Urban's blog

Composition 101: The Basic ‘Rules’. | Japanorama.co.uk

2012-01-17T18:37:00.001Z

Composition 101: The Basic ‘Rules’. | Japanorama.co.uk: "Composition truly is, IMHO, the foundation of good photography. You may have great gear and know all the basics of ISO, aperture and speed [exposure] but if you’re not paying attention to some of the guidelines or ‘rules’ of composition, then something’s missing."

Design Tips & Tricks

2012-01-14T15:15:00.001Z

Design Tips & Tricks: "Here is a collection of some of the things I have learned through the time. The examples and comments shown here are not the only real truth about model railroad design, they are just my humble opinion about [märklin] sectional track geometry and aestethic design..."

Some really good ideas presented clearly.

2011's ink test is done

2012-01-08T09:59:00.000Z

Results are here.

Have you ever wondered how many Star Wars movies there were supposed to be from the beginning?

2012-01-06T20:46:00.001Z

This isn't the Holiday Special, but it's about it.

That it was made is what makes it pretty clear there weren't any sequels planned.

A new bus for London | Greater London Authority

2012-01-04T05:44:00.000Z

A new bus for London | Greater London Authority: "The New Bus for London is inspired by the much-loved Routemaster and will use the latest green technology when it launches in 2012."

The Thief and the Cobbler

2012-01-01T15:11:00.000Z

This isn't exactly a director's cut as it doesn't use just filmed (animated) scenes, but also story boards, and it's not by the director himself.
The movie itself took from 1964 to 1993 to make. Last years' work without involving the original creator.

Proposed New Calendar Would Make Time Rational | Wired Science | Wired.com

2011-12-29T05:26:00.000Z

Proposed New Calendar Would Make Time Rational | Wired Science | Wired.com: "Time is eternal, but methods of tracking it are not — and so a Johns Hopkins University astronomer wants to replace the Gregorian calendar, with its leap years and floating dates and 15th-century effluvia, with a sleek and standardized system for the world."

I really don't see the need for a new calendar; Is it any kind of problem that Christmas happens on different weekdays? Isn't it rather a feature? And an extra week some years instead of leap days, is that any better than Otter-Flinging Eve?

But daylight saving time I don't like and using UTC everywhere would have some benefits.

Saab Lansen

2011-12-24T08:20:00.001Z

Saab 32 Lansen - an overview

SAAB 32 Lansen - an overview

Background

By 1945, it was clear that future combat aircraft would be jetpropelled. We got jet fighters in 1946, in the form of Vampires,but to find a replacement for our Saab 18 bomber was to takelonger. That project was started in 1946. The first concepts hadtwo de Havilland Ghost engines, with short in- and outlets.Flying wing concepts figured, and were strong contenders, butmainly because of accidents with foreign aircraft of thatconfiguration, was abandoned.
Most concepts had four 20 mm cannon and an internal rocketlauncher for a dozen 15-18 cm rockets. Other armaments was two500 kg bombs or a missile type 303. In 1948 it was decided to gofor a smaller, single engine aircraft "project 1150". Therequirement was for an aircraft that "could carry its weapons -guns, rockets, bombs and missiles - from a centrally placed airbase to any part of our 2000 km coast line, in under one hour, inany weather and during darkness" In 1949 it was awarded thedesignation "type 32".The name Lansen means The Lance.

By 1949, the design looked very much like what it became, apartfrom the stabilizer beeing placed halfway up on the fin. Therewas also a smaller, single-seat variant, which would have been adaylight interceptor.
Lansen was the first aircraft designed in Sweden where the designwork was not based on ordinary blue-prints, but on a mathematicalcoordinate system. The airframe was designed to be used up to +8G and -3G and withstand +12G and -8G.
To test a large scale model of the wing, with 35 degreessweepback, a half-scale was mounted on a Saab Safir, thusbecoming the only Saab 202 (Saab 201 was a Safir with ahalf-scale Tunnan wing). It had both Fowler flaps and a leadingedge slot. The slot was discarded as unnecessary after trialswith the prototypes and never appeared on a series aircraft.
The engine intended for Lansen was the Swedish STAL Dovern (RM4), which was an excellent engine. It was not finished in timefor the prototypes, so a foreign engine had to be used for them.For several reasons, Rolls-Royce Avons came to be used on theseries aircraft too.
The first Lansen prototype first flew on Nov 3:rd 1952.

Designations:
A, Attack  = Strike
J, Jakt    = Interceptor
S, Spaning = Reconnaissance

The different versions

A 32A

This was the ground attack and maritime strike version.It replaced Saab B 18 and was later replaced by Viggen.
In the years 1955-58 287 were delivered to theSwedish air force, where the last ones remainedin service until 1978. Serial numbers were 32001-32287.

Guns

This version had four 20 mm guns in the nose, covered byshutters. The shutters were opened upon "safety off", but had tobe closed by command. Empty casings were kept from the airintakes by a pair of small plates under the nose. As they thenimpacted the fuel tank, its nose were covered in neoprene toprotect it.

Radar

The radar used in A 32A was designatedPS-431/Aand was of French design, built in Sweden.
As these aircraft always operated in groups, and as an economymeasure only about 25% of them were given radars. It also seemslike not all aircraft had navigators aboard, so it's likely thateverybody just followed the boss.
Instrumented ranges were 8, 20, 80 and 160km. Used to aim RB 04 antiship missiles and dropping ofillumination flares.
Radar altimeter 0-200 m. Not used very much.

Sight

Gyro sight interconnected with barometric altimeter.Compensated for wind and target movement. For bombs, afterpressing release button pull up at 4G was initiated, bombrelease calculated

Missiles

In Swedish service they replaced Saab B/T 18 bombers, foremost inthe anti-ship/invasion role, so the main weapon was the Saab 304rocket powered anti-ship missile with an estimated range of 20 kmin the early versions, other common loads were unguided rockets.

Countermeasures

A BOZ 3 chaff dispenser pod could be carried onone wing pylon.

Engine

Engine: RM5A (=RR Avon Mk.21/21A) with Swedish afterburner.

Cockpit

Armoured with 20 mm plate in front, below and to the rear.

Tactical use

Normal tactical units were one (8 aircraft) or twosquadrons during daylight. At night a group of four wasthe normal size. Usually they kept close together duringthe approach and attack, split after the attack andre-gathered.
Take off was in four pairs, all on the runway at the sametime. After take off the first ones slowed to let thesquadron gather. Pair 1 and 2 together at the centre, 3and 4 to the sides keeping a lookout to the rear forthreats.
Normal altitude was 500 m over own territory, decreasingto lowest when passing out from the coast.
After leaving the coast behind updated target position wasreceived. 90 km from target the squadron gathered togetherand increased to climb N1 (7900rpm), resulting in attackspeed of 750 km/h.
After the attack, combat speed was retained as long asfuel permitted, altitude lowest possible. Re-gathered the formation as well aspossible.In case of fuel shortage first option was to climb to moreeconomic altitude and fly to the intended air base, secondwas to refuel somewhere else and then fly on.
50 km from coast climb to 500 m and report toair defence. 40 km from airbase report "arriving" anddirection, separated the aircraft and headed for base orfinal.
Ground attack often offset by 90 deg fromeach other and rather closely spaced in time.
During co-ordinated major attacks (against an invasionfleet) where practically every squadron took part thosewho took off from inland bases landed at bases near thecoast and the other way round. In case the base theylanded at was not an ordinary attack base, they justrefuelled there and went to another.
IFF was switched off until after the attack. Air defencekept track of when and where the attack and reconnaissanceunits were supposed to be.

Guns

The combat gun load out was 80 rounds per gun (7 s of firing). That thiswas less than designed in capacity was probably becauseits predecessors had used guns to attack smaller landingcraft, but Lansen's role was to go after larger landingships, were 20 mm guns were less effective and thus not aprimary weapon. In fact, during most if its career, crewsdidn't train in using guns against ground targets at all.

Fire bombs

Straight course toward target, not overflying own troops (but they could be as close as 30 m from the target),speed 750 km/h altitude a level 10-20 m. Drop when targetdisappears under nose.
Usable with cloud bases down to 50 m.

120 kg retarded bombs

Straight and level at 200 m, 750 km/h.
Could be used visually with cloud bases down to 200 m and visibilityof around 5 km.
Backup method was radar aimed on a straight course to thetarget. Not good precision and vulnerable to radar guidedanti aircraft fire.

