E-Lok Re460 460098-7

At 57 kilometres, the Gotthard Base Tunnel is the longest railway tunnel in the world. Opening in 2016 after 17 years construction time. Costs of CHF 12.2 billion. Stop / visit of Multifunction station Sedrun in the middle of the tunnel.

HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën (F802) is the first ship of the De Zeven Provinciën-class air defence and command frigates in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN). There are three other ships in this class, HNLMS Tromp, HNLMS De Ruyter, and HNLMS Evertsen. De Zeven Provinciën is the eighth ship in the Royal Netherlands Navy to carry this name. The name refers to the original seven Dutch provinces which together formed the Union of Utrecht.

She was built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (formerly the Koninklijke Schelde Groep) in Vlissingen. Her design incorporates stealth technology, as well as advanced radars of Dutch design such as SMART-L and APAR.

The De Zeven Provinciën class is a ship class of four air-defence and command frigates (Dutch: Luchtverdedigings- en commandofregatten; LCF) that are in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy. The ships are similar to the German Sachsen-class frigates in role and mission, and use the same sensors and armament for the air defence task.

These ships were optimized for anti-aircraft warfare and command. For this role the ships are equipped with an advanced sensor and weapons suite. The primary sensors for this role are the long range surveillance radar SMART-L and the multifunction radar Active Phased Array Radar (APAR). The SMART-L and APAR are highly complementary, in the sense that SMART-L is a D band radar providing very long range surveillance while APAR is an I band radar providing precise target tracking, a highly capable horizon search capability, and missile guidance using the Interrupted Continuous Wave Illumination (ICWI) technique, thus allowing guidance of 32 semi-active radar homing missiles in flight simultaneously, including 16 in the terminal guidance phase. The primary anti-aircraft weapons are the point defence Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile and the area defence RIM-66 Standard Missile (SM-2) Block IIIA. The Mk 41 Vertical Launching System is used to house and launch these missiles. 32 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile and 32 Standard Missile SM-2 Block IIIA are carried.

The Royal Netherlands Navy (RNN) investigated the use of these ships for the role of ballistic missile defence (BMD). During tests carried out by HNLMS Tromp in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii, experimental modifications to the SMART-L to allow even longer range were proven. A study by the RNN, the Netherlands Defence Material Organization, Thales Nederland, Raytheon Missile Systems, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, and Lockheed Martin was conducted to establish the feasibility of modifying the De Zeven Provinciën class to provide it the capability to intercept ballistic missiles. In particular, the study examined the feasibility of integrating the SM-3 Block IB missile with the SMART-L and APAR radars. The study concluded that – with certain modifications to the SMART-L and APAR, as well as to the ship's Combat Management System and the missile itself – BMD with the De Zeven Provinciën class could be achieved. During a 2015 very large NATO military exercise the BMD capabilities were proven, the sensor suite discovered ballistic targets, and the ship destroyed them using both its own surface-to-air missiles, as well as using a U.S. Navy destroyer's missiles, by providing target data and missile guidance.

As noted above, these ships were optimized for anti-aircraft warfare, but they also have weapons on-board capable of performing anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, for example: the RGM-84F Harpoon missile and Mark 46 torpedoes. In a new defense Study published by the Dutch government in March 2018, it was stated the frigates will receive a new surface-to-surface missile to succeed the Harpoon Block 1D.

Proposals to equip the De Zeven Provinciën-class frigates with a total of 32 BGM-109 Tomahawk (8 per ship) cruise missiles were evaluated, but these were shelved in May 2005. In 2023 new plans were unveiled equipping the frigates with Tomahawk land-attack missiles and ordered in 2024.

Dear friends, you are more than welcome to visit my flickr.

 

These are some pictures regarding my third Lego MOC set named Dark-Age series.

 

After second series, An idea hit my mind one day. Most of real Batman vehicles are matte black, which Lego doesn't produce matte black bricks. Interestingly, I paint-sprayed the first batmobile, and then another, and then another.....It did take me long time and the whole procedures are troublesome and tedious. but the result is quite satisfying.

 

This set includes:

(1) Chibi Batcycle. Batcycle has very simple structure that I constructed by accident. And I built several motorcycle based on its chasis. The shape and style is more preferred aomong all my chibi vehicles. I personally consider it a very good-looking one by only using some old Lego small parts.

 

(2) Batmobile (Fomula-1 style): Browsing vehicles' desings online and acquire ideas is one of my daily routines -from deviantART etc. And learning something new about fashion, no matter old designs or concept designs, is also very fun. I built this batmobile after I saw this while looking for some inspiration:

www.techeblog.com/if-the-batmobile-was-an-f1-car/

 

(3) Bat Truck: One interesting fact about this series is that I attempted to built "side vehicles" and make them loaded onto the main vehicles because some modified official vehicles have thiese kind of function initially. The Bat Truck is actually a snow truck because I hope to build a multi-function series in the first place. And it is also my favorite one among six vehicles of this series.

 

(4) Bat Tank: Needless to say, this is obviously just a modified version of official set Lego 70588 Titanium Ninja Tumbler, I knew exactly what I had to do with it at first sight-matte black version-, and I call it amphibious bat for Batman can drive it both on land and in shallow water.

 

(5) Batsub: Another modified version from official one. There are literally 3 vehicles out of 6 that are from official sets. As I mentioned above, I wanted to build a series with multifunction concept. This Batsub is able to go on land, on the sea, and of course, under the sea. Please check out the "Ultra Agents - 70162" if you would like to know more info.

 

(6) Batwing (AKA Bat Bomber): No doubt about it. perhaps you can tell immediately that this is just another official Marvel superhero set- Quinjet.

There is no need to explain why I had to turn it into matte black version, or maybe it just my personal preference. I think this is the best Quinjet among all Lego Quinjet by far and so far.

 

Thank you so much for viewing my Lego works. More photos of other sets are coming in soon. My only intention is to share. Hope you like these cute toys. peace. :)

 

my Youtube:

www.youtube.com/user/thedarkknight0527

Ooolala, sexy lingerie with multifunction. Hot, hot, hot.

 

Normal bra and peek-a-boo

Normal panty and crotchless

Stockings

cupless corset

Normal and scripted (clothing removal) garters

Normal and scripted (clothing removal) front panty bows

 

1 Hud for breast appliers:

Lolas tango

mirage

lush

Dark Bounce

1 Hud for butt appliers:

 

Sking brazilia

 

Slink stocking

Slink gloves

Slink Physique clothing applier

 

EVE applier hud

 

Omega appliers

 

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Static%20Beats/84/236/59

 

marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/123286/search?utf8=%E2%...

Expedition to a well-known hardware store

 

Shot with Minolta sr-t 100b and fuji superia 200

Scanned with a cheap multifunction printer/scanner...

Re460 31171

At 57 kilometres, the Gotthard Base Tunnel is the longest railway tunnel in the world. Opening in 2016 after 17 years construction time. Costs of CHF 12.2 billion. Stop / visit of Multifunction station Sedrun in the middle of the tunnel.

Tractor Multifunction with mower, backhoe, broom and snowblower

 

Get it at: www.repubrick.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&vie...

 

More models by Numerikart: www.repubrick.com/index.php?option=com_vmvendor&view=...

+++ DISCLAIMER +++

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

  

Some Background:

On 23 January 1992, the Lithuanian Minister of Defense signed an order establishing the staff for the Aviation Base of the Aviation Service. But an actual base in the Šiauliai airport territory (Barysiai airfield) was not established until March, when according to the ordinance of the Government of Lithuanian Republic, all the infrastructure, buildings, territory and 24 An-2 aircraft were passed from ”Lithuanian Airlines" to the Aviation Service of the Ministry of Defense in January 1992.

 

On 12 June 1992, the first time after regaining the independence of Lithuania, An-2 aircraft, marked with the double cross of Vytis on its wings – the distinguishing sign of Lithuanian Air Force – took off from Barysiai airfield. This date is considered to be the Aviation Base foundation date. In February 1993 four L-39C Albatros aircraft were brought from Kyrgyzstan.

 

After 1 March 1993 Aviation Service was reformed to the Lithuanian Air Force and Aviation Base was renamed the First Aviation Base of the Lithuanian Air Force. In January 1994 Lithuania officially applied for NATO membership, and the country also looked out for a relatively cheap multi-purpose fighter that would fulfill both air space defence and attack tasks, the latter primarily against potential targets at sea (e. g. fast hoovercraft landing ships operated by the Russian Baltic Fleet).

 

After evaluating several options, the Lithuanian Air Force settled for a surprising aircraft: the venerable MiG-21! After the demise of the Soviet Union, several international companies started to offer conversion and upgrade programs for the widely used tactical fighter, about 5.000 specimen had been built to date. One of the first companies to enter the market was Israel Aircraft Industries: IAI's Lahav Division of (IAI) had developed the so-called MiG-21 2000 upgraded fighter and ground attack version, based on the MiG-21bis and the export MiG-21MF fighter aircraft.

 

The MiG-21 2000 upgrade provided modifications to the cockpit configuration, avionics architecture and weapons systems, enabling the MiG-21 2000 to compete with Western developed fighters like the F-16 and to make the transition to Western standards. The aircraft's original systems and components were retained wherever mission effectiveness was not compromised.

IAI Lahav augmented the original weapons system by introducing an EL/M-2032 radar, developed by IAI Elta Electronic Industries, based in Ashdod. The radar, which uses a low sidelobe planar array antenna and pulse Doppler beam sharpening, provides all-altitude, all-aspect look-up / look-down and shoot-down capability, as well as beyond-visual-range capability. In order to make the radar compatible with Western ordnance, a new armament interface and control unit were added, too, which enabled computerized control and release of weapons, including third and fourth-generation air-to-air missiles and precision-guided munitions of Western and Eastern provenance.

 

This system also gave the pilot the ability to use blind attack as well as continuously computed impact point (CCIP) and dive-toss bombing techniques. CCIP bombing involves the deployment of air-to-ground weapons, using the HUD to indicate the impact point for release of the weapons. Dive-toss bombing involves the release of air-to-ground weapons at the end of a steep dive manoeuver towards the target.

 

The MiG-21 2000 cockpit featured a new pilot-friendly layout that overcame the shortcomings of the original cockpit layout, which was crowded and lacked most of the desired man-machine interface characteristics. It incorporated a head-up display (HUD), eye-level multifunction color displays, hands on throttle and stick control (HOTAS), solid-state charge coupled device (CCD) camera, videotape recorder, and a one-piece windshield.

 

The MiG-21 2000 could be equipped with a display and sight helmet (DASH) system, supplied by Elbit of Haifa, which enabled the pilot to aim the weapons simply by looking at the target. The system worked by measuring the pilot's line of sight relative to the aircraft, and transferred the information to the aircraft's sensors, avionics and weapon systems. The helmet displayed vital information, such as the missile line of sight, missile status, flight information and warning data, on the visor. The DASH helmet allowed the pilot to fly head-up and off-boresight and assisted the pilot to detect, identify and shoot earlier.

