take over and make Lancia the outright world rally champ. The Stratos was both short and wide, with a wheelbase of only 7 feet 1.8 inches, the width of the vehicle was only 5 feet 8.9 inches. Weighing only 1958 lbs, the Stratos was only 3 feet 7.9 inches high. Able to easily exceed 140 mph, the Stratos featured 190 horsepower in roadgoing trim.

 

Having studied every possible powerteam in the Fiat/Lancia group, Fiorio secured 2.4 liter V-6s and 5-speed transaxles from Ferrari, which was an ideal chouse as they'd be installed exactly as the Dino 246. All-independent suspension, rack-and-pinion steering and four-wheel disc brakes were all specifically designed for the Lancia Stratos.

 

After 1978 the Stratos was officially retired and no longer was officially entered by the Lancia factory, the vehicle was still going strong. The Lancia team was headed by by Sandro Munari who won its first event as a homologated entry in October of 1974. Mun ari entered alone 40 events with the Lancia Stratos and won 14. The Stratos also won the World Rally Championship in 1974, 1975, and 1976 and remained competitive for another four years. The final major win came in 1979 when a Lancia Stratos entered by the Monaco importer won the famed Monte Carlo Rally. Finally the factory retired the Stratos.

 

By Jessica Donaldson

 

[Text from ConceptCarz.com]

 

www.conceptcarz.com/z21737/Lancia-Stratos-HF.aspx

 

This Lego miniland-scale Lancia Stratos Rally Racer has been created for Flickr LUGNuts' 100th Build Challenge - our Centenary, titled 'One Hundred Ways to Win!'. In this challenge, a list of 100 challenges is available, kept by the admins. Individuals wishing to enter, request a number from 1-100 (so long as it has not already been requested) - and the admins assign the individual build challenge associated with that number.

 

In the case of admins entering models - they request that a general LUGNuts member assigns a number - and the admin must build to that challenge number.

 

In this case, the number 78 was chosen for me, corresponding to the challenge: '78.Any vehicle from the year you were born'. I was born in 1972, the year that the first Stratos rally cars were built, entering in the Rally Championship as Group 5 (un-homologated) entries.

 

The road cars required to homologate for Group 4 were built through 1973 to 1978.

 

As can be seen in some of the images here, not only does the car open and close (a real challenge when you look at the chassis), but it also uses the Lego Group RC Rollerskate - so it can zoom around under its own power.

 

STANAGE BAY, Australia (July 18, 2019) An assault amphibious vehicle (AAV), assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), enters the well deck of the amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20). Green Bay, part of the Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group, with embarked 31st MEU, is currently participating in Talisman Sabre 2019 off the coast of Northern Australia. A bilateral, biennial event, Talisman Sabre is designed to improve U.S. and Australian combat training, readiness and interoperability through realistic, relevant training necessary to maintain regional security, peace and stability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anaid Banuelos Rodriguez)

SOUTH CHINA SEA (March 15, 2022) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Momsen (DDG 92), the RAN Anzac-class frigate HMAS Arunta (FFH 151), and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) guided-missile destroyer JS Yuudachi (DD 103) transit the South China Sea while a P-8A Poseidon flies above during a trilateral training event. Momsen is assigned to Commander, Task Force 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy's largest forward-deployed DESRON and U.S. 7th Fleet's principal fighting force, and is underway supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter) 3rd Class Regnor Vondedenroth)

4 1/2 yards

 

Location: Black bin?

Marines assigned to Reconnaissance Platoon, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conduct live fire training aboard the USS Boxer (LHD 4) at sea Jan. 8, 2014. The 13th MEU is deployed with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

 

(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. David Gonzalez/Released)

U.S. Army Rangers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, fire at an enemy bunker during Task Force Training on Camp Roberts, Calif., Feb. 1, 2014. Rangers constantly train to maintain their tactical proficiency. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Steven Hitchcock/Not Reviewed)

Grand Rapids Mi Coal Pushers March 2015

Soldiers assigned to the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), participate in a Joint Armed Forces Color Guard presentation during an Armed Forces Full Honors Wreath-laying ceremony, Sept. 15, 2022, at the grave sit of 27th President of the United States, William H. Taft, in Arlington National Cemetery, Va. During the ceremony, hosted by Karen Durham-Aguilera, executive director, Army National Military Cemeteries, Maj. Gen. John H. Phillips, Military Deputy to Deputy Chief of Staff, G6, (IMA) laid a wreath to commemorate Taft’s 165th birthday. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Laura Stephens)

Tocal.

James Webber arrived in the region in January 1822 and applied for a land grant at Paterson. He was granted 2,020 acres which he named Tocal. He later added 720 acres and soon had a total of 3,280 acres. His brother John Webber got a nearby land grant of 3,300 acres which he named Penshurst. Like other pioneers the Webber brothers were fortunate to obtain assigned convicts to provide the basically free labour for them to build up their grand estates. James Webber grew wine grapes, fruit, wheat, corn, tobacco, and ran sheep and cattle. Records for 1828 shows 38 assigned convicts at Tocal including - 13 labourers; 3 tobacconists; 8 shepherds; 2 overseers; 1 shoemaker; 1 stock keeper and 1 servant and others. All were males between the ages of 16 and 63 years. He built a barracks for the assigned convicts and a stone barn was built in 1830 but later burnt down. The barn was needed for drying tobacco. A blacksmiths shop was built 1828. James Webber sold Tocal in 1834 and it was purchased by Caleb Wilson and his son Felix. The perfectly proportioned two storey Georgian residence was built in 1839 for Felix Wilson. The architect of this homestead is now believed to be William Moir. Later in 1867 another architect was commissioned, Edmund Blacket who built many churches in NSW, to build a new stone barn. All joinery is the homestead is Australian red cedar. Felix Wilson planted Moreton Bay Figs to frame his new home. He grew vines and produced wine.