Dive bombing and rocket attack

In flank formation, lowest possible altitude headed to apoint 3 km offset from the target. At a range of 5.5 kmpull up to 45 deg climb, individual roll at 700 m, acquiretarget, pull down, release, pull up turn and exit atlowest possible altitude.
Weather minima was cloud bases at 700 m for bombs (1200 mat night) and 400 for rockets (900 m at night).

Night attack

Group of four, leader with illumination flares, rest withbombs or rockets.En route leader and #2 separated by one wingspan, #3 twospans from #2 and #4 one span from #3.
Radar navigation, 40 km from target the leader commands"Begin left" (or right). Leader continues ahead, aims fora point 500 to the right (or left) of the target, pullsupp 4 km from it and releases the flares, banks 110 degright down to very low altitude until headed back.
#2, 3 and 4 starts their chronometers, turns left 80degrees, increases speed to Mach 0.65, turns right 60degrees after 60 seconds, arms their weapons and after abit more than 2 min pulls up just when the parachute flares light upand attacks like in daylight.

Anti ship attack

Main weapons were RB 04 or 4 x 250 kg bomb (minbombm/42/fpl, 4C).
Bombs were dropped in a ripple with 50 ms interval, givinga 70 m impact area. Best effect when they hit the waterclose by the ships and broke them.
The RB 04 missiles' seekers were powered up (but not transmitting)during approach to release points. The seeker could be settoshort or long range (as in ignoring targets closer than10(?) km). Max range 20 km. Three acquisition modes: Normal(what you aimed it at), home on jam, normal + home on jam(if jammed go for the jammer).No lead course intercept, flew straight at the target evenif it moved.
Release altitude 200 m, speed 750 km/h, less than 10 deg bank,10 deg off course to target and less than 10m/s climb or sink.Dropped free, thenengine start. Each aircraft's missiles were set to fly at8 and 12 m altitude respectively, so as not to collide ifreleased at the same time. Differeng missiles used different frequencies. Exploded on overflying the target.
Pair or group leader aimed and ordered their 2:nd torelease, then released their own missiles. One missile pertransport ship, two per escort (destroyers).

S 32C

At first this version was intended to replace Saab S 18sin the maritime surveillance role, which was their priority mission. But they also got a photo reconnaissancerole, and in both of these they were replaced by Viggen.
The Swedish air force ordered 44 which were deliveredbetween 1958-59 and the last were retired in 1978.Serial numbers were 32901-32945.
As much as possible, they were identical with A 32Awhich they were developed from.

Radar

The radar was a version of the PS-431/A installed in A 32A Lansens, designated PS-432/A andgiven a longer instrumented range. There was also apossibility to photograph the radar scope image for later analysis.
Normal radar recce work consisted of cruising at 10 m, followedby brief pop ups to around 200 m with 15-20 s of radar work.Practical range for the radar was 100 km forwards and 50 kmto the sides.

Cameras

Daylight photography was supposed to be handled by Saab S 29C Tunnans, later to be replaced by Saab S 35E Drakens, so at first only enough cameras to equip three aircraft persquadron were purchased, which was enough for the limitednight reconnaissance role
These, first, cameras were British, made by A.G.I. andthe fit consisted of four, two short focal length SKa 17(SKa = SpaningsKamera, reconnaissance camera) with focal length 130 mm and negative format 127 x 114 mmfor low altitude work (F.97 Mk 2) and two SKa 18 forhigh altitude photo, focal length 920 mm, format 230 x 230 mm(F.89 Mk 3). Both were specially designed for night photography.
High altitude photo was between 3000 - 10000 m, low altitude100 - 1200 m.
To fit SKa 17 and SKa 18 downwards looking in the space which was the gun bay on A 32A only small bulges aboveand in front of the air intake were needed.They were never fitted in service aircraft,only the prototype 32901. The reasons for this was that theydidn't quite fulfil requirements and that it had beendecided to get cameras also suited for daylight photo.
The new camera fit was introduced in 1962.As these cameras were larger, the nose bulges had to bemade much larger.
For high altitude work two SKa 23s (Fairchild K47, modified)were fitted nearly vertically, the left looking a little tothe right and vice versa, in the rear of the bay. These had a focal lenght of 600 mm and were the only ones fitted suitable for night photography. They were fitted with motion compensation.
A single wide angle, 150 mm, SKa 15 (Williamson F.49 Mk 2), alsofor high altitude photo, was fitted vertically in front ofthe right SKa 23. In front of the left was the photocellwhich controlled exposure for the SKa 23s during flashphotography.
The high altitude cameras were used at altitudes above 1000 m.All had a negative format of 180 x 230 mm. The wide angleone was used to get overviews and locate the exact positionsof the targets of the long focal lenght cameras. Normal film speed was 400 ASA, with 800 ASA used if the weather and lighting conditions warranted.
The high altitude camera sight was a Jugner FL S2 and fittedbehind the left SKa 23, with a small window angled a bitforward.
For night photo British 75 kg photo flash bombs were used,up to 12 could be carried.
Mission profile for high altitude photography was alwaystarget approach at very low level and only a pop up long enough to take the photos.
For low altitude photo there were three SKa 16s (Vinten)with focal lenghts of 100 mm and a negative format of 60 x 60 mm.Two side and a little down looking were fitted at the lower frontof the camera bay.
The third SKa 16 had its place in the avionics bay just behind the camera bay proper, in a small bulge. When thiscamera wasn't fitted, usually a plain cover plate was fitted.
The low altitude cameras had motion compensation which meantthe film could move at speeds of 5-35cm/s during exposure.

Countermeasures

A BOZ 3 chaff dispenser pod could be carried onone wing pylon. In addition to that the aircraftwere fitted with RWR gear, giving visual and aural warnings.

J 32B

This was the all-weather fighter version. Primarily it was used at night and in bad weather, becausethe other jet fighters then in the Swedish air forcewere daylight only.
The Swedish air force ordered 120 of these, butonly 118 were delivered in the years between 1958-60.As night fighters they were retired in 1973, buta few remained in other roles, three unconvertedJ 32Bs were assigned to the aggressor/ECM squadronas training aircraft. Serial numbers were 32501-32620.

Guns

As it was primarily intended to attack bombers, 20 mm gunsweren't considered enough, so instead four 30 mm cannon wasadopted. There were no shutters before the muzzles. Casings wereretained, so the tank didn't need any protective covering.
At the end of a day when the guns had been fired theengine compressor had to be cleaned, as the powder depositswere corrosive and disrupted the airflow. Cleaning was donewith the engine running at 6700 rpm by injecting about 100 lof the cleaning fluid which was a mixture of kerosene anddetergent through two pipes attached to a spray machine.

Sight, radar and IR sight

As opposed to other Lansen versions, in this thepilot had a radar display, F-scope, for his ownuse and not only the navigator.
The reflex sight was designated Sikte 6A, which was used with all weapons for both air and groundtargets. On it could be projected radar information andtarget data from the IR sight under the leftwing, to allow attacks using the sight withoutany visual contact with the target.
Some aircraft were given an Hughes AN/AAR-4 IR detector under the left wing, in front of the landing gear, of the same type as given to J 35A-long Drakens.

Missiles and rockets

Main armament was Sidewinder missiles, but in case of cloudsthey were complemented by unguided rockets which could be fired byradar sighting.

Engine and air intakes

As the engine was significantly more powerful (which was needed, as A 32A and S 32C certainly didn't haveenough power as fighters, for example they always had to bestarted using the afterburner)and required a larger airflow,the air intakes were made slightly larger, and the nozzle is of adifferent type than the other versions.
Engine: RM6A (=RR Avon Mk.47A) with Swedish afterburner, 6900 kp.

