
David
Sat January 3, 2004 9:38pm Rating: 10
|
Su-25 Frogfoot
Function: Dedicated Close Air Support (CAS) ground attack fighter.
History: Introduced in 1980, the Su-25 Frogfoot was the first dedicated ground attack aircraft produced by the Soviet Union since the World War Two era propeller driven Il-2 Shturmovik. drawing heavily on lessons learned by the American Air Force during the vietnam war, and mirroring the performance of the American A-10 Warthog, the Frogfoot is a rugged aircraft capable of accuratly delivering a heavy payload from low altitude and surviving in the low level, high threat forward area environment. Though the Sukhoi Design Bureau originally sought to rely on speed to survive, it was determined that increased speed reduced the low level battlefield effectiveness of the aircraft. In short, if the aircraft was to perform its job effectivly, it would have to be capable of operating at low speeds; speed would be sacrificed for low speed maneuverability and heavy armor.
After several design changes, the first prototypes were approved in 1980. The first production Frogfoots were equipped with twin multi-fuel non afterburning turbojet engines, a twin barreled internally mounted 30mm cannon, titanium armor around the pilot and control surfaces, and foam filled, non-explosive self sealing fuel cells. The Su-25 was equipped with eleven underwing and under body hard points, was capable of delivering 4000 kilograms (8,818 pounds) of ordnance and could be operated off of unimproved dirt strips.
Following combat experience in Afganistan, an improved version, the Frogfoot-B, was fielded in 1984. The B model was a production modified version of the two seat Frogfoot-A trainer. The second seat was removed, as was the internal gun, and additional fuel, armor, and avionics were installed, in addition to an improved 30mm cannon, mounted in an external pod. In addition, the Frogfoot's lack of all weather, night time capability was addressed by incorperating a Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) low light navigation system as well as a TV camera and laser designator, spot tracker and rangefinding package.
Although the Frogfoot has been out of production for a number of years, it still remains in front line service with Russia's Frontal Aviation as well as many export nations, including Iraq.
General Characteristics, Su-25 Frogfoot
Designer:
Sukhoi Design Bureau
Power Plant:
Two MNPK Tumanskii R-195 turbojets
Thrust:
9,921 pounds thrust each
Length:
15.53 meters (50 feet, 11.5 inches)
Height:
4.80 meters (15 feet, 9 inches)
Wingspan:
14.36 m (47 feet, 1.4 inches)
Speed:
950 kmh (590 mph) at sea level
Date Deployed:
1980
Ceiling:
7,000 meters (22,965 feet)
Weight:
9,800 kilograms (21,605 pounds) empty
Maximum Takeoff Weight:
18,600 kilograms (41,005 pounds)
Range:
Combat radius 495 kilometers (308 miles)
Crew:
One
Armament:
One AO-17A 30-mm twin barreled cannon
4,000 kilograms (8,818 pounds) of external ordinance including missiles, rockets, gravity bombs, and guided munitions carried on 11 hardpoints
|
|

David
Sat January 3, 2004 9:38pm
|
Su-34 Flanker
Function: Tactical fighter bomber.
History: Developed in the late 1980's as a variant to the Su-27 Flanker B, the Su-27IB (or Su-34) is a new tactical fighter bomber intended to replace the aging fleet of Russian Su-17, Su-24, and MiG-27 attack aircraft currently in service. Based on the Su-27UB two seat in line trainer, the Su-34 first flew in April of 1990 with the first purpose built tandem side by side seat prototype flying in December of 1993.
Description: As a strike aircraft, the Su-34 incorperates an advanced multi-function phased array radar capable of terrain following and avoidance for high speed, low level operations. In addition, the Su-34 features a rearward facing radar capqable of detecting, tracking, and directing R-73 or R-77 AAMs at persuing enemy aircraft. In addition to its capabilities as a strike aircraft, a version is being fielded to replace the Su-24MR for service as a tactical reconnaissance aircraft (similar in function to the RC-4 Phantom II) and airborne electronic warfare (similar to the EF-111 Raven). This version will incorperate sideways looking radar, signal gathering and classification equipment, television, infrared, laser and photographic abilities into a single, fully integrated package. The Su-34 is currently entering service with the Russian Airforce with Naval and export versions under development.
General Characteristics, Su-34 Flanker
Designer:
Sukhoi Design Bureau
Power Plant:
Two Lyulka AL-31MF afterburning turbofans
Thrust:
29,320 pounds each
Length:
21.94 meters (71.98 feet)
Height:
5.93 meters (19.45 feet)
Wingspan:
14.7 meters (48.22 feet)
Speed:
2,500 kmh (1,553 mph) at 30,000 feet
1,400 kmh (870 mph) at sea level
Ceiling:
18,000 meters (59,055 feet)
Weight:
23,249 kilograms (51,257 pounds) empty
Maximum Takeoff Weight:
44,359 kilograms (97,796 pounds)
Range:
4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles) on internal fuel; capable of in-flight refueling
Crew:
Two
Armament:
One GSh-30-1 30mm internally mounted cannon with 225 rounds of ammunition
17,635 pounds (8,000 kilograms) of external ordinance including missiles, rockets, gravity bombs, and guided munitions carried on 11 hardpoints
Date Deployed:
1997
|
|