 

In 1843 he attempted to sell Tocal estate to Charles Reynold but Reynolds leased the estate from Wilson from 1844 to 1871. Charles Reynolds died in 1871 and his son Frank Reynolds took over Tocal and built some new stone structures. By then Tocal covered 5,900 acres and it was still owned by the estate of Felix Wilson. Frank Reynolds then began to buy some sections until the Reynolds family owned all of Tocal in 1907. Frank Reynolds died in 1920 and his sons Charles and Harry ran Tocal mainly as horse stud. In 1926 Tocal estate was sold to the Alexander family - two sisters and two brothers all elderly and unmarried. The youngest Alexander was Charles Boyd Alexander. When he died at Tocal in 1947 with no heirs, it was left to two nieces to occupy provided they were not married. They were the Curtis sisters. He also set up a trust covering Tocal so that it became the C. B. Alexander Training home for destitute and orphan children. In 1963 the Presbyterian Church took over Tocal homestead and the training college. A new chapel was built at Tocal in 1967. The church then got the trustees to establish and an agricultural training college at Tocal with the two Miss Curtis women still having life tenancy of the Tocal homestead. By then Tocal house was on 163 acres. The C. B. Alexander Presbyterian Agricultural College lasted from 1965 to 1969. Then the NSW Department of Agriculture took it over in 1970 with a special act of parliament.

 

When it comes to scale model railroading I have long advocated creating "sincere" scenes by incorporating as many elements as possible that accurately reflect what really existed at a particular facility within a particular time frame.

 

The snow plow track at Superior was just east of the inbound leads to the steel car shop and roundhouse, and just north of the Belknap Street viaduct that we see here on our right. This end of the viaduct was built, owned, and maintained by the Great Northern, and later Burlington Northern. The opposite end was similarly owned and maintained by both the NP and LST&T Railway where it crossed over their properties.

 

GN assigned four plows here during the 1960s, 1970s and into the early 1980s. They included wooden snow dozers X1680, X1683, steel snow dozer X7300 and Jordan spreader X1705. I photographed other wooden dozers here too but those were all either heading for scrap on Rice's Point or were brought into the shop for repairs before winter arrived. That was a Fall ritual. Readying the snow equipment for winter. I have some great shots of them preparing the dozers. I'll try to dig those out and share a few so you can see what was involved.

 

In later years other snow plows and dozers came to roost here, including a couple of other Jordan spreaders from the NP side of the bay, and the the utterly odd Bros X1500 Snow Flyer. The model that Overland imported in HO scale came from photos and plans created when it was assigned here in the late 1980s and mated with an old NP F9A and both were painted mineral red. I have a hundred or more images of that machine while it was here in Superior. Here's the rarest shot that I've ever found of it taken in 1970: www.flickr.com/photos/jeff_lemke/31573610544/in/dateposted/

 

Here's a nicer overhead view of the X1705 Jordan spreader, shot from on top of the Belknap Street bridge: www.flickr.com/photos/jeff_lemke/15805193354/in/album-721... X1705 was the GN's Mesabi Division Jordan spreader-ditcher so it was used throughout the year to maintain the ballast profile on all GN lines here. It was the most used of all of the snow equipment assigned to Superior as it was used literally 365 days a year.

 

Next, notice this side of the bridge though. There used to be a sidewalk and railing but that was taken down by the railroad during the mid-1960s. The pipe railing that you see along the top of the bridge is actually welded to the top of the box girders. It was added to the bridge when the sidewalk was removed to discourage people from hopping over the box girders and then, basically, falling to their death since the sidewalk was gone. The opposite (or south) side of the bridge still had the pedestrian walkway so a person could walk the entire length of the bridge safely along the south side. Taking pictures towards the north meant you had to climb over the south side box girder, then run across the two-lanes of traffic, and stand directly in the westbound traffic lane since there was no sidewalk on the north side. The really tricky thing was timing your shots to coincide with NO cars on the bridge at all, since once the cars came up the approaches from either end, the entire bridge would rock up and down and vibrate harder and harder as each car approached you. If you tried taking pictures with slow speed film, your shots would come out blurry because of the vibrating bridge girders. It was crazy. If people who lived in the Twin Ports had stood on that bridge when cars came over it, they would have NEVER themselves driver over it again. It was just that bad. Consider that when the bridge was built near 1900 most automobiles weighted barely a thousand pounds. Heavy, modern automobiles were more than a match for this structure, and signs along the top of the bridge urged drivers to maintain a very slow and consistent speed and a good distance between each car. If you saw that signage on a bridge today you would freak out. Trucks were strictly prohibited from using this bridge (or 21st Street bridge that was nearly identical) so they used either Winter Street along the north end of the yards or 28th Street along the south end. Given that there were a dozen or more rail crossings on the north and at least six on the south, trucks had a devil of a time getting through this part of town when trains were moving about.

 

But I digress. Any modeled scene of this roundhouse and shops area at Superior would need to include any or all of these snow contraptions to help the scene to be more accurate, more "sincere". If you're modeling spring, summer of fall, then these snow plows were parked right here.

 

Likewise the bridge would need to be build to scale if you were building this scene, as would the tall telltales that were planted on both sides of the bridge to protect men on top of equipment from the low clearance that the old iron viaduct created. After this bridge was torn down, Steve Lorenz and I actually found some of the pedestrian walkway railings in the front yard of a house a few blocks north on Belknap. It was past the Manning Motel, where I stayed many times before I turned 20. So we photographed it and drew plans. Then I begged my boss at Overland to make the railings in HO scale to build this bridge. He caved, and I got the etchings through Ajin Precision.

 

The bottom line on model sincerity is that the more of these realistic elements we can squeeze into our modeling efforts, the more sincere any scene will appear, especially to people who may have worked, lived, or visited that area. And if you ask me, the coolest thing about a sincere scale model railroad is that it really can project you back to another time and place, but in miniature of course. As one of the founders of the Range Research group, we came up with a saying, "Historical Preservation through Scale Replication". The idea was to make the models as close as possible to the real thing, including the scenes, buildings, and details like what we see here. Perfection is not attainable, but striving to make a model highly flattering to its real-world counterpart definitely is. The thing we always agreed on was that it should be just the locomotives or cars that are spot-on accurate. The layout needs to be too, or the models are just great models on a pike that doesn't do them justice. It's a small segment of people within the hobby who work to accomplish this goal because it requires a lot of photographs and information, and time and money, to pull it all together. But great never needs to be gigantic. Even a small diorama can rock it, if it's sincere in its effort to capture the essence of the prototype. That's really all we ever believe at Range Research and how we were able to meld lots of different resources to make so many parts, decals, and scale models.