 

IAI Lahav's upgrade package could be tailored to meet the customer's specific operational and budgetary requirements - the Lithuanian package included the radar, cockpit and also the DASH update and was rumored to cost around 4 Mio. USD per aircraft, and Lithuania was, together with Romania (where 110 MiG-21 were to be updated), lead customer.

 

As conversion basis, Lithuania purchased fifteen MiG-21 airframes for an unknown sum from the Ukraine, which had inherited a considerable MiG-21 fleet after the demise of the Soviet Union but did not (want to) operate it. The deal included thirteen airworthy MiG-21bis fighters and two MiG-21U trainers with few flying hours on the clocks, and - stripped off any military equipment - the small fleet was gradually transferred as disassembled kits via air ferry in Antonov Airlines An-124 transporters to Aerostar in Romania for conversion, starting in early 1996.

 

The first batch of Lithuanian MiG-21 2000, three fighters and one trainer, arrived in mid-1997 from Bacau on their own power and with civil Ukrainian registrations, and the Lithuanian Air Force’s fighter squadron, the Naikintuvu Eskadra, became ready for service in February 1998.

The rest of the country’s small MiG-21 fleet was delivered in the course of the same year, and these aircraft were semi-officially christened "Globėjas" (Guardian). Since the late Nineties, the Globėjas fighters provide the backbone of Lithuania's air defenses, with aircraft holding Quick Reaction Alert. QRA missions – so-called Alpha Scrambles – have constantly been on the rise thanks to the Russia’s increased aggression towards NATO. The MiG’s have regularly launched to intercept and shadow Russian Air Force Il-20 intelligence gathering aircraft over the Baltic Sea, as well as Tu-16 and Tu-95 patrols and even some Sukhoi Su-27s.

 

Lithuanian pilots use “hit and run” style tactics to deal with air threats, due to the limited range and endurance of their mounts - but this is of little concern due to the country's relatively small size and the defensive nature of the machines' tasks. While the Globėjas lack a beyond-visual range missile, although they could carry one, they have the ability to carry a range of different short-range air-to-air missiles like the Israeli Python III, which Lithuania procured from Rafael in Haifa as primary air-to-air missile.

 

After Lithuania joined NATO organization in 2004, its (alongside Latvia's and Estonia's) air space has been protected by NATO. NATO members provide usually 4 fighter aircraft, based in Lithuania, to police the Baltic States’ airspace, where they support the Lithuanian MiG-21 fleet. The duties rotate between NATO members (which started in March 2004 with Belgium Air Force F-16s) and most NATO members that operate fighters have made temporary deployments to Lithuania.

 

The Lithuanian Globėjas were also in regular demand as a simulated threat, and have gone up against US F-16s, F-15s, F/A-18s and A-10s, as well as the many different European fighter types that frequently rotate into the small country, including the Eurofighter, German F-4F Phantom IIs or French Mirage 2000.

 

Anyway, the Globėjas' airframes sooner or later reached their flying hour limits, and will be phased out towards 2020. As a replacement Lithuania will begin taking delivery of its first batch of ex-Portuguese F-16s in 2016, while the Baltic States are considering in the near future to protect their airspace on their own.

  

General characteristics:

Crew: 1

Length: 14.5 [126] m (47 ft 7 in)

Wingspan: 7.154 m (23 ft 6 in)

Height: 4 m (13 ft 6 in)

Wing area: 23.0 m² (247.3 ft²)

Empty weight: 5,846 kg (12,880 lb)

Gross weight: 8,825 kg (19,425 lb)

 

Powerplant:

1× Tumansky R25-300, rated at 40.21 kN (9,040 lbf) thrust dry

and 69.62 kN (15,650 lbf) with afterburner

 

Performance:

Maximum speed: 2,175 km/h (1,351.48 mph)

Maximum speed: Mach 2.0

Landing speed: 350 km/h (190 kts)

Range: (internal fuel) 1,210 km (751 miles)

Service ceiling: 17,800 m (58,400 ft)

Rate of climb: 225 m/s (44,280 ft/min)

 

Armament:

1x internal 23 mm GSh-23 cannon

5x hardpoints for a wide range of guided and unguided ordnance of up to 3.310 lb (1.500 kg).

 

In QRA configuration the Lithuanian MiG-21 typically carry two or four Rafal Python III short

range air-to-air missiles and an 800l drop tank on the centerline pylon.

Against ground targets, unguided bombs of up to 1.100 lb (500kg) caliber or unguided rockets

can be carried; alternatively, a Rafael LITENING laser designation pod and three

Griffin Mk. 82 LGBs or a single Mk. 84 LGB can be carried, or optically guided weapons like up

to four AGM-65 Maverick or a single GBU-8.

  

The kit and its assembly:

This kit is the entry for the 2016 "One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com, which ran from 29th of April until 8th May (so, actually nine days...). I had this project earmarked for the recent "Cold War" GB, but it fell outside of the build's time horizon. But despite the dubious kit as basis, I tackled the build since I had anything else already at hand.

 

The basis is the MiG-21-93 demonstrator kit from Ukrainian manufacturer Condor, one of the many reincarnations of the venerable KP MiG-21bis, but with some updates. You get, for instance, engraved, very fine panel lines, some typical details were added like the wraparound windscreen (wrong shape, though) and the radar warning fairing on the fin as well as an extra sprue with modern Russian ordnance – apparently from some other kit!

On the downside, there's overall mediocre fit due to the molds' age, some dubious details (anything appears softened or blurred…) or the simple lack thereof (e. g. there’s no ventral gun fairing at all). But there’s nothing that could not be mended, and after all this is just a whiffy version.

 

Since there was only one week time to build the thing and make beauty pics, the whole project remained close to OOB status, even though a lot of detail changes or additions were made in order to convert the Russian MiG-21-93 into an earlier but similar Israeli MiG-21 2000 derivative.

 

These mods include:

- A Martin Baker ejection seat, with wire trigger handles

- HUD made from clear styrene

- Lowered flaps

- An added jet pipe/interior for the otherwise bleak exhaust (parts from a Kangnam Yak-38)

- Hydraulic pipes on the landing gear, made from very thin wire

- Some more/different blade antennae

- Measuring vanes on the pitot boom

- Different GSh-23 gun fairing, from an Academy MiG-23

- Thinner blast deflector plates under the anti-surge doors

- A pair of Python III AAMs, plus respective launch rails

- Different centerline drop tank, from an F-5E

- Scratched chaff/flare dispensers under the rear fuselage (as carried by the MiG-21 2000 demonstrator)

 

Building the model went straightforward, but it took some putty work to fill some seams, dents and holes all around the kit. Biggest issue was a hole in front of the cockpit screen, where simply not enough styrene had been injected into the mould!

  

Painting and markings:

The Lithuanian Air Force as operator for this build was chosen because it would not only fit into the real world timeline (even though I doubt that there would have been any budget for this aircraft at that time, even if MiG-21s had not been upgraded at all...) and because the potential livery would be very simple: contemporary L-39 trainers, C-27L Spartan as well as some L-410 and Mi-8 transporters carry a uniform, dull grey livery. Why not apply it on an air superiority fighter, too?

 

Finding an appropriate tone was not easy, though. Some sources claim the grey tone to be FS 36306, others refer to FS 36270 or "close to Blue/Grey FS35237", but IMHO none of the cited Federal Standard tones works well. Real world Lithuanian aircraft appear pretty dark and dull, and the color also features a greenish, slate grey hue - it's a unique color indeed.

 

After some trials (and also wishing to avoid mixing) I settled for Humbrol 111 (German Field Grey, a.k.a. Uniform Grey) as basic tone. It's a rather dark choice, but I wanted some good contrast to the national markings. A full wraparound livery appeared a little too dark and boring, so I added light blue wing undersurfaces (Humbrol 115). The kit received a light black in wash and some panel shading, primarily in order to add some life to the otherwise uniform surface.

 

Details were painted according to real world MiG-21 pics: the cockpit became classic teal with light grey instrument panels, plus OOB decals for the dashboard and side consoles. The landing gear struts were painted in a light, metallic grey (Humbrol 127 + 56) while the wells were painted in an odd primer color, a mix of Aluminum, Sand and Olive Drab. Parts of the covers were painted with Humbrol 144 (Blue Grey), seen on a modernized real world MiG-21. The wheel discs became bright green.

 

IAI's MiG-21 2000 demonstrator from 1993 had a black radome (as well as later Romanian LanceR Cs), so I adapted this detail for my build. Other typical di-electric fairings on a MiG-21's hull were painted in slightly darker camouflage colors, while the fin's leading edge became dark grey.

The blast deflector plates received yellow and black warning stripes, and some potentially dangerous parts for the ground crews like the pointed anti-flutter booms were painted red. The Python IIIs were simply painted all-white, mounted on grey launch rails - a harsh contrast to the dull rest of the aircraft.

 

Main markings come from a Blue Rider Publishing aftermarket sheet for modern Lithuanian aircraft. This set also includes the small Air Force crests, which I put on the nose, as well as the typical, blue tactical codes.

The stencils come from the scrap box, the small Lithuanian flag stripes on the tail rudder were created from single decal stripes, a personal addition inspired by Lithuanian C-27J transporters. They add some more color to the otherwise murky Baltic MiG fighter.

The silver ring around the air intake as well as the stripes at the flaps and the rudder were created with simple decal stripes instead of paint.

 

Finally, after I added some graphite soot around the jet exhaust and some panle lines with a pencil (e .g. the blow-in doors and airbrake outlines), the kit was sealed with hardly thinned Revell matt acrylic varnish, trying to create a really dull finish.

  

A tough build, despite being mostly OOB, but the details took their toll. This Baltic MiG does not look flashy, but, with IAI's real world MiG-21 2000 as well as the LanceR conversion for Romania in the Nineties, this one is pretty plausible. And with the simple paint scheme, the MiG-21 looks even pretty chic!

Sedrun is the site of one of the two "multifunction" stations in the Gotthard Base Tunnel (the other is at Faido). These facilities include crossovers between the east and west tunnels as well as ventilation equipment. There are also passageways to allow for emergency evacuation from one tunnel to the other.

In 2003, the tunnel boring machines moving northward from Bodio reached fault zones in the rock near Faido. Special measures had to be taken to secure the surface of the tunnel. The planned location of the multifunction station at Faido also had to be changed. Because of these unforeseen issues, work was suspended in this part of the tunnel from mid-2003 to mid-2004, causing a one-year slippage in the project's overall construction schedule.

Multifunction Book Holder Design... All daily inspiration

On September 12, 2023, Ford debuted a substantial exterior refresh for the 2024 F-150, including revised grilles, headlights, and taillights, along with numerous interior and mechanical changes. It is also available with the Pro Access Tailgate, a multifunction tailgate designed to compete with GM's and Ram's counterparts.

