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BLUE STREAK
Blue Streak was a British medium range ballistic missile (MRBM), and later the first stage of the Europa satellite launch vehicle. Blue Streak was cancelled without entering full production.
The project was intended to maintain an independent British nuclear deterrent, replacing the V bomber fleet which would become obsolete by 1965. The operational requirement for the missile was issued in 1955 and the design was complete by 1957. However, during development it became clear that the missile system was too expensive and too vulnerable to a pre-emptive strike. The missile project was cancelled in 1960, with US-led Skybolt the preferred replacement.
Partly to avoid political embarrassment from the cancellation, the UK Government proposed that the rocket be used as the first stage of a civilian satellite launcher called Black Prince. However, the cost was thought to be too great for the UK alone, and international collaboration was sought. This led to the formation of the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO), with Blue Streak used as the first stage of a carrier rocket named Europa.
Europa was tested at Woomera test range, Australia, and later at Kourou in French Guiana. Following launch failures, the ELDO project was cancelled in 1972 and development of Blue Streak was halted.
THOR ABLE
The Thor-Able was an American expendable launch system and sounding rocket used for a series of re-entry vehicle tests and satellite launches between 1958 and 1960. It was a two stage rocket, consisting of a Thor IRBM as a first stage, and a Vanguard-derived Able second stage. On some flights, an Altair solid rocket motor was added as a third stage. It was a member of the Thor family, and an early predecessor of the Delta.
Sixteen Thor-Ables were launched, nine on sub-orbital re-entry vehicle test flights, and seven on orbital satellite launch attempts. Six launches resulted in failures, however three of those failures were the result of an Altair upper stage added to the rocket to allow it to launch the spacecraft onto a trans-lunar trajectory. All sixteen launches occurred from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 17A.
Source: Wikipedia
Woomera SA Australia, my home (and bar) for many many nights - European Launcher Development Organisation = ELDO
This Eldorado, like the Porsche in my photostream two places back, has historic plates. It's an Eldo of the ninth generation produced by Cadillac between 1979 and 1985. It was Cadillac's entry in the then-lucrative "personal luxury coupe" market.
Oldsmobile and Buick had coupes built on this same platform - the Toronado and Riviera, respectively - but their volume coupes were the mid-size Cutlass and Regal coupes (again, respectively). Cadillac never had an intermediate coupe; it went full-size all the way. This is the super-swank "Biarritz" model.
This Eldorado was available with small-block and large-block V8s, and it could even be ordered with a 4.1-liter V6. No idea as to what year this is or what engine is under the hood.
Collectors should avoid the 1981 model with the 368 V8-6-4 engine, which was supposed to shut down two to four cylinders in highway driving to save fuel . . . but shut down at the wrong times for the wrong reasons. (Cadillac was ahead of its time in dreaming up the idea of cylinder de-activation, as some manufacturers employ it today, but the technology was not up to the task in 1981 to make it work.)
The 1967-68 Eldo had concealed headlamps, hidden behind grille panels. It reverted to exposed headlamps for 1968-69, more reliable, but less attractive. The '68-'69 cars had Cadillac's enormous new 472 cu. in. (7.7 L) V8, making 375 gross horsepower. In 1970, it was punched out to a full 500 cu. in. (8.2 L), with a claimed 400 gross horses.
The Cadillac sat in an Oklahoma yard while my friend stripped it out and before it was shipped to California. My old 59 Coupe de Ville sits next to it.
FREESOUL was established in Florence in 1994 by the Eldo S.r.l. group. Right from the start it made a name for itself by offering both Italian creativity and a discernible international feel.
FREESOUL is distributed in Europe via subsidiaries, agents and distributors. Germany, France, Spain and UK are serviced via subsidiaries and showrooms and dedicated sales staff. Italy is partly supplied via showrooms and partly through agents. Portugal and Greece use distributors. In all there are 40 sales showrooms.
From summer 2009 FREESOUL implemented the new and highly distinctive shop in shop inside prestigious department stores and multibrand stores.
PHILOSOPHY
FREESOUL is denim fashion with a passion: bright, sensual and engaging, with a touch of retro that gives everything elegant appeal.
The Women’s collection speaks to a glamorous and passionate woman and combines sensual luxury with timeless elegance. Meanwhile the Men’s line is aimed at the cool gentleman who prefers a simple, courtly style.
HIGHLIGHTS
Our vision is to create a thoroughly modern collection that brings together denim and fashion pieces, making each article an object of desire.
To spread this message successfully FREESOUL continues to work with world-famous photographer Yu Tsai, who conveys the sophistication of the brand perfectly.
These lamps used on the 1989-1991 Eldorados are interesting: they were used on the (relatively rare) ETC - the 2nd generation "Eldorado Touring Coupe" in the US & Canada - and bear DOT and "Guide" markings - but no "E" markings on the lenses. I have seen "E" marked versions of these lamps as well. It seems though that most I have seen here in Europe used the US-version. Note also the little reflector: these were fitted as original equipment to European export Cadillacs, made in Finland, "E" marked (of course) and had their surrounds painted in body-colour - a time-consuming & fiddly item, stuck on with double-sided tape! These European versions (unlike Japanese & Middle Eastern models) had mandatory rear fog lamps fitted into the bumper.
Britain got into the space race in the 1960's with the Blue Streak rocket. Although it failed to be of use as an atomic missile it powered the first stage of the ELDO launcher, the predecessor to ESA's Ariane rocket. Blue Streak was a very successful rocket and never had a launch failure, although the European produced second and third stages always failed, leading to the cancellation of ELDO and Britain's withdrawal from the space race.
More papercraft models to come (although they may be some time as the weather is now much better)
Moteur : V8 8194 cm3 / 500 cui
Puissance : 175 kW / 235 ch
Longueur : 5,629 m / 221,6 pouces
largeur : 2,027 m / 79,8 pouces
Empattement : 3,208 m / 126,3 pouces
Poids à vide: 2210 kg / 4872 lbs
Vitesse maxi : 186 km/h / 116 mph
FREESOUL was established in Florence in 1994 by the Eldo S.r.l. group. Right from the start it made a name for itself by offering both Italian creativity and a discernible international feel.
FREESOUL is distributed in Europe via subsidiaries, agents and distributors. Germany, France, Spain and UK are serviced via subsidiaries and showrooms and dedicated sales staff. Italy is partly supplied via showrooms and partly through agents. Portugal and Greece use distributors. In all there are 40 sales showrooms.
From summer 2009 FREESOUL implemented the new and highly distinctive shop in shop inside prestigious department stores and multibrand stores.
PHILOSOPHY
FREESOUL is denim fashion with a passion: bright, sensual and engaging, with a touch of retro that gives everything elegant appeal.
The Women’s collection speaks to a glamorous and passionate woman and combines sensual luxury with timeless elegance. Meanwhile the Men’s line is aimed at the cool gentleman who prefers a simple, courtly style.
HIGHLIGHTS
Our vision is to create a thoroughly modern collection that brings together denim and fashion pieces, making each article an object of desire.
To spread this message successfully FREESOUL continues to work with world-famous photographer Yu Tsai, who conveys the sophistication of the brand perfectly.