 

Hopefully, some of these pictures and information are proving helpful to you in your own modeling efforts. Most of what you see on my Flickr site was collected or created to better understand the history of railroading in this place called the Twin Ports, so that better scale models could be the result. Stay tuned for more throughout 2017.

 

Cheers!

Complete your assigned tasks ahead of schedule and your reward is often another switch list, a classic railroaders lament... On this particular August afternoon in 2018 we had brought a Q train down from Steven’s Point to Shops in well under the advertised, to no ones surprise the crew room printer fired up and began spitting out lists almost immediately upon our arrival. Great... Double up a couple tracks to build M336 and shove it up the outside lead, simple enough. Hmmm, what’s this? Head pin shows car DL 7222, that’s odd. DL would be Delaware Lackawanna, the Alco road out east, don’t think I’ve ever seen any of their cars around. Four digit number, not unheard of but strange. Wait a minute! Sure enough my suspicions bore fruit as the mundane numbers on the “extra credit” switch list came to life pulling up along side the motley assortment of locomotives cobbled together to power the daily “everything but the bathroom sink” manifest from Fond du Lac to Kirk Yard. This train has a notoriously miserable consist of mismarshalled way freight garbage assembled from across the upper Midwest, “bring me your tired third-hand papermill boxes, your worn out busted ass cushioning unit coil gons and your dog vomit miscellaneous crap freight”. I swear if modern day Shops Yard had a Statue of Liberty this would be her motto. This flagship of doom train often rated a losers lunch of power, if it had reasonably round wheels and could produce power enough to make it chicago (ie so long as it could make it out of the yard) it qualified for the head end of the lashup, a funeral of dead and dying patients often followed. Today’s power consists of two DC GE’s, on being a much detested barn, an sd70m-2 that has thrown a power assembly through the carbody with lube oil still seeping out along the carbody, another ill fated M-2 that had some manner of road failure and the ex Erie Mining C420 7222. The forlorn Alco had spent a number of years in seclusion on the Mineral Range, sadly never seeing service. She had been sold to the Delaware Lackawanna for parts, many of which had been stuffed in her carbody and nose, unlikely to ever see revenue operation again. I have an odd relationship with the Erie Mining, a poorly informed, poorly planned and heavily THC influenced laden solo trip to the northland yielded several now lost rolls of film documenting multiple failed attempts to capture the Erie operations. Don’t do drugs and railfan kids, bad things happen... Anyways, coming across this exceedingly rare remnant of those crazy lost days was one of those moments when the circle comes together. I’m eternally saddened to have botched my one opportunity to witness the Erie in action but at the time figured I’d return armed with more intel and experience. Instead, girls, school and work intervened (among other things). I went off to Arizona for school and by the time I returned to the Midwest the Erie Mining was all but dead. I look back on these days with nostalgia and regret, glad to have at least had a taste of what once was while burdened by the knowledge I had nothing tangible to show for it. Nowadays I make my living doing the thing I once chased as a childhood dream, not so ironically I do so only a few dozen miles from where I blundered my one chance to witness what would remain among my favored roads. Today I drive my young girls up the shore past the overgrown remains of Taconite Harbor on the way to family adventures, every single time a youthful part of me awakens and shakes his sardonic 90’s punk rocker head at me cursing our failures yet applauding our present dat successes. It’s an odd journey we’re on my friends.... an odd journey indeed.

5 yards. The website image did not do this justice!

 

Location: Brown bin?

Sérguiev Posad (Rusia) - Sergiyev Posad (Russia) - Се́ргиев Поса́д (Россия)

 

Sérguiev Posad (en ruso: Се́ргиев Поса́д), entre 1930 y 1991 llamada Zagorsk, es una ciudad rusa, al nordeste de Moscú. Contaba con 109.252 habitantes en el censo de 2008. Posee un importante conjunto monumental, el monasterio de la Trinidad y de San Sergio (siglos XV-XVIII), declarado Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO.

 

es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sérguiev_Posad

 

es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anillo_de_Oro_de_Rusia

 

Sergiyev Posad (Russian: Се́ргиев Поса́д) is a city and the administrative center of Sergiyevo-Posadsky District in Moscow Oblast, Russia. Population: 111,179 (2010 Census); 113,581 (2002 Census); 114,696 (1989 Census).

It was previously known as Sergiyev Posad (until 1919), Sergiyev (until 1930), Zagorsk (until 1991).

Sergiyev Posad grew in the 15th century around one of the greatest of Russian monasteries, the Trinity Lavra established by St. Sergius of Radonezh, still (as of 2015) one of the largest monasteries in Russia. Town status was granted to Sergiyev Posad in 1742. The town's name, alluding to St. Sergius, has strong religious connotations. Soviet authorities changed it first to just Sergiyev in 1919, and then to Zagorsk in 1930, in memory of the revolutionary Vladimir Mikhailovich Zagorsky

The original name was restored in 1991.

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Sergiyev Posad serves as the administrative center of Sergiyevo-Posadsky District. As an administrative division, it is, together with twenty-six rural localities, incorporated within Sergiyevo-Posadsky District as the City of Sergiyev Posad. As a municipal division, the City of Sergiyev Posad is incorporated within Sergiyevo-Posadsky Municipal District as Sergiyev Posad Urban Settlement.

Tourism associated with the Golden Ring plays a role in the regional economy. There is also an important toy factory.

The Moscow–Yaroslavl railway and highway pass through the town. Sergiyev Posad Bus Terminal is located in the city.

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergiyev_Posad

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Ring_of_Russia

  

El monasterio de la Trinidad y San Sergio (en ruso Тро́ице-Се́ргиева Ла́вра; o Tróitse-Sérguieva Lavra) en la ciudad de Sérguiev Posad (antiguo Zagorsk) es un importante monasterio ruso y centro espiritual de la iglesia ortodoxa rusa. Sérguiev Posad se encuentra a unos 70 kilómetros al noreste de Moscú en la carretera que va a Yaroslavl. Actualmente alberga a unos 300 monjes. Según la Unesco, que lo declaró Patrimonio de la Humanidad en 1993, se trata de «un buen ejemplo de monasterio ortodoxo en funcionamiento, con rasgos militares típicos de los siglos XV al XVIII, período durante el que se desarrolló.»

