Turkish F-4 shot down by Syria

It appears the jet was flying fast and low in Syrian airspace right off the Mediterranean coast.  The West is certainly tired of war (and can't afford one).  But what better way to distract the populace from a crappy economy than war.  Will NATO retaliate for the downed plane?

Pilot defectors

Today, a Syrian air force pilot flew a MiG-21 to Jordan and asked for asylum.  This reminds of...

While growing up in Taiwan during the Cold War, one piece of news got everyone's attention.  Whenever a pilot from Mainland China defected, it was time for celebration.  It confirmed that Communism was bad and that our non-Communist dictatorship was good.  No doubt the gold that was given as a reward was a great motivator.  It was great propaganda.

Red China to Taiwan defections:

1. 1960, MiG-15, pilot died when plane crashed on landing.
2. 1961, An-2, two pilots awarded 25 kilos of gold as award.
3. 1962, MiG-15, pilot got 50 kilos of gold.
4. 1965, Il-28, first Il-28 bomber in "western" hands.
5. 1977, Shenyang J-6.
6. 1983, J-7, landed in South Korea, Taiwan awarded pilot 350 kilos of gold.
7. 1983, J-5, 150 kilos of gold.
8. 1985, Il-28 crashed in South Korea, survivor got 150 kilos of gold from Taiwan.
9. 1986, J-6, landed in South Korea, given 250 kilos.
10. 1986, J-6, landed in South Korea, given 250 kilos.
11. 1987, J-6, 250 kilos.
12. 1989, J-6, 100 kilos given instead of 250 kilos in response to Red China abolishing practice of rewarding defectors from Taiwan.

Taiwan to Red China defections:

1. 1955, C-46 transport plane.
2. 1955, two cadets in a PT-17 trainer.
3. 1955, F-47, crashed and died.
4. 1956, AT-6 trainer.
5. 1963, F-86F.
6. 1969, two pilots in a T-33 trainer.
7. 1981, F-5E, awarded $370,000 U.S. but money was immediately returned.
8. 1986, U-6A.
9. 1986, former U-2 pilot defected in a hijacked 747(!).
10. 1989, F-5E, pilot died after ejecting.

Source.

Airline galley cart bar conversion

From our friends at Telstar Logistics.

Details here.

Indonesian Sukhoi Superjet crash site photo

Holy shit.

Helicopter unloading on steep hillside

Sure, we suck at nation-building.  But we're awesome at flying helicopters.  USA!  USA!

H/t to Demon_Xanth at Opposite Lock.

Paper airplane record

Approximately 227 feet (69 meters).  The plane was thrown by former Cal QB Joe Ayoob.  His day job?  Selling Anchor Steam beer.

Israel bombing Iran, and its consequences

The New York Times has a detailed article about what it takes to wipe out Iran's nuclear program.  In summary,:

• The four targets are Natanz and Fordo (uranium enrichment facilities), Arak (heavy water reactor), Isfahan (yellow cake conversion plant).
• Of the three potential routes (see map above), the central route through Iraq is the most likely.  Iraq has virtually no air defenses and the U.S. is not obligated to defend its skies.
• Israeli F-15s and F-16s are capable of bombing raids, but do not have the 2,000 mile round trip range.  The planes also need extra time in the air to "loiter" over a target and to fight off attacks from missiles and planes.
• Israel does not have enough airborne re-fuel tankers.  It has at most eight KC-707s.  More F-15s and F-16s would be needed to protect the tankers.
• The Natanz facility is under 30 feet of concrete.  Fordo is in a mountain.  Israel's bunker busting bombs may not be powerful enough.  A nuclear weapon(!) may be needed to penetrate.

The conclusion from the article: Israel does not quite have the capability to pull off the attack on its own.

But what is to say that Israel is going to attack all four facilities?  Also, never underestimate the power of the Israeli military.

The regional and global consequences are of course numerous.  Just off the top of my head:

• Iran could cut off its oil exports further, affecting not only Europe, but Asia as well.
• Iran could attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz.
• Saudi and other pro-west Gulf States will up oil production to control oil prices.
• Israel will be attacked by Iranian missiles and explosives lobbed from southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.  We might see a return of suicide bus bombers inside Israel.
• Iran will no longer be able to financially prop up the Syrian regime, which is hemorrhaging its foreign exchange reserves.  In an act of desperation, Syria will further escalate its attacks on rebels and protestors. 
• Iran's preoccupation will mean a slight power vacuum in neighboring Iraq.  Iraqi Sunnis and Al Qaeda in Iraq will take advantage of this and try to increase its power in government and take revenge through violence.
• China's inability to positively influence what happens in Iran (and Syria) proves that it is not quite a superpower.
• I can't figure out how Egypt is going to react.  Is its people's animosity against the Israelis stronger than the general Arab dislike of Persians?  Does the U.S. have any influence over the current Egyptian government?
• I can't figure out how this is going to affect the Kurds in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.
• The Keystone XL Pipeline that is supposed to bring Canadian oil to the United States, which was put on hold by Obama, might be green lit before the November election.  The only thing that is going to stop Obama from being re-elected is if the economy stalls again.  And he absolutely must keep gasoline prices down. 
• I'm trying to find a map of prevailing wind patterns in and around Iran.  Because if uranium ends up in the atmosphere, it's going to drift into neighboring countries.

David Coulthard flying in zero gravity

Citroens and Concorde

To quote the great Quagmire: Giggity!

Niihau, Pearl Harbor, a crash landing, and Japanese internment

Interesting theory as to why Japanese-Americans were interned during World War II.

6 Concordes

H/t to engineer.