 

2025 Ford F150 configurable head-up display showing offroad instrumentation

On the interior, all F-150 models come with a standard 12-inch LCD-based instrument cluster and 12-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Sync 4. A head-up display is optional on higher-end trims. Other features that are now standard on all models include LED headlights, a blind spot monitor, rear parking sensors, Class IV trailer hitch, and 36-gallon fuel tank (except on PowerBoost or 123" wheelbase models). A subscription-based, hands-free driving assistance feature dubbed BlueCruise is now available on XLT (302A) and higher models.

 

In terms of powertrain changes, the 3.3-liter V6 engine has been removed from the lineup. Instead, the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 is now standard on XL, STX, and XLT models; the 5.0-liter V8 is standard on Lariat and Tremor trims (as well as the regular and SuperCrew cabs with the 6.5-foot box); the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 is standard on King Ranch, Platinum, and Raptor models; and the 5.2-liter supercharged V8 is exclusive to the Raptor R. Four-wheel drive is now standard on Lariat and higher trims, SuperCrew models with the 6.5-foot box, and PowerBoost models.

 

At the top of the photo one of the 14 exhaust air shafts in the multifunction station at Faido is visible. The Sedrun multifunction station is also equipped with 14 ventilation shafts.

Type Supply vessel

Flag Norway

IMO 9263514

MMSI 258753000

Callsign LAWP5

Year Built 2002

Length 84 m

Width 20 m

Draught Avg 4.7 m / ...

Speed Avg/Max 9.0 kn / 16.3 kn

  

Skandi Buchan is a diesel electric driven (frequency controlled propellers, pumpes, fans) - supply ship/ pipe carrier, which is designed to meet the general marked, in addition to be specially designed for field supply duties, for safe and economic World wide service.

 

Skandi Buchan is a Multipurpose Field Supply, ROV-ship and

Pipe Carrier owned by DOF ASA and built by Fitjar Mekaniske

Verksted in Norway. The ship is equipped with a diesel-electric

propulsion system which provides efficient fuel economy and a top speed of around 16 knots. This multifunction vessel is of

MT-6000 design from AS Marine Teknikk and is the eighth ship of this design in DOF’s fleet.

 

ABB’s delivery to Skandi Buchan includes:

Electric Power and AC Propulsion Systems:

● Generators, total capacity 5832 kW

● 690 V Main Switchboards

● 450/220 V Switchboards

● Propulsion Thruster Motors

● Azimuth & Tunnel Thruster Motors

● Frequency Converters for Propulsion

and Thruster Motors

 

Power Management System

 

Electrical Engineering

Through innovative solutions, high competence and true global capability, ABB Marine contributes to high-performance

vessels and more profitable operations. ABB Marine is the world-leading supplier of integrated electrotechnical solutions

to the marine industries, and our Azipod® and Compact Azipod® systems are setting new standards within electric propulsion

A l’extérieur du bâtiment il faut passer sous une réplique de l’immense réservoir et des réacteurs amovibles de la navette pour rentrer et gravir ensuite une rampe qui nous mène à une première salle, où on relate en vidéo les origines du programme des navettes spatiales dans les années 60. On passe ensuite dans une autre salle où sont projetées d’impressionnantes images de la navette. La vidéo conclut: «33 missions, 26 ans, plus de 126 millions de kilomètres… Atlantis, bienvenue chez vous». Soudain, l'écran vidéo se lève, laissant apparaitre la véritable navette Atlantis. Tout autour, on retrouve sur plusieurs étages des expositions interactives pour en apprendre plus sur l’histoire et les technologies du Space Shuttle Program de la NASA. Au fur et à mesure que l’on avance, le couloir devient orange et rouge, comme si l’on ressentait le retour brutal de la navette dans l'atmosphère Terrestre …

La navette spatiale Atlantis (Orbital Vehicle-104) fut la quatrième navette opérationnelle construite, et la dernière à voler, après les destructions de Challenger (1986) et de Columbia (2003) et la mise en arrêt des navettes Discovery et Endeavour. Son assemblage fut terminé le 10 avril 1984. Atlantis effectua sa mission inaugurale le 3 octobre 1985, un des cinq vols au cours desquels elle a mené des activités militaires secrètes. En 1989, Atlantis déploya deux sondes spatiales, Magellan et Galileo, et en 1991, elle lança le Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. À partir de 1995, Atlantis a réalisé sept vols directs vers la station spatiale soviétique Mir. Lors du second vol vers Mir, elle a apporté un module d’arrimage qui a permis des échanges d'astronautes lors des vols suivants. De novembre 1997 à juillet 1999, Atlantis a été l’objet d’une opération de remise à niveau, avec quelque 165 modifications apportées à la navette, dont l’installation d’une planche de bord tout écran (Multifunction Electronic Display System). Elle a ensuite effectué six vols, qui concernaient tous des activités d’assemblage de la Station spatiale internationale. La navette Atlantis s'est posée sans encombre sur la piste du Centre spatial Kennedy le 21 juillet 2011, à 9 h 56 GMT, après une mission spatiale réussie. Celle-ci met fin à trois décennies de vols des navettes spatiales américaines.

 

Outside the building, you have to go under a replica of the huge tank and the shuttle's reactors to get in and then climb a ramp that leads us to a first room, where we tell in video the origins of the shuttle program. in the 60s. Then we go to another room where are projected impressive images of the shuttle. The video concludes: "33 missions, 26 years, more than 126 million kilometers ... Atlantis, welcome home." Suddenly, the video screen rises, revealing the real shuttle Atlantis. All around, there are interactive displays on several floors to learn more about the history and technologies of NASA's Space Shuttle Program. As we move forward, the corridor becomes orange and red, as if we felt the sudden return of the shuttle into the Earth's atmosphere ...

The Space Shuttle Atlantis (Orbital Vehicle-104) was the fourth operational shuttle built, and the last to fly after the destruction of Challenger (1986) and Columbia (2003) and the shutdown of the Discovery and Endeavor shuttles. Its assembly was completed on April 10, 1984. Atlantis performed its inaugural mission on October 3, 1985, one of five flights during which it conducted secret military activities. In 1989, Atlantis deployed two space probes, Magellan and Galileo, and in 1991, launched the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. Starting in 1995, Atlantis made seven direct flights to the Soviet Mir Space Station. During the second flight to Mir, she brought a stowage module that allowed exchanges of astronauts on subsequent flights. From November 1997 to July 1999, Atlantis underwent a refit, with some 165 modifications to the shuttle, including the installation of an all-electronic dashboard (Multifunction Electronic Display System). She then flew six flights, all of which involved assembly activities of the International Space Station. Shuttle Atlantis landed safely on the Kennedy Space Center runway on July 21, 2011 at 9:56 GMT after a successful space mission. This puts an end to three decades of theft of American space shuttles.

   

At 57 kilometres, the Gotthard Base Tunnel is the longest railway tunnel in the world. Opening in 2016 after 17 years construction time. Costs of CHF 12.2 billion. Stop / visit of Multifunction station Sedrun in the middle of the tunnel.

Texas Jack Rabbit Vibrator Advanced G Spot Sex Toy

  

A multifunction toy is one that offers more than one way to sexually stimulate, commonly known as a Rabbit. Typically they offer internal and clitoral stimulation. California Exotics makes several different types of multifunction sex toys...

 

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Indian Air Force maintainers marshal a Sukhoi Su-30MKI (NATO reporting name: "Flanker-H") aircraft to its parking spot after arriving at the flight line at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Aug. 6, 2008, during Red Flag 08-04. Red Flag is a multinational advanced aerial combat training exercise.

 

Indian Air Force maintainers prepare their Sukhoi Su-30MKI (NATO reporting name: "Flanker-H") aircraft during Red Flag 08-04 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Aug. 6, 2008. Red Flag is a multinational advanced aerial combat training exercise.

  

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

The Sukhoi Su-30MKI (NATO reporting name: "Flanker-H") is a twinjet multirole air superiority fighter developed by Russia's Sukhoi and built under licence by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). A variant of the Sukhoi Su-30, it is a heavy, all-weather, long-range fighter.

 

Development of the variant started after India signed a deal with Russia in 2000 to manufacture 140 Su-30 fighter jets. The first Russian-made Su-30MKI variant was accepted into the Indian Air Force in 2002, while the first indigenously assembled Su-30MKI entered service with the IAF in 2004. The IAF had 240 Su-30MKIs in service as of October 2017. The Su-30MKI is expected to form the backbone of the Indian Air Force's fighter fleet to 2020 and beyond.

 

The aircraft is tailor-made for Indian specifications and integrates Indian systems and avionics as well as French and Israeli sub-systems. It has abilities similar to the Sukhoi Su-35 with which it shares many features and components.

  

Origins and acquision

The Su-30MKI was designed by Russia's Sukhoi Corporation beginning in 1995 and built under licence by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Su-30MKI is derived from the Sukhoi Su-27 and has a fusion of technology from the Su-37 demonstrator and Su-30 program, being more advanced than the Su-30MK and the Chinese Su-30MKK/MK2. Russia's Defence Ministry was impressed with the type's performance envelope and ordered 30 Su-30SMs, a localised Su-30MKI, for the Russian Air Force. It features state of the art avionics developed by Russia, India and Israel for display, navigation, targeting and electronic warfare; France and South Africa provided other avionics.

 

After two years of evaluation and negotiations, on 30 November 1996, India signed a US$1.462 billion deal with Sukhoi for 50 Russian-produced Su-30MKIs in five batches. The first batch were eight Su-30MKs, the basic version of Su-30. The second batch were to be 10 Su-30Ks with French and Israeli avionics. The third batch were to be 10 Su-30MKIs featuring canard foreplanes. The fourth batch of 12 Su-30MKIs and final batch of 10 Su-30MKIs were to have the AL-31FP turbofans.

 

In October 2000, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed for Indian licence-production of 140 Su-30MKIs; in December 2000, a deal was sealed at Russia's Irkutsk aircraft plant for full technology transfer. The first Nasik-built Su-30MKIs were to be delivered by 2004, with staggered production until 2017–18. In November 2002, the delivery schedule was expedited with production to be completed by 2015. An estimated 920 AL-31FP turbofans are to be manufactured at HAL's Koraput Division, while the mainframe and other accessories are to be manufactured at HAL's Lucknow and Hyderabad divisions. Final integration and test flights of the aircraft are carried out at HAL's Nasik Division. Four manufacturing phases were outlined with progressively increasing Indian content: Phase I, II, III and IV. In phase I, HAL manufactured the Su-30MKIs from knocked-down kits, transitioning to semi knocked-down kits in phase II and III; in phase IV, HAL produced aircraft from scratch from 2013 onwards.

 

In 2007, another order of 40 Su-30MKIs was placed. In 2009, the planned fleet strength was to be 230 aircraft. In 2008, Samtel HAL Display Systems (SHDS), a joint venture between Samtel Display Systems and HAL, won a contract to develop and manufacture multi-function avionics displays for the MKI. A helmet mounted display, Topsight-I, based on technology from Thales and developed by SHDS will be integrated on the Su-30MKI in the next upgrade. In March 2010, it was reported that India and Russia were discussing a contract for 42 more Su-30MKIs. In June 2010, it was reported that the Cabinet Committee on Security had cleared the ₹15,000 crore (US$2.2 billion) deal and that the 42 aircraft would be in service by 2018.

 

By August 2010, the cost increased to $4.3 billion or $102 million each. This increased unit cost compared to the previous unit cost of $40 million in 2007, has led to the rumours that these latest order of 42 Su-30MKIs are for the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) and these aircraft will be optimised and hardwired for nuclear weapons delivery. The SFC had previously submitted a proposal to the Indian Defence Ministry for setting up two dedicated squadrons of fighters consisting of 40 aircraft capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

 

HAL expected that indigenisation of the Su-30MKI programme would be completed by 2010; V. Balakrishnan, general manager of the Aircraft Manufacturing Division stated that "HAL will achieve 100 per cent indigenisation of the Sukhoi aircraft – from the production of raw materials to the final plane assembly". As of 2017, HAL manufactures more than 80% of the aircraft. On 11 October 2012, the Indian Government confirmed plans to buy another 42 Su-30MKI aircraft. On 24 December 2012, India ordered assembly kits for 42 Su-30MKIs by signing a deal during President Putin's visit to India. This increases India's order total to 272 Su-30MKIs.

 

In June 2018, India has reportedly decided not order any further Su-30s as they feel its cost of maintenance is very high compared to Western aircraft.

 

Upgrades

In 2004, India signed a deal with Russia to domestically produce the Novator K-100 missile, designed to shoot down airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) and C4ISTAR aircraft, for the Su-30MKI. Although not initially designed to carry nuclear or strategic weapons, in 2011, there were plans to integrate the nuclear-capable Nirbhay missile as well.

 

In May 2010, India Today reported that Russia had won a contract to upgrade 40 Su-30MKIs with new radars, onboard computers, electronic warfare systems and the ability to carry the BrahMos cruise missile. The first two prototypes with the "Super-30" upgrade will be delivered to the IAF in 2012, after which the upgrades will be performed on the last batch of 40 production aircraft. The Brahmos missile integrated on the Su-30MKI will provide the capability to attack ground targets from stand-off ranges of around 300 km. On 25 June 2016, HAL conducted the first test flight of a Su-30MKI fitted with a BrahMos-A missile from Nashik, India. The first air launch of BrahMos from a Su-30MKI was successfully carried out on 22 November 2017.

 

India is planning to upgrade its Su-30MKI fighters with Russian Phazotron Zhuk-AE Active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars. The X band radar can track 30 aerial targets in the track-while-scan mode and engage six targets simultaneously in attack mode. AESA technology offers improved performance and reliability compared with traditional mechanically scanned array radars. On 18 August 2010, India's Minister of Defence A K Antony stated the current estimated cost for the upgrade was ₹10,920 crore (US$2 billion) and the aircraft are likely to be upgraded in phases beginning in 2012.

 

The Indian Defence Ministry proposed several upgrades for the Su-30MKI to the Indian Parliament, including the fitting of Russian Phazotron Zhuk-AE AESA radars starting in 2012. During MMRCA trials the Zhuk-AE AESA radar demonstrated significant capabilities, including ground-mapping modes and the ability to detect and track aerial targets. At the 2011 MAKS air-show, Irkut chairman Alexy Fedorov offered an upgrade package with an improved radar, and reduced radar signature to the Indian fleet to make them "Super Sukhois".

 

In 2012, upgrades of the earlier 80 Su-30MKIs involves equipping them with stand-off missiles with a range of 300 km; a request for information (ROI) was issued for such weapons. In 2011, India issued a request for information to MBDA for the integration of the Brimstone ground attack missile and the long-range "Meteor" air-to-air missile.

 

In February 2017, it was reported that the planes would be upgraded with AL-41F turbofan engines, same as the ones on Sukhoi Su-35. In August 2017, the Indian government cleared a proposal of Rs. 30,000 crore to equip the planes with new reconnaissance pods.

  

Design

 

Characteristics

The Su-30MKI is a highly integrated twin-finned aircraft. The airframe is constructed of titanium and high-strength aluminium alloys. The engine intake ramps and nacelles are fitted with trouser fairings to provide a continuous streamlined profile between the nacelles and the tail beams. The fins and horizontal tail consoles are attached to tail beams. The central beam section between the engine nacelles consists of the equipment compartment, fuel tank and the brake parachute container. The fuselage head is of semi-monocoque construction and includes the cockpit, radar compartments and the avionics bay.

 

Su-30MKI aerodynamic configuration is a longitudinal triplane with relaxed stability. The canard increases the aircraft lift ability and deflects automatically to allow high angle of attack (AoA) flights allowing it to perform Pugachev's Cobra. The integral aerodynamic configuration combined with thrust vectoring results in extremely capable manoeuvrability, taking off and landing characteristics. This high agility allows rapid deployment of weapons in any direction as desired by the crew. The canard notably assists in controlling the aircraft at large angles-of-attack and bringing it to a level flight condition. The aircraft has a fly-by-wire (FBW) with quadruple redundancy. Dependent on flight conditions, signals from the control stick position transmitter or the FCS may be coupled to remote control amplifiers and combined with feedback signals from acceleration sensors and rate gyros. The resultant control signals are coupled to the high-speed electro-hydraulic actuators of the elevators, rudders and the canard. The output signals are compared and, if the difference is significant, the faulty channel is disconnected. FBW is based on a stall warning and barrier mechanism which prevents stalls through dramatic increases of control stick pressure, allowing a pilot to effectively control the aircraft without exceeding the angle of attack and acceleration limitations. Although the maximum angle of attack is limited by the canards, the FBW acts as an additional safety mechanism.

 

The Su-30MKI has a range of 3,000 km with internal fuel which ensures a 3.75 hour combat mission. Also, it has an in-flight refueling (IFR) probe that retracts beside the cockpit during normal operation. The air refueling system increases the flight duration up to 10 hours with a range of 8,000 km at a cruise height of 11 to 13 km.[citation needed] Su-30MKIs can also use the Cobham 754 buddy refueling pods.

 

The Su-30MKI's radar cross-section (RCS) is reportedly from 4 to 20 square metres.

 

Cockpit

The displays include a customised version of the Israeli Elbit Su 967 head-up display (HUD) consisting of bi-cubic phase conjugated holographic displays and seven multifunction liquid-crystal displays, six 127 mm × 127 mm and one 152 mm × 152 mm. Flight information is displayed on four LCD displays which include one for piloting and navigation, a tactical situation indicator, and two for display systems information including operating modes and overall status. Variants of this HUD have also been chosen for the IAF's Mikoyan MiG-27 and SEPECAT "Jaguar" upgrades for standardisation. The rear cockpit has a larger monochrome display for air-to-surface missile guidance.

 

The Su-30MKI on-board health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) monitors almost every aircraft system and sub-system, and can also act as an engineering data recorder. From 2010, indigenously designed and built HUDs and Multi-Function Displays (MFD) were produced by the Delhi-based Samtel Group Display Systems.

 

The crew are provided with zero-zero NPP Zvezda K-36DM ejection seats. The rear seat is raised for better visibility. The cockpit is provided with containers to store food and water reserves, a waste disposal system and extra oxygen bottles. The K-36DM ejection seat is inclined at 30°, to help the pilot resist aircraft accelerations in air combat.

 

Avionics

The forward-facing NIIP N011M Bars (Panther) is a powerful integrated passive electronically scanned array radar. The N011M is a digital multi-mode dual frequency band radar. The N011M can function in air-to-air and air-to-land/sea mode simultaneously while being tied into a high-precision laser-inertial or GPS navigation system. It is equipped with a modern digital weapons control system as well as anti-jamming features. N011M has a 400 km search range and a maximum 200 km tracking range, and 60 km in the rear hemisphere. The radar can track 15 air targets and engage 4 simultaneously. These targets can even include cruise missiles and motionless helicopters. The Su-30MKI can function as a mini-AWACS as a director or command post for other aircraft. The target co-ordinates can be transferred automatically to at least four other aircraft. The radar can detect ground targets such as tanks at 40–50 km. The Bars radar will be replaced by Zhuk-AESA in all Su-30MKI aircraft.

 

OLS-30 laser-optical Infra-red search and track includes a day and night FLIR capability and is used in conjunction with the helmet mounted sighting system. The OLS-30 is a combined IRST/LR device using a cooled, broad waveband sensor. Detection range is up to 90 km, while the laser ranger is effective to 3.5 km. Targets are displayed on the same LCD display as the radar. Israeli LITENING targeting pod is used to target laser guided munitions. The original Litening pod includes a long range FLIR, a TV camera, laser spot tracker to pick up target designated by other aircraft or ground forces, and an electro-optical point and inertial tracker, which enables engagement of the target even when partly obscured by clouds or countermeasures; it also integrates a laser range-finder and flash-lamp powered laser designator for the delivery of laser-guided bombs, cluster and general-purpose bomb.

 

The aircraft is fitted with a satellite navigation system (A-737 GPS compatible), which permits it to make flights in all weather, day and night. The navigation complex includes the high accuracy SAGEM Sigma-95 integrated global positioning system and ring laser gyroscope inertial navigation system. Phase 3 of further development of the MKI, will integrate avionic systems being developed for the Indo-Russian Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft programme.

 

Sukhoi Su-30MKI has electronic counter-measure systems. The RWR system is of Indian design, developed by India's DRDO, called Tarang, (Wave in English). It has direction finding capability and is known to have a programmable threat library. The RWR is derived from work done on an earlier system for India's MiG-23BNs known as the Tranquil, which is now superseded by the more advanced Tarang series. Elta EL/M-8222 a self-protection jammer developed by Israel Aircraft Industries is the MKI's standard EW pod, which the Israeli Air Force uses on its F-15s. The ELTA El/M-8222 Self Protection Pod is a power-managed jammer, air-cooled system with an ESM receiver integrated into the pod. The pod contains an antenna on the forward and aft ends, which receive the hostile RF signal and after processing deliver the appropriate response.

 

Propulsion

The Su-30MKI is powered by two Lyulka-Saturn AL-31FP turbofans, each rated at 12,500 kgf (27,550 lbf) of full after-burning thrust, which enable speeds of up to Mach 2 in horizontal flight and a rate of climb of 230 m/s. The mean time between overhaul is reportedly 1,000 hours with a full-life span of 3,000 hours; the titanium nozzle has a mean time between overhaul of 500 hours. In early 2015, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar stated before Parliament that the AL-31FP had suffered numerous failures, between the end of 2012 and early 2015, a total of 69 Su-30MKI engine-related failures had occurred; commons causes were bearing failures due to metal fatigue and low oil pressure, in response several engine modifications were made to improve lubrication, as well as the use of higher quality oil and adjustments to the fitting of bearings.