La iglesia principal de la Laura (monasterio), la catedral de la Asunción, recuerda la homónima catedral del Kremlin y alberga las tumbas de los Godunov.

Siendo monje de la Laura, Andréi Rubliov pintó, para el iconostasio de la catedral, su más célebre icono La Trinidad que actualmente se expone en la Galería Tretiakov de Moscú.

 

es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_de_la_Trinidad_y_San_Sergio

 

The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius (Russian: Тро́ице-Се́ргиева Ла́вра) is the most important Russian monastery and the spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church. The monastery is situated in the town of Sergiyev Posad, about 70 km to the north-east from Moscow by the road leading to Yaroslavl, and currently is home to over 300 monks.

The monastery was founded in 1337 by one of the most venerated Russian saints, Sergius of Radonezh, who built a wooden church in honour of the Holy Trinity on Makovets Hill. Early development of the monastic community is well documented in contemporary lives of Sergius and his disciples.

In 1355, Sergius introduced a charter which required the construction of auxiliary buildings, such as refectory, kitchen, and bakery. This charter was a model for Sergius' numerous followers who founded more than 400 cloisters all over Russia, including the celebrated Solovetsky, Kirillov, and Simonov monasteries.

St. Sergius supported Dmitri Donskoi in his struggle against the Tatars and sent two of his monks, Peresvet and Oslyabya, to participate in the Battle of Kulikovo (1380). At the outbreak of the battle, Peresvet died in a single combat against a Tatar bogatyr. The monastery was devastated by fire, when a Tatar unit raided the area in 1408.

St. Sergius was declared patron saint of the Russian state in 1422. The same year the first stone cathedral was built by a team of Serbian monks who had found refuge in the monastery after the Battle of Kosovo. The relics of St. Sergius still may be seen in this cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The greatest icon painters of medieval Russia, Andrei Rublev and Daniil Chyorny, were summoned to decorate the cathedral with frescoes. Traditionally, Muscovite royals were baptized in this cathedral and held thanksgiving services here.

In 1476, Ivan III invited several Pskovian masters to build the church of the Holy Spirit. This graceful structure is one of the few remaining examples of a Russian church topped with a belltower. The interior contains the earliest specimens of the use of glazed tiles for decoration. In the early 16th century, Vasily III added the Nikon annex and the Serapion tent, where several of Sergius' disciples were interred.

It took 26 years to construct the six-pillared Assumption Cathedral, which was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in 1559. The cathedral is much larger than its model and namesake in the Moscow Kremlin. The magnificent iconostasis of the 16th–18th centuries features Simon Ushakov's masterpiece, the icon of Last Supper. Interior walls were painted with violet and blue frescoes by a team of Yaroslavl masters in 1684. The vault contains burials of Boris Godunov, his family and several 20th-century patriarchs.

As the monastery grew into one of the wealthiest landowners in Russia, the woods where it had stood were cleared and a village (or posad) sprang up near the monastery walls. It gradually developed into the modern town of Sergiyev Posad. The cloister itself was a notable centre of chronicle-writing and icon painting. Just opposite the monastery walls St. Paraskeva's Convent was established, among whose buildings St. Paraskeva's Church (1547), Introduction Church (1547), and a 17th-century chapel over St. Paraskeva's well are still visible.

In 1550s, a wooden palisade surrounding the cloister was replaced with 1.5 km-long stone walls, featuring twelve towers, which helped the monastery to withstand a celebrated 16-month Polish-Lithuanian siege in 1608–1610. A shell-hole in the cathedral gates is preserved as a reminder of Wladyslaw IV's abortive siege in 1618.

By the end of the 17th century, when young Peter I twice found refuge within the monastery from his enemies, numerous buildings had been added. These include a small baroque palace of the patriarchs, noted for its luxurious interiors, and a royal palace, with its facades painted in checkerboard design. The refectory of St. Sergius, covering 510 square meters and also painted in dazzling checkerboard design, used to be the largest hall in Russia. The five-domed Church of John the Baptist's Nativity (1693–1699) was commissioned by the Stroganovs and built over one of the gates. Other 17th-century structures include the monks' cells, a hospital topped with a tented church, and a chapel built over a holy well discovered in 1644.

In 1744, Empress Elizabeth conferred on the cloister the dignity of a Lavra. The metropolitan of Moscow was henceforth also the Archimandrite of the Lavra. Elizabeth particularly favoured the Trinity and annually proceeded afoot from Moscow to the cloister. Her secret spouse Alexey Razumovsky accompanied her on such journeys and commissioned a baroque church to the Virgin of Smolensk, the last major shrine to be erected in the Lavra. Another pledge of Elizabeth's affection for the monastery is a white-and-blue baroque belltower, which, at 88 meters, was one of the tallest structures built in Russia up to that date. Its architects were Ivan Michurin and Dmitry Ukhtomsky.

Throughout the 19th century, the Lavra maintained its status as the richest Russian monastery. A seminary founded in 1742 was replaced by an ecclesiastical academy in 1814. The monastery boasted a supreme collection of manuscripts and books. Medieval collections of the Lavra sacristy attracted thousands of visitors. In Sergiyev Posad, the monastery maintained several sketes, one of which is a place of burial for the conservative philosophers Konstantin Leontiev and Vasily Rozanov.

After the Russian Revolution of 1917, the Soviet government closed the lavra in 1920. Its buildings were assigned to different civic institutions or declared museums. In 1930, monastery bells, including the Tsar-Bell of 65 tons, were destroyed. Pavel Florensky and his followers prevented the authorities from stealing and selling the sacristy collection but overall many valuables were lost or transferred to other collections.

In 1945, following Joseph Stalin's temporary tolerance of the church during World War II, the Lavra was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. On April 16, 1946 divine service was renewed at the Assumption Cathedral. The lavra continued as the seat of the Moscow Patriarchate until 1983, when the patriarch was allowed to settle at the Danilov Monastery in Moscow. After that, the monastery continued as a prime centre of religious education. Important restoration works were conducted in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1993, the Trinity Lavra was inscribed on the UN World Heritage List.

