Steeljaw Scribe

“Senator, there isn’t enough power in all of Christendom to make that airplane what we want” VADM Tom Connolly testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee (1968)
 
 
 
In Part I we explored some of the politics (and politicking) behind the TFX – the program to provide the Air Force and Navy with a common next generation [...]

 A bit more about China and the Kitty Hawk deal, plus some more below the fold about another failure of Russia’s Bulava SLBM and some other aspects of the Russian defense industry.

 
Panda Bashing?

On the heels of the story of the Chinese turning away the Kitty Hawk comes that of the two minesweepers that were denied [...]

 
 
Want to send something to show your appreciation and support for what our folks are doing overseas? How about to a deployed squadron, like say, VAQ-130 aka the Zappers? Here’s the address - and trust us folks, even though the deadline has passed for getting care packages and such into theater by Christmas was 15 Nov, cookies, [...]

Our guest correspondent, Southern Air Pirate, sends his latest missive on the joys of that well known locus of liberty in the Mediterranean, Naples.  
 
Napoli Bella!
We just wrapped up a 6 day port visit to Naples, Italy. Naples is like it has always been the last three times I had visited there. There are three [...]

Photo essay (click on image) of the sinking of the Explorer, the first passenger ship to make the Northwest Passage.
(h/t Fred Fry  )
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www.noradsanta.org
and don’t forget snoglobe  …
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1959. Changes are afoot in the tactical aircraft programs for Air Force and Navy’s specific requirements. The Air Force sought to replace the F-105 with a new fighter-bomber that would address the shortcomings of the Thunderchief – it was to land in half the distance of the F-105, be able to fly unrefueled to Europe or Southeast [...]

(Ed.  Note Flightdeck Friday will be up later today - SJS)
Skippy-san broke the news first here  and PACOM himself (ADM Keating) expresses his concern and perplexity here 1.  He notes, somewhat ironically, that it would be hard to "put a positive spin" on this latest incident (coming on the heels of China’s equally curious [...]

 
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.  Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and [...]