Better uses are a dime a dozen. Unfortunately we "need" defense because some overlords would just like to run over the defenseless.
We haven't made it to the United Federation of Planets - yet.
Not sure if Dave is referring to the money we spend on defense that is wasted. If so, I agree. But you are correct Richard. We need a defense and we need a better updated defense that might actually stand a chance of defending something. We do have NATO of course but they are on the verge of telling us to either crawl under a rock or start actually showing that we can contribute something more meaningful than leftover and worn out second world war antiques.
 
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Not sure if Dave is referring to the money we spend on defense that is wasted. If so, I agree. But you are correct Richard. We need a defense and we need a better updated defense that might actually stand a chance of defending something. We do have NATO of course but they are on the verge of telling us to either crawl under a rock or start actually showing that we can contribute something more meaningful than leftover and worn out second world war antiques.
I agree with all. We do need defense, and its ,supposedly, not the dark ages anymore , so a few swords and some arrows won't be the solution. Its a shame that it does suck a huge portion of dollars, that could be used in other ways.
 
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I agree with all. We do need defense, and its ,supposedly, not the dark ages anymore , so a few swords and some arrows won't be the solution. Its a shame that it does suck a huge portion of dollars, that could be used in other ways.
Insurance of all types seems to be expensive.
 
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Only two original Peashooters remain today. One is airworthy and is owned by the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California. The P-26A, serial number 33-123, is regularly featured in the annual Planes of Fame Air Show and was obtained from Guatemala. The second original aircraft is owned by the National Air and Space Museum. The P-26A, serial number 33-135, was also obtained from Guatemala and is on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia in the 34th Pursuit Squadron “Thunderbirds” livery.
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Only two original Peashooters remain today. One is airworthy and is owned by the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California. The P-26A, serial number 33-123, is regularly featured in the annual Planes of Fame Air Show and was obtained from Guatemala. The second original aircraft is owned by the National Air and Space Museum. The P-26A, serial number 33-135, was also obtained from Guatemala and is on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia in the 34th Pursuit Squadron “Thunderbirds” livery.
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Don't know about those "facts"
We had peashooters in school!
 
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A Boeing-led Australian industry team on May 4 presented the first prototype Loyal Wingman unmanned aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force. As the first of three prototypes planned for Australia’s Loyal Wingman Advanced Development Program, the aircraft also serves as the foundation for Boeing’s Airpower Teaming System (ATS) aimed at the global defense market.

The prototype unveiling comes after the Loyal Wingman team in mid-April announced the program achieved weight-on-wheels and aircraft-power-on milestones, with the first aircraft fuselage completed in February. The Loyal Wingman prototype now moves into ground testing, followed by taxi and first flight later this year.

Loyal Wingman weight-on-wheels milestone

Boeing explains the aircraft, which uses artificial intelligence to extend the capabilities of manned and unmanned platforms, is the first to be designed, engineered and manufactured in Australia in more than 50 years. It also represents Boeing’s largest investment in an unmanned aircraft outside of the United States.

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Small, fast , deadly .
Airbus Helicopters announced it had completed final qualification testing of its HForce weapons platform on the H145M, the military version of the company’s lightweight twin-engine. The tests were conducted on a base in Pàpa, in western Hungary. The integrated HForce weapon system, designed for use on the military versions of the H125, H145 and H225, aims to provide governments with adaptable equipment. It is designed to meet the requirements of defense agencies seeking to complement the abilities of their existing fleets of specialized attack helicopters. The HForce testing, conducted primarily on the H225, aims to achieve defense agency qualification in the very near future. The tested system featured guns (FN Herstal HMP400), unguided rockets (Thales FZ231) and cannons (Nexter NC621), as well as an electro-optical targeting system by Wescam (MX15) and a helmet-mounted sight display by Thales (Scorpion). The next steps prior to the qualification of HForce on the H145M include the development testing of laser-guided rockets in Sweden before the end of the year and additional live-firing trials in summer 2018.
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A Boeing-led Australian industry team on May 4 presented the first prototype Loyal Wingman unmanned aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force. As the first of three prototypes planned for Australia’s Loyal Wingman Advanced Development Program, the aircraft also serves as the foundation for Boeing’s Airpower Teaming System (ATS) aimed at the global defense market.

The prototype unveiling comes after the Loyal Wingman team in mid-April announced the program achieved weight-on-wheels and aircraft-power-on milestones, with the first aircraft fuselage completed in February. The Loyal Wingman prototype now moves into ground testing, followed by taxi and first flight later this year.

