Life takes us in many strange directions and wonderful discoveries. It never turns out the way we thought it would.
Sunday, April 30, 2023
Saturday, April 29, 2023
Russia Is Doing A Booming Business In Nuclear Reactors!!
Jack,
Friday, April 28, 2023
Thursday, April 27, 2023
Russia's Economy and the Ukraine War
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Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Bhutan: The Happy People
Shiny, Happy People
BHUTAN
In Bhutan, the law states that “if the government cannot create happiness for its people, there is no purpose for the government to exist.” The small, constitutional monarchy in the Himalayan mountains, taking the constitutionally enshrined “Gross National Happiness” principle seriously, therefore aims to foster sustainable development, free speech, environmental conservation, and other laudable policy goals. As a result, it’s one of the happiest developing nations in the world.
As RealClearWire wrote, however, Bhutanese citizens also must fulfill their responsibilities in exchange for this happiness. As the Buddhist maxim says, “A little effort on your part will be much more effective than a great deal of effort on the part of the government.”
For example, as the World Bank explained, the Bhutanese government helped support women who have opened businesses in rural villages to preserve local traditions and create jobs to lure younger workers who might otherwise flood into cities. Happiness was the result.
“The whole process of planning the revival of our community has given us an opportunity to listen to each other and set a new vision for the stewardship of our culture, and the nature around us,” said Madam Pem, who started a restaurant that serves almost-forgotten traditional food in Nobgang, a village in the country’s west.
Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is likely one reason why Pem and her fellow citizens might be joyful about their country. Soon after he ascended to the throne in 2006, he launched a democratization process, including scrapping anti-homosexuality laws in 2021.
The king in theory wanted to distance himself from the harsher periods in his country’s history. Political prisoners who allegedly suffered torture while in Bhutan are still in jail, for example. Most are from Bhutan’s crackdown on citizens who spoke Nepali in the 1990s. The government drove these people, who represented around 16 percent of the population at the time, into exile, argued Human Rights Watch.
Bhutan faces a bigger problem with its two titanic neighbors, India and China. The three countries have been engaging in negotiations in recent years over land claims in the space where their three borders meet, India Express explained. China has been trying to separate Bhutan from India, its traditional ally, ThePrint argued, citing an anti-India commentary in the Global Times, an English-language mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party.
Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering recently said China has an equal say in resolving the dispute. Objectively, he was probably correct. But many in India thought his comments were extremely concerning.
Maybe they should not worry and just be happy.
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Some Incredible Alternate History World War II Planes
It’s 1948. The hope of Allied atomic weapons faded with the double catastrophic failure of the American Manhattan Project and the success of the Japanese atomic weapons development, of which the three prototype bombs, (of six built with their limited atomic materials, thank you, Sage), devastated the huge Allied fleet approaching Japan in the late summer of 1945, sending the Allied forces reeling back in the Pacific.
(Above: Fw 195 Fighter/fighter bomber, two 37mm cannon, supercharged Jumo 213 engine.)
The other three bombs smashed Allied counter attack fleets in the Philippines, destroyed Pearl Harbor and the sixth has still to be used. With their five A-Bombs Germany has taken back France and even England lies under occupation, and long range US and Canadian bombardment. Soviets took the brunt of the other three German atomic weapons and now a new Soviet government east of the Urals still defends half of the Soviet Union. All advancements into Jet propulsion has evaded and confounded designers, the World War rages on in both the ETO and the PTO. Nations have poured their technology and resources into a new breed of modern prop-driven aircraft…
America, always at the forefront has been demanding new designs out of its aviation companies:
(Above: North American Mustang IV powered by a Packard-built Rolls Royce Griffon V-12 inline water-cooled engine, 2,350 hp, armed with 4 20mm Hispano cannon, 6 paddle-bladed prop.)
