Posts by AbnormalChunks

US military grounds entire Osprey tiltrotor fleet over safety concerns

FLRAA...

Note the US Army isn't involved in the V-22 program, too complex and too expensive. In light of recent real world experiences in Ukraine the Army has scaled back the FLRAA Valor program and canned the FARA program for a new scout chopper. Instead they're going for an updated Blackhawk and drones with less Valors. They'll used for special missions (still a huge order but not replacing Blackhawks 1 for 1). Also NAVAIR is going to need to keep those old C-2 Greyhounds running for COD missions for a bit longer if all the new shiny CMV-22B replacements are grounded.

Plane tracker app FlightAware admits user data exposed for years

Feeder

I too got an email from FlightAware as I'm feeding my Pi based ADSB receiver into their network. Luckily this gives me a free subscription so no financials involved however as a feeder there's some other info potentially exposed so not great. It seems as though FlightRadar24 is bigger on this side of the pond as they're EU based (the BBC always uses it for example) they've had DDoS type attacks before but no data breaches so far?

China scientists talk of powering hypersonic weapon with cheap Nvidia chip

Hypersonic Gap

Remember back in the Cold War when there was a Bomber Gap and then a Missile Gap? Is this just a way for the Defence industry and senior military people to get increased funding per chance?

Airbus commissions three wind-powered ships to sail the Atlantic

BelugaXL

The new BelugaXLs are in service, we regularly see them going over on their way to the Airbus UK factory near Chester. Airbus aren't binning off the older models either. They've been spun off to a new outsize cargo airline carter business as they've got comparatively low airframe hours for their age. Airbus are certificating the XLs for ETOPS so they'll be able to fly from Europe to the US as well.

Lockheed's ARRW hypersonic missile: Sometimes it flies, sometimes it just tries

Nike Zeus was a 50s tech Anti Ballistic Missile system, a 250 mile range isn't useful. Designing something to air breathe and/or glide controllabily at Mach 5+ is seriously difficult.

Other states may well have built these types of weapons but just how well do they actually work?

There's been reports that Russian Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles have been shot down in Ukraine suggesting they're not as effective as once thought.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/16/ukraine-russia-targets-kyiv-with-massive-overnight-airstrike

Strapping on a bigger booster isn't going to work!

US Air Force's Angry Kitten turns Reaper drone into fierce feline of electronic warfare

I'd imagine it'd be fine after all external stores carried on combat aircraft are weather sealed. Now would a belligerent Sukhoi (or similar) be able vent fuel in your path with 'Angry Kitten' (aka. ALQ-167 but 'Angry Kitten' is more fun) under a wing is perhaps a more pertinent question...

Military helicopter crash blamed on failure to apply software patch

NH90 = Norwegian Blue

Not mentioned in the article but the Norwegian military have unceremoniously dumped their fleet of these choppers. They're also suing Airbus Helicopters because the reliability was so poor and the costs so high. Norway has now bought Seahawks, the naval version of the Blackhawk. In a rare move, the UK wasn't involved in this program!

NASA's SOFIA aircraft preps for final flights ahead of mission end

Re: Fun fact

From you description sounds like your Dad might have been involved with early RC-135 projects that eventually evolved into the RC-135S Cobra Ball. Not used for astronomy at all, rather IR cameras and telescopes to track missle launches

FAA now says 5G airports may interfere with Boeing 737s

Photo...

...is of a Boeing 787 not a 737. Get a stock image of a South West Airlines aircraft much more appropriate.

The Register to publish Mindful Sysadmin adult colouring book

Happy April Fools Day!

Boffins: We know what KILLED the DINOS – and it wasn't just an asteroid

Re: Terminology:

The last two pages of that PDF are fantastic I'm always getting Eras, Periods and Epochs mixed up, have an upvote!

MYSTERIES of remote ICE WORLD PLUTO: New pics BAMBOOZLE boffins

Is it just me or is that last close-up actually the Isle of Wight?....

Distro diaspora: Four flavours of Ubuntu unpacked

T42? FakePAE!

I have Xubuntu 13.10 running quite happily using FakePAE on a T42 ThinkPad https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PAE OK the installation is long winded but it works...

Review: Mio Cyclo 300 cycling satnav

Garmin Dakota 20

I use a Dakota 20 with OS maps (1:50K) and it's compatible with Garmin heart rate and cadence meters wirelessly, the screen is dull with the back light off but in daylight you don't need it plus it makes the AAs last longer. Overall it's good as a bicycle GPS unit albeit a little bit bulky. This and the lower spec (discontinued?) Dakota 10 will be available for similar money. A bicycle GPS is really good idea for route following and giving you an idea of the upcoming terrain either on or off road, especially with OS mapping.

Apple's first batch of iPhone 5 preorders sold out in an hour

preorder?

Nope you've just ordered it...

Woomera: Ghosts of Britain's space past

Gap filling

1 though 4 are a bit of a mystery to me...

5. Is an Ikara Anti Submarine rocket that had nuclear warhead in production

6. Looks alot like a Sea Slug (Looks as though it probably shot down a Fairey Firefly drone!)

7. Is an English Electric Canberra (but not sure of the mark though, a B.2(mod)?)

8. Is a Gloster Meteor T.7 but with a camera nose from an FR.9 or PR.10

DARPA drops another HTV-2

RE: “global strike” capability that could reacion on the planet within a few minutes.

The US already have that... They're called ICBMs! Swap the nuclear warheads for some concrete or conventional explosives and there you go...

Canada buys Obama's reject Brit choppers for spare parts

Don't worry though....

The MoD will be getting some (but not all) of that cash... So the US Marine Corps can buy our old Harriers to do exactly the same thing i.e. breaking them up for parts to keep theirs flying!

Haumea: Mysterious radioactive rugby-ball world

Alien spacecraft crash site anyone

Perhaps...?

Vote now for the best sci-fi film never made

Mostly Completely UNFILMABLE

Most of list this can never, ever be filmed what you've got here is a great reading list. Use you brain to make the special effects people! I'm not voting for this very reason... but if I did it would be for the Atrocity Archives at least there's a fighting chance of filming that, if it was made in the UK!

Robo-warship sub hunter: Free DARPA crowdsauce game

Sink Link

http://www.darpa.mil/VideoFiles/ACTUV/DARPA%20ACTUV%20Game.zip

DIMENSIONAL PORTAL INCURSION AT THE LHC!

I for one...

welcome the fact that it's 01/04/10!

Street View plays spot the army numberplate

Anti Opel Artillery

That's a Bloodhound Surface to Air Missile so not much good for blowing up cars sadly. Perhaps the MOD can request the number plate to be blurred - once somebody there can figure out who to ask and then get the 15 forms filled in!

Designer pitches flat-pack power plug

Get this made!

One of the best bits of design I've seen in a long time - Someone get this into production NOW!