London Ambulance Service | Operational Support Unit | Renault Master | LX11 AEL out in London, UK

To see a playlist of videos featuring Ambulance vehicles from across the UK, such as London, West Midlands and St.John Ambulance services, responding, click here.

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Thankyou to all emergency services!!!

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Seen in Warrington Town Centre is Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 218 - SN11FFP. One of many vehicles acquired at short notice by Warrington Borough Transport when Halton Transport ceased trading. This one was acquired from the operational fleet of Ensign, Purfleet.

Royal Navy Sea King Mk4 helicopter pilots and aircrews from Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) carry out a load lifting exercise as part of their Arctic flying training in Norway.

The training takes place some 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle at the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) base near Bardufoss, Norway. The JHC base known as “Clockwork” provides survival and operational training and support facilities to enable aviation capable unit’s arms to survive, operate and fight in extreme C2 environments.

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L351 HNV is Dunstable's FSOT Operational Support Unit. This was given to Dunstable as part of the 2012 Olympic Games resources and is still operational. Possible callsign of DU4

'RFA Fort Victoria' in no 5 dock at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead. She has returned to the UK after two years away in the Gulf. I believe she is in for a refit where she will be double skinned to keep her operational in the future. Taken over the wall on priory street 09/09/17.

Technicians move NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-T (GOES-T) inside the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Florida, on Jan. 28, 2022. The spacecraft is being prepared for encapsulation inside its protective payload fairings. GOES-T is scheduled to launch on March 1, 2022, atop a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 541 rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. GOES-T is the third satellite in the GOES-R series that will continue to help meteorologists observe and predict local weather events that affect public safety. The launch is being managed by NASA’s Launch Services Program based at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, America’s multi-user spaceport. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

NASA image use policy.

CFRS - Operational Support Unit - Based at Winsford HQ

REBEL 83 MAKING USE OF THE TACTICAL TRAINING AREA IN THE SCOTTISH BORDERS

Pantyffynnon Signal Box as seen on Thursday 11th July 2024. Again a shadow of it's former self with the closure of colliery branches, but still operational.

Operational Contract Support Joint Exercise 2016 participants work together to complete a leadership reaction course obstacle March 22, 2016, at Fort Bliss, Texas. This exercise provides training across the spectrum of OCS readiness, from requirements and development of warfighter staff integration and synchronization through contract execution supporting the joint force commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)

RAF Hawker Hurricane Mk-I P2902 G-ROBT DX-R

P2902 was operational with 245 Fighter Squadron based at Drem on the East Coast of Scotland.

Photo taken at the Imperial War Museum Duxford Cambridgeshire 6th March 2025

HAA_0491

Thanks for the friendly waves, thumbs up and toot on the bullhorn from Worcestershire Operational Patrol Unit's new BMW X5!

Army Air Corps ZB671

In 1973, 142 aircraft were on order by the UK, out of a then-intended fleet of 250.[59] No. 660 Squadron AAC, based in Salamanca Barracks, Germany, was the first British Army unit to be equipped with Gazelles, entering operational service on 6 July 1974. The Gazelles, replacements for the Sioux, were assigned the roles of reconnaissance, troop deployment, direction of artillery fire, casualty evacuation and anti-tank operations.[60][61] In August 1974, 30 were based at CFS Tern Hill for RAF helicopter training.[62]

The Royal Navy's Gazelles entered service in December 1974 with 705 Naval Air Squadron, Culdrose, to provide all-through flying training in preparation for the Westland Lynx's service entry. A total of 23 Gazelles were ordered for Culdrose.[63] Army-owned AH.1s also entered service with 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron (3 CBAS) of the Royal Marines and later, the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) of the Fleet Air Arm, where they operated as utility and reconnaissance helicopters in support of the Royal Marines.[64] The 12 Gazelles for 3 CBAS had entered service in 1975,[65] by which time, there were 310 Gazelles on order for the British military.[66]

Gazelles that had replaced the Sioux in RAF Sek Kong towards the end of 1974(?) had been found unsuitable for Hong Kong and, by the end of 1978, had been returned to the UK and they were replaced by the Scout AH1.[67] During its Cold War service period, the Army Gazelles flew over 660,000 hours and had over 1,000 modifications made to the aircraft. From the early 1980s, Army-operated Gazelles were fitted with the Gazelle Observation Aid, a gyro-stabilised sight to match their target finding capability with that of the Lynx.[67][68] The type also had a limited, special operations aviation role with 8 Flight Army Air Corps

The type was also frequently used to perform airborne patrols in Northern Ireland. On 17 February 1978, a British Army Gazelle crashed near Jonesborough, County Armagh, after coming under fire from the Provisional IRA during a ground skirmish.[69]

During the Falklands War, the Gazelle played a valuable role operating from the flight decks of Royal Navy ships. Under a rapidly performed crash programme specifically for the Falklands conflict, Gazelles were fitted with 68mm SNEB rocket pods and various other optional equipment such as armour plating, flotation gear and folding blade mechanisms.[70] Two Royal Marines Gazelles were shot down on the first day of the landings at San Carlos Water.[71] In a high-profile incident of friendly fire on 6 June 1982, an Army Air Corps Gazelle was mistaken for a low-flying Argentine C-130 Hercules and was shot down by HMS Cardiff', a British Type 42 destroyer.[72][73]

A British Army Gazelle at RIAT in 2014.

The Gazelle also operated in reconnaissance and liaison roles during the War in Afghanistan. In 2007, it was reported that, while many British helicopters had struggled with the conditions of the Afghan and Iraqi theatres, the Gazelle was the "best performing model" with roughly 80% being available for planned operations.[74]

Various branches of the British military have operated Gazelles in other theatres, such as during the 1991 Gulf War against Iraq and in the 1999 intervention in Kosovo.[75] In 2009, the Army Air Corps was the sole operator of the Gazelle with approximately 40 in service with a planned out of service date in 2012.[76] In October 2009, it was announced that the out of service date had been extended to support domestic commitments including to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) until 2018 at which point the PSNI was to have their own assets.[77][78]

In July 2016, the Ministry of Defence announced that the Gazelle would remain in service until 2025 taking the Gazelle past its 50th anniversary in UK military service and making it the oldest helicopter in active UK inventory.[79] The Gazelle is operated by 29 (BATUS) Flight AAC in Canada supporting the Suffield training site, 665 Squadron AAC in Northern Ireland with aerial surveillance tasks and at the Army Aviation Centre by 7 (Training) Regiment AAC Conversion Flight and 667 (Development & Trials) Squadron AAC.[80][81] In 2018 and 2019, the Ministry of Defence awarded contracts to sustain the fleet until 2022 with the option of an extension 2025.[82][83] In 2019, the Army Air Corps had a fleet of 32 Gazelles with 19 in service.[84]

A lovely unmarked BMW 330i Traffic Car assigned to Essex Police's Operational Support Group seen parked at Essex Police Traffic HQ. This car is one of the original cars from the Police Interceptor Team which featured on TV!

Many thanks to a friend for arranging the visit and for Essex Police for making the visit possible!

Unmarked vehicles were taken with permission with the agreement of the plates being blanked out before uploading.

This Gorgeous SCAS Disco 4 seen here driving through Holbury after attending a Call.

The County Jail building was originally constructed in 1833 and remained operational over a period of 168 years until it was closed in 2002. The facility housed inmates from Cornwall and across the modern day United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry. Men, women, and children of all ages were incarcerated in the Jail for various types of offences, including being in debt and committing murder. Over the years, five inmates were officially executed by hanging behind the Jail walls for the crimes they had been found guilty of committing; the last execution took place in 1954.

The County Jail is maintained in almost the same condition as it was upon its closure with historical artifacts and displays arranged around the building. This historical site is now considered one of the oldest public structures in Ontario, as guided tours are available to the public. Visitors are able to tour through the cell blocks, exercise yard, governors’ residence, guards’ station and more, as part of this unique experience to see what life would have been like behind the walls of the County Jail.