(Above: Prototype Alternate high-speed model of the Mustang IV above, significantly lighter, with swept wings, higher-tuned engine, larger “chin” radiator for the extra beat, only two 20mm cannons, and lighter, faster, higher HP version, and two 4 bladed contra-rotating props. Potentially 500–510 MPH.)
(Above: North American has updated the superlative P-51 Mustang into the sleek new swept-wing “Super ‘Stang” P-52.)
(Above: North American also added a tail gunner to the P-51-YZ, for extra firepower when escorting the B-30’s.)
(Above: In the tradition of the Doolittle Raid, North American took their best American two-engined bomber, the B-25 Mitchell, and modified it into the new more compact/easier carrier-launched bomber the “Doolittle” B-25-Z to send on more fast baby carrier raids against Japan.)
(Above: Curtiss Sea-Thunder TBV-1A. Two 2,400 hp P&W R-2800 radial engines, pusher/puller. Armament was composed of, for the prototype, and very early versions, of one aerial 2,000 lb aerial-launched torpedo, or one 1,000 lb and two 500 lb bombs, for dive-bombing missions. Four .50 cal. wing-mounted machines guns, and the defensive-turret was equipped with two .50 cal machine guns. (In the event, necessitating, of an emergency bail-out, the aft propeller could be jettisoned, by the pilot, or aft-placed crew member, in case that the pilot was killed, or, incapacitated, by pulling an emergency lever, which activated explosive bolts, which blew-off the aft propeller, thus, making a bail-out much, much safer.)
(Above: A take on the original Curtiss-Wright twin engine WW2 AT-9"Jeep", the AT-99A is powered with four Lycoming R-680 nine cylinder air cooled engines, rated at 300 hp apiece. Forward firepower was 6 X .30 mgs and 1 X 37 mm cannon. and "defensive" armament was 7 X .30 mgs. Two located just aft of the cockpit, two placed in each outer wingtip engine pod, and one mounted underside. Outer wing pods housed a gunner, who was supposed to lay flat, with his weapons retracted, sheltered under an armored retractable shield, with no window, while the craft took off and flew until combat became obvious. Then, the tip gunners could retract their shield, pop out their weapons, and finally get some air, and then fight. This arrangement was called the "coffin"! The new AT (Attack Trainer) -99A "Super Jeep", could speed up to 381 mph, but only with the turrets retracted. Normal top speed, with everyone hanging out, was 339 mph. Tight, high speed maneuvers were discouraged, as structural failure could occur. Pilots were instructed to use their superior speed in dive-attack-climb maneuvers, and the gunners could blast away at any enemy within range.” First combats with Japanese fighters have not been hopeful.)
(Above/ two below: Curtiss has a new, updated version of their classic P-40, breaking name tradition, the “Viper,” w/dual increased displacement Allison 1710–123 V-12 liquid-cooled engines making 1,800 horses, each, dual pusher tech and six M2 .50s.)
(Above: Boeing’s incredible B-30 raids Japan from bases in northern Australia.)
(Above: Failed prototype of an 10-engined B-17, the B-31, designed as a “Euro-Bomber,” attacking German targets from Newfoundland. Fuel and weight issues grounded her.)
(Above: Boeing’s experimental B-XX bomber, a smaller, faster, and cheaper bomber now that America’s resources are being strained to the limit. Using 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-4360-4 "Wasp Major" 28-cylinder radial engine, 3,300 hp apiece, it is reported to be delivered to the Nova Scotia airbases for attacks against Luftwaffe bases in Ireland.)
(Above: The B-XX’s Big brother, the Boeing six engined B-29Y “Ultra-fortress” currently leading attacks against China, the Philippines and Japan itself, from Allied bases in northern Australia, six P&W R-4360–3 engines of 3200 hp apiece. Pressurized it can reach 50,000 feet.)
(Above: Concept only at this stage, Boeing B-17/flying wing, no info.)
(Above: Boeing Concept 400-mph, low altitude strafer ground-attack w/two tandem Allison V-3420 engines, pusher/contra-rotating props.)