 

The Su-30MKI's AL-31FP powerplant built on the earlier AL-31FU, adding two-plane thrust vectoring nozzles are mounted 32 degrees outward to longitudinal engine axis (i.e. in the horizontal plane) and can be deflected ±15 degrees in one plane. The canting allows the aircraft to produce both roll and yaw by vectoring each engine nozzle differently; this allows the aircraft to create thrust vectoring moments about all three rotational axes, pitch, yaw and roll. Engine thrust is adjusted via a conventional engine throttle lever as opposed to a strain-gauge engine control stick. The aircraft is controlled by a standard control stick. The pilot can activate a switch for performing difficult maneuvers; while this is enabled, the computer automatically determines the deflection angles of the swiveling nozzles and aerodynamic surfaces.

  

Operational history

 

The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is the most potent fighter jet in service with the Indian Air Force in the late 2000s. The MKIs are often fielded by the IAF in bilateral and multilateral air exercises. India exercised its Su-30MKIs against the Royal Air Force's Tornado ADVs in October 2006. This was the first large-scale bilateral aerial exercise with any foreign air force during which the IAF used its Su-30MKIs extensively. This exercise was also the first in 43 years with the RAF. During the exercise, the RAF Air Chief Marshal Glenn Torpy was given permission by the IAF to fly the MKI. RAF's Air Vice Marshal, Christopher Harper, praised the MKI's dogfight ability, calling it "absolutely masterful in dogfights".

 

In July 2007, the Indian Air Force fielded the MKI during the Indra-Dhanush exercise with Royal Air Force's Eurofighter "Typhoon". This was the first time that the two jets had taken part in such an exercise. The IAF did not allow their pilots to use the radar of the MKIs during the exercise so as to protect the highly classified N011M Bars. Also in the exercise were RAF "Tornado" F3s and a Hawk. RAF "Tornado" pilots were candid in their admission of the Su-30MKI's superior manoeuvring in the air, and the IAF pilots were impressed by the "Typhoon's" agility.

 

In 2004, India sent Su-30MKs, an earlier variant of the Su-30MKI, to take part in war games with the United States Air Force (USAF) during Cope India 04. The results have been widely publicised, with the Indians winning "90% of the mock combat missions" against the USAF's F-15C. The parameters of the exercise heavily favored the IAF; none of the six 3rd Wing F-15Cs were equipped with the newer long-range, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars and, at India's request, the U.S. agreed to mock combat at 3-to-1 odds and without the use of simulated long-range, radar-guided AIM-120 AMRAAMs for beyond-visual-range kills. In Cope India 05, the Su-30MKIs reportedly beat the USAF's F-16s.

 

In July 2008, the IAF sent 6 Su-30MKIs and 2 Il-78MKI aerial-refueling tankers, to participate in the Red Flag exercise. The IAF again did not allow their pilots to use the radar of the MKIs during the exercise so as to protect the highly classified N011M Bars. In October 2008, a video surfaced on the internet which featured a USAF colonel, Terrence Fornof, criticising Su-30MKI's performance against the F-15C, engine serviceability issues, and high friendly kill rate during the Red Flag exercise. Several of his claims were later rebutted by the Indian side and the USAF also distanced itself from his remarks.

 

In June 2010, India and France began the fourth round of their joint air exercises, "Garuda", at the Istres Air Base in France. During Garuda, the IAF and the French Air Force were engaged in various missions ranging from close combat engagement of large forces, slow mover protection, protecting and engaging high value aerial assets. This exercise marked the first time the Su-30MKI took part in a military exercise in France.

 

The Indian Air Force first took part in the United States Air Force's Red Flag exercise in 2008. Participating in Red Flag costs the IAF ₹ 100 crore (US$17.5 million) each time. To reduce costs, the IAF decided to take part once every five years. The IAF is taking part in the Red Flag exercise in July 2013, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, United States. For the exercise, it is dispatching eight Su-30MKIs, two Lockheed C-130J "Hercules" tactical aircraft, two Ilyushin Il-78 (NATO reporting name Midas) mid-air refueling tankers, one Ilyushin Il-76 (NATO reporting name Candid) heavy-lift aircraft, and over 150 personnel.

 

The IAF again fielded its MKIs in the Garuda-V exercise with France in June 2014, where they manoeuvred in mixed groups with other IAF aircraft and French "Rafale's".

 

On 21 July 2015, India and UK began the bilateral exercise named Indradhanush with aircraft operating from three Royal Air Force bases. The exercises included both Beyond Visual Range (BVR) and Within Visual Range (WVR) exercises between the Su-30MKI and Eurofighter "Typhoon". Indian media reported the results were in favour of the IAF with a score of 12-0 at WVR engagements. They also claim that the IAF Su-30MKIs held an edge over the "Typhoon's" in BVR engagements though not in as dominating a manner. The RAF issued a statement that the results being reported by the Indian media did not reflect the results of the exercise. According to Aviation International News In close combat, thrust vector control on the "Flanker's" more than compensated for the greater thrust-to-weight ratio of the "Typhoon".

 

On 27 February 2019, the Pakistani Air Force stated that it had downed an Indian Sukhoi Su-30MKI in an aerial skirmish. The Indian Air Force said this statement was a cover up for the loss of a Pakistani F-16 fighter, stating that all Sukhoi aircraft that were dispatched returned safely.

 

On 4 March 2019, an Indian Su-30MKI shot down a Pakistani drone in Indian airspace, according to local media reports.

A l’extérieur du bâtiment il faut passer sous une réplique de l’immense réservoir et des réacteurs amovibles de la navette pour rentrer et gravir ensuite une rampe qui nous mène à une première salle, où on relate en vidéo les origines du programme des navettes spatiales dans les années 60. On passe ensuite dans une autre salle où sont projetées d’impressionnantes images de la navette. La vidéo conclut: «33 missions, 26 ans, plus de 126 millions de kilomètres… Atlantis, bienvenue chez vous». Soudain, l'écran vidéo se lève, laissant apparaitre la véritable navette Atlantis. Tout autour, on retrouve sur plusieurs étages des expositions interactives pour en apprendre plus sur l’histoire et les technologies du Space Shuttle Program de la NASA. Au fur et à mesure que l’on avance, le couloir devient orange et rouge, comme si l’on ressentait le retour brutal de la navette dans l'atmosphère Terrestre …

La navette spatiale Atlantis (Orbital Vehicle-104) fut la quatrième navette opérationnelle construite, et la dernière à voler, après les destructions de Challenger (1986) et de Columbia (2003) et la mise en arrêt des navettes Discovery et Endeavour. Son assemblage fut terminé le 10 avril 1984. Atlantis effectua sa mission inaugurale le 3 octobre 1985, un des cinq vols au cours desquels elle a mené des activités militaires secrètes. En 1989, Atlantis déploya deux sondes spatiales, Magellan et Galileo, et en 1991, elle lança le Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. À partir de 1995, Atlantis a réalisé sept vols directs vers la station spatiale soviétique Mir. Lors du second vol vers Mir, elle a apporté un module d’arrimage qui a permis des échanges d'astronautes lors des vols suivants. De novembre 1997 à juillet 1999, Atlantis a été l’objet d’une opération de remise à niveau, avec quelque 165 modifications apportées à la navette, dont l’installation d’une planche de bord tout écran (Multifunction Electronic Display System). Elle a ensuite effectué six vols, qui concernaient tous des activités d’assemblage de la Station spatiale internationale. La navette Atlantis s'est posée sans encombre sur la piste du Centre spatial Kennedy le 21 juillet 2011, à 9 h 56 GMT, après une mission spatiale réussie. Celle-ci met fin à trois décennies de vols des navettes spatiales américaines.

 

Outside the building, you have to go under a replica of the huge tank and the shuttle's reactors to get in and then climb a ramp that leads us to a first room, where we tell in video the origins of the shuttle program. in the 60s. Then we go to another room where are projected impressive images of the shuttle. The video concludes: "33 missions, 26 years, more than 126 million kilometers ... Atlantis, welcome home." Suddenly, the video screen rises, revealing the real shuttle Atlantis. All around, there are interactive displays on several floors to learn more about the history and technologies of NASA's Space Shuttle Program. As we move forward, the corridor becomes orange and red, as if we felt the sudden return of the shuttle into the Earth's atmosphere ...

The Space Shuttle Atlantis (Orbital Vehicle-104) was the fourth operational shuttle built, and the last to fly after the destruction of Challenger (1986) and Columbia (2003) and the shutdown of the Discovery and Endeavor shuttles. Its assembly was completed on April 10, 1984. Atlantis performed its inaugural mission on October 3, 1985, one of five flights during which it conducted secret military activities. In 1989, Atlantis deployed two space probes, Magellan and Galileo, and in 1991, launched the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. Starting in 1995, Atlantis made seven direct flights to the Soviet Mir Space Station. During the second flight to Mir, she brought a stowage module that allowed exchanges of astronauts on subsequent flights. From November 1997 to July 1999, Atlantis underwent a refit, with some 165 modifications to the shuttle, including the installation of an all-electronic dashboard (Multifunction Electronic Display System). She then flew six flights, all of which involved assembly activities of the International Space Station. Shuttle Atlantis landed safely on the Kennedy Space Center runway on July 21, 2011 at 9:56 GMT after a successful space mission. This puts an end to three decades of theft of American space shuttles.

   

+++ DISCLAIMER +++

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

  

Some background:

Operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Iran's small Bell AH-1J fleet has seen a fair share of indigenous modernization in recent years. In 1971, Iran purchased 202 examples of an improved AH-1J, named "AH-1J International", from the United States. This improved Cobra featured an uprated P&WC T400-WV-402 engine and a stronger drivetrain, so that it would have a better performance under “hot & high” conditions. Recoil damping gear was fitted to the 20 mm M197 gun turret, and the gunner was given a stabilized sight and a stabilized seat, too. Of the AH-1Js delivered to the Shah's Imperial Iranian Army Aviation, 62 were TOW-capable.

Iranian AH-1Js participated in the Iran–Iraq War—which saw the most intensive use of helicopters in any conventional war. Iranian AH-1Js (particularly the TOW-capable ones) were "exceptionally effective" in anti-armor warfare, inflicting heavy losses on Iraqi armored and vehicle formations. In operations over the barren terrain in Khuzestan and later in southern Iraq, beside the standard tactics, Iranian pilots developed special, effective tactics, often in the same manner as the Soviets did with their Mi-24s. Due to the post-Revolution weapons sanctions, Iranians had to make do with what was at hand: lacking other guided ordnance they equipped the AH-1Js with AGM-65 Maverick missiles and used them with some success in several operations. About half of the AH-1Js were lost during the conflict to combat, accidents, and simple wear and tear –the rest of the fleet was kept operational and busy during the following years.

 

However, time and use took their toll on the Iranian Cobras, for which no replacement could be found. In 2001, Brigadier General Ahmad Kazemi, the then-commander in chief of the IRGC Air Force (from 2009, it became known as the IRGC Aerospace Force, or IRGCASF), requested Ali Khamenei, leader of the Islamic Republic, to permit the IRGC to procure two former army AH-1J Cobra helicopters that had been restored by the Iranian Helicopters Support and Renewal Company (IHSRC, called ‘Panha’ in Iran). They belonged to the Iranian Army Aviation Force (IRIAA, as it was then known), which lacked the funds to pay for the necessary restoration and renewal of parts and fuselage sections.