Loyal Wingman weight-on-wheels milestone

Boeing explains the aircraft, which uses artificial intelligence to extend the capabilities of manned and unmanned platforms, is the first to be designed, engineered and manufactured in Australia in more than 50 years. It also represents Boeing’s largest investment in an unmanned aircraft outside of the United States.

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Now...Thats a DRONE
 
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The T-34 Mentor series served the United States Air Force and United States Navy well in training generations of aviators in the years following the close of World War 2. She led a productive service life in the inventories of several other foreign operators as well and has since become a favorite of civilian demonstration teams at air shows across the country. The basic T-34A (USAF) and T-34B (USN) models were bettered in the turbo-prop powered T-34C and a jet-powered version was even proposed, though the latter to no avail. While still in active service globally, the T-34's days in American military service are numbered as a viable replacement (the "Texan II") has appeared in number.

T-34 Origins

T-34 origins place her as a private venture undertaken by American aviator Walter Beech of Beechcraft Aircraft Company. Walter Beech earned his stripes as a fighting airman in World War 1. The Beechcraft company was started in 1932 by Walter and his wife, Olive Ann Beech. After several victories in commercial races with Beechcraft planes, the company's attention turned to the production contract windfall known as World War 2. During the whole of the conflict, the firm was responsible for the production of some 7,400 aircraft for the American war effort. Bombers and navigators mostly trained on the Twin Beech AT-7/C-45 "Expeditor" (Beechcraft Model 18) series.

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The mammoth Sikorsky CH-53E "Super Stallion" heavy-lift transport helicopter was designed from the original CH-53 "Sea Stallion" to a new United States Marine Corps requirement of the late 1960s. Development encompassed the 1970s to which the aircraft was formally inducted into the American military inventory in 1981. The CH-53E continues to serve as of this writing (Nov 2013) though a much improved and refined form is undergoing work to become the Sikorsky CH-53K "Super Stallion". The CH-53K will primarily serve US Marines in the same heavy-lift role as the current CH-53E mark.
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The Grumman F3F is a biplanefighter aircraft produced by the Grumman aircraft for the United States Navy during the mid-1930s. Designed as an improvement on the F2F, it entered service in 1936 as the last biplane to be delivered to any American military air arm. It was retired from front line squadrons at the end of 1941 before it could serve in World War II, and replaced by the Brewster F2A Buffalo. The F3F, which inherited the Leroy Grumman-designed retractable main landing gear configuration first used on the Grumman FF, served as the basis for a biplane design ultimately developed into the much more successful F4F Wildcat that succeeded the subpar Buffalo.
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U.S. Navy training aircraft on the parking ramp at Naval Air Station Miami, Florida (USA), circa 1942-43. Note the variety of types, some built for training purposes and others former combat aircraft. The latter feature a wide variety of colour schemes and markings. The planes closest to the camera are North American SNJ-3 & SNJ-5 Texan trainers. Those beyond include Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo fighters (at right); Grumman F2F and F3F fighters (left and center); Curtiss SBC Helldiver scout bombers (just beyond the fighters) and Northrop BT bombers (left distance).
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U.S. Navy training aircraft on the parking ramp at Naval Air Station Miami, Florida (USA), circa 1942-43. Note the variety of types, some built for training purposes and others former combat aircraft. The latter feature a wide variety of colour schemes and markings. The planes closest to the camera are North American SNJ-3 & SNJ-5 Texan trainers. Those beyond include Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo fighters (at right); Grumman F2F and F3F fighters (left and center); Curtiss SBC Helldiver scout bombers (just beyond the fighters) and Northrop BT bombers (left distance).
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Man standing at mid photo "Now, where in hell did I park?"
 
The P-39 Airacobra was a fighter aircraft made by Bell Aircraft. It first flew in 1939, and was introduced in 1941. While it had good weapons, it was known for being very unstable and could lose control easily. It was fast but not very good above 5000 m (15,000 feet) as it lacked turbocharger.[5] The Soviet Union used it during World War II as a fighter interceptor as most air battles at the Eastern front were fought at low heights. Very near the ground the Airacobra became extremely maneuverable and could out-turn any German airplane. The Russians liked the plane, and they often removed the wing guns to make it even more maneuvreable. Several Soviet pilots became fighter aces on P-39. The main weapon of P-39, a 37 mm cannon, was so powerful that it could destroy almost any airplane on a single hit.
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