(Above/below: Consolidated B-32 Dominator featured unique reversible-pitch inboard propellers, together with the Davis wing, allowing high speed, a good lift during low-angle attacks, and excellent landing performance.)
(Above: “Jolly Rodger” PBY “Raider”. Consolidated, learning their PBY Catalina needed to be both majorly down-sized (1/3) and up-gunned with a 57mm antitank gun, for a more offensive role, plus the added benefits of extra speed, as demonstrated by units like the Black Cats.)
(Above: Consolidated also sleeked their B-24 Liberator into the faster, more fuel-efficient B-24-FF “Freedom.”)
(Above: Republic has created an anti-bomber/ground attack aircraft from their tough P-47 “Thunderbolt,” with double booms, ala the P-38 “Lightning,” 4 centralized nose-mounted 20 mm Hispano cannons, and two air-cooled P&W R 3300 engines for extra survivability.)
(Above: Republic’s Thunderbolt P-47-XX2 prototype. with two P&W R-2800–61 engines making 3000 hp each.)
(Above: Martin B-21B being attack by unknown “pusher” type German fighter.)
(Above/below: Joint Republic and North American prototype of pusher-tech fighter with 4 centralised 20mm cannons, and turbo-supercharged Packard-licensed Rolls Royce Griffon-engine.)
(Above/below: Lockheed has been experimenting with new updates of their P-38 “Lightning.)
(Above: Lockheed P-38 modified prototypes: XP-49 and XP-58 Chain Lightning.)
(Above/below: Lockheed experimental wing, and two seater, P-38 know as “Swordfish,” racer Tony Le Vier called it “Nosey.”)
(Above: Folding wing: Lockheed has proposed a carrier-based "Model 822" version of the Lightning for the US Navy. The Model 822 will featured folding wings, an arresting hook, and stronger undercarriage for carrier operations.)
(Above: Cancelled Lockheed float plane version of the P-38.)
(Above: New Lockheed P-38 “Thunderstick” ground attack version of the P-38 now causing havoc on Japanese installations in the Dutch East Indies. Double-paired-Allison V-1710 engines give her 6800 total hp, and can carry 9,000 lbs of ordnance, armed with 4 20mm Hispano cannon and extra fuel in wing and wing tip tanks.)
(Above: Chance Vought has kept the best of their F4U Corsair and added pusher-configuration to create the new “Buccaneer” F5U. using 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-4360-4 "Wasp Major" 28-cylinder “Corncob” “Super Corsair” radial engine, 3,300 hp apiece, its aviators are raving about its performance.)
(Above: Chance Vought/Curtiss hybrid-F4U/P-40 prototype, abandoned.)
(Above: designer proofs of the new F4U Flash-Corsair, there are high hopes for this model.)
Britain-in-exile operating a limited number of aircraft designed out of Montreal, has also been working on a number of new designs:
(Above: The Supermarine Spitfire Mk 83 “Trident” with three Griffon-engines of 2350 hp apiece and 4 20mm cannon in the inner wings. Speeds of 518 mph have been recorded and not has been nutrimental in chasing down long range German bombers.)
(Above/below: The fantastic new Hawker “CrossFire Hurricane” update, w/6 20mm Hispano cannon, uses twin Merlins and 4 20mm Hispanos, and has lately distinguished themselves for powerful strikes against the Africa Korps in battles for Chad flying out of bases in (still) British East Africa (Kenya.)
(Above/below: Hawker prototype, pusher, six-bladed design for chasing V-4 weapons.)
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(Above: Avro’s new Lancaster up-date, nicknamed “The Buster,” features four new larger displacement Rolls Royce Merlin 66s, and increased defensive armament, with the .303’s replaced with M2 .50’s. Flying out of Kenya against the Suez Canal and captured German oil production in Persia )
(Above: Rumoured new 8 Merlin-powered Avro Super-Lancaster. High hopes for this design.)