The first of these refurbished AH-1Js was a TOW Cobra capable of using the Iranian-made clone of the BGM-71A TOW anti-tank missile, the “Towfan”, while the second helicopter was a Non-TOW version capable of using only the 2¾-inch Hydra unguided rockets. They entered IRGCAF service at Fat'h helicopter base, Karaj, to the west of Tehran, in 2001. This marked the start of an ongoing but slow modernization program for the remaining Iranian Cobra fleet.

 

IHSRC also worked on the restoration of two more battle-damaged AH-1J TOW Cobras, in a project known as “Panha-2091”. The front sections of their fuselages had been destroyed by cannon rounds from Iraqi tanks during the Iran-Iraq war and the extensive restoration work required manufacture of new fuselage panels and structural parts. Panha engineers also co-operated with their colleagues from IAMI (Iranian Aircraft Manufacturing Industries, also known as HESA in Iran) and designed a new canopy for the helicopters equipped with a flat, bulletproof windshield instead of the former oval, non-bulletproof version. Under a project named HESA-2091, both helicopters were thoroughly modernized and equipped with multifunction displays and a new weapon control system with a head-up display for the pilot. Internal avionics were revamped with the addition of a GPS system in the nose, and a warning radar with four antennae providing 360 degrees coverage was integrated, too. Design and production of the new digital systems and their components was carried out by the Iranian Electronics Industries Company (IEI) with the assistance of Isfahan University of Technology and a Chinese-connected company, Safa Electronic Component Industries. Installation was performed by IAMI in Shahin-Shahr.

 

These two helicopters were ultimately named ‘Tiztak-2091’ and became prototypes for a larger modernization project for 102 remaining AH-1J Cobra attack helicopters for the Iranian Army Aviation Force. However, in total, the cost of this bold conversion projects exceeded the whole IRIAA budget for 2001, and this resulted in the cancellation of the wider modernization program just a year later. Step forward the IRGC which procured the two Tiztak-2091 prototypes alongside four more former IRIAA AH-1J Non-TOW Cobra helicopters from the Iranian Defence Ministry. These were revamped and delivered to frontline units between 2003 and 2005. However, further conversions have only be done sparingly since then, due to the lack of funds and material.

Despite these limitations, the IAAF immediately began working on upgrade projects to further increase combat capability of the small but busy fleet of Cobra helicopters. The Tiztak helicopters had been equipped with new targeting/surveillance turrets instead of their M-65 Telescopic Sight Units under a IAMI project named Towfan-2 back in 2012. The first helicopters were equipped with the Oqab EO/IR targeting turret produced by IOI (Iranian Optics Industries) in 2012, while others received an RU-290 thermal camera, a product of Rayan Roshd-Afzar.

 

After the formation of the Army Aviation Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGCAA) on February 23, 2016, the IRGCASF helicopter base at Fat’h was transferred to the IRGCGF (IRGC Ground Force), of which the IRGCAA was now a part. IRGCAA today operates more than 80 helicopters including nine Bell AH-1J International Cobras, with three examples modernized by Iranian Aircraft Manufacturing Industries (IAMI). IRGCAA had also been trying to equip its small fleet of AH-1Js with a new air-to-surface missile and an anti-tank missile, the Qaem-114 (outwardly almost identical to the American AGM-119 Hellfire), but this did not proceed beyond prototype stage.

 

Despite the active Iranian AH-1J fleet’s relatively small size after 2001, the Cobras were extremely active during counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in the southeast and northwest of Iran. Both the IAAF and now the IRGCAA had always had two fire support teams, each formed with two to three AH-1Js in Orumiyeh and Zahedan, to be used against the PKK/PJAK and Jaish ul-Adl terrorist groups. The fire-support team at the IRGCGF Hamzeh Garrison in the northwest of Iran had two Bell 214A utility helicopters for SAR operations to accompany the Cobras while the team in Zahedan International Airport had two to three Mi-171Sh helicopters; usually, one armed with B8M1 rocket pods as a heavy fire support gunship.

The most notable use of the AH-1Js in combat by the IRGC took place in spring and summer 2008 when two AH-1Js stationed in Zahedan were extensively used in close-air-support missions during a counter-terrorism operation by IRGC Ground Forces against the Jondollah group (later to be rebranded as Jaish ul-Adl after being listed as a terrorist organization by the US State Department). After the arrest and execution of its leader, Abdolmalek Reigi by Iran, the group stopped its activities in 2009. It resumed again a few years later resulting in the launch of new anti-terror operations involving the AH-1Js in 2013, which continued periodically until 2020.

  

General characteristics:

Crew: 2

Length: 53 ft 5 in (16.28 m) with both rotors turning

45 ft 9 in (14 m) for fuselage only

Width: 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) for stub wings only

Height: 13 ft 5 in (4.09 m)

Main rotor diameter: 43 ft 11 in (13.39 m)

Main rotor area: 1,514.97 sq ft (140.745 m²)

Empty weight: 2,802 kg (6,177 lb)

Max takeoff weight: 4,530 kg (9,987 lb)

 

Powerplant:

2× P&W Canada T400-CP-400 (PT6T-3 Twin-Pac) turboshaft engines, coupled to produce 1,530 shp

(1,140 kW; de-rated from 1,800 shp (1,342 kW) for drivetrain limitations)

 

Performance:

Maximum speed: 236 km/h (147 mph, 127 kn)

Range: 600 km (370 mi, 320 nmi)

Service ceiling: 10,500 ft (3,200 m)

Rate of climb: 1,090 ft/min (5.5 m/s)

 

Armament:

1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M197 3-barreled Gatling cannon in M97 chin turret with 750 rounds

4× hardpoints under the sub wings for 2.75” (70 mm) Mk 40 or Hydra 70 rockets in 7 or 19 rounds

pods; up to 16 5” (127 mm) Zuni rockets in 4-round LAU-10D/A launchers, up to eight Toophan

ATGM in a dual or quad launcher on each wing, AIM-9 Sidewinder or Misagh-2 anti-aircraft

missiles (1 mounted on each hardpoint)

  

The kit and its assembly:

This is the counterpart to another modified Fujimi AH-1 model, actually a kit bashing of the AH-1S and the AH-1J model to produce something that comes close to the real IAMI HESA-2091 helicopter, an upgraded/re-built AH-1J International of the Iranian Army Air Force. The “leftover” parts were used to create an (Indonesian) AH-1G – even though the HESA-2091 was the “core project”.

 

To create this Iranian variant, the AH-1J was taken as the basis and the nose as well as the flat-window canopy from the AH-1S were transplanted. While the nose with the TOW sensor turret was just an optional part that fits naturally on the fuselage (even though not without some PSR), the clear parts was more challenging, because the flat canopy is shorter than the original. In this case I had to fill some triangular gaps between the hood and the engine section, and this was done with 1.5 mm styrene sheet wedges and some more PSR to blend the parts that were not meant to be combined into each other.

The cockpit was taken OOB, together with the pilot figures that come with the kit. I also retained the original all-metal main rotor because the Iranian Cobras AFAIK were never upgraded with composite material blades?

 

To set the HESA-2091 further apart from the original AH-1J I changed the sensor turret in the nose and scratched a ball-shaped fairing that resembles the indigenous RU-290 thermal camera – it’s actually the ball joint from a classic clear Matchbox kit display, with a base scratched from 0.5mm styrene sheet. The “ball” turned out to be a bit too large, but the overall look is O.K., since I wanted a non-TOW AH-1J. For a “different-than-a-stock-AH-1J” look A small radome for a missile guidance antenna was added to the nose above the sensor turret, too. Another personal addition are the small end plates on the stabilizers – inspired by similar installations on Bell’s early twin-engine AH-1s, even though these later disappeared and were technically replaced by a ventral fin extension and a longer fuselage; the Iranian AH-1Js retained the short, original fuselage of the single-engine Cobra variants, though. The end plates were cut from leftover rotor blades from the scrap box, IIRC they belong to a Matchbox Dauphin 2.

 

Being part of the historical Zahedan fire support team I gave the Cobra an armament consisting of a nineteen round 70mm Hydra unguided missile pods (OOB), a pair of AGM-65 Maverick missiles (an ordnance actually deployed by Iranian Cobras), together with their respective launch rails, and I added launch tubes for indigenous Misagh-2 anti-aircraft missiles (which are actually MANPADS) to the stub wings’ tips as a self-defense measure. These were scratched from 2mm styrene rods.

  

Painting and markings:

Finding a suitable paint scheme was not easy. A conservative choice would have been an early mid-stone/earth scheme or a tri-color scheme consisting of sand, earth and dark green. However, while doing WWW research I came across some more exotic and contemporary specimen, carrying a kind of leopard-esque mottle scheme or even a “high resolution” fractal/digital cammo consisting of three shades of beige/brown/grey – even though I am not certain if the latter was a “real” camouflage for operational helicopters or just a “show and shine” propaganda livery?

 

Re-creating the latter from scratch would have been prohibitively complex, because the pixelized mottles were really fine, maybe just 2” wide each in real life. But I used this scheme as an inspiration for a simplified variant, also kept in three shades of brown, even though the result was a kind of compromise due to the limited material options to create it.

The base became an overall coat with Tamiya XF-57 (Buff), plus very light grey (RAL 7035; Humbrol 196) undersides. A light black ink washing was applied, and panels were post-shaded to create a more vivid surface.

Then came the pixelized mottles in two contrast colors: first came a layer in RAL 1015 (Hellelfenbein/Light Ivory) and then a second in RAL 8011 (Nussbraun/Nut Brown) in a 1:1 ratio, slightly overlapping and letting the Buff base shine through. These mottles were not painted but rather created with square bits from generic decal stripe material in various widths from TL Modellbau. While not as sophisticated as the original camouflage, effect and look are quite similar, and add to the unique look of this HESA-2091(-ish) model. And even though I was sceptical, esp. because of the reddish Nussbraun, the blurring effect of the scheme is surprisingly good – esp. when you put the model in front of a dry mountain background! I’ll keep the concept in the back of my head for further what-if models. All those single pixels were a lot of work, but the result looks really good.

 

Another detail from many real late Iranian Cobras was taken over, too: a black tail rotor drive shaft cover that extends up onto the fin’s leading edge – probably a measure to hide exhaust soot stains on the tail boom? A black anti-glare panel was added in front of the windscreen, too, and the rotor blades became medium grey (Humbrol 165, Medium Sea Grey) except for the main rotor blades’ undersides, which became black. The cockpit interior was uniformly painted in a very dark grey (Revell 06, Anthracite) and the pilots received khaki jumpsuits and modern grey and olive drab “bone domes”.

 

The decals were puzzled together from various sources. The Iranian roundels came from a Begemot MiG-29 sheet, registration numbers and fin flashes from an Iranian F-5. The IAAF abbreviation was created with single black 4 mm letters.

Graphite was used to weather the model, esp. the area on top of the tail boom, and the model was finally sealed with matt acrylic varnish overall.