Usual tactics

The navigator, together with ground control where available,guided the pilot on a usually straight course towards a point behindthe target, and at a suitable distance a turn was startedin such a way that the target should be ahead and on thesame course.
If possible, the approach to the target was made some 500 mor more lower to reduce radar clutter. Climbing attacksworked well and were preferred for targets higher than 6000 m,the approach then could be made at 1000-3000 m.
Radar displays for the navigator were a B scope on theleft showing range and side angle (60 deg left/right)and an E scope on the left showingvertical angle (60 deg up/30 deg down) and distance to target.Lockon range could be around 30 km, when locked on targetinformation was also displayed on the pilot's F scopewhere the target is shown as a circle displaced to showthe angle to it, diameter for range and the position ofa gap in the circle closing speed.
In addition to this when closing on the target, the binocular sight could in the right (the darkness) reflectorshow the IR data as an amorphous blob and thelocked on radar target which you could put theaiming dot on when closing in. It also displayedan artificial horizon.
A gun attack could be made from up to 700 m range at highaltitude and at low altitude and high speed a bit over 200 m.
A rocket attack usually commenced 1500-1800 m trailing and closingwith 100 km/hon the targetand 500 m higher. At a range of 1200 m a dive was inititatedand the rockets fired shortly after that. Could be aimed eithervisually, with the radar information in the sight or usingthe radar's F scope and were quite accurate and could thereforebe used in clouds (which is a reason the "standard" loadoutconsisted of full gun ammo, two rocket pods and two Sidewinders).The attack had to be made from straight behind.
The Sidewinders were aimed at the target by pointing the whole aircraft, locked on and confirmed by audio tone andwere fired when in range.During a climbing attack they could depending on circumstancesbe fired when the target was up to 2000 m higher.Sidewinders could at 10 km altitude be fired at rangesbetween 900 and 5000 m if the fighter speed was at least M 0.6. G load had to be less than 2.5G, which was indicatedwith a light.
In daylight ACM against the other fighters in Swedish servicethen it actually could hold its own pretty well, so it certainlywas useful as an all weather fighter against bombers and attack aircraft.
Against a Saab Tunnan you had to keep the speed up, as Tunnanhad very good low speed turn performance.The Hawker Hunter was relative to J 32B underpowered, so against them the vertical dimension was used.Saab Draken was superior when making high speed slashing attacks,but in a turning fight its wing produced too much induced drag so against them one could use climbing turns.

J 32D

This is the target towing variant.Starting in 1972, six J 32Bs were modified to tow targets. Retired in 1997.

J 32E

This is the ECM version. Fifteen were modified fromJ 32B standard starting in 1972. They were retired in 1997.
Their duties included ECM and ECM training.
The nose radar was replaced by a "G 24" jamming equipment,existing in three versions (L, S, or C band) against ground andship based radars, which are also the targets for the jamming pod"Adrian" (S and C band) carried under the wings. The pod "Petrus"works in the X band, and is used against aircraft. In addition tothis, two BOZ 3 chaff dispensers are carried. The name of the signal reciever is "Ingeborg".

Dual command trainer

There was never a trainer version developed, but somebasic flight controls could be fitted in the rear place.This was always were the instructor sat, as not all controlsand instruments were available from the rear seat. (I don'tthink all pilots flew with dual command before soloing inLansen, flying with single command and the instructor inthe rear seat certainly happened.)Aircraft so fitted were usually marked with a dayglodiamond on the top of the fin.

Armament options

There were six pylon attachment points under each wing of different types for different stores, position1 being the innermost and 6 outermost. The centrelineposition could take a pylon for either a conformal tank or a single bomb.

The pylon type A (A-balken) was intended lighter loadsand could be fitted on all six wing positions.
Pylons type B for heavier loads could be mounted inpositions 2 and 5, but the heaviest loads could onlybe loaded on the inner position. Very often A 32ALansens had four pylons type B and eight type A fitted.
On the centre line was a fitting for pylon type Dfor the same type of loads as type B, but mostly a conformal tank was fitted instead of the pylon.
Anti-ship missiles Rb 304C/Rb 04C/D were fitted onpylons type G in position 4.
The chaff dispenser pod BOZ 3 was mounted on a modified pylon type B, designated BF, on position5 under the right wing.
In position 2 the J 32B could take pylons type Cfor a pod of 19 75 mm air to air rockets.
Sidewinders were fitted on pylons type S in positions2 and 4.
The night fighter version could be fitted with pylons type K in all six positions, used foreither a single or double ground attack rockets.This was never used, as the air to air rocketswere deemed to have satisfactory effect on ground targets.

A 32A

Fixed armament: four 20 mm cannon with 180 rounds each, for a total ammunition load of 210 kg.

          |
      ____n____
_________(_)__________
          u             
  rrrrrr     rrrrrr     Rockets: 12 or 24 of either
  rrrrrr     rrrrrr     60 mm practice rockets m/54
                        63 mm practice rockets m/60
                        135 mm blast-fragmentation m/56
                        150 mm blast-fragmentation m/51
                        145 mm anti-armour m/49
                        180 mm anti-armour m/49
  bbbbbb     bbbbbb     Bombs: Up to 12 of either
                        15 kg practice m/55
                        50 kg blast-fragmentation m/42 and m/47
                        120 kg blast-fragmentation m/61
                        80 kg illumination m/60
   B  B       B  B      Bombs:
                        250 kg blast m/50, "Hercules"
                        500 kg blast m/56, "Lyra"
                        500 kg fire m/58, "Norma"
      B   B   B         600 kg blast m/50
    M           M       Rb 04 (Saab 304), anti-ship missile, 616 kg, rocket
   C                    Chaff dispenser, BOZ 3

J 32B

Fixed armament: four 30 mm cannon with 90 rounds each.

          |
      ____n____
_________(_)__________
          u             
      R       R         Pods with 19 x 75 mm rockets m/57
    M M       M M       Missiles: Rb 24 Sidewinder
    M R       R M       Mixed loads were also possible.

  rrrrrr     rrrrrr     It was also possible to fit the same pylons
  rrrrrr     rrrrrr     as on A 32A, only used for 180 mm rockets

S 32C

Unarmed.

          |
      ____n____
_________(_)__________
          u             
  iiiiii     iiiiii     75 kg aluminium/kaliumperklorat photo flash 
                        bombs m/62 (made in UK), but very seldom 
                        were more than the three inner pylons mounted, 
                        if any. "Lepus".
   C                    Chaff dispenser, BOZ 3

J 32D and E

These modified J 32B fighters carried special equipment.

          |
      ____n____
_________(_)__________
          u             J 32D
              t         Target towing pod on position 2
  bb                    Dummy 120 kg counterweight bombs
                        on the outermost positions

                        J 32E  
   C             C      Chaff dispenser, BOZ 3, positions 5
      E       E         ECM jammer pods of different types 
                        (they look the same) called Adrian and Petrus
                        on positions 2.
                        Nose radome also full of jamming equipment.

Technical data

                     A 32A      J 32B      S 32C
Empty weight:         7438 kg    8077 kg    7520 kg
Max take off weight: 13600 kg   13500 kg   12500 kg
Internal fuel:        3500 l     3500 l     3500 l
External fuel:         600 l      600 l      600 l (non-jettisonable 
Max load:             3000 kg    2500 kg         conformal tank)
Range:                 925 km    1000 km     925 km
Engine              RM 5A2      RM 6A     RM 5A2
  trust:              3460 kp    4880 kp    3460 kp
  with afterburner:   4700 kp    6500 kp    4700 kp
Length:                 14.94 m    14.94 m    14.94 m
Span:                   13.0 m     13.0 m     13.0 m
Height:                  4.65 m     4.65 m     4.65 m
Wing area:              37 m^2     37 m^2     37 m^2
Cruise speed:       Mach 0.8   Mach 0.8   Mach 0.8
Max speed:          Mach 0.91  Mach 0.93  Mach 0.91 (max permitted M 1.2)
Landing speed:         210 km/h   250 km/h   210 km/h
Climb rate, sea level   60 m/s    100 m/s     60 m/s
Max altitude                       14000 m

J 32B climb performance

J 32B climb to 12 km took 4.5 min clean, 4.9 with twoand 5.4 with four Sidewinders, two rocket pods 5.3 min,two rocket pods plus two Sidewinders 5.8 min.

A 32A fuel consumption

Ground idle: 10 l/min
Taxi: 15 l/min
Long range cruise at 600 km/h: 40 l/min
Climb at 750 km/h, engine 7900 rpm: 80 l/min
Afterburner: 250 l/min.
Body tank with 1700 l was self sealing.
3300 l was used to reach the target and get home. The restwas used on the ground, to formate and as landingreserves.Reserves when landing: Single aircraft 350 l, pair 400 l,group of four aircraft: 450 l.