Non-operational calciner at the Port of Long Beach. This industrial facility was used for producing coke for steelmaking and was originally built in 1982 by Martin-Marietta on land leased from the Port of Long Beach. Tesoro assumed operation in 2013 and shut it down in 2020. Per the agreement with the Port, the plant and all associated infrastructure must be removed upon termination of the lease, so the calciner will be demolished some time later this year. Long Beach CA USA, 15 February 2025.

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Samsung NX30 APS-C format digital camera (ISO 6400)

Vivitar 28mm F2.5 manual focus lens on Nikon F to NX mount.

Image processing using Paint Shop Pro 2022

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Warwickshire And West Mercia Police | Force Operational Tasking | Kawasaki ZG 1400 CDF | VX64 LCL at a traffic stop in Worcester, UK

Thanks to the great officers of Force Ops Tasking!

To see a playlist of videos featuring police vehicles from across the UK, such as Metropolitan, British Transport, City Of London, West Midlands, West Mercia & Warwickshire Police, responding, click here.

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Thankyou to all emergency services!!!

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A Lockheed Martin F-22 "Raptor" flies behind a Boeing KC-135 "Stratotanker" during aerial refueling training off the coast of Finland, Oct 19, 2018. The F-22 deployed from the 27th Fighter Squadron, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation, single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF). The result of the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program, the aircraft was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but also has ground attack, electronic warfare, and signal intelligence capabilities. The prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, built most of the F-22's airframe and weapons systems and conducted final assembly, while Boeing provided the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and training systems.

The aircraft was variously designated F-22 and F/A-22 before it formally entered service in December 2005 as the F-22A. Despite its protracted development and various operational issues, USAF officials consider the F-22 a critical component of the service's tactical air power. Its combination of stealth, aerodynamic performance, and situational awareness enable unprecedented air combat capabilities.

Service officials had originally planned to buy a total of 750 ATFs. In 2009, the program was cut to 187 operational production aircraft due to high costs, a lack of clear air-to-air missions due to delays in Russian and Chinese fighter programs, a ban on exports, and development of the more versatile F-35. The last F-22 was delivered in 2012.

Development

Origins

In 1981, the U.S. Air Force identified a requirement for an Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) to replace the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon. Code named "Senior Sky", this air-superiority fighter program was influenced by emerging worldwide threats, including new developments in Soviet air defense systems and the proliferation of the Su-27 "Flanker"- and MiG-29 "Fulcrum"-class of fighter aircraft. It would take advantage of the new technologies in fighter design on the horizon, including composite materials, lightweight alloys, advanced flight control systems, more powerful propulsion systems, and most importantly, stealth technology. In 1983, the ATF concept development team became the System Program Office (SPO) and managed the program at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The demonstration and validation (Dem/Val) request for proposals (RFP) was issued in September 1985, with requirements placing strong emphasis on stealth and supercruise. Of the seven bidding companies, Lockheed and Northrop were selected on 31 October 1986. Lockheed teamed with Boeing and General Dynamics while Northrop teamed with McDonnell Douglas, and the two contractor teams undertook a 50-month Dem/Val phase, culminating in the flight test of two technology demonstrator prototypes, the YF-22 and the YF-23, respectively.

Dem/Val was focused on risk reduction and technology development plans over specific aircraft designs. Contractors made extensive use of analytical and empirical methods, including computational fluid dynamics, wind-tunnel testing, and radar cross-section calculations and pole testing; the Lockheed team would conduct nearly 18,000 hours of wind-tunnel testing. Avionics development was marked by extensive testing and prototyping and supported by ground and flying laboratories. During Dem/Val, the SPO used the results of performance and cost trade studies conducted by contractor teams to adjust ATF requirements and delete ones that were significant weight and cost drivers while having marginal value. The short takeoff and landing (STOL) requirement was relaxed in order to delete thrust-reversers, saving substantial weight. As avionics was a major cost driver, side-looking radars were deleted, and the dedicated infra-red search and track (IRST) system was downgraded from multi-color to single color and then deleted as well. However, space and cooling provisions were retained to allow for future addition of these components. The ejection seat requirement was downgraded from a fresh design to the existing McDonnell Douglas ACES II. Despite efforts by the contractor teams to rein in weight, the takeoff gross weight estimate was increased from 50,000 lb (22,700 kg) to 60,000 lb (27,200 kg), resulting in engine thrust requirement increasing from 30,000 lbf (133 kN) to 35,000 lbf (156 kN) class.

Each team produced two prototype air vehicles for Dem/Val, one for each of the two engine options. The YF-22 had its maiden flight on 29 September 1990 and in flight tests achieved up to Mach 1.58 in supercruise. After the Dem/Val flight test of the prototypes, on 23 April 1991, Secretary of the USAF Donald Rice announced the Lockheed team as the winner of the ATF competition. The YF-23 design was considered stealthier and faster, while the YF-22, with its thrust vectoring nozzles, was more maneuverable as well as less expensive and risky. The aviation press speculated that the Lockheed team's design was also more adaptable to the U.S. Navy's Navalized Advanced Tactical Fighter (NATF), but by 1992, the Navy had abandoned NATF.

Production and procurement

As the program moved to full-scale development, or the Engineering & Manufacturing Development (EMD) stage, the production version had notable differences from the YF-22, despite having a broadly similar shape. The swept-back angle of the leading edge was decreased from 48° to 42°, while the vertical stabilizers were shifted rearward and decreased in area by 20%. To improve pilot visibility, the canopy was moved forward 7 inches (18 cm), and the engine intakes moved rearward 14 inches (36 cm). The shapes of the wing and stabilator trailing edges were refined to improve aerodynamics, strength, and stealth characteristics. Increasing weight during development caused slight reductions in range and maneuver performance.

Prime contractor Lockheed Martin Aeronautics manufactured the majority of the airframe and performed final assembly at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia; program partner Boeing Defense, Space & Security provided additional airframe components as well as avionics integration and training systems. The first F-22, an EMD aircraft with tail number 4001, was unveiled at Marietta, Georgia, on 9 April 1997, and first flew on 7 September 1997. Production, with the first lot awarded in September 2000, supported over 1,000 subcontractors and suppliers from 46 states and up to 95,000 jobs, and spanned 15 years at a peak rate of roughly two airplanes per month. In 2006, the F-22 development team won the Collier Trophy, American aviation's most prestigious award. Due to the aircraft's advanced nature, contractors have been targeted by cyberattacks and technology theft.

The USAF originally envisioned ordering 750 ATFs at a total program cost of $44.3 billion and procurement cost of $26.2 billion in fiscal year (FY) 1985 dollars, with production beginning in 1994. The 1990 Major Aircraft Review led by Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney reduced this to 648 aircraft beginning in 1996. By 1997, funding instability had further cut the total to 339, which was again reduced to 277 by 2003. In 2004, the Department of Defense (DoD) further reduced this to 183 operational aircraft, despite the USAF's preference for 381. A multi-year procurement plan was implemented in 2006 to save $15 billion, with total program cost projected to be $62 billion for 183 F-22s distributed to seven combat squadrons. In 2008, Congress passed a defense spending bill that raised the total orders for production aircraft to 187.

The first two F-22s built were EMD aircraft in the Block 1.0 configuration for initial flight testing, while the third was a Block 2.0 aircraft built to represent the internal structure of production airframes and enabled it to test full flight loads. Six more EMD aircraft were built in the Block 10 configuration for development and upgrade testing, with the last two considered essentially production quality jets. Production for operational squadrons consisted of 37 Block 20 training aircraft and 149 Block 30/35 combat aircraft; one of the Block 35 aircraft is dedicated to flight sciences at Edwards Air Force Base.

The numerous new technologies in the F-22 resulted in substantial cost overruns and delays. Many capabilities were deferred to post-service upgrades, reducing the initial cost but increasing total program cost. As production wound down in 2011, the total program cost is estimated to be about $67.3 billion, with $32.4 billion spent on Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) and $34.9 billion on procurement and military construction (MILCON) in then year dollars. The incremental cost for an additional F-22 was estimated at about $138 million in 2009.