  

An exotic model – the Iranian home-brew HESA-2091 looks familiar, but it’s a unique combination of classic Cobra elements. More spectacular is the pixelated paint scheme, and the attempt to generate it with the help of square decal bits worked (and looks) better than expected! This might also work well in grey as a winter camouflage? Hmmm….

The KL Sandefjord Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessel is owned by K Line Offshore (Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha). It is a multifunction vessel designed to carry out seabed operations, ploughing / trenching and pre-lay work in ultra-deep waters and harsh environments. With a bollard pull of 390t, it the world’s strongest AHTS vessel constructed to date.

 

The ship was delivered to K Line on 7 January 2011 after successfully completing sea trials in December 2010. The vessel will begin operating after the installation and testing of the A-frame at Kristiansand harbour in southern Norway.

 

Design

 

KL Sandefjord is the first of two AHTS vessels of AH 12 CD design. It is 95m-long and 24m-wide with 9.8m depth to the centre of the main deck. It has a maximum draught of 7.82m and a cargo rail height of 3.10m above the deck.

 

The deadweight capacity is 4,800t with cargo deck area measuring about 750m². The deck can carry cargo weighing up to 3,200t. The free area on the deck can carry 10t/m² of cargo.

 

The A-frame is fitted on the deck for subsea construction works. It weighs 250t and has an inside width of 15,500mm between the legs at deck level. The top width is 10,500mm and inside height is 11,100mm. The outreach is 8.5m at the aft and 4.55m forward the A-frame pivot

Construction

 

The hull was constructed by STX Norway Offshore in Tulcea, Romania. The construction was supervised by Norway-based OSM Group.

 

The hull was launched in February 2010. It was towed to position alongside the tug Pegasus and then towed to STX Norway Offshore’s Langsten shipyard in Tomrefjord in Alesun County, Norway for final outfitting. Naming ceremony was held in November 2010.

 

Equipment

 

The vessel is fitted with ROV hangar and ODIM LARS system for underwater search operations and handling of anchors respectively. An ODIM Anchor Recovery Frame (ARF) is fitted on aft deck to handle Torpedo type anchors. It is flush with the main deck when in stowed position.

 

The two jib RRM cargo rail cranes are equipped with manipulators for safe operations of the working area on the deck.

 

Large chain and synthetic fibre rope of different capacities are available on the deck.

 

Propulsion

 

KL Sandefjord has a highly efficient power plant designed and built by Finland-based Wärtsilä. It consists of two 16v 32-type main engines and 2,200kW, five diesel generators with alternators connected to the main switchboard.

The engines are connected to shaft lines through reduction gears and controlled pitch propellers (CPP) which can be powered using diesel-electric, diesel-mechanical or hybrid modes. The two main CPPs have four blades that rotate at a speed of 130rpm.

 

The three thrusters-two tunnel thrusters forward and one tunnel thruster to the aft are fixed with fixed pitch propellers. The thrusters operate at variable speeds, regulated by frequency controlled motors.

 

Accommodation

 

The vessel can accommodate 70 people on board. There are 45 cabins of which six single berth cabins are reserved for officers. The rest are 14 single berth and 25 double berth cabins for crew members.

 

Facilities

 

Facilities on board include a conference room, lounges and internet access.

 

Decks A and D have a client office and a conference room while Deck C has only client office. The bridge accommodates one ship office. Deck A houses a lounge which is fully equipped with satellite TV and home theatre system. Deck B has two lounges with similar facilities.

 

All the cabins have local area network (LAN) connections. V-sat is provided separately for client internet and telephone lines.

 

Other major facilities include a gym and a hospital for officers and crew members.

 

Rehearsal of the victory Parade in Moscow 2021

+++ DISCLAIMER +++

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

 

Some background:

Airbus Helicopters Tiger, formerly known as the Eurocopter Tiger, is a four-bladed, twin-engined attack helicopter which first entered service in 2003. It is manufactured by Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters), the successor company to Aérospatiale's and DASA's respective helicopter divisions, which designate it as the EC665. In Germany and Australia it is known as the 'Tiger'; in France and Spain it is called the 'Tigre'. Finland, the youngest export customer, calls the EC665 'Tiikeri'.

 

Development of the Tiger started during the Cold War and it was initially intended as an anti-tank helicopter platform to be used against a Soviet ground invasion of Western Europe. During its prolonged development period the Soviet Union collapsed, but France and Germany chose to proceed with the Tiger, developing it instead as a multirole attack helicopter.

 

It achieved operational readiness in 2008 and since the type's introduction to service, Tigers have been used in combat in Afghanistan, Libya, and Mali.

 

The Tiger has the distinction of being the first all-composite helicopter developed in Europe. Even the earliest models also incorporate other advanced features such as a glass cockpit, stealth technology and high agility to increase its survivability. The Tiger has a tandem-seat cockpit and is operated by a two-man crew; the pilot is placed in the forward position, with the gunner seated behind.

 

Either of the crew members can manage the weapon systems or the primary flight controls, switching roles if necessitated.

In addition to flying the aircraft, the Tiger's pilot would typically be in control of the self-defense systems and communications, as well as some secondary weapon functions.

 

Amongst the Tiger's notable qualities, it possesses very high levels of agility, much of which is attributed to the design of its 13-meter four-bladed hinge-less main rotor; the Tiger can perform full loops and negative g manoeuvres. Power is provided by a pair of FADEC-controlled MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce MTR390 turboshaft engines.

 

Finland is only a small operator of the helicopter. The type’s procurement for the country’s army came as a surprise, even though it is part of the thorough modernization program of the Finnish Army and its equipment.

This modernization program started in October 2001 when Finland signed a contract for 20 NH90 TTHs for the Finnish Army to replace their ageing fleet of Mil Mi-8 helicopters from 2004 onwards.

 

NH 90 deliveries became delayed, though, and in the meantime the tactical potential of an additional, dedicated combat helicopter was assessed and positively evaluated. One of the major factors that led to the Tiger’s purchase was the fact that Finland participated in nearly all sub-areas of NATO’s Partnership for Peace program and had for example provided peacekeeping forces to both the Afghanistan and Kosovo missions. The possibility of Finland's membership in NATO was one of the most important political issues and continues to be a prominent issue in Finnish politics.

 

Within the Finnish Army the EC665 is regarded as an armed complement to the new NH90 transport helicopters. An initial order for eight EC-665s was placed in 2004, including an option for eight more, at estimated costs of €27m/unit.

 

The Finnish variant was optimized for the anti-tank and fire support role, but also capable of armed reconnaissance and artillery spotting. Its avionics and sensor suite was not as sophisticated as other nations’ variants, but still built around existing state-of-the-art equipment and tailored to the Finnish needs.

 

Amongst the key avionics features of the helicopter are the EUROGRID battlefield management and map display systems, integrated communications (HF/VHM/FM radio and satellite) and data transfer links, a high-authority digital automatic flight control system, and redundant MIL 1553 data buses. Two redundant mission computers control the weapons, sensors, and targeting functions. The Tiger's navigational suite includes GPS, dual-redundant inertial referencing, Doppler radar, separated air data units, radio altimeter and distributed air speed sensors.

 

The most significant single avionics system fitted upon the Finnish Tiger is the mast-mounted OSIRIS sight/sensor. This incorporates optical TV and thermal cameras, a laser range finder/tracker/designator, and multiple gyroscopes for stabilization. OSIRIS performs as the main sensor for target observation and acquisition, providing firing and targeting data via the weapons computer. Furthermore, OSIRIS also enables entirely passive target acquisition to be undertaken, greatly reducing the risk of enemy detection.

 

Each crew member has a pair of multifunction liquid-crystal data displays at their control station, typically used to display internal systems information and sensory data, and to interact with the aircraft's higher systems. An additional display system is available to both crew in the form of the helmet-mounted display (HMD). The HMD is used by the flying pilot to display basic flight data with digitally enhanced optics, such as night vision or infrared imagery from the sensors, superimposed against; the gunner can use the HMD to interact with and control on-board weapon systems and view targeting data.

 

The 'Tiikeri' can operate during day or night in all-weather conditions, and has been designed to include operations in the aftermath of nuclear, biological, or chemical warfare. It can even be used in the maritime environment, able to operate from the decks of ships including frigates and during extreme weather conditions.

 

The Tiger is capable of equipping various armaments including rockets, cannon, and a range of air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, controlled via a dedicated weapons control computer. The Finnish variant’s main armament is the AGM-114 ‘Hellfire’ missile, up to sixteen of these weapons can be carried. Other munitions for anti-ground warfare include an assortment of external gun pods and up to four launchers for 70mm and 68mm rockets, all to be mounted under the Tiger's stub-wings. A nose-mounted Nexter turret with a GIAT 30 mm gun is also available.

 

In March 2008, EC665 deliveries began, together with the delayed NH90s. To minimize further delay, aircraft were first delivered to an Initial Operational Configuration (IOC-) and Nearly Operational Configuration (IOC+), to be later modified by Patria into a Final Operational Configuration (FOC). In parallel, initial pilot training and conversion had been conducted at the Franco-German pilot training school at Le Luc in Provence. Operational status of the first batch was achieved in early 2009, and delivery of the second batch started in 2010.

 

In June 2011, six Finnish EC665 participated in the Finnish Defense Forces' main field exercise, escorting NH90 troop transports; their performance was described as having exceeded expectations.

  

General characteristics

Crew: Two (pilot and weapon systems officer)

Length: 14.08 m fuselage (46 ft 2 in)

Rotor diameter: 13.00 m (42 ft 8 in)

Height: 3.83 m (12 ft 7 in)

Disc area: 133 m² (1,430 ft²)

Internal fuel capacity: 1,080 kg (2,380 lb)

Empty weight: 3,060 kg (6,750 lb)

Loaded weight: 5,090 kg (11,311 lb)

Max. takeoff weight: 6,000 kg (13,000 lb)

 

Powerplant:

2× MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce MTR390 turboshafts, 958 kW (1.303 shp) each

 

Performance:

Maximum speed: 290 km/h (157 knots, 181 mph)

Range: 800 km (430 nm, 500 mi) in combat configuration

1,300km with external tanks in the inboard stations

Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)

Rate of climb: 10.7 m/s (2,105 ft/min)

Power/mass: 0.23 hp/lb (0.38 kW/kg)

 

Armament:

1× 30 mm (1.18 in) GIAT 30 cannon in chin turret, with up to 450 rounds.

Four stub wing hardpoints for e.g. 20 mm (0.787 in) autocannon pods, 68 mm (2.68 in) SNEB or

70 mm (2.75 in) Hydra 70 unguided rockets pods or starters with 4x AGM-114 Hellfire missiles

  

The kit and its assembly:

This whiffy Tiger helicopter was (again) inspired by a CG side profile by fellow users nighthunter & Darth Panda at whatifmodelers.com. The model is more or less a hardware recreation of this profile on the basis of the Italeri kit.