David
Sun January 4, 2004 12:31am
|
Deep Submergence Rescue V
Function: Deep submergence rescue vehicle.
History: DSRVs were developed as a result of the USS Thresher submarine accident in 1963, when all hands were lost. At the time, submarine operating depths greatly exceeded the capabilities of rescue vessels. The Deep Submergence Systems Project contracted with Lockheed Missiles and Space, Co. to produce a deep diving rescue submarine, the first of which was launched in 1970.
Description: The primary mission of the DSRV is to provide a quick reaction, worldwide, all-weather capability to rescue personnel from submerged, disabled submarines (DISSUB) of the U.S. Navy or foreign navies at depths up to 2000 feet. The maximum operating depth is approximately 5000 feet. Mystic can be transported by truck, aircraft, surface ship, or on a mother submarine. For a rescue operation, it can dive, locate the DISSUB, and attach itself to the DISSUB's rescue seat. After the DSRV is properly attached to the submarine, the DISSUB's access hatches are opened and submarine personnel can directly the DSRV. The DSRV then detaches from the submarine and transfers the rescued personnel to the support ship.
General Characteristics, DSRV
Builders:
Lockheed Missiles and Space Company, Sunnyvale, CA
Power Plant:
Electric motors, silver/zinc batteries,
1 shaft, 15 shaft horsepower, 4 thrusters, 7.5 horsepower
Length, Overall:
49 feet (14.94 meters)
Beam:
8 feet (2.44 meters)
Displacement:
38 long tons (38.61 metric tons)
Speed:
4 kts (4.6 mph, 7.40 kph)
Maximum Operating Depth:
5,000 feet (1524 meters)
Crew:
2 pilots, 2 rescue personnel and capacity for 24 passengers
Sonar:
Deep submergence obstacle avoidance sonar (DSOAS): 27 kHz, (8,000 yard range)
Downward looking sonar (DLS): Sonar for hatch mating 500 kHz (600 ft. range)
Altitude/depth sonar(A/D): 24 kHz SONAR 0-5,000 ft. range)
UQC, 8 kHz, Voice and CW (ATM 504)
Directional listening hydrophone tuned to 3.5 kHz
Side looking sonar (installed for alternate mission), 1 ft. resolution, 183 kHz; maximum range 1200 ft. either side (2400 ft. total)
Equipment:
One gripper/cutter designed to clear debris from hatch; capable of cutting steel cable and lifting 1000 lbs.
Ships:
Mystic (DSRV-1) deployed 1970
Avalon (DSRV-2) deployed 1971
|
|

David
Thu April 15, 2004 2:05pm
|
Vincennes, 24 February 17
Warfare between frontiersman and Indian increased in intensity during the Revolution. The British from posts at Niagara and Detroit encouraged Indian attacks that harassed the westernmost settlements. In mid-1778 George Rogers Clark with about 175 to 200 men set out on an expedition sponsored by the Commonwealth of Virginia with the ostensible purpose of defending Kentucky but with secret orders to take the British posts in the Illinois country and if possible, Detroit. In July 1778 by surprise moves and by winning the sympathy of the French settlers he captured Vincennes and Kaskaskia without firing a shot.
In December 1778 Colonel Henry Hamilton, the British commander at Detroit, retaliated, recapturing Vincennes and rebuilding the dilapidated Fort Sackville there. Clark, determined not to have Vincennes remain in British hands, started out on a bold 180-mile mid-winter march from Kaskaskia to retake the fort. Fording and ferrying numerous icy streams and flooded rivers, Clark and his nearly starved men reached Vincennes on 23 February 1779. He warned the inhabitants of his approach and marched his men back and forth with many flags to create the impression of an overwhelming force. The French welcomed the Americans and the Indians fled into the woods.
After a brief fight Hamilton agreed to surrender, and on the 25th marched his garrison from the fort between two companies of frontiersmen. Looking around as he presented his sword to Clark, Hamilton is said to have exclaimed, "Colonel Clark, where is your army?" At the same moment two other American companies entered Fort Sackville and raised the American flag.
Clark was unable to achieve his goal of capturing Detroit and did not completely halt Indian attacks on Kentucky, but his amazing exploits strengthened American claims to the Northwest territory.
|
|