The Lavra has a number of representative churches (podvorie or metochia) in its vicinity and throughout Russia. The Lavra's hieromonks have manned a number of sketes at remote locations (such as the Anzer Island in the Solovki Archipelago in the White Sea), as well as the Trinity Church on the King George Island in the Antarctic.

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_Lavra_of_St._Sergius

 

Marines, assigned to Law Enforcement Detachment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), frisk a detainee role player during joint service training aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) June 26, 2017. The 24th MEU is underway with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet and U.S. 5th Fleet areas of operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Adaecus G. Brooks)

U.S. Marines assigned to Company I, Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 3/2, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, board an MV-22B Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 266 (Reinforced), at King Faisal Air Base in Jordan, June 14, 2013. Exercise Eager Lion 2013 is an annual, multinational exercise designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships and enhance security and stability in the region by responding to modern-day security scenarios. The 26th MEU is deployed to the 5th Fleet area of responsibility as part of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group. The 26th MEU operates continuously across the globe, providing the president and unified combatant commanders with a forward-deployed, sea-based quick reaction force. (U.S. Marine Corps photograph by Sgt. Christopher Q. Stone / Released)

Tocal.

James Webber arrived in the region in January 1822 and applied for a land grant at Paterson. He was granted 2,020 acres which he named Tocal. He later added 720 acres and soon had a total of 3,280 acres. His brother John Webber got a nearby land grant of 3,300 acres which he named Penshurst. Like other pioneers the Webber brothers were fortunate to obtain assigned convicts to provide the basically free labour for them to build up their grand estates. James Webber grew wine grapes, fruit, wheat, corn, tobacco, and ran sheep and cattle. Records for 1828 shows 38 assigned convicts at Tocal including - 13 labourers; 3 tobacconists; 8 shepherds; 2 overseers; 1 shoemaker; 1 stock keeper and 1 servant and others. All were males between the ages of 16 and 63 years. He built a barracks for the assigned convicts and a stone barn was built in 1830 but later burnt down. The barn was needed for drying tobacco. A blacksmiths shop was built 1828. James Webber sold Tocal in 1834 and it was purchased by Caleb Wilson and his son Felix. The perfectly proportioned two storey Georgian residence was built in 1839 for Felix Wilson. The architect of this homestead is now believed to be William Moir. Later in 1867 another architect was commissioned, Edmund Blacket who built many churches in NSW, to build a new stone barn. All joinery is the homestead is Australian red cedar. Felix Wilson planted Moreton Bay Figs to frame his new home. He grew vines and produced wine.

 

In 1843 he attempted to sell Tocal estate to Charles Reynold but Reynolds leased the estate from Wilson from 1844 to 1871. Charles Reynolds died in 1871 and his son Frank Reynolds took over Tocal and built some new stone structures. By then Tocal covered 5,900 acres and it was still owned by the estate of Felix Wilson. Frank Reynolds then began to buy some sections until the Reynolds family owned all of Tocal in 1907. Frank Reynolds died in 1920 and his sons Charles and Harry ran Tocal mainly as horse stud. In 1926 Tocal estate was sold to the Alexander family - two sisters and two brothers all elderly and unmarried. The youngest Alexander was Charles Boyd Alexander. When he died at Tocal in 1947 with no heirs, it was left to two nieces to occupy provided they were not married. They were the Curtis sisters. He also set up a trust covering Tocal so that it became the C. B. Alexander Training home for destitute and orphan children. In 1963 the Presbyterian Church took over Tocal homestead and the training college. A new chapel was built at Tocal in 1967. The church then got the trustees to establish and an agricultural training college at Tocal with the two Miss Curtis women still having life tenancy of the Tocal homestead. By then Tocal house was on 163 acres. The C. B. Alexander Presbyterian Agricultural College lasted from 1965 to 1969. Then the NSW Department of Agriculture took it over in 1970 with a special act of parliament.

 

"I wanted to eat of the fruit of all the trees in the garden of the world ... And so, indeed, I went out, and so I lived. My only mistake was that I confined myself so exclusively to the trees of what seemed to me the sun-lit side of the garden, and shunned the other side for its shadow and its gloom." -- Oscar Wilde. "De Profundis" (1897)

 

. . .

 

Lock-Down / Quarantine - Italia

@ Fattoria di Petrognano (c.1680 A.D.), Tuscany, Italy.

 

B/W study in back-lighting / silhouette - [plate II.2]

 

(+) www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5tfadddgoY

 

. . .

 

The Masnavi:

Description of Love

 

"A true lover is proved such by his pain of heart;

No sickness is there like sickness of heart.

The lover's ailment is different from all ailments;

Love is the astrolabe of God's mysteries.

A lover may hanker after this love or that love,

But at the last he is drawn to the KING of love.

However much we describe and explain love,

When we fall in love we are ashamed of our words.

Explanation by the tongue makes most things clear,

But love unexplained is clearer.

When pen hasted to write,

On reaching the subject of love it split in twain.

When the discourse touched on the matter of love,

Pen was broken and paper torn.

In explaining it Reason sticks fast, as an ass in mire;

Naught but Love itself can explain love and lovers!

None but the sun can display the sun,

If you would see it displayed, turn not away from it.

Shadows, indeed, may indicate the sun's presence,

But only the sun displays the light of life.

Shadows induce slumber, like evening talks,

But when the sun arises the "moon is split asunder."

In the world there is naught so wondrous as the sun,

But the Sun of the soul sets not and has no yesterday."

 

. . .

 

History / Storia:

 

Petrognano draws its origins from the Gens Petronia as if to say "Gentis Petroniae Fundus", as in the Val di Sieve there are two other places of the same name: Petrognano di San Gaudenzio and Petrognano di Borgo San Lorenzo. The Petrognano Farm is located in the Val di Sieve, 35 km from Florence in the Pomino Doc area and covers an area of 250 hectares with landscapes and crops characteristic of ancient Tuscan agriculture. // Petrognano trae le sue origini dalla Gens Petronia come a dire “Gentis Petroniae Fundus”, in quanto nella Val di Sieve esistono altre due località omonime: Petrognano di San Gaudenzio e Petrognano di Borgo San Lorenzo. La Fattoria di Petrognano si trova nella Val di Sieve a soli 35 km da Firenze nella zona del Pomino Doc e si estende su una superficie di 250 ettari con paesaggi e colture caratteristici dell’antica agricoltura toscana.