Ban on exports

The F-22 cannot be exported under US federal law to protect its stealth technology and other high-tech features. Customers for U.S. fighters are acquiring earlier designs such as the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon or the newer F-35 Lightning II, which contains technology from the F-22 but was designed to be cheaper, more flexible, and available for export. In September 2006, Congress upheld the ban on foreign F-22 sales. Despite the ban, the 2010 defense authorization bill included provisions requiring the DoD to prepare a report on the costs and feasibility for an F-22 export variant, and another report on the effect of F-22 export sales on U.S. aerospace industry.

Some Australian politicians and defense commentators proposed that Australia should attempt to purchase F-22s instead of the planned F-35s, citing the F-22's known capabilities and F-35's delays and developmental uncertainties. However, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) determined that the F-22 was unable to perform the F-35's strike and close air support roles. The Japanese government also showed interest in the F-22 for its Replacement-Fighter program. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) would reportedly require fewer fighters for its mission if it obtained the F-22, thus reducing engineering and staffing costs. However, in 2009 it was reported that acquiring the F-22 would require increases to the Japanese government's defense budget beyond the historical 1 percent of its GDP. With the end of F-22 production, Japan chose the F-35 in December 2011. Israel also expressed interest, but eventually chose the F-35 because of the F-22's price and unavailability.

Production termination

Throughout the 2000s, the need for F-22s was debated, due to rising costs and the lack of relevant adversaries. In 2006, Comptroller General of the United States David Walker found that "the DoD has not demonstrated the need" for more investment in the F-22, and further opposition to the program was expressed by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon R. England, Senator John McCain, and Chairman of U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services Senator John Warner. The F-22 program lost influential supporters in 2008 after the forced resignations of Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force General T. Michael Moseley.

In November 2008, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stated that the F-22 was not relevant in post-Cold War conflicts such as irregular warfare operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in April 2009, under the new Obama Administration, he called for ending production in FY2011, leaving the USAF with 187 production aircraft. In July, General James Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated to the Senate Committee on Armed Services his reasons for supporting termination of F-22 production. They included shifting resources to the multirole F-35 to allow proliferation of fifth-generation fighters for three service branches and preserving the F/A-18 production line to maintain the military's electronic warfare (EW) capabilities in the Boeing EA-18G Growler.[60] Issues with the F-22's reliability and availability also raised concerns. After President Obama threatened to veto further production, the Senate voted in July 2009 in favor of ending production and the House subsequently agreed to abide by the 187 production aircraft cap. Gates stated that the decision was taken in light of the F-35's capabilities, and in 2010, he set the F-22 requirement to 187 aircraft by lowering the number of major regional conflict preparations from two to one.

In 2010, USAF initiated a study to determine the costs of retaining F-22 tooling for a future Service Life Extension Program (SLEP).[66] A RAND Corporation paper from this study estimated that restarting production and building an additional 75 F-22s would cost $17 billion, resulting in $227 million per aircraft, or $54 million higher than the flyaway cost. Lockheed Martin stated that restarting the production line itself would cost about $200 million. Production tooling and associated documentation were subsequently stored at the Sierra Army Depot, allowing the retained tooling to support the fleet life cycle. There were reports that attempts to retrieve this tooling found empty containers, but a subsequent audit found that the tooling was stored as expected.

Russian and Chinese fighter developments have fueled concern, and in 2009, General John Corley, head of Air Combat Command, stated that a fleet of 187 F-22s would be inadequate, but Secretary Gates dismissed General Corley's concern. In 2011, Gates explained that Chinese fifth-generation fighter developments had been accounted for when the number of F-22s was set, and that the U.S. would have a considerable advantage in stealth aircraft in 2025, even with F-35 delays. In December 2011, the 195th and final F-22 was completed out of 8 test EMD and 187 operational aircraft produced; the aircraft was delivered to the USAF on 2 May 2012.

In April 2016, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee proposed legislation that would direct the Air Force to conduct a cost study and assessment associated with resuming production of the F-22. Since the production halt directed in 2009 by then Defense Secretary Gates, lawmakers and the Pentagon noted that air warfare systems of Russia and China were catching up to those of the U.S. Lockheed Martin has proposed upgrading the Block 20 training aircraft into combat-coded Block 30/35 versions as a way to increase numbers available for deployment. On 9 June 2017, the Air Force submitted their report to Congress stating they had no plans to restart the F-22 production line due to economic and operational issues; it estimated it would cost approximately $50 billion to procure 194 additional F-22s at a cost of $206–$216 million per aircraft, including approximately $9.9 billion for non-recurring start-up costs and $40.4 billion for aircraft procurement costs.

Upgrades

The first aircraft with combat-capable Block 3.0 software flew in 2001. Increment 2, the first upgrade program, was implemented in 2005 for Block 20 aircraft onward and enabled the employment of Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). Certification of the improved AN/APG-77(V)1 radar was completed in March 2007, and airframes from production Lot 5 onward are fitted with this radar, which incorporates air-to-ground modes. Increment 3.1 for Block 30 aircraft onward provided improved ground-attack capability through synthetic aperture radar mapping and radio emitter direction finding, electronic attack and Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) integration; testing began in 2009 and the first upgraded aircraft was delivered in 2011. To address oxygen deprivation issues, F-22s were fitted with an automatic backup oxygen system (ABOS) and modified life support system starting in 2012.

Increment 3.2 for Block 35 aircraft is a two-part upgrade process; 3.2A focuses on electronic warfare, communications and identification, while 3.2B includes geolocation improvements and a new stores management system to show the correct symbols for the AIM-9X and AIM-120D.[83][84] To enable two-way communication with other platforms, the F-22 can use the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) as a gateway. The planned Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) integration was cut due to development delays and lack of proliferation among USAF platforms. The F-22 fleet is planned to start receiving Increment 3.2B as well as a software upgrade for cryptography capabilities and avionics stability in May 2019. A Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Joint (MIDS-J) radio that replaces the current Link-16 receive-only box is expected to be operational by 2020. Subsequent upgrades are also focusing on having an open architecture to enable faster future enhancements.

In 2024, funding is projected to begin for the F-22 mid-life upgrade (MLU), which is expected to include new sensors and antennas, hardware refresh, cockpit improvements, and a helmet mounted display and cuing system. Other enhancements being developed include IRST functionality for the AN/AAR-56 Missile Launch Detector (MLD) and more durable stealth coating based on the F-35's.

The F-22 was designed for a service life of 8,000 flight hours, with a $350 million "structures retrofit program". Investigations are being made for upgrades to extend their useful lives further. In the long term, the F-22 is expected to be superseded by a sixth-generation jet fighter to be fielded in the 2030s.

Design

Overview

The F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation fighter that is considered fourth generation in stealth aircraft technology by the USAF.[91] It is the first operational aircraft to combine supercruise, supermaneuverability, stealth, and sensor fusion in a single weapons platform. The F-22 has four empennage surfaces, retractable tricycle landing gear, and clipped delta wings with reverse trailing edge sweep and leading edge extensions running to the upper outboard corner of the inlets. Flight control surfaces include leading-edge flaps, flaperons, ailerons, rudders on the canted vertical stabilizers, and all-moving horizontal tails (stabilators); for speed brake function, the ailerons deflect up, flaperons down, and rudders outwards to increase drag.

The aircraft's dual Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 augmented turbofan engines are closely spaced and incorporate pitch-axis thrust vectoring nozzles with a range of ±20 degrees; each engine has maximum thrust in the 35,000 lbf (156 kN) class. The F-22's thrust-to-weight ratio at typical combat weight is nearly at unity in maximum military power and 1.25 in full afterburner. Maximum speed without external stores is approximately Mach 1.8 at military power and greater than Mach 2 with afterburners.