 

The Italeri kit itself ain’t bad, but it has raised details and fit, esp. around the engines and the rotor mast, is rather dubious. Anyway, it was built more or less OOB, the only changes are the added pilot figures (Hobby Master pygmies), other antennae and the different armament. The Hellfires and their racks come from an Italeri AH-64, the small six-shot rocket pods belong to a Revell G.91 and actually contain unguided air-to-air rockets. Another modification is the use of the OOB French chin turret implanted under the German nose with a scratched mount, a scratched IR jammer and a pair of chaff/flare dispensers on the stub wings’ upper sides (AH-1 style, scratched, too). Internally, a vertical styrene tube in the kit’s CG offers an attachment point for an iron wire holder (for the beauty pics).

 

The model is not a 100% match with the CG benchmark, but the most important and obvious elements are there.

  

Painting and markings:

CG profiles are, like print colors, always hard to interpret, and this case was no different. nighthunter’s profile shows the Tiger in a tricolor paint scheme with two greens and black. These could be the German colors (which are actually used on the Finnish NH90 transporters, RAL 6003, FS 34079 and RAL 7021), but then the typical German Tiger camouflage pattern would not match, the CG profile rather shows the French pattern. Alternatively, the colors could be those from contemporary Finnish Army ground vehicles carry, but these carry a splinter scheme.

 

I decided to combine both options, using the original, organic wraparound pattern in French style and use the Finnish Army colors. I could not find official descriptions of the latter, so I improvised, using several vehicle pics as reference.

Choice of colors was not easy: my basic tones are Revell 45 (RAL 7003 ‘Moosgrau’, a kind of dark variant of RLM 02), FS 34096 (very close to the typical Finnish WWII olive green) and the German RAL 7021, a very dark grey. The greens appear rather light and pale, but I wanted the more greyish look and a strong contrast to the dark grey.

The interior as well as the rotor blades were painted in Neutral Grey (FS 36173), the latter with orange tips.

 

After the basic painting process a black ink wash was applied, and panels were shaded with lighter tones, including RLM 02 and FS 37066 from ModelMaster as well as Humbrol 105. As usual, everything was done with brushes.

Decals came next. The national markings are 1:144 aftermarket roundels and the tactical code was created from single letters and numbers from TL Modellbau. The few warning stencils etc. were taken from the OOB sheet and from the scrap box.

 

After that, the kit was carefully and only slightly rubbed with grinded graphite on a soft cotton cloth, in order to emphasize the fine, raised surface details. Finally, the kit was sealed under a coat of matt acrylic varnish.

 

The paint scheme ended up lighter than expected, but the result looks IMHO good and has that special “Finnish Touch”. It’s also relatively close to the CG profile that inspired it, a quick and rather smooth build.

The exit of the whole car wash tunnel at BP (MFG) Sutton.

 

Just looking at this is very surreal indeed, this sort of arrangement is uncommon even in Europe nevermind the backwaters of Britain. For further indulgences, there are two sets of Powerfoam jet washes covered by the hanging green roof, and a third basic one next to the multifunction air and vac boxes, supplemented by a row of MFG's electric chargers.

 

However, there is a trap - warning. Do NOT spend over 30 minutes at any part of this garage with your car, there are cameras on site!

 

Why is there an enforced time limit God knows, but so many motorists waiting in queues got hit by this awful policy that really lets down an otherwise brilliant site. Luckily I knew this beforehand but just look at the reviews....

 

Street view

Société nationale des chemins de fer belges/Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische Spoorwegen Alstom Class M7 Bmx multifunction railcar number 76063 is seen providing power at the rear of IC 1517, 1753 Blankenberge to Genk which I traveled on between Bruxelles Centraal & Bruxelles Nord.

Dear friends, you are more than welcome to visit my flickr.

 

These are some pictures regarding my third Lego MOC set named Dark-Age series.

 

After second series, An idea hit my mind one day. Most of real Batman vehicles are matte black, which Lego doesn't produce matte black bricks. Interestingly, I paint-sprayed the first batmobile, and then another, and then another.....It did take me long time and the whole procedures are troublesome and tedious. but the result is quite satisfying.

 

This set includes:

(1) Chibi Batcycle. Batcycle has very simple structure that I constructed by accident. And I built several motorcycle based on its chasis. The shape and style is more preferred aomong all my chibi vehicles. I personally consider it a very good-looking one by only using some old Lego small parts.

 

(2) Batmobile (Fomula-1 style): Browsing vehicles' desings online and acquire ideas is one of my daily routines -from deviantART etc. And learning something new about fashion, no matter old designs or concept designs, is also very fun. I built this batmobile after I saw this while looking for some inspiration:

www.techeblog.com/if-the-batmobile-was-an-f1-car/

 

(3) Bat Truck: One interesting fact about this series is that I attempted to built "side vehicles" and make them loaded onto the main vehicles because some modified official vehicles have thiese kind of function initially. The Bat Truck is actually a snow truck because I hope to build a multi-function series in the first place. And it is also my favorite one among six vehicles of this series.

 

(4) Bat Tank: Needless to say, this is obviously just a modified version of official set Lego 70588 Titanium Ninja Tumbler, I knew exactly what I had to do with it at first sight-matte black version-, and I call it amphibious bat for Batman can drive it both on land and in shallow water.

 

(5) Batsub: Another modified version from official one. There are literally 3 vehicles out of 6 that are from official sets. As I mentioned above, I wanted to build a series with multifunction concept. This Batsub is able to go on land, on the sea, and of course, under the sea. Please check out the "Ultra Agents - 70162" if you would like to know more info.

 

(6) Batwing (AKA Bat Bomber): No doubt about it. perhaps you can tell immediately that this is just another official Marvel superhero set- Quinjet.

There is no need to explain why I had to turn it into matte black version, or maybe it just my personal preference. I think this is the best Quinjet among all Lego Quinjet by far and so far.

 

Thank you so much for viewing my Lego works. More photos of other sets are coming in soon. My only intention is to share. Hope you like these cute toys. peace. :)

 

my Youtube:

www.youtube.com/user/thedarkknight0527

Capacity range is 38,000lbs to 60,000lbs tractive effort, single or double coupled. The Navigator Series is capable of moving up to 40 loaded railcars without weight transfer coupling. Spawned from the success of the more lengthy SWX840, launched in 2011, the Navigator Series includes (4) shorter models. Each Navigator model highlights the only mobile railcar movers in the business to utilize a pivoting drive axle and rail guidance system all in a single assembly. The system is very similar to the drive trucks on a locomotive which are allowed to pivot and turn along the rails. Product improvement focus includes enhanced rail stability, better performance in poor weather conditions, improved tire life and the ability to navigate up to 70 degree track curvature. The Navigator Series by Shuttlewagon is the pinnacle in mobile railcar moving. Shuttlewagon expands the railcar mover market, providing fresh alternatives to higher-cost-of-operation locomotive power by providing the only mobile railcar mover/shunting applications that exceed 35,000lbs tractive effort and do so with direct, non-weight transfer locomotive like coupling. The Navigator NVX8040 is the largest, highest capacity mobile railcar mover in the world, offering unparalleled pulling capability.

 

180-degree rotating console with color multifunction display. Dual four-way air suspension operator seats for either side on-rail operator control.

Pull-out sander boxes with wide-mouth lids for easy loading. Air-activated sanders for smooth dispensing. Safely attach glad-hand hoses with ease; Shuttlewagon offers industry-leading space between railcar and mobile railcar mover.

Two independent drive wheel trucks supported on rotating bearings with eight (8) 16" AAR profile guide wheels. ABS and traction assist provide more control while reducing maintenance cost.

Wide-range AAR sliding couplers are air released and hydraulically positioned. Improves pulling performance in curves and grades.

Large high-density cross-linked polytheylene (HDXLPE) 90-gallon fuel tank for extended operational capacity.

Standard equipment includes the following:

 

ABS vehicle brakes

Anti-slip traction control (on-rail operations)

CAN-Bus electrical system

90-gallon fuel tank

30-gallon air reservoir

Three 12-volt power receptacles in cab

Tinted cabin glass

Door-mounted windshield wipers

Non-slip cushioned floor mat

Engine diagnostics adapter in console

High-visibility powder-coated hand rails

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Building Multifunction preview available

Visit my web-site

i-tech3design.wixsite.com/i-tech3design

   

* Disco-Calipso

 

* Construction quality in a minimalist style

 

* This multipurpose facility designed for entertainment and "events at the disco, etc. .."

 

* The structure is composed of:

- Easy system of Rez (Rezbox)

- Sofas minimal style, with Sitting animation avatar "Copy Only"

- Speakers Audio Aerodynamic "Copy"

- Console for DJs, with the animation, "Copy Only"

- Dynamic Lights controller (Environment)

Copyright Notice © WatchTographer - Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission.

Pictures were taken using a SLR Minolta X-500 body (1984) with the MultiFunction back set to the dating (MM/DD/YY) auto mode and a standard lens Minolta MD 50 mm f/1.4. 35 mm Fujicolor film C200 36 exposures 200 ISO.

 

Lyon Confluence, Jan. 3, 2022.

 

Pôle de Commerces et de Loisirs Confluence

7 Rue Paul Montrochet

69002 Lyon

France

 

The film was developed using the C-41 process then digitalized using a Sony A7 body and a Minolta Slide Duplicator with a Minolta Auto Bellows III with a lens Minolta Bellow Macro Rokkor 50mm f/3.5.

Multifunction button from the back of a Nikon D750 camera.

2024_11_08_IMG_9256

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After Iowa Pacific personnel including Ed Elis first arrived, parking their vehicles behind Final Steel, and swung the bridge in place Mike the conductor gives the all clear to Ken the engineer to proceed across former Milwaukee Road bridge Z-6 from the shanty. The shanty on the bridge at least initially served as the office for Chicago Terminal. A multifunction copier/FAX/printer was installed there on opening day.

 

Virtually everything in the scene is gone now, torn down as it awaits redevelopment as the planned Lincoln Yards project. Bridge Z-6 will be retained as a viewing platform while a new pedestrian and bike bridge will span the river, completing the 606 Trail.

 

Second in a series of screen grabs I will post from video I took on the first day of Chicago Terminal operations as it made its way from the UP North Avenue Yard where it was a tenant on its way to switch Finkl Steel and Peerless Confectionery. I was a guest of Ed Ellis for the first two days of operations to document it. I also wound up acting as a pilot for the crew as CP left behind no instructions.

 

Images are from converted from DVD format and cleaned up as much as possible in Photoshop. It was a dreary, overcast day with rain on and off again, and the SW8 engine in which we were riding was rocking back and forth which made taking videos a challenge.

 

If you want to see a video of mine that shows CP working this line go to-

 

studio.youtube.com/video/pQXSrwYdoQk/edit

 

Due to conversations in the cab that the crew probably didn't want being made public I am not going to share the full video of this trip plus I do not feel like taking the time to edit out the audio. Enjoy the still images instead from those first two days in this album.

 

www.flickr.com/photos/39092860@N06/albums/72157704913274794

Pilot's-eye view from a light aircraft over Belize City, with multifunction GPS screens, the control yoke and throttle in the foreground and the propeller arc against a pale blue sky. The sea haze on the horizon is the only other element.