It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...

...both actually, in a manner of speaking.

It's the "Osprey", A.K.A. V22:


I've been working (intermittently) on the V22 program for going on 20 years; it will be 20 years in the Summer of 2008. The program itself has been "on again, off again" for various reasons during that same timeframe, although it and my assignment thereto have been steady since the turn of the millennium.

Anyway, they were finally given the operational "go ahead" earlier this year, and without any fanfare were deployed to the Middle East a couple of months ago:


AL ANBAR PRO, Iraq - An MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tilt rotor Squadron-263, flies over the Al Anbar Province of Iraq during a mission out of Al Asad Air Base.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)


AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - An MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tilt rotor Squadron-263, prepares to land on a flight line aboard Al Asad Air Base.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)


AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - U.S. Marine Sgt. Danny L. Herrman, a flight line crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-263, mans a 240 Gulf heavy machine gun on the back of a MV-22B Osprey while flying on a mission over the Al Anbar Province of Iraq.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)


AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - U.S. Marine Sgt. Danny L. Herrman, a flight line crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-263, mans a 240 Gulf heavy machine gun on the back of a MV-22B Osprey while another Osprey taxies behind as they prepare for take off from Al Asad Air Base.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)


AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - U.S. Marine Sgt. Danny L. Herrman, a flight line crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-263, test fires a 240 Gulf heavy machine gun on the back of a MV-22B Osprey while flying on a mission over the Al Anbar Province of Iraq.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)


AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - U.S Marine Sgt. Justin Shadrick, a flight line crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron-263, uses hand and arm signals to communicate with the pilots of an MV-22B Osprey while taxiing it out of the chalks on the flight line at Al Asad Air Base to prepare for a launch.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)


AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - An MV-22B Osprey with U.S. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263, prepares to land on the flight line on board Al Asad Air Base for the first time.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)


AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - An MV-22B Osprey with U.S. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263, taxies on the flight line at Al Asad Air Base after landing.
(U.S.M.C. photo by Cpl. Sheila M. Brooks)

Since the V22 can take off/land like a helicopter then transition into "airplane mode", it can go twice as fast and far as a conventional helicopter, thereby increasing the rapid forward projection of our forces more than twofold.

For national security reasons, I have waited to post about the V22 deployment until it was already in the public domain.

Many of us have high hopes for this revolutionary new platform, which is intended to replace the aging fleet of CH-46s, among other aircraft...

Power trip?

Some alternatives to fossil fuel...

(This is also my desktop "wallpaper")

Wave Energy: Ocean waves are a concentrated form of wind energy. As wind blows across water, friction develops between air and water. As energy from wind flow is transferred to water, waves are produced. Generating energy from waves is a matter of taking the motion of the waves and translating it into mechanical or electrical energy.

An excellent reference for learning about various types of wave energy generators (and others) can be found at the Rezachek & Associates' Energy & Environmental Resources website.

(PacWind "Seahawk" generator)

Wind Energy: Windmills have been around for centuries. The picture above is of an interesting new design which, according to the PacWind website, is "ideal for homes, small commercial buildings, boats, remote power, emergency power, and battery charging." The beauty of this one is that it can be stacked on a tower that will accommodate up to 5 units, works in low wind conditions and is safe in all wind conditions.

There are plenty of other choices out in the market when it comes to wind generators, too.

(Algae tanks)

GreenFuel Technologies: "GreenFuel's high yield algae farms recycle carbon dioxide from flue gases to produce biofuels and feed, reducing net carbon dioxide production as waste becomes profit. Harvesting algae for biofuels enhances domestic fuel production while mitigating CO2."

(Spicy jatropha - Jatropha integerrima)

Jatropha: "The hardy jatropha is resistant to drought and pests, and produces seeds containing up to 40% oil. When the seeds are crushed and processed, the resulting oil can be used in a standard diesel engine, while the residue can also be processed into biomass to power electricity plants."

All of the above is but a small sample of the alternative energy sources being researched and currently available in today's market.

When I retire to warmer climes, it is my plan to utilize various forms of alternative energy and hopefully even sell my excess electricity to the local utility company.

An alternative "alternative lifestyle"?

Ouch...