Random Picture Thread

[charmc]

Seeing that thing coming at you would be like being in the path of a 30 m wave.

From an article about that incident:

"To give additional perspective, consider that this particular bear, standing on its hind legs, could walk up to an average single story house and look over the roof, or walk up to a two story house and look in the bedroom windows."

[kach22i]

And yet they lost the Super Bowl.


http://mkmagazin.almanacwhf.ru/mk_other/ok...9002_sla_89.htm


http://mkmagazin.almanacwhf.ru/mk_other/ok...02_sla_89_3.htm

[charmc]

There was and is controversy over Langley and his work. From what I've been able to determine from a variety of sources, the controversy and the bad press you mentioned arose over the last series of flights of his aircraft, the unsuccessful flights of 1903. Those were funded with a government grant reported as either $50,000 or $70,000 (equivalent to hundreds of millions today), which meant automatically that a large portion of the funds went to hire beauraucrats to administer the funds, and that every flight was made in full view of the press, who, as we know, are very interested in accurate reporting of facts, with no interest in promoting bad news over good.


(Sorry, I had to take a break to get a prybar to remove me tongue from me cheek)


Prior to his much publicized final flight program, based on the houseboat mounted catapult in the Potomac, Langley successfully flew a series of powered airplanes at distances over 1000 ft, beginning in 1891, using his own funds. These were unmanned but powered by compact steam engines. The houseboat launcher was for safety, in the belief that a pilot would have a better chance to survive a water crash than on land. Good thing he was right, as both 1903 flights ended about 50 ft from the launcher.

According to many sources, one of the key reasons the Wright's plane succeeded in piloted flight while Langley failed was their recognition that there needed to be a way for the pilot to control the aircraft. Langley believed the aircraft should be inherently stable, while the Wrights likely recognized that Mr Murphy would often ride as a passenger, so the pilot needed to be able to make corrections at any time.

Now I'm tired from all that thinking and typing.....zzzzz.

[charmc]

New candidate for the Guiness Book: the first astronaut to be charged with a felony. This is a nice diversion from the real troubles of the world:

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline...ove_trian.html

I particularly liked her comments, "I brought the ...gun to entice her to talk with me" and, "that was stupid" (squirting pepper spray into the other woman's face when she wouldn't be "enticed" into having a little chat).

[charmc]

Originally Posted by kach22i

And yet they lost the Super Bowl.

So is that Peyton Manning in the camo?

[kach22i]

From Model Boat Book (1948), Chapter Thirteen


A JETEX POWER HYDROPLANE

http://jetex.org/cja/pages-more/arti...rojet-mbb.html

The application of rocket or jet propulsion for model speed boats is an interesting development, the more so in view of contemplated record attempts on water with this type of propulsion. With the coning of the small and handy propellant cartridge and suitable units to contain them, developed and marketed by Messrs. Wilmot Mansour, it has become quite feasible to build quite small models for "jet" propulsion. Provided that the craft are properly designed and constructed, excellent speeds may be obtained, quite out of proportion to the size of the hull for durations of well over half a minute.

http://www.directferries.co.uk/

[kach22i]

Flugelrad
http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...h+Images&gbv=2

This site is pretty complete:
http://www.eyepod.org/Nazi-Disc-Photos.html

They say BMW made them, what do you think?


Thrust vectoring just like the F-22.
http://www.fantastic-plastic.com/BMWFlugelradV2Page.htm


Just having fun, take a breath.

[SamSam]

Buddy, can you spare a grant?

[Crag Cay]

Details below from Robert.
Thanks for that.

[Robert Gainer]

She is the Selkirk Settler and that bit of inclement weather was during a winter north Atlantic trip in 1987 It was nothing unusual for her because she did the North Atlantic winter trips when the Great Lakes were frozen. The pictures of the storm were taken by George Ianiev who was the ship's Second Mate at the time. He has now risen to the rank of Captain.
All the best,
Robert Gainer

[kach22i]

Incredible set of photographs.

[SailDesign]

And here's a somewhat dated one to go with the "Alcohol Research" pic...

[charmc]

"The idea of the rocket U-boat was conceived as early as 1941, at Germany’s top secret rocket research center, Peenemunde. This led to some trials in the summer of 1942 whereby rocket launchers were mounted on the deck U-511, a Type IXC. The Schweres Wurfgerat 41 rocket launcher carried six 30cm Wurfkorper Spreng 42 rockets mounted on the upper deck. The tests were successful, enabling the U-boat to launch rockets both on the surface and when submerged up to a depth of 12 meters (40feet). Donitz expressed interest in the idea as an anti-escort weapon, but further development was hampered by the lack of a suitable guidance system capable of targeting surface ships."

http://www.uboataces.com/articles-rocket-uboat.shtml

[Frosty]

This a good project for Sunday afternoons. You need to click onto it and zoom in a bit

[charmc]

Jack,

That's great, I love it!!

And it's STOL!!

Cheers,

Charlie