(Above: Vickers Wellington “6” updated with 6 Napier Sabre engines of 2300 hp each, it has been running “Vengeance” missions to bomb German installations in southern England.)
(Above: Hawker “Tornado” with the huge Bristol Centaurus radial engine, making 3000 HP, more aerodynamic frame and wings and 20mm cannons. Fighter and ground/shipping attack.)
The Soviet Union fights from behind fortresses in the Ural Mountains and in eastern Siberia. Luckily much of their manufacturing was already there, and much of their minerals and gas reserves are also there. Nut they remain in a precarious position trapped between the Axis powers.
(Above: Anatov 35 12-double engines, enough fire power to sink the Tirpitz and a 3000 mile range.)
(Above: Ilyushin has upgraded it’s venerable IL-2 Shturmovik armouring it even further, and offering different weapons packages (Four 37mm cannons displayed in image,) and the larger Mikulin Am-54C liquid-cooled V12 engine.)
(Ilyushin “Vik” Attack aircraft, a dedicated ground attack aircraft based on the IL-2.)
(Above: The failed Russian Kalinin K-7 led to… )
(Above: …The Kalinin K-24, “Ural Bomber,” 8 Klimov VK-109B V-12, liquid-cooled, 1700 HP engines, push-pull technology, with w/5 “parasitical” mini-fighters for protection, capable of striking German targets in the Ukraine, Poland and even eastern Germany from bases beyond the Ural Mountains.)
(Above: Lavochkin La-12, fighter-bomber, Shvetson ASh-96FF 14 cylinder, two-row radial 2000 HP engine. Crude, easy to produce in the thousands, hard to shoot down. Not much is know, even from the Soviet allies, but at least one squadron is piloted by Cossack aviators.)
(Above: Polikarpov I-22, Double-boom design inspired by Lockheed’s P-38, with two Shvetsov M-75 9-cylinder supercharged air-cooled radial engines and quad 23mm cannon.)
(Above: Yak 22X Reconnaissance aircraft, using double-joined 2 × Klimov M-105PF V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, of 1400 hp apiece, this sleek aircraft can reach speeds of 465 mph and has a range of 2450 miles.)
Japan, flush in resources from her “reacquired” possessions has produced a few new models but Allied intelligence is still in the dark as to some of their newest designs:
(Above/below: Joint Nakajima/Mitsubishi/Focke Wulf design, G6B “America Bomber,” 6 engined with incredible fuel capacity and capable of reaching New York from Japanese bases in the Aleutians. Not much is known about this dangerous weapon.)
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(Above/below: Nakajima G8N long-ranged 4 engine bomber.)
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(Above: Newly reported Mitsubishi A7M4-S Reppu “Chuck,” 4 engined push-pull technology.)
(Above/below: Kawasaki Ki-125, pusher-type, six 20mm centralized cannon in nose, MASSIVE engine unknown.)
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(Above: Mitsubishi J4M-Push-pull, two Mitsubishi Kasei MK5R, 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 1,300 kW (1,800 hp) for take-off, 1,174 kW (1,575 hp) at 1,800 m (5,906 ft), 1,051 kW (1,410 hp) at 4,800 m (15,748 ft) Two 4-bladed constant-speed metal propellers.)
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(above: Mitsubishi J788, Pusher-puller type, contra-rotating 5 bladed, triple Nakajima-powered heavy long-range bomber. 9 man crew. Protected by six gun positions of double 20mm cannon. Potentially very effective.)
(Above/below: Nakajima Type 88-R, twin contra-rotating prop, 4 20mm cannon, unknown engine.)
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(Above Ki-232 four contra-rotating props, push-pull engine set up. Unknown but worrisome.)
Germany has produced almost as many new designs as the US, impressive in new technology, esp. aided by their breakthrough synthetic/petroleum blend fuel of 180 octane, helped bu the capturing of both the Caucus oil fields and especially the Persian Gulf oil.
