Happy Hour

"IF A LIFETIME CAN BE LIKENED TO A DAY, THEN THIS IS HAPPY HOUR!"
BUCK PENNINGTON

Mother, Mother Ocean

Mother, Mother Ocean, I've heard you call
Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall
You've seen it all, you've seen it all
Watched the men who rode you, switch from sails to steam
In your belly you hold the treasures, few have ever seen
Most of 'em dream, most of 'em dream
Yes, I am a pirate, two hundred year's too late
The cannons don't thunder, there's nothin' to plunder
I'm an over-forty victim of fate
Arriving too late, arriving too late

Yoda

"Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is."
―Yoda, to Luke Skywalker

Counted the Stars

Counted the stars on the 4th of July
Wishing we were rockets bursting in the sky
Talking about redemption and leaving things behind
I have these pictures and I keep these photographs
To remind me of a time
These pictures and these photographs
Let me know I'm doin' fine
We used to be so happy once upon a time
Once upon a time
But the sun sank west of the Mendocino County Line
And the sun sank west of the Mendocino County Line


""SOME SEE A GLASS AS HALF FULL, SOME SEE IT AS HALF EMPTY, I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO’S DRINKING MY RUM."
Rumbear

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Here's why a British aircraft carrier will host an American F-35 contingent

"It seems the F-111 experience was forgotten by designers and program managers of the current JSF/F-35 program. This time, however, it was not just the Navy and Air Force, but also the British and the US Marines who were affected by the high hopes about per-unit cost, commonality, and the answer to everyone’s problems."

This thing is a money pit and it is losing customers.

f-35 b


Here's why a British aircraft carrier will host an American F-35 contingent

Monday, April 27, 2015

RnoAF Tiger Meet Jets

Seeing as I was the ACC on Christine-aka 80-3666, here are some Tiger Meet Jet participant paint schemes















Mojave Boneyard (MHV)

Sunday run to the Stater Bros market in Mojave...............
I took a few pics on the way home.
Better vantage point..................

There are two Thai 747-400s separate from the rest.
Thai Airways

One of these former Air Canada 767s is the Gimli Glider

In the back of the pack are a pair of KLM MD-11s



A lot of Southern Air 747F Airframes


Train coming down to Mojave with a pair of pusher units

BAC 1-11 Airliners that have been here for quite a long time


Sunday, April 26, 2015

Granddaughter Piper

New pictures of the youngest granddaughter, Piper Olivia.

Jethawks Baseball

Missus ORPO and I went to the Jethawks v Modesto Nuts game Saturday evening.
It was on the cold side.
High quality Malt Beverages from Kinetic were enjoyed as well.
Jethawks 5-Nuts 4.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Kursk-Air & Space Magazine

















"The greatest tank battle in history might have ended differently had it not been for the action in the air."

Two of my favourite aircraft took part in this massive action, the IL-2 Sturmovik and the JU-87.



The full story is at the link below. It is very interesting, at least to me it is. Enjoy a good read!

Kursk 

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Obscure Plane Pr0n-Curtiss SO3C Seamew

Regular Day Off. Not much to do and started looking at not so well known aircraft.

"From the time it entered service the SO3C suffered two serious flaws: inflight stability problems and problems with the unique Ranger air-cooled V-shaped inline engine. The stability problem was mostly resolved with the introduction of upturned wingtips and a larger rear tail surface that extended over the rear observer's cockpit. The additional tail surface was attached to the rear observer's sliding canopy and pilots claimed there were still stability problems when the canopy was open. The canopy was often open because the aircraft's main role was spotting. While the inflight stability problem was eventually addressed (although not fully solved), the Ranger XV-770 engine proved a dismal failure even after many attempted modifications. Poor flight performance and a poor maintenance record led to the SO3C being withdrawn from US Navy first line units by 1944. The older biplane SOC was taken from stateside training units and restored to first-line service on many US Navy warships until the end of World War II."







I wonder how much it would cost to get prints for a scaled down LSA Seamew? It is a funky and cool looking airplane. Heavy on the funky.

Memorial Day 2015: Israel remembers its fallen soldiers and civilians - National

May Their Memory Be A Blessing

Memorial Day ceremony at the Western Wall, April 21, 2015

Memorial Day 2015: Israel remembers its fallen soldiers and civilians - National

Storm moving in

A front came in and dumped rain in various parts of So Cal but not where we live. We did get some rather awesome clouds, though.
I took a few shots on the way to work yesterday afternoon.
Here are a few for your enjoyment.





Milestone of some significance..................

I was checking the stats page......................
At some point on Monday, this humble little blog that began in October of 2009 hit the 500,000 hit mark
Wow
Just Wow
Who would have ever thought.............................................
Wish Buck and Lex were around for it...............................................
I thank all who have put up with the bad and enjoyed the good........................
Looking forward to cracking the 750K mark.........................

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Theo Spark: Bumper-Stickers Seen On Military Bases :

Good one from Theo Spark-Last Of The Few

“One Shot, Twelve Kills:   U.S. Naval Gun Fire Support “--I do like this one!

Theo Spark: Bumper-Stickers Seen On Military Bases :: “When in Doubt, Empty The Magazine”   “Sniper:       You can run, but you’l...

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Desert Evening in Cal City

Made a quick run to Rite Aid for a stogie.
This cloud with the setting sun on it looked cool.

City Hall with The PD antenna cluster


Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Placard. Handicapped Parking...........................................

Was this bound to happen? I have no idea but it is here...................
Capsulitis.
Plantar Faciitis
The Neuropathy is a side dish at the moment.
Good until July 1.

Not so random pictures of the desert

Some of these are from my run to Barstow a few weeks ago and some are from my run to Ridgecrest today.
The Barstow trip was to get my free National Parks Lifetime Pass and the Ridgecrest trip was to get my temporary Handicap Placard.

Long since abandoned along the old Santa Fe

Closer view

San Bernardino Mountains

West Siding Signal Jim Grey


Today's sampling along Neuralia Road and SR 14 follows

Long abandoned ranch stead

Looking North along Neuralia Road

This was a Honda Proving Ground

Neuralia Road at Red Rock-Randsberg Road

SR14 and Red Rock-Randsberg Road

Junction of SR14N and SR178E

Welcome to Inyokern

Descending toward Red Rock Canyon SP and The Fremont Valley
Mojave is close.......Bishop is a long ways


Drifting Sand? In the Desert? Say it ain't so!




I will not go down and tell my children I didn't have the courage, the conviction, the commitment or the character to fight for this country...Don't go home and let your children down~~ LTC Allen West

Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus

‎"Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.("Therefore, he who desires peace, let him prepare for war")" from "Epitoma Rei Militaris," by Vegetius (Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus)