You're right about the ICBM's but I don't think anybody but us have the entercept capability and ours is a bit sketchy. I wonder how maneuverable their weapons would be at those speeds, pilots flying SR71's talk about turning radious in terms of states covered, an unmanned vehicle could sustain much higher G's, but still at those speeds?

Or so they say, Our only ace in the hole as I see it anyway is nuclear retaliation ie: ICBM
Really nasty stuff any way you look at it. We also have been testing hypersonic hardware, not sure how successful the program has been.

I started work at Vandenberg in 66 with FEC/ITT, retired in 2000, mayby I know him. Thanks for the kind words.

Amtrak Surf Liner passing thru Surf, Ca. It passes thru Vandenberg AFB, same route that Kruschev took back in 59, he was treated to the site of an Atlas ICBM sitting on its pad fueled and ready to go.

(Download)

Given that either a Kawasaki or Honda 750 motorcycle would be hard pressed to reach 160 mph I would be surprised if any of these beautiful creations could break 100 mph let alone 160. They are an excellent engine choice for this purpose however.

Thank you Graham and Merry Christmas to you also. Reading your posts on here oft times makes my day, today being no exception.

Saw a post on here recently about what not to give a dog at the Thanksgiving finner table. Reminded me of my dog

That,s great, here's another🤠

Yeah, kind of right there with an F-17 that didn't exist for years before the 777 first flew. It's a very old joke and is usually told as I suggested, no stews but the bomber pilot can get up go pee and get a cup of coffee.

This is a funny story but I think it is better told using an F-16 (it beat out the F-17 prototype in a 1974 AF competition), the 777 didn't even exist then. The story as I first heard it used an F-16 and a B-52 which makes it a bit funnier because of the interaction between AF bomber and fighter pilots.

The very first IT tech, one of the funniest videos I've ever seen.
https://youtube/9J9-Qr7oz-4 or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J9-Qr7oz-4

Before I retired I used to go to the Cape and Patrick AFB about once a month. I never was licky enough to catch a Shuttle lift-off. The new Space X heavy lifter may come to VAFB and I’ll watch that for sure. I worked ar VAFB for 33 yrs with ITT Defence Systems, that Falcon 9 Missile in this picture was launched from a launch pad that had a Titan IV Missile on it from which we put spy satellites into polar orbit. The gantry was torn down and Space X rehabbed it for their Falcon 9.

I like that reflection also. I take pictures of these Missile shots and it's not easy. You think ahead of time about all your camera settings and when it goes you don't have to change very much. When you screw up you can't just call Space X and have them shoot it over again for you, it'll be months before they shoot another. Speaking of screwing up I probably did it to this picture by adding a bit too much vignetting, I also lessened the brightness a bit and increased the contrast, should have used the "warming" tool a bit also. He got a great shot with reflection and the birds, the waves are good also.

Todays Space X launch. This is an Air Force picture taken by Senior Airman Clayton. I did some minor editing to it to my taste. Great pic taken from the beach.

That lizard in the last catch was still squirming when he went down. Thanks for posting.