Cancelled developments

In 1953 a day only fighter version was planned. It wasintended to replace J 29 Tunnan until J 35 Draken entered service. Its designation was to have beenJ 32AD (D = Dag, day) and it would be slightly lighter, single seat and in addition to the four20 mm guns have a 30 mm gun in the nose. No radar.Rockets and missiles were also envisioned weapons.
It was never built and instead 120 Hawker Hunterswere purchased.
Another fighter version, with much higher performancethan J 32B, was planned in 1954. It would have beencalled J 32U (U = Utveckling(?), development).
The engine would have been a Rolls Royce RA 19R. Inorder to let the aircraft be fully controllable insupersonic flight it would have been given thinnerfin and all flying tail, the wing would have been6% thinner and have a sweepback of 40 instead of 35 degrees. A supplementary rocket engine was alsoconsidered.
However, in 1958 there was a political decision whichsaid that Lansen would be replaced by other types afterabout eight years of service, so only the basic fighter version J 32B was developed. It was alsoreplace in time by when J 35F Draken started to enter service.
But for the attack version the situation wasn't asclear, as AJ 37 Viggen would not be ready for IOC in 1966.One option would be to import fighters, A-4 Skyhawk, A-7 Corsair II, F-104 Starfighter, F-5 Freedom Fighter,F-4 Phantom II and Buccaneer were considered, all butthe last two were found unsuitable. This wasn't anattractive option, so around 1965 conversion of some J 32B to A 32B, a version which actually hadbeen considered already in 1956 was seen as a possibleinterim option.
In the event that Viggen should have been cancelledone option would have been the A 32Dversion which would have been new airframes, reinforcedcompared to J 32B and fitted with RM 6C engines togive it higher performance (but not speed) and thesame weapons as AJ 37. Deliveries of it could havestarted in 1972.
Phantom II was seen as too expensive, for the same costas 120 license produced Buccaneers one could have222 A 32D Lansens and in the event it was found thatViggen would give better value for money.

Lansens abroad

N4767R, N4432V
Photos of the three A 32A Lansens stored in California,by Alan Radecki.

The Swedish air force desperately wanted a Spitfire PR.XIX(as all Swedish ones had been scrapped). One was found in Canada, to finance its purchase one DC-3, one Skyraider,one Hawker Hunter, two Lansens and one Lansen fuselage were sold, the Lansens to Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation.The Lansens were flown to USA via Scotland, Iceland, Greenlandand Canada in around ten flights(around because once oxygen couldn't be filled at one airportin Scotland so it had to be done at another and they had slightly different performances, 32284 was faster, could flyhigher and had 6 min longer endurance than 32120) sometimes withwaiting times of weeks.
First 32120 / FC 20 / N4767R,then 32284 / FC 24 / N4432V (FC = Försökscentralen, the establishmentfor flying trials) which had a contrasting black and white scheme.The airframe example, 32209 / FC 29 / N5468X, wasn't shippedto the USA, as it was airworthy and FFA had planned on shippinga Lansen wing to USA for windtunnel testing. As it happenedthe testing was performed not in a windtunnel but during thedelivery flight between Sept Iles and Montreal in the CanadianArmed Forces' exercise area. It then spent two years at Langleyand then flown to Los Angeles and was the only Lansen which was used in USA, then by Mach Two Flight Services Inc.
In 1990 all three were put up for sale, but weren't soldand were put in storage in the Mojave desert.In 2002 two, N5468X and N4432V, were donated to the UnitedStates Airpower Museum, which plans (early 2003) on putting one of them in airworthy condition.
In 1986 A 32A, 32028, last with FC as 28, was exchanged fora de Havilland Dove and flown to the UK where it was giventhe registration G-BMSG.The remaining airframe life when it was flown there was 1h 39mwhich was practically used up by the flight, so it's neverflown since then. Getting to the final destination requiredlanding at another airport for customs declaration and itwas almost grounded there as the authorities didn't want itto go on the same day. Explaining that staying there would atleast require getting a mechanic from Sweden and cost a lotof money worked.
On Nov 1999 one A 32A Lansen was flown to Spain where it'son display in Madrid in the Spanish air force museum.It's there as a permanent loan and was and will be the last ever Lansento leave Sweden.

Main source _Lansen_ by Sven Stridsberg,but also other books and magazines.

Document initially written 1993 July 16,updated 1994 Dec 29, 1995 June 30,technical data updated 1996 Sep 14.
Rewritten and revised 1998 June 18-20and 2000 Nov 30, 2006 Aug 03

Last modified 2006 May 16by Urban, put on this blog 2011-12-24

BOFORS AUTOMATIC CANNON

2011-12-22T06:27:00.000Z

BOFORS AUTOMATIC CANNON: "The Swedish firm of Bofors is famous above all for the seemingly immortal 40mm automatic cannon. However, a variety of other automatic (as well as non-automatic) guns have been produced by this manufacturer and this article is an attempt to do justice to them. The main focus is on weapons of up to 57mm calibre, but others are mentioned."

'via Blog this'

Adnalms Järnvägsklubb - Modelling the railways of Sweden in HO Scale

2011-12-15T17:55:00.001Z

AJK (Adnalms Järnvägsklubb) - Modelling the railways of Sweden in HO Scale: "AJK is a model railway club (whose members are honorary), dedicated to the modelling of the Swedish railways in H0 scale. Our primary layout, the FLMJ (Fjällnäs Lövhöjden Månstorp Järnväg) is located in the garden around the Director General's home, in Farnborough, England."

Snow plows on Japanese railroad

2011-12-13T15:01:00.002Z

Russia’s TP-82 Space Gun

2011-12-07T05:21:00.001Z

Russia’s TP-82 Space Gun | The Firearm Blog: "The three-barreled Toz TP-82 was carried into space by Soviet and Russian cosmonauts until 2006 when the ammunition expired and it was replaced with a regular semi-automatic pistol."

Haparandabanan, new railway in Sweden

2011-12-04T11:09:00.000Z

Haparandabanan, photos

Photos from a Swedish railway forum

Switzerland to buy 22 Gripen fighters

2011-11-30T17:01:00.000Z

«Erste Gripen voraussichtlich 2015 in der Schweiz» - Schweiz: Standard - bazonline.ch: "Der Bundesrat hat sich heute für den schwedischen Kampfflieger Gripen entschieden"

von Bengtson's Universal Guide For Going Into Space

2011-11-30T07:45:00.000Z

Universal Guide For Going Into Space | Wired Science | Wired.com: "Universal Guide For Going Into Space"

Sums it up just right. Also applicable for lots of other things one might want to have as a goal in life.

Stillgelegt - Berliner S-Bahn-Strecken außer Betrieb - Siemensbahn Gartenfeld

2011-11-29T17:46:00.000Z

Stillgelegt - Berliner S-Bahn-Strecken außer Betrieb - Siemensbahn Gartenfeld: "Die Siemensbahn Jungfernheide - Gartenfeld ist eine der wenigen Berliner S-Bahn-Strecken, die schon beim Bau ausschließlich für die elektrische S-Bahn vorgesehen waren. 1929 ging die Strecke in Betrieb. Die Firma Siemens, deren Werksgelände auf einem 800 Meter langen stählernen Viadukt überspannt wird, bezahlte damals den größten Teil der Baukosten. Seit dem Reichsbahner-Streik 1980 ist die Strecke außer Betrieb."

Brief text and some photos which shows what happens with a metro after having been abandoned for 30 years.

How to Carry Less

2011-11-26T07:47:00.001Z

How to Carry Less: "If you don't need it today, you probably didn't need it yesterday, and probably won't need it tomorrow"

Generally good advice, but the article is about camera equipment in particular.

27 Great Moments in History If The Internet Was Around Article | Cracked.com

2011-11-24T07:23:00.000Z

27 Great Moments in History If The Internet Was Around Article | Cracked.com: "While the Internet isn't known for its honesty, there's something to be said for speed and sloppiness. At least we're getting unfiltered access to the original (possibly full of crap) story. We asked you to show us what some historic accomplishments would have looked like if the Internet had been around"

Sometimes most of these photoplasty entries are dull, but this time most of them were really funny.

Blue Impulse

2011-11-23T17:26:00.002Z

First time I've seen a team use smoke before take off.

6 Animals With Better Memories Than You

2011-11-21T17:58:00.000Z

6 Animals With Better Memories Than You | Cracked.com: "But despite our big, juicy frontal lobe, many of us still forget to pick up the kids after practice due to our inferior memory, one area where a whole bunch of animals leave us in the dust. For instance ..."

Regnar's new favourite sleeping place

2011-11-20T17:36:00.000Z

He has already been allowed to steal scarves, gloves and the like from this drawer but from now on it also seems to be his winter sleeping place. Probably feels both safe and comfortable.

But in the evenings he usually uses my bed a couple of hours before I get to sleep.

I also wonder if the fact that the gloves are there already is a factor.

Eastday-Pet ferret fad poses hidden dangers

2011-11-19T14:09:00.000Z

Eastday-Pet ferret fad poses hidden dangers: "In a booming market, a ferret may cost up to 2,000 yuan (US$315), while some rare "panda" ferrets, with black and white patterns over their bodies, may cost more than 8,000 yuan."

A bit of insight in how ferrets are viewed in China.

In Slovenia, panoramic photography comes under regulatory attack | Dliberation

2011-11-19T10:10:00.000Z

In Slovenia, panoramic photography comes under regulatory attack | Dliberation: "In Slovenia, however, the past few months has seen a bizarre new legal constraint emerge: Should you take photographs in a public space in Slovenia that are social documents but not newsworthy (for example of a street merchant, or a moped driver) and opt to transform them into a 360-degree panorama format before publishing them, you are now obliged to first remove all recognizable faces, or face fines."

Seems that a large part of the reason why this is so is that it is possible. But just because something is possible doesn't mean it has to be done.

'via Blog this'

“Lenin” Nuclear Icebreake

2011-11-19T09:47:00.000Z

Gate to Arctic: “Lenin” Nuclear Icebreaker | English Russia: "Today you have a unique chance to have an excursion inside a nuclear icebreaker “Lenin”."

Photos, almost only. Interesting.

Microcar Museum

2011-11-18T16:30:00.000Z

Virtual Tour of the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum

Brief information about lots of interesting tiny cars.

RC Live Steam Trike

2011-11-18T06:21:00.000Z

Cool project. I'd like to build something like it myself.

Security Theater in science fiction, 1956 edition

2011-11-16T19:15:00.000Z

Security Theater in science fiction, 1956 edition « Decrepit Old Fool: "In his 1956 short story, Let’s Get Together, Isaac Asimov describes security measures proposed to counter a terrorist threat:"

The Swedish government sponsors the Tor Project

2011-11-14T17:24:00.000Z

And is the third largest sponsor.

Ferret strobe

2011-11-13T13:07:00.000Z

At night, it can be useful to have a strobe light on your ferret.

Minibaantje B.A. Bodil

2011-11-13T10:19:00.000Z

I wonder if you could say this layout is in a particular scale? Count the railcars: I'm sure there are four of them.

Google+

2011-11-12T15:55:00.000Z

Today I got curious about it and decided to log in.

Not possible: My name is not acceptable. I think I can guess why, but I'm surprised Google isn't aware what names are actually common in which countries.

"Invisible" bicycle helmet now a product

2011-11-12T08:34:00.000Z

This video isn't new and I thought of this as an unpractical design exercise. But I was wrong. Now it's on sale. (At SEK 3995 = approx EUR 400.) And apparently with the appropriate safety classification.

Personally, I don't think a helmet is very cumbersome (at least not when riding), but something similar as a wrist protector would be nice and this also means you could have knee pads which aren't on your knees until you need them.

First Black Hawk helicopter for the Swedish armed forces

2011-11-12T08:13:00.001Z

Black Hawk – nu går det undan! | Flygvapenbloggen:

Photo in the official air force blog.

Time for snow tires

2011-11-08T18:03:00.000Z

Yesterday I had the summer tires changed to winter tires. Or rather the whole wheels. Pretty good timing as it looks to be only 1 deg over freezing tonight which is lucky considering I booked a time some time ago. And by Dec 1:st cars in Sweden have to be fitted with winter tires.

Most of the cars I've driven during winter have had studded tires, but I choose studless "friction" tires. Small part of the reason is that they allow me to drive with them outside of the dates you're permitted studded tires, but not the whole reason. As long as some proportion of cars have studded tires friction tires work pretty well and I don't expect to drive much on small roads during winter anyway. And during the times when there's no ice nor hard packed snow on the roads and streets they work better than studded tires. But I know they're bad in warm weather.

The Technium: Steam-Engine-Time

2011-11-05T19:52:00.000Z

The Technium: Steam-Engine-Time: "When it is steam-engine-time, steam engines will occur everywhere. But not before. Because all the precursor and supporting ideas and inventions need to be present."

I sort of agree with this, but not totally: Sometimes an invention is necessary and causes all the supporting technology to come into being.

Also consider the Technological Completion Conjecture.

Super sonic booms

2011-10-31T17:05:00.000Z

I just saw a bit of Mythbusters where they tried to break windows using supersonic F-18s. And only succeeded when flying at 60 m.

But that's flying in a straight line. I'm sure the pilots must have known that you can create super sonic booms by flying in spiral curve with decreasing radius with the "target" on the inside of the curve. If you really want to, you can determine how many degrees off the nose you should keep it at a certain speed. And put a mark on the canopy there and make the people on the "trawler" which is actually a signals intelligence vessel miserable. Just as an example.

Modelljärnvägens Hus, Alunda

2011-10-30T14:36:00.002Z

Yxkrokens Järnväg in the foreground.
Good thing it was preserved at Modelljärnvägens Hus after its creator couldn't keep it any longer.
As of now, the trains have run 18.5 km and carried 800 kg cargo since 1963 with every session (at least before it came here) recorded.

Yxkrokens Järnväg
It was begun in 1963 and made purely for operation.
Its maker and operator fitted all stock with couplers of his own design, for example.

A shelf layout.
It's interesting in that it has both 2 and 3 rail sections which aren't connected.

The same shelf layout.

Nordland during night mode

Nordland is the large, nine interconnected level, display layout which can be used both in display and operation modes.

My new car

2011-10-30T14:08:00.001Z

Doesn't have the same colour as most cars in Sweden do. That's very practical when you need to find it in a parking lot...

...but of course, depending on where you go, there may not be any other cars in that parking lot. (When I left Modelljärnvägens Hus there were more cars parked.)

Model Railway Photography

2011-10-16T16:07:00.000+01:00

The Model Railways of Chris Nevard's Blog: Model Railway Photography: "However, with a few simple rules and easy to grasp techniques, extraordinary good results can be had from the recent breed of high resolution small digital pocket cameras."

Sumo wrestling

2011-10-09T14:22:00.000+01:00

A series of videos from my visit to Japan in 2007.

At last, a couple of new nuclear power plants announced

2011-10-09T08:24:00.000+01:00

I think the first new, since the accident in Japan, is the Finnish one which recently was approved buildin in Pyhäjoki. Although design isn't decided yet, it's supposed to start being built in 2015 and ready by 2020. Good news, I think.

And perhaps not coincidentally, just a few days later Russian announced there's to be a feasibility study in 2012 for a new, large, reactor at the existing nuclear power plant south of Murmansk. Also to be ready by 2020.

October textures

2011-10-05T14:23:00.000+01:00

My old watches

2011-10-05T09:59:00.000+01:00

These are the four oldest watches I've had, except for one that's missing.
First a Citizen.
Then I got an Aetos.
After that, a Citizen Club 2000, which was my first quartz watch.
Missing is a Nivada Baby Whale with a white dial. It broke when I was in Fiji.
The replacement which I got in Australia is a Seiko SQ100. It's really good even though 20 years old, but the seal has worn out, so I don't wear it anymore and won't replace the battery when it runs out. (I've always had it showing the French weekday names.)

Defence and Freedom: Repulsion

2011-10-05T08:04:00.000+01:00

Defence and Freedom: Repulsion: "It's a good thing to consider repulsion because it has an independent effect on the utility of hardware."

Interesting blog post partly about the saying "a weapon is a device for changing your enemy's mind".

Quest for Performance: The Evolution of Modern Aircraft

2011-10-03T12:34:00.000+01:00

Interesting reading from NASA.

World's oldest road legal car

2011-10-02T12:34:00.000+01:00

Steam car video.

Apparently I've bought a fly-by-wire car

2011-10-01T17:55:00.013+01:00

If I understand what I've read right, then the front wheels turn based on steering wheel and speed. More at lower speeds. Sounds like a good idea and in this application it's not something you really notice, so I guess it's just a tiny difference.
It's also got "panic brake assistance" which means it senses how fast the brake pedal is pressed down. If you press it really fast it gives full brake effort before you can press it all the way down.
This might not be new to you, but this is the first car I've ever owned and I kept up more on car technology many years ago, so it's new to me.

Major accident exercise in Norrköping involving streetcars

2011-10-01T10:03:00.000+01:00

Forum - Spårvägssällskapets.se • Visa tråd - Katastrofövningen i Norrköping idag:

Photos from an exercise using unusually many vehicles for being in a city centre. The streetcars were destined for the scrap heap.

Do scientists have a legal responsibility to be right and to tell us about it?

2011-09-30T20:37:00.000+01:00

That is what an Italian court will consider Saturday as it resumes an unprecedented manslaughter trial of six Italian geophysicists and one former government official.

Or is the problem in this case that they took part in a commission for predicting great risks even though predicting earthquakes really isn't reliably possible?

Don't forget that there will be an eruption of Vesuvius, sooner or later, and well... if evacuation haven't started before it erupts (if it's a large eruption, of course), lots and lots of people won't get away, so this is relevant to Italian politics.

Regnar is getting older

2011-09-30T17:55:00.000+01:00

Well, obviously, as we all are as long as we live.

Example one: The other day I let him up on a table. He's been there many times before, but this time you could see he thought the seat of the chair was too low to use to get down. Both from the tabletop and from the seat down to the floor. I think he felt not as strong as he once was.

Example two: If I walk with him 30-60 min in the evening, then he's too tired to go out almost at all in the morning after.

Nikon 1

2011-09-29T18:13:00.000+01:00

The other day I by accident happened on a demonstration in a park in Stockholm.

It's clear they haven't tried to make "a better GF3 or NEX-7" but something quite revolutionary. A few observations:

Up to 60 frames per second using the electronic shutter. But it seems under some circumstances it can be a bit more, actually.
Possibility to take photographs with full resolution (RAW) when filming. I can see exactly when I'd like to have that ability.
Competent face detection. Does not require "two eyes and a mouth" so I think the rather powerful processor scans all the image all the time and tries to guess what's people helping it to find faces from 1/4 rear view even.
Electronic or mechanical shutter selectable. That can be important in a few cases.
In a few modes the camera buffers images when you half press the shutter release button. This means you can take a picture before you "take" it. Smart.
Easy to change shutter speed and aperture when in mode M.
The V1 has a larger buffer and more advanced sensor anti-dust function.
Short menu trees to change settings.
Sometimes fast focusing, sometimes not so fast. Don't understand how it can have both phase detection and contrast autofocus if both are sensor based. Maybe the "phase detection" is based on advanced image processing.

Image quality is clearly good enough for what I'd use a "small" camera for. If I didn't already have an X1 I'd be lining up to purchase one, but these aren't much, if at all, lighter. Mostly I like the V1's electronic viewfinder. Could also be nice to be able to use my 16-85 mm with a much smaller camer.

Swedish doctor not punished for recommending homeopathic substances

2011-09-29T05:59:00.000+01:00

This does not mean that Swedish doctors are allowed to be as anti-scientific as they are in some other European countries and actually prescribe such things as medicine (partly tax-financed, even!).

What it means is that in this case the suggestion to also use non-medicine didn't put the patient in any danger because the patient was also given actual treatment. That it took a court to decide this shows that it isn't a trivial matter.

I think this sets a bad precedence as from now on, how can we know that if doctors recommend a non-prescription substance, like vitamins which are OK to recommend, that it really is something which will help us? To me, it's not enough that it's something which is harmless in itself, as there's alway a risk patients will think it helps and thus not use what does help. And it costs money as well. (Not that I've ever understood how you can make money selling homeopathic preparations, since when you've sold something that means the recipient can dilute it and have a life time supply of even more "powerful" stuff.)

Transformative in This as Everything Else: Walter Jon Williams’s Metropolitan and City on Fire

2011-09-29T05:31:00.001+01:00

Transformative in This as Everything Else: Walter Jon Williams’s Metropolitan and City on Fire | Tor.com: "Indeed, one could call them “urban fantasy” if the term didn’t already mean something else, because they’re among the most urban books ever written. It’s the future. There’s an impassable light-giving shield over the sky that was put there when the gods ascended. The sun and moon and day and night are legends. The entire world is covered in city — divided into many polities under a bewildering multitude of governments, but it’s all solidly city, with food growing on the rooftops."

Almost what I would say about these books.

JAS 39 Gripen - an overview of the internal network

2011-09-21T16:33:00.009+01:00

JAS 39 Gripen - an overview: The internal network

Gripen uses MIL-STD 1553B databuses, all of which most of the time are utilized 40-60% of their capacity. At first there were three of them, now they're five, operating at 1MB/s. The computer system Ericsson SDS 80 uses D96/MACS processors (since 2000 -- initially D80 processors, upgraded to D80E in 1994, were used) which are programmed with Pascal-D80, which has advanced real time functions and Ada. CPU load can be as much as 95% without any problems.

The MACS has three 266 MHz PowerPC processors working in parallell, 160 MB disk (extensible to 320 MB), 32 MB PROM and 64 MB RAM. Mass 13.5 kg.
The CPUs and buses can't be overloaded unless there's a hardware error, and if this happens the system reverts by graceful degradation to a more conservative, less capable, mode in steps. It can revert to a very basic mode.

All computations are performed in pipelined runbursts, which are governed by a central 60Hz clock, which is the basic frequency, although some processes are run 120 to 240 times per second and less demanding ones can be run 15, 8, 4 or 1 times per second and some in the background. The FCS executes processes for all runburst frequencies and in the background continously.

TCP/IP is used, but only for the Data Transfer Units. One is for the pilot for use with mission planning and debriefing. The other is for the ground crew and records operational data and status of the aircraft and can also be used to reprogram the aircraft's software. Mission planning data can also be uplinked from the ground while in the air.

Databus overview

There are five duplicated and separated for redundancy databuses with different tasks. One is for flying the aircraft itself, one is for the graphics processors, one for targeting and sensors, one for communications and one manages weapons and the HMS.

(Note: I wrote this and made this drawing in 2000. But it can still be of interest.)

Maxpedition Grimloc

2011-09-17T09:31:00.000+01:00

This is a kind of locking D-ring made to be semi-permanently attached to webbing.

I think it's very practical that it is in itself attached to your backpack, belt or whatever.

Even though the pin may look like it, they aren't designed to be pushed closed, the button has to be pressed.

To me they've been pretty durable, but they're on purpose not made to support heavy loads. Sold in packs of four which isn't surprising as you will probably need a few since they aren't meant to be quickly moved from one attachment point to another. The advantage is that you don't easily misplace them...

This shows their maximum opening angle

On most webbing it's easy to attach, but for some reason it takes a bit of work on Maxpedition packs because they use thick material.

Railway videos

2011-09-16T12:34:00.012+01:00

I've put up a few videos on YouTube from my railway trip in Europe this summer.

First is from Simpelveld, where the ex-Swedish E2 1040 steam locomotive is now with a museum railway.

Then 3 videos from the AVSi tram museum in Thuin.

First part of the journey from Lobbes to Thuin.

Then one of their combustion engine trams.

On my way to work

2011-09-15T14:30:00.001+01:00

One of my all-time most liked (as in "borrowed") photos on the web.

Airshow at Jönköping 2011

2011-09-11T11:40:00.000+01:00

Airshow photos:

The rest of the photos here.

Using EXIF data for design/marketing decisions

2011-09-11T08:32:00.000+01:00

This isn't the best of DigitalRev TV's videos (I like the Pro Photographer, Cheap Camera ones better). But it made me think.

First: They've removed some modes compared to an earlier model. Too many can be confusing, so nothing wrong with that, but how to decide which ones to keep? You could scour the Internet for images taken with the camera model you're interested in and check the EXIF data.

And on sites were users who upload photos state their gender and age, you can look at that too.

