The Ultimate BB Gun

Worth watching: The Ultimate BB Gun---Some Interesting History: This is an incredible story that explains how the Lewis and Clark expedition intimidated the Indians and were never seriously threatened.

This is the air rifle that Lewis and Clark took on their expedition and AMAZED the Indians!
It takes 1500 strokes to pump this rifle to full pressure, after which it could shoot more than 400 . 46 cal . round balls, each of which can blast a clean hole through a 1 inch pine board at 100 yards.
This is a VERY interesting  gun!  How many of you very gun-knowledgeable folks out there even knew that a rifle like this ever existed, especially back then?

This video is with sound and great on full screen.
 
Click here: 



GERMAN WONDERLAND

You will be amazed, if not blown away by this 5 minute video presentation covering model railroad layouts of all kinds & various locations around the world, operating planes/other vehicles... & even recognition to our Space Shuttle program! 

There have been little clips about this place for the past few years, it is still not finished but is growing to that conclusion as they will soon run out of space.

A short review, it was started by two brothers as a place to show their hobby, it started growing by leaps & bounds. Soon they were joined by other 'Model Railroad Clubs' and other craftsmen. Some were electricians, model makers, Carpenters, computer programmers. Their wives would stop by to see what they were doing and usually bring them a lunch.

One thing led to another. Three of the ladies had worked at a bakery, several visitors would ask if they had a snack bar. The Idea was planted; some of the carpenters came and built a nice restaurant area for the bakery and a kitchen too. If the fresh Coffee smell didn't get you then the bakery definitely would.This was about 5 years ago. One of the Breweries came and furnished all of the tables and chairs, serving counter and, etc.

Their latest finished area is the airport. Planes look like they are flying and landing.

GERMAN WONDERLAND link below - AMAZING

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACkmg3Y64_s


Chinese Airline Engine Repair

Just in case any of you are considering flying with or for a Chinese airline.

  

A pilot for a Chinese carrier requested permission and landed at  FRA ( Frankfurt , Germany) for an unscheduled refueling stop.

The reason soon became apparent to the ground crew:  The Number 3 engine had been shutdown previously because of excessive vibration, and because it didn't look too good. It  had apparently been no problem for the ground crew back in China: as they took some sturdy straps and wrapped them around two of the  fan blades and the structures behind, thus stopping any unwanted wind-milling (engine spinning by itself due to airflow passing through the  blades during flight) and associated uncomfortable vibration caused by the sub optimal fan.

 

 

Note that the straps are seat-belts.... how resourceful!

After making the "repairs", off they went into the wild  blue yonder with another revenue-making flight on only three engines!

With the increased fuel  consumption, they got a bit low on fuel, and just  set it down at the closest airport (FRA) for a quick refill.

 

That's when the problems started: The Germans, who are kind of picky about  this stuff, inspected the malfunctioning engine and immediately grounded the aircraft. (Besides the seat-belts, notice the appalling condition of the fan blades.)

The airline operator had to send a chunk of money to get the first engine replaced (took about 10 days). The repair contractor decided to do some impromptu inspection  work on the other engines, none of which looked  all that great either.

The result: a total of 3 engines were eventually changed on this plane before it was permitted to fly again.

 

 

 

 And you all were worried about toys with lead paint!!!!

Mark Twain on the Jews

MARK TWAIN: THE JEWS
Harper's, September 1899

“If the statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of star dust lost in the blaze of the Milky Way. Properly the Jew ought hardly be heard of; but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world's list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine, and obtuse learning are also way out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a marvelous fight in this world in all the ages, and has done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself and be excused for it. The Egyptians, the Babylonians, and the Persians rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, and faded to dream stuff and passed away. The Greeks and the Romans followed and made a vast noise and they are gone. Other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time. But it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all. Beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew. All other forces pass, but he remains.”

Every airplane that was ever built. ....

Subject: Every airplane that was ever built. ....

You will definitely want to copy and paste the following link into your
browser:   

You can pull up just about every airplane that was ever built and every aircraft company ever to produce any airplane in every country in the world. Want to check out almost any airplane ever built in the world? Old, new, military, civilian, whatever? Browse this fascinating site for a few minutes. You will be amazed at what has been done in airplane design. The amount of info available on every airplane is unbelievable.

This is a super reference file. This is absolutely unreal and an
excellent job of consolidating all this information. If you like airplanes, you'll love this site.

For the fun of it, click on the "Z" in the alphabetical listing. To give
you an idea of the complexity of this site, on clicking the "Z" you will see aircraft companies that I can guarantee you never heard of.In some case where the aircraft type is grayed out, I guess data was just not available.
                                                          

Why is the U.S. Buying Russian Helicopters?

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2013/1207/Why-is-US-buying-Russian-helicopters-for-Afghan-military

To outfit Afghanistan's security forces with new helicopters, the Pentagon bypassed U.S. companies and turned instead to Moscow for dozens of Russian Mi-17 rotorcraft at a cost of more than $1 billion.

"So why are we buying Russian helicopters when there are American manufacturers (Boeing) that can meet that very same requirement?" [Sen. John] Cornyn asked. "Makes no sense whatsoever and the Department of Defense has steadfastly refused to cooperate with reasonable inquiries into why in the world they continue to persist along this pathway."

On top of all that, corruption is rampant in Russia's defense industry, heightening concerns that crooked government officials and contractors are lining their pockets with American money.

"We're not dealing with a corrupt system. Corruption is the system," said Stephen Blank, a Russia expert at the American Foreign Policy Council, a Washington think tank. "This is not a world we're familiar with."