 

Via di Petrognano divides the two nuclei, noble and agricultural, of the rural settlement of Petrognano in two, consisting of several buildings. The actual villa, formerly owned by the Donati and Borromei families and today by the Gambaro counts, dates back to the 17th century, and has a rectangular plan, facing west on an English lawn, and to the east on two panoramic terraces, one of which it houses an Italian garden . The garden houses a couple of fountains with statues and masks, and a shed that was once perhaps a noble chapel.

On the other side of the road is the farm, which made up a rural village in which there was a public fountain (still existing and functional), a wash house, an oil mill, a cellar and other housing and working complexes for the peasants. // La via di Petrognano divide in due i due nuclei, signorile e agricolo, dell'insediamento rurale di Petrognano, composto da più corpi di fabbrica. La villa vera e propria, già delle famiglie Donati e Borromei e oggi dei conti Gambaro, risale al XVII secolo, ed ha una pianta rettangolare, affacciata a ovest su un prato all'inglese, e ad est su due terrazze panoramiche, una delle quali ospita un giardino all'italiana. Il giardino ospita un paio di fontane con statue e mascheroni, e una rimessa che un tempo fu forse cappella gentilizia.

Sull'altro lato della strada si trova la fattoria, che componeva un borgo rurale in cui si trovava un fontana pubblica (tutt'ora esistente e funzionale), un lavatoio, un frantoio, una cantina e altri complessi abitativi e lavorativi per i contadini.

 

774 A.D. The first certain news of Petrognano dates back to the Lombard period. Giovanni Lami in his work “Monumenta Sanctae Ecclesiae Florentinae” wrote that in 774 Charlemagne assigned churches, castles and courts to the Badia di Nonantola in the Modena area and among these the Court of Petrognano. // Le prime notizie certe di Petrognano risalgono all’epoca longobarda. Giovanni Lami nella sua opera “Monumenta Sanctae Ecclesiae Florentinae” scriveva che nel 774 Carlo Magno assegnò chiese, castelli e corti alla Badia di Nonantola nel modenese e tra queste la Corte di Petrognano.

 

1046 A.D. The oldest part of the Villa di Petrognano dates back to the year one thousand, born as a watchtower of the valley, built in stone blocks. In 1046 the Benedictine Abbey of San Miniato al Monte, which at the time was part of the Diocese of Lucca, was patron saint of Petrognano. // La parte più antica della Villa di Petrognano risale all’anno mille nata come torre di guardia della vallata, costruita in blocchi di pietra. Nel 1046 risulta patrona di Petrognano la Badia Benedettina di San Miniato al Monte che all’epoca faceva parte della Diocesi di Lucca.

 

1286 A.D. The Petrognano Farm was passed to the Diocese of Florence and subsequently to that of Fiesole, as evidenced by the documents of the Bishop's Curia of Fiesole. The Villa di Petrognano was a stately home of the bishop's canteen of Fiesole and was cited several times for the excellence of its wines. // La Fattoria di Petrognano passò alla Diocesi di Firenze e successivamente a quella di Fiesole, come testimoniano i documenti della Curia Vescovile di Fiesole. La Villa di Petrognano era una casa signorile della mensa vescovile di Fiesole e citata più volte per l’eccellenza dei suoi vini.

 

1677 A.D. Due to its splendid position in the valley and the particularly mild climate, the Villa di Petrognano became the summer residence of the Bishops of Fiesole. The villa was enlarged in at least two periods: between 1677-1689 by Cardinal Filippo Neri Altoviti, and by Bishop Ranieri Mancini in 1703. // Per la sua splendida posizione nella vallata ed il clima particolarmente mite la Villa di Petrognano divenne residenza estiva dei Vescovi di Fiesole. La villa venne ampliata in almeno due momenti: tra il 1677-1689 dal Cardinale Filippo Neri Altoviti e dal Vescovo Ranieri Mancini nel 1703.

 

1866 A.D. Petrognano was bought by the Budini Gattai family, great building contractors at the time Florence was the capital. They invested a large fortune by buying 17 farms in Tuscany and the Palazzo Grifoni in Piazza SS Annunziata in Florence. In the hall on the first floor or Petrognano, there is a frieze on which all the villas owned by the family are represented. // Petrognano fu acquistata dalla famiglia Budini Gattai, grandi imprenditori edili all’epoca di Firenze Capitale. Investirono un’ingente fortuna comprando 17 fattorie in Toscana ed il Palazzo Grifoni in piazza S.S. Annunziata a Firenze. Nel salone al primo piano corre un fregio su cui sono rappresentate tutte le ville possedute dalla famiglia.

 

1870 A.D. Massive state-of-the-art works commenced on the farm: New farmhouses, roads, aqueducts, a power plant with a hydraulic turbine and a large water storage were built. The villa was further enlarged and restored taking on its current appearance: a large cellar, the wine cellar, the orciaia, the mill, the oil mill and an immense terrace overlooking the valley were also built. // Nella fattoria vennero iniziati imponenti lavori all’avanguardia per quell’epoca. Furono costruite nuove case coloniche, strade, acquedotti, un impianto per lo sviluppo di energia elettrica con una turbina idraulica ed un grande deposito dell’acqua. La villa venne ampliata ulteriormente e restaurata assumendo l’aspetto attuale: venne costruita una grande cantina, la tinaia, l’orciaia, il mulino, il frantoio ed una immensa terrazza sulla vallata.