The F-22's high cruise speed and operating altitude over prior fighters improve the effectiveness of its sensors and weapon systems, and increase survivability against ground defenses such as surface-to-air missiles. The aircraft is among only a few that can supercruise, or sustain supersonic flight without using fuel-inefficient afterburners; it can intercept targets which subsonic aircraft would lack the speed to pursue and an afterburner-dependent aircraft would lack the fuel to reach. The F-22's thrust and aerodynamics enable regular combat speeds of Mach 1.5 at 50,000 feet (15,000 m). The use of internal weapons bays permits the aircraft to maintain comparatively higher performance over most other combat-configured fighters due to a lack of aerodynamic drag from external stores. The aircraft's structure contains a significant amount of high-strength materials to withstand stress and heat of sustained supersonic flight. Respectively, titanium alloys and composites comprise 39% and 24% of the structural weight.

The F-22's aerodynamics, relaxed stability, and powerful thrust-vectoring engines give it excellent maneuverability and energy potential across its flight envelope. The airplane has excellent high alpha (angle of attack) characteristics, capable of flying at trimmed alpha of over 60° while maintaining roll control and performing maneuvers such as the Herbst maneuver (J-turn) and Pugachev's Cobra. The flight control system and full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) make the aircraft highly departure resistant and controllable, thus giving the pilot carefree handling.

Stealth

The F-22 was designed to be highly difficult to detect and track by radar. Measures to reduce radar cross-section (RCS) include airframe shaping such as alignment of edges, fixed-geometry serpentine inlets and curved vanes that prevent line-of-sight of the engine faces and turbines from any exterior view, use of radar-absorbent material (RAM), and attention to detail such as hinges and pilot helmets that could provide a radar return. The F-22 was also designed to have decreased radio emissions, infrared signature and acoustic signature as well as reduced visibility to the naked eye. The aircraft's flat thrust-vectoring nozzles reduce infrared emissions of the exhaust plume to mitigate the threat of infrared homing ("heat seeking") surface-to-air or air-to-air missiles. Additional measures to reduce the infrared signature include special topcoat and active cooling of leading edges to manage the heat buildup from supersonic flight.

Compared to previous stealth designs like the F-117, the F-22 is less reliant on RAM, which are maintenance-intensive and susceptible to adverse weather conditions. Unlike the B-2, which requires climate-controlled hangars, the F-22 can undergo repairs on the flight line or in a normal hangar. The F-22 has a Signature Assessment System which delivers warnings when the radar signature is degraded and necessitates repair. While the F-22's exact RCS is classified, in 2009 Lockheed Martin released information indicating that from certain angles the aircraft has an RCS of 0.0001 m² or −40 dBsm – equivalent to the radar reflection of a "steel marble". Effectively maintaining the stealth features can decrease the F-22's mission capable rate to 62–70%.

The effectiveness of the stealth characteristics is difficult to gauge. The RCS value is a restrictive measurement of the aircraft's frontal or side area from the perspective of a static radar. When an aircraft maneuvers it exposes a completely different set of angles and surface area, potentially increasing radar observability. Furthermore, the F-22's stealth contouring and radar absorbent materials are chiefly effective against high-frequency radars, usually found on other aircraft. The effects of Rayleigh scattering and resonance mean that low-frequency radars such as weather radars and early-warning radars are more likely to detect the F-22 due to its physical size. However, such radars are also conspicuous, susceptible to clutter, and have low precision. Additionally, while faint or fleeting radar contacts make defenders aware that a stealth aircraft is present, reliably vectoring interception to attack the aircraft is much more challenging. According to the USAF an F-22 surprised an Iranian F-4 Phantom II that was attempting to intercept an American UAV, despite Iran's assertion of having military VHF radar coverage over the Persian Gulf.

↓使用した撮影機材↓

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・CANON EOS 5D Mark2

・CANON EF85mm F1.8 USM

・KING Fotopro C-4i(チタン)

・CANON スピードライト430EXⅡ

・ETSMI ストロボディフューザー G-4

・CANON スピードライトトランスミッターST-E2

・Creative Light アンブレラ シュートスルー65cm

・TAKE TKミニライティングホルダー2

・白＆銀レフ板 90cm

・Digital Photo Professional ver.3.11.26.0

・Lightloom 4

・PhotoShop CS4 Extended

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blog.ap.teacup.com/nersury/

Baconion Theater, Operational, Command, Ship or BOTOCS. The BOTOCS, created in 2774 to fill a command gap in the Baconian military structure. Three Ships were originally commissioned, The HORMEL (Black Label), The SWIFT (Red Label), and The MORRELL (Gold Label). These vessels are essentially a giant administrative office buildings, handling payroll, coordinating military, humanitarian aid, communications, media, and diplomacy. it offers a direct link in command from the Baconian home world and the current target of Baconian aggression. The ship is only brought in to a combat theater after space supremacy has been insured The BOTOCS is my third attempt at making a SHIP, my first actual success. 137 studs of fatty, smokey, breakfast meat. If you are a regular viewer of my photo stream you may have seen the "bacon" in the background of pictures from TwinLUG meetings for about a year. The first attempt at this was really weak for the length and suffered from severe drooping. Tom Anderson suggested that I rebuild it with long Technic beams running down the sides for additional support. At this point we were remodeling our kitchen and it was getting on towards summer so the great bacon just sat on a pile of totes until January of 2012 when I commenced to rebuilding. During this process I also learned that big things are terrible difficult to photograph. The "fella's" at the LUG have been asking me if there will be a giant egg to go with it....maybe.

+++ DISCLAIMER +++

Nothing you see here is real, even though the model, the conversion or the presented background story might be based historical facts. BEWARE!

Some background:

A monitor is a class of relatively small warship that is lightly armoured, often provided with disproportionately large guns, and originally designed for coastal warfare. The term "monitor" grew to include breastwork monitors, the largest class of riverine warcraft known as river monitors and was sometimes used as a generic term for any turreted ship. In the early 20th century, the term "monitor" included shallow-draft armoured shore bombardment vessels, particularly those of the Royal Navy: the Lord Clive-class monitors carried guns that fired the heaviest shells ever used at sea and saw action against German targets during World War I.

Two small Royal Navy monitors from the First World War, Erebus and Terror survived to fight in the Second World War. When the requirement for shore support and strong shallow-water coastal defence returned, new monitors and variants such as coastal defence ships were built. Allied monitors saw service in the Mediterranean in support of the British Eighth Army's desert and Italian campaigns, and they were part of the offshore bombardment for the Invasion of Normandy in 1944.

On 12 June she returned to Portsmouth to rearm, but her guns were worn out again, so she was ordered to sail to Rosyth via the Straits of Dover. She evaded German coastal batteries, partly due to effective radar jamming, but hit a mine 28 miles off Harwich early on 13 June. The explosion ripped her bow apart, leaving a gaping leak, and she sank within just a couple of minutes. Only 57 men of Ludgar’s crew survived.

General characteristics:

Displacement: 9,090 long tons (9,185 t)

Length: 436 ft (133.1 m) overall

Beam: 97 ft (29.6 m)

Draught: 11 ft 8 in (3.6 m)

Complement: 224

Propulsion:

4× Babcock & Wilcox water-tube boilers, generating a combined 6,000 ihp (4,500 kW) via

triple-expansion steam engines with two shafts

Performance:

Top speed: 16.5 knots (30 km/h; 19 mph)

Range: 2,480 nmi (4,590 km; 2,850 mi)

Armament:

2× twin BL 15-inch L42 Mk I naval guns

8 × single QF 4-inch Mk V naval guns

2 × triple two-pounder (40 mm) anti-aircraft guns

10x single Oerlikon 20mm (0.787 in) anti-aircraft machine cannon

The kit and its assembly:

This was another submission for the "Gunships" group build at whatifmodellers.com in late 2021 - and what would such a competition be without a literal "gunship" in the form of a monitor ship? I had wanted to scratch such a vehicle for a while, and the GB was a good motivation to tackle this messy project.

The idea was to build a post-WWI monitor for the Royal Navy. From WWI, several such ships had survived and they were kept in reserve and service into WWII, some even survived this war after extensive use. However, the layout of a typical monitor ship, with low draft, a relatively wide hull and heavy armament for land bombardments, is rather special and finding a suitable basis for this project was not easy - and I also did not want to spend a fortune just in donor parts.

