Tag: Interesting facts

So that’s what it’s like to eject from a burning aircraft…

  A fascinating video clip has emerged of a Russian pilot (who was wearing a personal video recorder on his chest) ejecting from his damaged Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack aircraft, after it was hit by Ukrainian anti-aircraft fire.  A tip o’ the hat to The Aviationist for publishing the video.  All the action happens in… Continue reading So that’s what it’s like to eject from a burning aircraft…

A blast from the computer past

  I was amused to learn of a California company that’s recycling and selling old-fashioned floppy disks by the hundreds every day. Tom Persky runs floppydisk.com, a California-based online disk recycling service that takes in new and used disks before sending them onto a reliable customer base — he reckons he sells about 500 disks… Continue reading A blast from the computer past

First photographs of the Nord Stream explosion damage

  The first civilian video of the damaged Nord Stream pipeline has emerged.  Screen captures from the video appear to show that the explosion originated inside the pipeline, and blew outward.  Click either image for a larger view. That would tend to support Lawdog’s theory that the explosions were caused by methane hydrates, that congealed… Continue reading First photographs of the Nord Stream explosion damage

The Russians are modernizing hundreds of 1960’s-era T-62 tanks, for multiple reasons

  The War Zone reports: The Russian military is reportedly set to receive some 800 refurbished and possibly upgraded T-62 tanks in the next three years to try to help make up for severe losses it has already sustained in its ongoing all-out invasion of Ukraine. Many of the nearly antique T-62s have already been… Continue reading The Russians are modernizing hundreds of 1960’s-era T-62 tanks, for multiple reasons

A technological visionary

  I was struck by this photograph, which appeared recently at Daily Timewaster.  It shows models of three Northrop “flying wing” designs:  the piston-engined YB-35, a later jet-propelled version called the YB-49, and the contemporary B-2 Spirit.  Click the image for a larger view. The 120-degree angle of the wing sweep, precisely one-third of a… Continue reading A technological visionary

On the ground in Fredericksburg

Miss D. and I arrived safely in Fredericksburg, TX late yesterday afternoon, after a trip down the back roads of Texas, avoiding interstate highways.  It was enjoyable to catch scenery one often bypasses on the main arteries, and also to see historically important sites of the German settlements in Texas and the wars with the… Continue reading On the ground in Fredericksburg

Yikes!

  This graphic popped up on MeWe yesterday evening.  I can’t link directly to the post concerned.  Clickit to biggit. The original poster didn’t provide a source link, or any further details about where the data had come from.  It’s pretty scary, isn’t it? I’d love to know how accurate those figures are.  Certainly, the… Continue reading Yikes!

Is NASA’s Space Launch System doomed because of obsolete components?

  The Silicon Graybeard argues that they’re a major factor in the problems the SLS is currently experiencing – particularly in the prototype’s fuel system. The persistent issues that have been arising with trying to fuel Artemis I for its maiden flight are drawing attention to an awkward conclusion.  Either the contractors for Artemis and whoever… Continue reading Is NASA’s Space Launch System doomed because of obsolete components?

The mausoleum of Genghis Khan – found at last?

  Archaeology World reports: Construction workers employed in road building near the Onon River in the Khentii province of Mongolia, have discovered a mass grave containing the remains of many dozens of human corpses lying upon a large rudimentary stone structure. Forensic experts and archaeologists were called to the site, which was revealed to be… Continue reading The mausoleum of Genghis Khan – found at last?