 

1930 A.D. Maria Francesca Budini Gattai married Count Enrico Galeotti Ottieri della Ciaja who had the church dedicated to St. Peter rebuilt in front of the farm. From their marriage, 5 daughters were born; Cecilia Galeotti Ottieri della Ciaja is the current owner and lives in the main villa with her 3 children. // Nel 1930 Maria Francesca Budini Gattai sposò il Conte Enrico Galeotti Ottieri della Ciaja che fece ricostruire la Chiesa dedicata a San Pietro di fronte alla fattoria. Dal loro matrimonio nacquero 5 figlie; Cecilia Galeotti Ottieri della Ciaja è l’attuale proprietaria e vive nella villa padronale insieme ai suoi 3 figli.

 

2000 A.D. By virtue of its history, architectural, artistic and environmental characteristics, in the year 2000 the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities notified the Villa of Petrognano and its annexes worthy of protection. // In virtù della sua storia, delle caratteristiche architettoniche, artistiche ed ambientali, nell’anno 2000 il Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali ha notificato la Villa di Petrognano ed i suoi annessi beni degni di tutela.

 

— © www.petrognano.com

 

#ThroughHerLens

 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.

(+) An 18-year Journey, in Poetry and Image:

.

📷 www.flickr.com/photos/midea_foto/albums

📖 www.lulu.com/spotlight/hollarch

 

Assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, USAF F-16CJ 01-7052 lands on Runway 32L at Boeing Field in Seattle. The Gamblers "Fighting Falcon" is a perfomer in the weekend's Boeing Seafair Air Show 2025. This aircraft is one of the final three F-16's, of the 2231 total built, delivered to the United States Air Force.

Two Lockheed Martin F-35A Lighting II "Joint Strike Fighter's" assigned to the 62nd Fighter Squadron, Luke Air Force Base Ariz, fly near an Arizona National Guard Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker Aug. 4, 2017. Four F-35’s participated in a missing man formation fly-over during WWII pilot 2nd Lt. Charles E. Carlson’s funeral in Pennsylvania more than 70 years after being shot down over Germany in World War II when he was assigned to the 62 FS.

  

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather, stealth, fifth-generation, multirole combat aircraft, designed for ground-attack and air-superiority missions. It is built by Lockheed Martin and many subcontractors, including Northrop Grumman, Pratt & Whitney, and BAE Systems.

 

The F-35 has three main models: the conventional takeoff and landing F-35A (CTOL), the short take-off and vertical-landing F-35B (STOVL), and the catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery, carrier-based F-35C (CATOBAR). The F-35 descends from the Lockheed Martin X-35, the design that was awarded the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program over the competing Boeing X-32. The official Lightning II name has proven deeply unpopular and USAF pilots have nicknamed it Panther, instead.

 

The United States principally funds F-35 development, with additional funding from other NATO members and close U.S. allies, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Canada, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and formerly Turkey. These funders generally receive subcontracts to manufacture components for the aircraft; for example, Turkey was the sole supplier of several F-35 parts until its removal from the program in July 2019. Several other countries have ordered, or are considering ordering, the aircraft.

 

As the largest and most expensive military program ever, the F-35 became the subject of much scrutiny and criticism in the U.S. and in other countries. In 2013 and 2014, critics argued that the plane was "plagued with design flaws", with many blaming the procurement process in which Lockheed was allowed "to design, test, and produce the F-35 all at the same time," instead of identifying and fixing "defects before firing up its production line". By 2014, the program was "$163 billion over budget [and] seven years behind schedule". Critics also contend that the program's high sunk costs and political momentum make it "too big to kill".

 

The F-35 first flew on 15 December 2006. In July 2015, the United States Marines declared its first squadron of F-35B fighters ready for deployment. However, the DOD-based durability testing indicated the service life of early-production F-35B aircraft is well under the expected 8,000 flight hours, and may be as low as 2,100 flight hours. Lot 9 and later aircraft include design changes but service life testing has yet to occur. The U.S. Air Force declared its first squadron of F-35As ready for deployment in August 2016. The U.S. Navy declared its first F-35Cs ready in February 2019. In 2018, the F-35 made its combat debut with the Israeli Air Force.

 

The U.S. stated plan is to buy 2,663 F-35s, which will provide the bulk of the crewed tactical airpower of the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps in coming decades. Deliveries of the F-35 for the U.S. military are scheduled until 2037 with a projected service life up to 2070.

 

Development

 

F-35 development started in 1992 with the origins of the "Joint Strike Fighter" (JSF) program and was to culminate in full production by 2018. The X-35 first flew on 24 October 2000 and the F-35A on 15 December 2006.

 

The F-35 was developed to replace most US fighter jets with the variants of a single design that would be common to all branches of the military. It was developed in co-operation with a number of foreign partners, and, unlike the F-22 Raptor, intended to be available for export. Three variants were designed: the F-35A (CTOL), the F-35B (STOVL), and the F-35C (CATOBAR). Despite being intended to share most of their parts to reduce costs and improve maintenance logistics, by 2017, the effective commonality was only 20%. The program received considerable criticism for cost overruns during development and for the total projected cost of the program over the lifetime of the jets.

 

By 2017, the program was expected to cost $406.5 billion over its lifetime (i.e. until 2070) for acquisition of the jets, and an additional $1.1 trillion for operations and maintenance. A number of design deficiencies were alleged, such as: carrying a small internal payload; performance inferior to the aircraft being replaced, particularly the F-16; lack of safety in relying on a single engine; and flaws such as the vulnerability of the fuel tank to fire and the propensity for transonic roll-off (wing drop). The possible obsolescence of stealth technology was also criticized.

  

Design

 

Overview

 

Although several experimental designs have been developed since the 1960s, such as the unsuccessful Rockwell XFV-12, the F-35B is to be the first operational supersonic STOVL stealth fighter. The single-engine F-35 resembles the larger twin-engined Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, drawing design elements from it. The exhaust duct design was inspired by the General Dynamics Model 200, proposed for a 1972 supersonic VTOL fighter requirement for the Sea Control Ship.

 

Lockheed Martin has suggested that the F-35 could replace the USAF's F-15C/D fighters in the air-superiority role and the F-15E Strike Eagle in the ground-attack role. It has also stated the F-35 is intended to have close- and long-range air-to-air capability second only to that of the F-22 Raptor, and that the F-35 has an advantage over the F-22 in basing flexibility and possesses "advanced sensors and information fusion".