Then I recently came across Hobby Boss 1:700 kit of the USS Arizona (in its 1941 guise, w/o the hull barbettes), and after some comparison with real British monitors I found my starting point - and it was dirty cheap. Righteously, though, because the model is rather primitive, comparable with the simple Matchbox 1:700 waterline ships. There are also some dubious if not cringeworthy solutions. For instance, in order to provide the superstructures with open windows, the seams between the single levels run right through the windows! WTF? These seams can hardly be hidden, it's really an awkward solution. Another freak detail: the portholes on the lower hull protrude like pockmarks, in real life they'd the 1 1/2 ft (50 cm) deep?! Some details like the cranes on the upper deck are also very "robust", it is, in the end, IMHO not a good model. But it was just the starting for me for "something else"...

Modifications started with shortening the hull. Effectively, I cut out more then 3 1/2 in from the body, which is an integral part with side walls and main deck, basically any straight hull section disappeared, leaving only the bow and stern section. My hope was that these could be simple glued together for a new, wide hull - but this did not work without problems, because the rear section turned out to be a bit wider than the front. What to do...? I eventually solved this problem through wedge-shaped cuts inside of the integral railings. With some force, lots of glue and a stiffening structure inside the new hull could be completed.

Next the original turret bases had to disappear. as well as two of the four anchors and their respective chains on the foredeck. I retained as much of the original superstructure as possible, as it looked quite plausible even for a shorter ship, but since the complete hull basis for it had been gone, some adaptations had to be made. The main level was shortened a little and I had to scratch the substruction from styrene sheet, so that it would match with the stepped new hull.

At the same time I had to defined where the main turret(s) would be placed - and I settled for two, because the deck space was sufficient and the ship's size would make them appear plausible. A huge problem were the turret mounts, though - since a monitor has only little draught, the hull is not very deep. Major gun turrets are quite tall things, on battleships only the turret itself with the guns can be normally seen. But on a monitor they stand really tall above the waterline, and their foundation needs a cover. I eventually found a very nice solution in the form of 1:72 jet engine exhausts from Intech F-16s - I has a pair of these featureless parts in the spares box, and with some trimming and the transplantation of the original turtret mounts the result looks really good.

In the meantime the hull-mounted gun barbettes of USS Arizona had to disappear, together with the pockmarks on the hull. A messy affair with several PSR rounds. Furthermore, I added a bottom to the waterline hull, cut from 0.5 mm styrene sheet, and added plaster and lead beads as ballast.

Most of the superstructure, up to the conning tower, were mostly taken OOB. I just gave the ship a more delicate crane and re-arranged the lifeboats, and added two small superstructures to the rear deck as AA-stations, behind the rear tower - the space had been empty, because USS Arizona carried aircraft catapults there.

For the armament I used the OOB main turrets, but only used two of the three barrels (blanking of the opening in the middle). The 4 in guns were taken OOB to their original positions, the lighter 20 mm AA guns were partly placed in the original positions, too, and four of them went to a small platform at stern. For even more firepower I added two small turrets with three two-pounder AA guns, one on the rear deck and another right in front of the bridge.

Painting and markings:

The ship might look odd in its fragmented multi-colored camouflage - but this scheme was inspired by the real HMS Terror, an monitor that operated in early 1941 on the coast of North Africa and carried a similar makeshift camouflage. This consisted of a multitude of sand and brown tones, applied over an overall light grey base. I mimicked this design, initially giving the ship at first a uniform livery in 507b (Humbrol 64), together with an unpainted but weathered wooden deck (Humbrol 187 plus a washing with sepia ink) and horizontal metal surfaces either in a dark grey (507a, Humbrol 106) or covered with a red-brown coat of Corticene (Humbrol 62). As a personal detail I gave the ship false bow and stern waves on the hull in white. Another personal mod is the light grey (507c, Humbrol 147) conning tower - as mentioned in the background, I found that this light grey would be most useful when the ship itself was hidden behind the horizon from view, and only the conning tower would be directly visible in front of a hazy naval background.

On top of the grey hull I added several other paints, including khaki drab (FS 34087 from Modelmaster), red brown (FS 30118, Humbrol 118), khaki drill (Humbrol 72), mid stone (Humbrol 225) and light stone (Humbrol 121).

The model received an overall washing with dark grey and some rust stains with various brown and red shades of simple watercolors. The waterline was created with long and thin black 1.5 mm decal stripes, a very convenient and tidy solution. Finally, all parts were sealed with matt acrylic varnish, and after the final assembly I also added some rigging to the main mast with heated black sprue material.

Phew, this was quite a challenge, the result looks good overall, but I am not happy with the finish. Ships are not my strength and you see the Hobby Boss kit's flaws and weaknesses everywhere. Then add massive bodywork, and thing look even more shaggy (*sigh*). Nevertheless, the model looks like a typical monitor ship, and when I take the rather crappy USS Arizona kit as basis/benchmark, the "new" HMS Ludgar is not a bad achievement. It's surely not a crisp model, but the impression is good and this is what counts most to me.

It's a somewhat sad sight to look out over the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre site at Ruddington, northern terminus of what was once the Great Central Railway (Nottingham). A large portion of their rolling stock is in incredibly poor condition, and that which appears operational surely hasn't run in a while. They hope to have the trains running again this year - I hope so too, it's such a shame to see.

There're far too many vehicles in this photograph to pick out individuals, but I'll at least try to pick out the powered ones, as well as the coaches on the right.

On the far left of the photograph is a 1943-built Warwell wagon, KDM 721218, on which resides the boiler of USATC 1631, an S160-class 2-8-0 heavy freight locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1942. This was one of 510 Truman-class locomotives purchased by the Hungarian State Railways in 1946 under the service number 411.388. 1631 was withdrawn in the 1980s but was retained as a stationary boiler until the locomotive was repatriated to Britain in 1995. A gradual restoration has been ongoing, with this locomotive in many pieces scattered across the yard, but in 2022 the locomotive was put up for sale. Also on-site for spares and presumably somewhere in this photograph are USATC 2138 (ALCo, 1943) and USATC 2364 (Baldwin, 1943), but as for which specific parts belong to each locomotive, I doubt even the owner can tell any more.

Tucked in just between the tarpaulined coaches is Class 108 DMBS 50926. Leaving departmental service needing a fairly heavy overhaul, the carriage sat near-derelict for fifteen years before a gradual overhaul started, which included stripping the old blue and grey livery down to mostly bare metal. At the moment most of the restoration effort is going into sister DMCL 50645, but restoration is advancing as resources become available. With 50645 - currently in the shed on the centre-left of this photograph - now nearing the end of this overhaul period, hopefully 50926 will soon move under cover and be properly restored.

Also tucked in behind those vehicles and barely visible are two shunting locomotives, Ruston 449754 of 1961 and Sentinel 10262 of 1967. The former is a 165-class 0-4-0DE and has spent several years giving good service as the duty shunter at Ruddington. The Sentinel, on the other hand, has seen a great deal of confusion as to its identity which stems from a conflict over the running number. 10119 of 1962 wore the identity H014 on Wabtec black from her years at Doncaster Works, but has spent the past fifteen or so years at Long Marston, where it appears she still remains. Crucially, 10119 has only four coupled driving wheels. This locomotive is therefore 10262 of 1967, which carries the same running number of H014 on RMS Locotec blue, and has six coupled driving wheels.

Alongside the multiple unit shed is two-thirds of the railway's other multiple unit, a composite unit formed of Class 116 driving motors and a Class 117 trailer. These are DMS 51151 and TCL 59501; DMBS 51138 is inside the shed undergoing overhaul. 51151 is quite a lucky vehicle; initially saved as a spares donor, she re-entered service in the formation she maintains today in the late-1990s and moved to Ruddington in 2001. The set gave good use until 2011 - during which time 51151 sadly became the last of her kind, following the mass destruction by arson of 51147 and 51148 at Swansea Vale in 2008. Class 116 DMBSs 51134 and 51135, TC 59445, Class 117 TCL 59490, and Class 121 55026 were all also destroyed on that dark day for multiple unit preservation. Since 2011 the Ruddington unit has remained out of use, although is gradually being restored to operational condition, with DMBS 51138 currently taking priority.