Active IR camouflage

2011-09-09T05:25:00.000+01:00

Really interesting. The press release and an article (in Swedish) with some more photos.

Carabiner origin

2011-09-08T18:48:00.003+01:00

Most of you know what a carabiner is, but not even Wikipedia's article on them seem to have images of its original form and use.
Recently, I visited the Swedish Army museum in Stockholm and took some low quality photos. As you can see, the carabiner itself is quite like some designs in use today even if I can't recall seing a blade spring used exactly like that.

The weapons attachment is quite ingenious. By having a metal bar on the left side of the stock with a sliding ring the gun will assume a stable attitude with the barrel pointing up when you sling it behind your back. You can easily reach it and hold the carbine in a firing position without disconnecting it nor having an unnecessarily long gun sling. And it's of course easy to detach the gun from the sling when you want to reload it and quickly attach it again. Just like we use carabiners today.

Fairchild XC-120 Packplane

2011-09-08T17:42:00.000+01:00

Most of the time, "forgotten" aircraft aren't forgotten by me. But I think this one was.
Neat idea, but maybe not so practical after all.

I've started the 2011 ink test

2011-09-08T17:18:00.000+01:00

It's only run for two weeks, so nothing much has happened except one interesting thing. No surprise that the Pelikan yellow highlighter ink doesn't stand up to light well, but I'm surprised how badly Noodler's Baystate Blue does: It changed colour rather quickly on most papers to more like a bluish black. And by now it's really, really faded on one of the papers. I wonder how come.

Know Your Limits!

2011-09-05T16:31:00.001+01:00

Nevardmedia: Know Your Limits!: "I think it's all too easy to be over ambitious, get carried away and take on a project that's far too big and demanding."

Good advice for model railroaders.

But actually applicable to lots of other things too.

Kodacolor 25 goodbye

2011-09-05T14:26:00.000+01:00

Last time I used Kodacolor 25 (1998). Light was changing fast, so for once I really had to decide quickly which photos not to take. M6 and 90 mm, I think.

Which cars have been most popular in Sweden?

2011-08-28T08:17:00.002+01:00

By number of new cars sold per year:

1975

Volvo 242 + 244 +245
Saab 99
Volkswagen Passat
Saab 95 + 96
Mercedes 200 - 240
Opel Rekord
Volkswagen Golf
Ford Taunus
Ford Consul + Grenada
DAF 66

1980

Volvo 242 + 244 +245
Saab 900
Volkswagen Golf
Volvo 340
Opel Kadett
Saab 99
Mercedes 230 - 300
Opel Rekord
Ford Fiesta
Ford Taunus

1985

Volvo 740 + 760
Volvo 240
Saab 900
Volkswagen Golf + Jetta
Opel Kadett
Volvo 340 + 360
Ford Sierra
Ford Escort
Audi 100
Mazda 323

1990

Volvo 740 + 760
Saab 9000
Volkswagen Golf + Jetta
Toyota Corolla
Volvo 240
Volvo 440 + 460 + 480
Ford Sierra
Opel Kadett
Ford Escort + Orion
Mazda 323

1995

Volvo 850
Volvo 940 + 960
Saab 9000
Saab 900
Volkswagen Golf
Ford Escort
Opel Astra
Ford Mondeo
Volvo 440 + 460 + 480
Audi 80 / A4

2000

Volvo C70 + S70 + V70
Saab 9-5
Volvo S40 + V40
Saab 9-3
Volkswagen Golf
Volkswgen Passat
Renault Mégane
Ford Focus
Skoda Octavia
Volvo S80

2005

Volvo C70 + S70 + V70
Volvo V50
Saab 9-5
Volkswagen Golf
Saab 9-3
Ford Focus
Toyota Corolla
Volkswagen Passat
Peugeot 307
Renault Mégane

2010

Volvo V70
Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Passat
Volvo V50
Kia Cee'd
Audi A4
Renault Mégane
Ford Focus
Saab 9-3
Renault Clio

I haven't gone to the raw data, this is actually from a magazine, so the choice of which models should count as "one" isn't mine. For example, the 242/244/245 were all called 240 from 1983, so that makes sense. But why not group the 260 with the 240 as the 760 is with 740? I don't know.

It looks like the reason people stopped buying Volvo 240 was that they stopped making them, not the other way round. Its production actually stopped one year after 740!

The Technium: Why the Impossible Happens More Often

2011-08-27T08:14:00.000+01:00

The Technium: Why the Impossible Happens More Often: "In the past several decades I've encountered a series of ideas that I was conditioned to think were impossibilities, but which turned out to be good practical ideas."

That "impossible" things can happen we all know.

It's the "why" which is the insight in this blog post.

Mazuri Airshow, Kętrzyn Wilamowo

2011-08-25T10:23:00.000+01:00

I flew there with the DC-3 shown in the beginning of August.

Amazing helicopter airshow

2011-08-25T06:20:00.000+01:00

A video from, I think, 1986 and taken at Frösön.

Swedish military airshow displays used to be different(*). This seems to be a bit more agile than how they showed this type of helicopter when it was closer to retirement.

(*)

Simulated low-level dogfight at about 50 m over the runway between two Drakens (1979, Karlsborg)
Low level high speed runway pass in a reconnaissance Draken photographing the audience and giant blow ups posted on a hangar door 1 hour later (1979, Karlsborg)
Firing of practice rockets at the airfield from SK 60s in front of the audience (1976, Malmslätt)
360 deg roll in AJ 37 Viggen very soon after take off, wingtip <5 m off ground (1975, Såtenäs)

Too bad I didn't have a movie/video camera then.

But I guess crashing a Gripen in the middle of the capital changes the risk evaluation a bit.

The Swedish Air Force Museum

2011-08-22T16:35:00.000+01:00

40 photos from a visit last Wednesday.

Automatic cannon used by the Swedish air force

2011-08-21T06:14:00.000+01:00

This is a copy af a document I put on the web in 1998 and last updated in 2006. Today updated by removing links.

Automatic cannon used by the Swedish air force

Akan = automatkanon = automatic cannon
Ksp = kulspruta = machinegun

Cannon by aircraft type

J 21A-1          1 x 20 mm m/41A      Hispano-Suiza type 404  

                 4 x 13.2 mm m/39A    LME  later re-barrelled to 12.7 mm

A 21A-2/A-3          20 mm m/45       Bofors  

                 4 x 13.2 mm m/39A    LME  later re-barrelled to 12.7 mm

A 21RA/A 21RB        20 mm m/45       Bofors

                 4 x 13.2 mm m/39A    LME  later re-barrelled to 12.7 mm

                 8 x 7.9 mm m/22F     Colt   In pod under fuselage

J 22A/J 22-1     2 x 13.2 mm m/39A

                 2 x 8 mm

J 22B/J 22-2     4 x 13.2 mm m/39A

B 18A            3 x 13.2 mm m/39A

B 18B            2 x 13.2 mm m/39A

T 18B                57 mm m/47      Bofors 57mm/L50  42 rounds. mountable in the bomb bay

                 2 x 20 mm m/?

J 26 Mustang     6/4 x 12.7 mm m/45    2x400 + 4x260/2x400+2x500 rounds

J 28 Vampire     4 x 20 mm m/47B     Hispano-Suiza type 804  4 x 150 rounds

J 29 Tunnan      4 x 20 mm m/47C     Hispano-Suiza type 804  4 x 180 rounds

J 30 Mosquito    4 x 20 mm m/46A     Hispano-Suiza type 404

A 32A Lansen     4 x 20 mm m/49      Bofors	4 x 180 rounds

J 32B Lansen     4 x 30 mm m/55      Aden 30    4 x 90 rounds

J 33 Venom       4 x 20 mm m/47B     Hispano-Suiza type 804 

J 34 Hunter      4 x 30 mm m/55      Aden 301   4 x 150 rounds

J 35A,B,D Draken 2 x 30 mm m/55      Aden 30    2 x 150 rounds

J 35F,J Draken       30 mm m/55      Aden 30        150 rounds

AJ/S 37 Viggen   2 x 30 mm m/55      Aden 30 in pods 2 x 150 rounds

Sk 60B,C         2 x 30 mm m/55      Aden 30 in pods 2 x 150 rounds

JA 37 Viggen         30 mm m/75      Oerlikon KCA   150 rounds

JAS 39 Gripen        27 mm m/85      Mauser BK 27   120 rounds

12.7 mm m/39A and m/45 used as practice gun on J 35 Draken, AJS 37 Viggen and Sk 60 instead of 30 mm m/55

