Nope — not the JFK, rather the INS Viraat. The Viraat is fast approaching her 50th anniversary (put in commission in 1959 as the HMS Hermes) and recently completed a SLEP (still, recalling life onboard a 40+ yr old conventional CV, even after SLEP it left something to be desired…). While never having had the…
One of the “experiences” sampled during time in the yard is the replacement of the ship’s screws. Here, IKE’s have just been remounted prior to her being refloated and moved out of drydock (yes, YHS is in the pic). Prior to flooding the drydock, the hull board walks the length and breadth of the visible…
… ed il tifosi rejoice. – Now the race season is well and truly underway, beginning w/today’s race in Australia. Raikkonen, Alonso and Hamilton were on the podium, the youngest podium in F1 history. Raikonnen led from the pole. Reconvenes in three weeks in Indonesia – YHS will be truly grateful when Bernie’s circus returns…
Mix one gonzo engine (the Pratt & Whitney XR-4360-10 Wasp with 3,000 righteous HP) and a requirement to carry a large bomb load off a carrier deck for long range strikes against Japan and you have this week’s Flightdeck Friday subject – the Boeing XF8B-1. In 1943 the Navy contracted with Boeing to produce a…
Quite a bit has occurred in the intervening week+ since the last roll-up so let’s jump right in, beginning with the latest on the European leg of the BMDS: GREEK PAPER DISCUSSES PROPOSED EUROPE MISSILE DEFENSE UMBRELLA AGAINST IRAN, Ta Nea (Greece), BBC Monitoring International Reports, March 14, 2007. NATO wants to install in Greece…
Take one of these: Add your betrothed of near 25 years; Mix with a warm pre-spring evening (courtesy of DST)Apply over two-lane, county blacktop: Take as often as necessary. Caution – May Be Habit Forming…– SJS
Pinch passes word that Robin Olds is in the hospital and in poor shape (see his post over at Black5) and offers a link to pass along your best wishes. Back in YHS’ halcyon youth, Olds was well remembered for his exploits in the F-4 over SEA. As CO of the of the 8th Tactical…
Don’t forget to head over to the Daily Briefing for Flightdeck Friday as well — this week, “Nuclear Fleas” 30 Jun 1941. The Navy’s search for a replacement for the F4F was on. Two of the premiere aircraft manufacturers in the nation, Grumman and Curtiss, were granted development contracts for three prototypes – Grumman for…
A feature wherein YHS dips into his photo-locker of some 40+ years. YHS’ VT-10 class, circa July 1978. Some of the more seasoned among us will recognize a few of the folks here, including some who are no longer with us. Yes, we were all wearing (ugh) black shoes and we have the token shoe…