In amongst the coaching stock in the centre of the yard are the frames from two industrial locomotives, which I have not been able to identify. However, I have identified the boilers of three locomotives stored over by the main locomotive works as belonging to Hudswell Clarke 1682 Julia of 1937, Manning Wardle 1762 Dolobran of 1910, and 2009 Rhyl of 1921; 2015 Arthur of 1953 stands with them, although this locomotive is visually mostly intact. Precisely which frames and boilers match up to which identities I do not know, lacking both the in-depth knowledge of industrial locomotives and photographs of the originals to be able to answer that accurately.

Right, on to the mainline diesels! Stored outside the main depot building are 37009, 03118, 20154, and 08922. 37009 has been a northern locomotive most of her life, having started out at Stratford in 1961 but after a transfer to Wath in 1967, her furthest-south allocation was Darnall in Sheffield. She was unofficially named Typhoon in 1989 and was renumbered to 37340 in 1994, being allocated to component recovery in 1998. Happily preserved in 2003, the locomotive has been at Nottingham since 2007 and is currently awaiting repair. 03118 was initially preserved on Peak Rail before moving to Ruddington in 2016. 20154 seems to have spent most of its preservation career in non-standard liveries. Initially painted into BR green with yellow warning panels and working headcode boxes as D8154, it wasn't long before she was given full yellow ends and TOPS numbers. This livery got increasingly tatty until the locomotive was finally repainted in 2019 into BR blue with full yellow ends... but reverted back to pre-TOPS numbers as D8154. Finally is one of the line's Class 08s, 08922, a former Carlisle favourite. She was painted in non-standard pale grey in c.2003 and later preserved, but as an operational locomotive sees plenty of contract hire to sites across the country. The same can be said of 08784, situated just to the right, which moved to Ruddington while still carrying faded EWS colours, but in 2019 was repainted into BR Railfreight grey livery and has seen contract hire since.

Next up is a line of 125 Group coaching stock, led by their sole Class 43 on site. 43044 Edward Paxman is to be fitted with a surviving Paxman Valenta engine, allowing that famous turbo scream to once more echo throughout the English countryside. Behind that are five Mk3s, arranged as follows:

RFM 10206 (ex-TRUK 40507) painted in prototype silver and blue

TSO 12087 in Intercity Executive

TSO 12134 also in Intercity Executive

TGS 44000, a prototype vehicle still in GWR green - albeit with the word 'Great' removed from the branding

RFM 10202 (ex-TRUK 40504) in BR rail blue and pearl grey

The long line of coaches on the right is arranged as follows:

Mk3 SLE 10602 in faded Intercity Sleeper livery, long-term stored

Mk2 BFK 35512 in BR blue and grey, waiting for the resumption of a failed overhaul

Mk1 SK 25693 in faded BR crimson and cream, looking very tatty with several broken windows

Mk2 TSO 5365 Deborah in Riviera Trains blue and cream, apparently awaiting disposal

Mk1 GUV 86129 in BR lined maroon

Mk2 TSO 5376 in BR blue and grey, apparently also awaiting disposal

Mk2 TSO 5497 again in BR blue and grey and apparently too awaiting disposal

Bringing up the rear is recently-preserved Class 144 diesel unit 144003, one of the few fully-operational passenger units on the line, and I assume core to their hopes of reopening this year.

Finally, there are three coaches in the platform at Ruddington. These are:

Mk2 BSOT 9389, a heavily-modified vehicle wearing BR lined maroon with wasp stripes. This semi-driving trailer is has rudimentary controls and a windscreen fitted, allowing it to 'pilot' a locomotive and removing the necessity to run around at Loughborough High Level, where there are presently no station facilities.

Mk1 RBR 1649 in unbranded BR green

Mk1 RSO 1012 in unbranded maroon on one side and grey on the other. Later converted to cinema coach ZDW 150353, this coach is UIC-registered and has tell-tale body hooks mounted above the bogies, showing it was once allowed to run on the continent - but not again, at least not until major bodywork repairs have been carried out.

Location: Ruddington Fields (GCRN/NTHC)

Date: 30 April 2023

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Flightdeck of Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR2 XV232 at Coventry Airport.

The Hawker Siddeley Nimrod was a maritime patrol aircraft developed and operated by the United Kingdom. It was an extensive modification of the de Havilland Comet, the world's first operational jet airliner. It was originally designed by de Havilland's successor firm, Hawker Siddeley; further development and maintenance work was undertaken by Hawker Siddeley's own successor companies, British Aerospace and BAE Systems, respectively.

Designed in response to a requirement issued by the Royal Air Force (RAF) to replace its fleet of ageing Avro Shackletons, the Nimrod MR1/MR2s were primarily fixed-wing aerial platforms for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations; secondary roles included maritime surveillance and anti-surface warfare. It served from the early 1970s until March 2010.

The use of air-to-air refuelling allowed extremely long reconnaissance missions to be mounted, one example being a 19-hour 15-minute patrol conducted on 15 May 1982, which passed within 60 miles (97 km) of the Argentine coast to confirm that Argentine surface vessels were not at sea. Another long-range flight was carried out by this particular aircraft, XV232, on the night of 20/21 May, covered a total of 8,453 miles (13,609 km), the longest distance flight carried out during the Falklands War. In all, Nimrods flew 111 missions from Ascension in support of British operations during the Falklands War.

Wings swept, burners lit, powering through LFA7 en route to the RAF Valley Photocall.

Finally I can reveal what has kept me busy the last two years besides all the models I have shown. The MS Jutlandia.

Short history (wikipedia :) )

MS Jutlandia was contracted by and built for the East Asiatic Company (EAC) in 1934, as a combined passenger and cargo ship at EAC's NakskovShipyard, Denmark. Following an extended operational life in which she also served as a hospital ship and a royal yacht, she was finally decommissioned in 1965

Jutlandia was contracted by EAC in 1934, to replace older ships on the then regular service between Copenhagen and Bangkok. She operated on this route from November 1934, until January 1940, and again from 1954 to the end of 1964.

When North Korean communist forces attacked South Korea on 25 June 1950, Denmark agreed to provide assistance to the United Nations Command and to give humanitarian support to the allied forces in South Korea.

She has been to Pusan, South Korea three times and treated military personal as well ass civilians. Jutlandia received the Korean Presidential Unit Citation. Crew members and medical staff were officially decorated by Denmark with the Erindringsmedaljen for deltagelde i hospitalsskibet "Jutlandia"s ekspedition til Korea 1951-1953 (Commemorative Medal for Participation in the Hospitalship "Jutlandia"s Expedtion to Korea 1951-1953. (479 medals were awarded).

But why this ship. Well ,that's really simple. During LEGOworld 2013 the LEGO CEE team asked me to build a ship for them. They came up with the 130m long MS Jutlandia. It was build specifically for LEGOworld copenhagen 2015. What will be done with it afterwards is not yet decided.

I started searching for plans and found them in Danmark. The man who owned was so kind to send them to me so that I could start new Mlcad project. I started somewhere in april 2013 and finished the entire hull inside and outside, wheelhouse and part of the forcastle deck at the end of august 2013. The first shipment of bricks arrived in the beginning of november 2013. From that point on I have only been building with real bricks and did not continue with the Mlcad file. On and off building due to waitng for shipments of bricks I finished the entire ship in december 2014.

Designing in Mlcad took me about 5 months and the build itself took me 6 months, all evening hours. The ship is 3,25m long 43cm wide and about 1,5 m high. It consist out of 90,000- 100,000 bricks.

And last but not least, a big thanks to Ralph Savelsberg (Mad physicist) for building the studless :) helicopter. Thanks mate.

LS 228 on Chiswick High Road passing the end of Belmont Road along which was Turnham Green Garage. It had less than a month left as an operational garage when this picture was taken on 22 April 1980.

