Technology and the amazing machines it brings us

[jpd]

 

[jpd]

Retry

 

[jpd]

Damn that was impressive!

 

[jpd]

Best part was the USA USA USA chant...might have some members here unable to sleep tonite...

 

[wader]

...

 

[cany]

And there's another thread you can't post in

 

[Avenger]

Technology once used in anger, reborn for a historical experience.

 

[WhatKnot]

Technology once used in anger, reborn for a historical experience.

That’s utterly awesome

 

[Avenger]

Looks like the PBY Catalina may be making a comeback.

Catalina Aircraft pushes ahead with updated Catalina II after securing 46-aircraft commitment

A Hong Kong company intends to operate the turboprop-powered Catalina IIs with Pan American World Airways’ “Winged Globe” logo. Catalina Aircraft Trust, the Florida holder of the original Catalina amphibious flying boat’s type certificate, has taken another step toward bringing a modernised...

www.flightglobal.com

I thought the original was a very clever piece of design. Hopefully the re-boot lives up to the legacy.

 

[jpd]

This is pretty sick - and scary!

 

[jpd]

Starship Heavy launch at 6:45 pm

 

[jpd]

Actually got the countdown to zero and lit the engines, then scrubbed.
Never seen that before.

 

[Avenger]

 

[jpd]

Another amazing EC launch of a Falcon 9 this morning, A few seconds after this I could see both boosters jettisoned...pretty wild.

I wasn't sure if the Falcon 9 had dual boosters - and apparently it doesn't.
Must have been some optical illusion on the release of the first stage.

Ha!
Fairing Jettison (~T+03:00): The composite payload fairing halves split and fall away once the rocket is out of the thickest part of the atmosphere. [1]

 

[jpd]

Starship Flight 14 launch in 15 minutes

 

[Roccus7]

Starship Flight 14 launch in 15 minutes

Great launch, loved watching it...

 

[Roccus7]

Well not such a great landing. Obviously the cheering crowd didn’t notice the explosion. Time to analyze the telemetry…

BOOM

 

[Avenger]

Well not such a great landing. Obviously the cheering crowd didn’t notice the explosion. Time to analyze the telemetry…

BOOM

 

[Roccus7]

In 1822 Augustin-Jean Fresnel assembled the first Fresnel Lens, a lens that revolutionized lighthouse, improving light transmission by 450%. Well yesterday, I learned the Fresnel Lenses aren't just for lighthouses!! Growing up on Long Island, NY on the glide path for Grumman Aircraft's Calverton Air Field, many youths like me became big fans of Naval Aviation. In my life I've heard, read and witnessed on videos the naval landing aid called the meatball guiding carrier pilots to safe carrier landings.

It wasn't until this many days old that I found out the meatball was a series of Fresnel lenses!! From the Fall 2026 edition of Air & Space published by the Smithsonian National Air Space Museum...

 

[MakoMatt]

In 1822 Augustin-Jean Fresnel assembled the first Fresnel Lens, a lens that revolutionized lighthouse, improving light transmission by 450%. Well yesterday, I learned the Fresnel Lenses aren't just for lighthouses!! Growing up on Long Island, NY on the glide path for Grumman Aircraft's Calverton Air Field, many youths like me became big fans of Naval Aviation. In my life I've heard, read and witnessed on videos the naval landing aid called the meatball guiding carrier pilots to safe carrier landings.

It wasn't until this many days old that I found out the meatball was a series of Fresnel lenses!! From the Fall 2026 edition of Air & Space published by the Smithsonian National Air Space Museum...

View attachment 120377

We built a solar energy farm in Anguilla to help offset the high energy costs. I seem to recall in meetings with the engineers involved with the project discussing, and or using the term “Fresnel lens.” I do not recall if they were ever used??

Hurricane Irma, a CAT 5 hit Anguilla in 2017 and destroyed the entire farm.