 

Testifying before the House Appropriations Committee on 25 March 2009, acquisition deputy to the assistant secretary of the Air Force, Lt. Gen. Mark D. "Shack" Shackelford, stated that the F-35 is designed to be America's "premier surface-to-air missile killer, and is uniquely equipped for this mission with cutting-edge processing power, synthetic aperture radar integration techniques, and advanced target recognition".

  

Improvements

 

Ostensible improvements over past-generation fighter aircraft include:

 

Durable, low-maintenance stealth technology, using structural fiber mat instead of the high-maintenance coatings of legacy stealth platforms.

 

Integrated avionics and sensor fusion that combine information from off- and on-board sensors to increase the pilot's situational awareness and improve target identification and weapon delivery, and to relay information quickly to other command and control (C2) nodes.

 

High-speed data networking including IEEE 1394b and Fibre Channel (Fibre Channel is also used on Boeing's Super Hornet.

 

The Autonomic Logistics Global Sustainment, Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS), and Computerized maintenance management system to help ensure the aircraft can remain operational with minimal maintenance manpower The Pentagon has moved to open up the competitive bidding by other companies. This was after Lockheed Martin stated that instead of costing 20% less than the F-16 per flight hour, the F-35 would actually cost 12% more. Though the ALGS is intended to reduce maintenance costs, the company disagrees with including the cost of this system in the aircraft ownership calculations. The USMC has implemented a workaround for a cyber vulnerability in the system. The ALIS system currently requires a shipping-container load of servers to run, but Lockheed is working on a more portable version to support the Marines' expeditionary operations.

 

Electro-hydrostatic actuators run by a power-by-wire flight-control system.

 

A modern and updated flight simulator, which may be used for a greater fraction of pilot training to reduce the costly flight hours of the actual aircraft.

 

Lightweight, powerful lithium-ion batteries to provide power to run the control surfaces in an emergency.

 

Structural composites in the F-35 are 35% of the airframe weight (up from 25% in the F-22). The majority of these are bismaleimide and composite epoxy materials. The F-35 will be the first mass-produced aircraft to include structural nanocomposites, namely carbon nanotube-reinforced epoxy. Experience of the F-22's problems with corrosion led to the F-35 using a gap filler that causes less galvanic corrosion to the airframe's skin, designed with fewer gaps requiring filler and implementing better drainage. The relatively short 35-foot wingspan of the A and B variants is set by the F-35B's requirement to fit inside the Navy's current amphibious assault ship parking area and elevators; the F-35C's longer wing is considered to be more fuel efficient.

  

Costs

 

A U.S. Navy study found that the F-35 will cost 30 to 40% more to maintain than current jet fighters, not accounting for inflation over the F-35's operational lifetime. A Pentagon study concluded a $1 trillion maintenance cost for the entire fleet over its lifespan, not accounting for inflation. The F-35 program office found that as of January 2014, costs for the F-35 fleet over a 53-year lifecycle was $857 billion. Costs for the fighter have been dropping and accounted for the 22 percent life cycle drop since 2010. Lockheed stated that by 2019, pricing for the fifth-generation aircraft will be less than fourth-generation fighters. An F-35A in 2019 is expected to cost $85 million per unit complete with engines and full mission systems, inflation adjusted from $75 million in December 2013.

Airmen assigned to the 732nd Air Mobility Squadron de-ice a C-17 Globemaster III out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wa., while conducting flight operations at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Jan. 25, 2018. During the harsh Alaskan winters, de-icing keeps aircraft operational by removing layers of snow, ice and frost that could adversely affect flights. (U.S. Air Force photo by Alejandro Peña)

PHILIPPINE SEA (Nov. 23, 2021) An MH-60S Sea Hawk, assigned to the “Island Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25, transports supplies to Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), during a vertical replenishment-at-sea with Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9). Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (VINCSG) is on a scheduled deployment in U.S. 7th Fleet to enhance interoperability through alliances and partnerships while serving as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nicholas Carter)

Assigned to Yonkers waterfront location

Now assigned to the MFA Elevator, this former Seaboard Air Line Railroad GP18 looks great in a new paint job. It was built in 8-1960 builder number 26118, frame number 5626-5 as SAL 1060. It became SCL 1060, SBD 1060, IORY 71, BEPX 71, and now belongs to Midwest Locomotive Inc. out of Kansas City.

 

Locomotive: MWLX 6225

 

6-5-17

Higginsville, MO

Assigned to the 403rd Wing and the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron "Hurricane Hunters" Keesler AFB Biloxi Mississippi. The Hurricane Hunters provide command and staff supervision in support of weather reconnaissance and are the only Department of Defense unit tasked to organize, equip, train and perform all hurricane weather reconnaissance in support of the Department of Commerce. The 403rd Wing is responsible for coordination, collecting and communicating critical weather data to the National Hurricane Center during flights into hurricanes and tropical storms.

Assigned to the 452nd AMW (Air Mobility Wing) March AFB California. During 2005 the 452nd retired their C-141 Starlifter being replaced by the C-17 Globemaster III

ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet has been assigned to a long-duration mission on the International Space Station. A press conference to announce the assignment was held on 17 March 2014, at the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

 

Read more about the announcement:

www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/E...

 

Connect with Thomas Pesquet on social media at: thomaspesquet.esa.int

More photos available at: www.flickr.com/photos/thom_astro

 

Credit: ESA–N. Imbert-Vier, 2014

Swedish Air Force Lockheed C-130H Tp84 84005 seen approaching Cambridge.

 

This aircraft is assigned to F7/TSFE, 71 Airlift Sqn.

Assigned to the 452nd AMW March ARB seen taking off from there 3rd June 2021.

Soldiers assigned to the 222nd Chemical Company, New York Army National Guard, and officers with the New York Police Department's COBRA (Chemical Ordinance, Biological and Radiological Awareness) training unit conduct an exercise simulating an urban chemical attack at Rodman's Neck Tactical Village, Bronx, N.Y., Nov. 19, 2016. The New York Army National Guard Soldiers and officers with the COBRA training unit used the exercise to share techniques and procedures, as well as enhance their readiness in case of a natural disaster or terrorist attack. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Harley Jelis)