An Operational Contract Support Joint Exercise 2016 participant negotiates an obstacle March 22, 2016, at Fort Bliss, Texas. This exercise provides training across the spectrum of OCS readiness, from requirements and development of warfighter staff integration and synchronization through contract execution supporting the joint force commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)

Operational Contract Support Joint Exercise 2016 participants built teamwork and tested their mettle on the endurance and leadership reaction courses March, 24, 2016, at Fort Bliss, Texas.

Still operational at the time, 40122 stands in the sun at an open day at Canton on 6th July 1985 as part of the GWR150 celebrations.

I fund my Flickr membership, scanner and software myself. So, if you like my pictures please consider buying me a coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/seanl

© Sean Lancastle, all rights reserved. Please do not share or post elsewhere without permission.

This is the end of operational track on UP's Escalon Industrial Lead. Rails south from here into Modesto are out of service and what once was rail link between Turlock and Stockton is now a series of industrial leads off of UP's mainline rail system in the northern San Joaquin Valley. It's disheartening to witness the end of an era, but its also important to recognize that much of this former Tidewater Southern track has been rendered obsolete by urbanization and that key industries that fed the railroad are no longer operating because of the changes in land use from agriculture to housing. Sometime after this photograph was taken the rails and ties south of here were salvaged. A tail track, ending at the red flag, was left in place for switching the southern-most industry in Escalon. Christmas is fast approaching as indicated by the illuminated decorations along the strip of planted redwoods paralleling the tracks.

West Mercia & Warwickshire Police | Force Operational Tasking | Kawasaki ZG 1400 CDF | VX64 LCK getting ready for escort duties on the last day of Worcester's Copenhagen St Fire Station (1936).

There was a convoy of all the fire appliances, including a spare, escorted by police on blue lights through the city from the old site to the new site, to see the video click here.

To see a playlist of videos featuring police vehicles from across the UK, such as Metropolitan, British Transport, West Midlands, West Mercia & Warwickshire Police, responding, click here.

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Thankyou to all emergency services!!!

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An abandoned cotton spinning mill somewhere in Wales. Abandoned for some time, not sure on the history behind it. Visited with Wiffsmiff23. Ended up doing some obscure macro work as part of the visit too.

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Only two operational Liberty ships, SS John W. Brown and SS Jeremiah O'Brien, remain. Brown has had a long career as a school ship and many internal modifications, while O'Brien remains largely in her original condition. Both are museum ships that still put out to sea regularly. In 1994, O'Brien steamed from San Francisco to England and France for the 50th anniversary of D-Day, the only large ship from the original Overlord fleet to participate in the anniversary. In 2008, SS Arthur M. Huddell was transferred to Greece and converted to a floating museum dedicated to the history of the Greek merchant marine;[28] although missing major components were restored this ship is no longer operational. Text was borrowed from wikipedia at this link

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_ship

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the third stage of a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with several solid rocket motors attached sits on NASA’s Space Launch Complex-2. The Delta II will carry NASA's National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project (NPP) satellite into space. NPP represents a critical first step in building the next-generation of Earth-observing satellites. NPP will carry the first of the new sensors developed for this satellite fleet, now known as the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) to be launched in 2016. NPP is the bridge between NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) satellites and the forthcoming series of JPSS satellites. The mission will test key technologies and instruments for the JPSS missions. NPP is targeted to launch Oct. 25.

Photo credit: NASA/VAFB

For more information about NPP: go to www.nasa.gov/npp and npp.gsfc.nasa.gov/

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

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Midland Classic Limited 67 SN11 BND, an Alexander Dennis Trident 2 built 2011 with an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 body on Angouleme Way in Bury with Go North West Limited’s 12:50 Manchester Shudehill Interchange to Bury Interchange via Prestwich and Unsworth 97 service. Sunday 25th April 2021

Note, SN11 BND was originally operated by First Capital East Limited as number DN33618. The Lea Interchange bus depot and its associated assets and trade, owned by First Capital East Limited but operationally part of First Capital North Limited were acquired by the Transit Systems Group on 21st June 2013, SN11 BND passing to Centrewest (No.1) Limited as number DN33618. Centrewest (No.1) Limited was renamed Tower Transit Operations Limited on 23rd June 2013. SN11 BND was acquired by the Ensign Bus Company Limited (a Purfleet based dealer) in August 2018 and was acquired by Midland Classic Limited as number 67 in December 2018, the seating being altered from H41/26D

SN11 BND was operating the service due to a Go North West Limited driver’s strike and would return later in the opposite direction with Go North West Limited’s 13:50 Bury Interchange to Manchester Shudehill Interchange via Unsworth and Prestwich 97 service

Ref no Nikon D7200 5th series - DSC_0939

An eerie atmosphere as officers from the Operational Sea Training (OST) team gather on the bridge of HMS Bulwark for a post exercise debrief.

Photographer: LA(Phot) Martin Carney

Image 45153177.jpg from www.defenceimages.mod.uk

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The LED played easy for a change...

Among the eldest vehicles to retain a regular operational spot on the route, Arriva Harlow VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar YJ08DZF (3756) heads across the M11 motorway along Church Road in Stansted Mountfitchet with a Route 510 service for Stansted Airport 23/08/24

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) transport boat carrying the first and second stages of the company’s Atlas V 541 rocket arrives at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) in Florida on Nov. 15, 2021. The ship journeyed from ULA’s manufacturing plant in Decatur, Alabama, to deliver the rocket that will launch NASA and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite T (GOES-T). GOES-T is the third satellite in the GOES-R series that will continue to help meteorologists observe and predict local weather events that affect public safety. GOES-T is scheduled to launch from Space Launch Complex 41 at CCSFS on March 1, 2022. The launch is being managed by NASA’s Launch Services Program based at Kennedy Space Center, America’s multi-user spaceport. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper

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NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-T (GOES-T) is in view inside the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Florida, on Jan. 20, 2022. GOES-T is scheduled to launch on March 1, 2022, atop a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 541 rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. GOES-T is the third satellite in the GOES-R series that will continue to help meteorologists observe and predict local weather events that affect public safety. The launch is being managed by NASA’s Launch Services Program based at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, America’s multi-user spaceport. Photo credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky

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A shot of the whole NS 975 as they enter Devine Junction to back into NS Andrews Yard.

Porthmadog Harbour railway station, the terminus of both the Ffestiniog Railway and Welsh Highland Railway, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, North Wales.

The Station is the head office and operational headquarters of the Festiniog Railway Company, marketed as Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways.

The station is built at the western end of the Cob, the great embankment across the Traeth Mawr, on a peninsula from Ynys Madoc constructed in 1842 to form a slate wharf and a harbour wall. It was opened for passenger service on 6 January 1865. Welsh Highland Railway trains served the station from 1923, but these ceased running in 1936. The station was closed to passengers on 15 September 1939, although slate trains continued operating through the Second World War until 1946. The buildings continued in use as the principal offices of the Festiniog Railway Company and the home of Manager (Mr Robert Evans) including throughout the years of almost total closure from 1 August 1946 to 24 September 1954. The station reopened for passengers on 23 July 1955. Welsh Highland Railway services were restored in 2011.

The present stone buildings, replacing earlier wooden buildings dismantled and reused elsewhere on the railway, date from 1878/79 and the goods shed was added in 1880. They were linked to the former goods shed by way of a major extension in 1975. Passenger facilities include a booking and enquiry office, a large tourist and hobby shop and a large cafeteria with licensed bar. The erection of the platform awning was completed in 1988.

With the resumption of services in 1955, all traffic on the line has been controlled from an office in Harbour station, known simply as "Control". With the exception of some early morning and late night movements by works trains, this office is manned constantly when passenger-carrying services are in operation. Its remit was expanded in 1997 with the commencement of public services on the Welsh Highland Railway between Caernarfon and Dinas and its subsequent expansion south towards Porthmadog.