(Above: Junkers 187 ground-attack/dive bomber w/improved rear gunner position, better aerodynamic shape, more powerful Daimler Benz DB 605 DB/DC.)
(Above: Alternate proto-type Junkers 187-PZ, Push-tech/contra-prop ground-attack/dive bomber.)
(Above: Artist rendition of rumored Junkers “ultra-light” anti-tank, the “Rudel,” for Hitler Youth Air Korps, two 37mm cannon and 5 litre 300 hp 2-cycle engine. It will likely be used against the Soviets east of the Volga.)
(Above: Junkers EF-112, anti-bomber, 2 50mm cannon, Junkers Jumo 213E 1800HP engine.)
(Above: Proposed Dornier Do 214 and 216 long-range anti-shipping flying boats. Problematic if they are actually developed.)
(Above: Henschel 132 anti-tank, w/single 50mm MK5 cannon, and two BMW 801 radial engines.)
(Above: Blohm & Voss BV 194, anti-tank, (and occasionally anti-bomber), with 76 Pak 40 variant, and Junkers Jumo 213E 1800HP engine.)
(Above: Lippisch Li P.04–106 “stealth” night fighter. Four 37mm cannon and two unknown pusher-engines.)
(Above: Messerschmidt 112, two 20mm cannon in upper fuselage and one 30mm firing through the prop. and K model, Db 605 Db/Dc. Easier and quicker to produce than the old, outdated 109, the “Mini-109″ seems to be a stop-gap measure for Messerschmidt as they gear up their new aircraft.)
(Above: Me 272, 4 30mm cannons in nose, two 6 bladed props powered by the new Db 609 AD 2100 hp engine.)
(Above/below: Messerschmidt prototype BD powered Bf 609, mid-fuselage, twin contra-props, Db 609 engine, three 30mm cannons centralised in the nose.)
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(Above: Dangerous new Bf 1099, dual-engined air superiority fighter, with two Db 605 DB/DC engines, with methane-water injection, 2300hp each on WEP, and four 20mm cannons centralised in nose. High performance has been raiding deep into British territory. Seen here against the new Hawker “Crossfire Hurricane” update, the dual Rolls Royce Griffon-power. )
(Above: AS-YET UNIDENTIFIED, Rumored update of Messerschmidt’s attack-fighter/anti-bomber Bf 110 with K model upgraded Daimler Benz 605 engines. Possible night fighter version also rumoured.)
(Above/below: Focke Wulf Ta-165, high altitude fighter, three Junkers Jumo 213E 1800HP engines, six wing mounted 20mm cannons, pressurised cabin.)
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(Above: Focke Wulf 300 “Super Condor”, eight Junkers Jumo 213E 1800HP engines, long range bomber. With massive wing tanks, 4300 mile range is possible, making targets/cities on America’s East Coast in jeopardy. Cruising speeds as high as 412 mph have been reported.)
(Above: Swept-wing FW Ta -155, very dangerous, the aircraft that decimated the last B-29 raid against German Luftwaffe bases in Wales. 4-20mm and 2-13mm.)
(Above: EWR VJ 202 experimental German vertical takeoff/landing (VTOL. Unknown specifications.)
(Above/below: Two Recon photos of huge, new unknown ultra-performance/high-altitude German prototype aircraft. Rumors of 53,000 feet.)
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(Above: Top Secret photo of an unknown aircraft type discovered crash-landed in the forests in Brazil near the Argentina border.)
(Heinkel 56 “Blitzkrieg,) pusher design, unknown engines and armament.)
(Above: Hutter Hu 136 designed with Messerschmidt, “People’s Reconnaissance,” supercharged and MW-50 injected with no armament, top speed 454 mph.)
(Above: Unknown bomber design caught on a Soviet reconnaissance flight over Moscow.)
(Some of this art is mine, some from friends, some… If you are a fan of PK Dick’s Man in the High Castle, and Luftwaffe 1946, or alternative histories, hats off to you!)