Doc.2/47
Wed June 2, 2004 1:39pm
|
Looking for trouble(and h
Looking for an NVA basecamp.
|
|

David
Mon October 4, 2004 11:24am
|
Sgt. Sherwood R. Baker
Sgt. Sherwood R. Baker
30
Company B, 2nd Battalion, 103rd Armor Regiment, Pennsylvania Army National Guard
Plymouth, Pennsylvania
Killed in a large explosion during a military raid looking for suspected "chemical munitions" at a building in northeastern Baghdad, Iraq, on April 26, 2004
|
|

David
Thu October 7, 2004 9:44am
|
M
M?daille de la Fid?lit? Fran?aise - (The Medal for Fidelity to France) instituted on 3 July 1922 and awarded to inhabitants of the two border regions of Alsace and Lorraine, who had been either imprisoned or exiled by the occupying Germans because of their loyalty to France. A bar on the ribbon bears the word "Fid?lit?" and a bronze star indicates each year of imprisonment or exile.
Ribbon = blue with red outer and white inner side stripes an a narrow white edge. Obverse : two women seated, looking out across country. Reverse : a bundle of fasces between crossed oak and laurel sprays, with a 3-foldriband, lettered "Libert? / Egalit? / Fraternit?" (the French national motto). Metal : bronze.
|
|

David
Thu October 7, 2004 12:45pm
|
Austrian Pilots Badge
Austrian Pilots Badge: This is the Austro-Hungarian Army pilots badge worn during the early and mid-war years. The badge is of two-piece construction and features gilting and enammeling and is one of the prettiest of WWI avaition badges. In the center is an eagle flying over the landscape and looking for prey. The leaves represent a spray of oakleaves. Several German pilots flying with Austrian units and passing Austrian flight qualifications and examinations wore this badge. Manfred von Richtofen was one of these, and during the early part of his carreer flew observation planes on the Russian front.
Following the death of Franz Joseph in 1916, and the ascension of his nephew Karl to the imperial throne, the design of Austrian pilots badges was changed. The new badge, had Karl's cypher in the shield at the bottom and two crowns at the top.
|
|

David
Wed August 3, 2005 3:11pm
|
Chief Looking Glass, one
Chief Looking Glass, one of Chief Joseph's most able lieutenants. Killed during the Nez Perc? war.
|
|

frisco-kid
Sun December 4, 2005 9:31pm Rating: 8
|
100_0047_2
Kath looking at some clothing. She wasn't as aggressive at bartering as I was, but she was getting tha hang of it towards the end.
|
|

frisco-kid
Sun December 4, 2005 11:07pm
|
12-3-2005-19
Looking downstream below the falls. There's a beautiful park area on the left.
|
|

frisco-kid
Mon December 5, 2005 10:25am
|
100_0003
It's about 3mi. around the lake. There's an excellent walking path that goes around the whole lake, taking you past beautiful flower gardens, beautiful homes, a Buddhist temple, and glimpses of a great looking, but hilly, golf course.
|
|

frisco-kid
Tue December 20, 2005 11:19pm
|
100_0089_2
Looking at the hotel from the river.
|
|

frisco-kid
Wed December 21, 2005 11:37pm
|
100_0002_2
After a 13hr. flight on Asiana Airlines we arrive at the Seoul, Korea Airport. We have a 13hr. lay-over. We planned that so we could look around Korea a little bit. Always looking for adventure .
Before we arrived, another passenger told us that the airline would comp us a room. When we landed we checked it out, and it was a true story; room, transportation to and from the airport, and a lunch. What a deal.
After processing us into Korea, they put us on a bus and take us to a hotel in Inchon, which is where the airport actually is. It's a small, but adequate room, and it's nice to have a place to relax after the long flight. It's still early, so we take a nap. LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN!
|
|

Keith_Hixson
Thu December 7, 2006 1:05pm
|
Looking East across the i
The peak in the background is the highest peak on Molokai.
|
|
|