The station signals were rebuilt as part of the Welsh Highland Railway's arrival. The work won the Signalling Award at the 2014 National Railway Heritage Awards.

Pictured are all RAF operational and training assets represented in the sky with a Typhoon diamond 9 formation flight. ..The diamond consisted of aircraft from, 1 Sqn RAF Lossiemouth, 2 Sqn RAF Lossiemouth, 3 Squadron RAF Coningsby, 6 Squadron RAF Lossiemouth, 29 Sqn RAF Coningsby, 11 Sqn RAF Coningsby, 41 Sqn RAF Coningsby 1435 flight Falkland Islands, and BOB75 in the centre to commemorate the Battle of Britain 75 years ago. ..The Typhoon FGR4 provides the RAF with a highly capable and extremely agile multi-role combat aircraft, capable of being deployed in the full spectrum of air operations, including air policing, peace support and high intensity conflict.

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Photographer: SAC Chris Ellis

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Ronda, Málaga (Spain).

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Built in 1785, the Plaza de Toros found in Ronda is one of the oldest operational bullrings in Spain. The arena has a diameter of 66 metres, surrounded by a passage formed by two rings of stone. There are two layers of seating, each with five raised rows and 136 pillars that make up 68 arches. The Royal Box has a sloping roof covered in Arabic tiles.

Soon after the ring's creation in the 18th century, the Romero family of Ronda emerged to provide over three generations of exceptional bullfighters. The most important of them was Pedro Romero (1754-1839), a key figure in the history of bullfighting who slew more than 5,600 bulls. The Ordóñez dynasty also were known for their great bullfights in the Plaza.

Because of its rural location and the small size of the surrounding town of Ronda, this famous ring does not host as many bullfights as other, larger venues like Seville. The bullring in Ronda is open to the public, with a small admission charge. The bullring also houses an interesting museum dedicated to the sport.

In 1994 the bull fight arena in Ronda was the venue for the shooting of a music video, "Take A Bow", by US singer Madonna. Originally, the artist's camp planned to invite fans to take part as extras, but at the last moment the singer and her entourage decided otherwise. Madonna's co-star in the video was Spanish bullfighter Emilio Muñoz, playing her Latin lover who leaves her after spending a passionate night with the heartbroken blonde.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaza_de_toros_de_Ronda

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CASTELLANO

La Plaza de Toros de Ronda, propiedad de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Ronda, por su historia y su arquitectura, por su carácter y su belleza está reconocida como una de las más antiguas y una de las más monumentales que existen. No es por casualidad. Ronda se considera una de las cunas de la tauromaquia moderna surgida en el siglo XVIII, en una ciudad donde se conservaba muy viva la tradición de la caballería al existir una corporación dedicada a que no se perdiera el disciplina ecuestre.

Las necesidades de defensa del territorio hicieron que Felipe II fundase en 1572 la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Ronda, para que se mantuviese el necesario manejo de los caballos. Para ello, este cuerpo dedicó un espacio de la ciudad para los ejercicios ecuestres, entre los cuales, como es tradicional en España desde la Edad Media, se incluyeron los juegos de destreza con toros. La bravura de este animal al acometer a caballos y jinetes servía de inigualable entrenamiento a los caballeros, y se convertía en un emocionante espectáculo para toda la población.

Cuando en el siglo XVIII los toreros a pie toman el relevo de los caballeros en los juegos con el toro, surge en Ronda la familia de los Romero, que durante tres generaciones reúne a los toreros más singulares de la época. Entre ellos destacó sobre todos Pedro Romero (1754-1839), figura cumbre y la más representativa de la historia de la tauromaquia. Se retiró después de estoquear más de 5.600 toros, sin recibir el más mínimo rasguño. Su personalidad consiguió que su oficio alcanzara respeto y dignidad social, al reunir valor, destreza y sentido estético. Pedro y su hermano José Romero fueron retratados por Goya.

El auge del toreo llevó a la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Ronda a erigir su famosa plaza, obra que se atribuye a Martín de Aldehuela, el mismo arquitecto del grandioso Puente Nuevo sobre el Tajo de Ronda, que despierta la admiración general por la espectacularidad de su emplazamiento. La construcción de la plaza duró seis años, y fue inaugurada en 1785 con una corrida de toros en la que actuaron Pedro Romero y Pepe-Hillo. Concebida en piedra arenisca con un esquema monumental, la nobleza de su traza arquitectónica, con su doble galería de arcadas y la ausencia de tendidos al descubierto, tiene más espíritu de claustro que de recinto para espectáculos, y recuerda al patio circular del famoso palacio de Carlos V en la Alhambra de Granada.

Su ruedo de 66 metros de diámetro está circundado por un callejón formado por dos anillos de piedra. Los tendidos tienen cinco filas de gradas, de dos pisos, con 136 columnas formando 68 arcos de columnas toscanas, salvo la del Palco Real. Cubierta con tejado a dos aguas de teja árabe, la elegancia de su interior no tiene igual en ninguna otra plaza de toros.

Fuente: es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaza_de_toros_de_Ronda

Seven F-35Bs are on board the USS America beginning Oct. 28 until mid-November. Two of the jets are scheduled to begin the third shipboard phase of developmental test (DT-III) and five are scheduled to conduct operational testing. Learn more: lmt.co/2fuWK0N

The Single Integrated Operational Plan (SIOP) was the United States’ general plan for nuclear war from 1961 to 2003. The SIOP gave the President of the United States a range of targeting options and described launch procedures and target sets against which nuclear weapons would be launched. SAC’s strategic bomber fleet fulfilled one-third of the nuclear triad, with land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and sea-based submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) rounding off the three.

Onboard a B-52 on airborne alert, a target folder was assigned to each bomber crew. If “Go Codes” were received in an “Emergency Action Message,” the pilot and radar navigator would authenticate them before distributing the SIP target folders to the crew and proceeding toward the target. These folders contained maps, photographs, and satellite images, but each B-52 crew would individually plan their attack. At the height of the Cold War, more than 80,000 targets of interest in the Soviet Union, China, and other Soviet-aligned states were covered by the plan. SAC officially ended the B-52 airborne alert flights in 1968 and ended 24-hour alert duty in 1991.

One of the most iconic SIOPs in the public’s imagination was from the film Dr. Strangelove. It begins with B-52s of the 843rd Bomb Wing stationed at Burpelson AFB on airborne alert in the Arctic. Proceeding with Wing Attack Plan R (R as in Robert), the “Leper Colony” commanded by Maj T.J. “King” Kong begins a low-level penetration into the Soviet Union. Thwarted from their initial ICBM missile complex target at Laputa by a debilitating SAM attack, Maj Kong diverts his stricken plane to the missile complex at Kodlosk. Unable to launch the 30-megaton thermonuclear weapon, Kong heads to the bomb bay to see what he can do. The rest, as they say, is film history.

The B-52 variant in the movie is a hybrid of different variants. The short tail indicates a G or H variant, and both would have been in service in 1964, the year the movie came out. Though not modelled in detail, the tail guns look like they are from the G-variant, but the slant nose is more characteristic of the B-F variants. The bomb bay is even more problematic. Judging by the scenes of Maj Kong crawling through the bomb bay, the set is at least 10 feet wide, whereas the real bomb bay is only 6 feet wide. Plus, the “Leper Colony” carries two 20-30 megaton thermonuclear weapons side-by-side but most configurations in the early 1960s carried their megaton weapons in a single row.

"Hey! Where's Major Kong?" For this model, I chose to replicate the appearance of the movie aircraft. While technically not a G-variant, it’s a collection of various Stratofortress features. My only addition is a serial number (64114): an homage to the year the movie came out and the infamous CRM-114 discriminator that failed, sending a select few to live in mineshafts.

Warwickshire And West Mercia Police | Operational Policing Unit - Armed Response Vehicle | BMW X5 | VX64 LFU out in Herefordshire, UK

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Seen here tipped right up to clear all the wheat out.

We did two loads successfully and have proved that the Lorry is fit for purpose and not just a show piece.

Not only have we restored the Lorry but have returned it to operational condition.