Gun data by gun designation

7.9 mm Ksp m/22F 6.5 mm m/94 6.5x55/ 8 mm m/32 8x63     Colt-Browning

    18rd/s m/22Fv Belt feed from left, m/22Fr from right, m/22R 125 rd drum, m/22-37R 75 rd saddle magazine 

13.2/12.7 mm Akan m/39                                  Browning, FN or LME-built 

                  13.2 mm m/44 13.2x99                   24.7 kg 1.46 m  15rd/s    

                  12.7 mm m/45 12.7x99 (.50 BMG)

12.7 mm Akan m/39A  As m/39, built by LME

12.7 mm Akan m/45 12.7 mm m/45 12.7x99         13rd/s    Browning M2 Aircraft, Colt/Springfield-built

20 mm Akan m/41   20 mm m/41  20x110  880m/s  690rd/min  Hispano-Suiza 404 46 kg 2.52 m Similar to m/47 

20 mm Akan m/45   20 mm m/41  20x110  825m/s  725rd/min  Bofors        49.5 kg  2.14 m  Related to m/49

20 mm Akan m/47   20 mm m/41  20x110  805m/s  700rd/min Hispano-Suiza 804 43.5 kg 2.02 m Similar to m/41

20 mm Akan m/49   20 mm m/41  20x110  825m/s  775rd/min  Bofors        59 kg    2.11 m  Related to m/45, left- and right-feed versions

27 mm Akan m/85   27 mm m/85  27x145 1025m/s 1700rd/min  Mauser BK 27 100 kg    2.31 m

30 mm Akan m/55   30 mm m/55  30x111  800m/s 1500rd/min  Aden 30       87 kg    1.64 m

30 mm Akan m/75   30 mm m/75  30x174 1030m/s 1350rd/min  Oerlikon KCA 136 kg    2.69 m

57 mm Akan m/47   57 mm m/?   57x230 686-744m/s 100rd/min Bofors      735 kg    5.3 m

Related document: Airborne cannon data, a non-comparison table.

Aircraft cannon data

2011-08-21T06:01:00.002+01:00

(This is a copy of a document I put on the web in 1995, listing and sort of comparing different aircraft cannon on fighter aircraft. Facts haven't been much updated since then.)

Aircraft cannon data

       number of      projectile muzzle  cyclic  rds  throw weight  cannon

                          (round)

         barrels calibre  weight veloc.  rate    1:st  1:st         weight length

                 mm         g     m/s    /min(s) sec.  sec. kg      kg     m



General Dynamics

     GAU-19/A  3 12.7       ?       ?   1200      ?        ?        209

  Installation on MV-22 will have 750 rounds, reloadable in flight, 

  148 deg azimut and 70 deg elevation fields



Oerlikon KAD   1 20         ?       ?      ?      ?        ?          ?



Armscor XC-F2  1 20        98    1030    600     10        1         39

  For Rooivalk



GIAT 621       1 20        98    1030    650     11        1.05       ?

  Used on SA.242 Gazelle and SA.365 Panther



GE M197        3 20x102    98    1030    750      ?        ?          ?

  Used on AH-1 Cobra



GE Vulcan II   3 20x102    98    1030   1500      ?        ?

  Improved M197, intended for RAH-66 Comanche



GE M61         6 20x102    98    1036  6000(100)                    114



GE M61A1       6 20x102  98(250) 1036  6600(110) 72        7.0      120   1.88 m

GE M61A2       6 20x102                                              93

                  Lighter version, faster spinup, thinner barrels.

Due to spin up time of 0.3 to rate, the first 0.5 s only 20 rounds are fired. Used on many fighters.
There's also sources which say it fires 47 rounds the first second, for a throw weight of 4.6 kg. If this is correct, it might refer to time from press of trigger, and the numbers 72 (or 75) from the time the first round is fired. Or perhaps it refers to an older version.
When the barrels are rotating slowly during spin up and spin down, a few rounds (around 15 in total) are expended, but not fired as the barrels aren't clear of the aircraft structure.
A lightweight, 93 kg, version with faster acceleration is beeing made for F/A-18, F-22 and Taiwan's IDF.
There are three dispersion patterns with normal, oval and large dispersion clamps. These give 4.5 mils, 8 (height) x 38 (width) mils and 16 mils respectively.

GSh-23L        2 23x115    109?    700    3200    53        5.8       51

  First used on MiG-21s

  The Yugoslavian version GSh-23-L-YU has a rate of 3500 rd/min.



GSh-23         2 23x115   109     890    3500    58        6.3       76

  Reported as having 4500 r/min in the UPK-23-250 gun pod





GSh-6-23       6 23x115    109?      ?   8000(133) ?        ?         76

  Used on MiG-31. Same ammunition as GSh-23L. Used in the SPPU-6 gun pod



Oerlikon KBA   1 25x137     ?       ?       ?     ?        ?          ?



Aden 25        1 25x137   180    1050    1850    30        5.4       92

  Planned for Harrier GR.7, intended for Hawk 200, not in service (1999). Percussion ignition.



GE-225         2 25x137   180    1097    2000    33        5.9       86

  Development is shelved. Externally powered it fired 750 rd/min.



GE GAU-12/U    5 25x137   180    1097   4200(70) 35        6.3      125

  Used on AV-8B.

  On the F-35 it fires at 4000 rpm only, and reloads unfired ammo back into the magazine.



Mauser BK 27   1 27x145   260(516) 1025 1000/1700 28        7.4      100

  Used on Gripen, Tornado and Alpha Jet, podded variant available.

  Time of flight to 1000 m 1.18 s, velocity at 1000 m 695 m/s.

  Lenght: 2310 mm, barrel 1730 mm. Centrifuge tested to 10.2G.



MDHC M230      1 30       240     805     625(10) 9        2.4        ?

  Used on AH-64. Externally powered by a 6.5hp motor,

  max rate is reached in 0.2 s.



Aden 30        1 30x111           800    1500    25                  87  1.7





DEFA 554       1 30x113   275     840 1100/1800  30        8.3       80

  Five chamber revolver. Used on Mirage 2000 and AMX.



GIAT 30M791    1 30x150   275    1025 1500/2500  41       11.3      110

  Seven chamber revolver. Used on Rafale.

  Electric ignition, automatic cocking, electrically powered revolver mechanism.

  0.5 or 1 s bursts selectable. Can also fire at 300-600 rd/min.



GSh-301        1 30         ?     860    1800    30        1.98        46

    Revolver. Used on MiG-29 and Su-27.

    Rate of fire also given as 1500-1600 and muzzle velocity 660(?) m/s



2A42           1 30x164   390    1020   300/600  5-10      3.9      115

  Dzerzhinets NPPU-280. Used on BMP-2, Ka-50, Mi-38 and Mi-40. Dual feed.

  Also reported as having 900 r/min



Armscor XC-30  1 30       270    1020     900    15        4.05      85

  For Rooivalk



Giat 30-871    1 30x150   270     725     750    13        3.1       56

  For Eurocopter Gerfaut. Externally powered. 1, 10, 25 bursts or continous.

  Linear action. (Is it 781?)



Oerlikon KCA   1 30x173  360(890) 1050   1350    22        8.1        136  2.69

  Four chamber revolver. Used on fighter Viggens. Has four charges to clear

  duds which goes as quick as spent cartridges + a few ms to detect. Barrel 1.98 m



GSh-30 /L/K    2 30x164   390       ? 1500-1800  25-30     9.8    105/126



GSh-2-30       2 30x164   390     765    3000    50        19.5       ?

  Used on Su-25 and Mi-24 (with lower firing rate?)



GAU-13/A       4 30x173   390    1022    2400(40) ?        ?          ?

  Pod mounted as GPU-5/A / GEPOD-30 on F-16s and F-5Es. GPU-5/A with 450

  rounds weighs 717 kg.



GSh-6-30       6 30         ?     850    5400(90) ?        ?        145

  Used on MiG-27.



GAU-8        7 30x173     390    1067 2100/3500(58) ?      ?        281  6.40

  Used on A-10. The higher 4200 rd/min rate was deleted in the 1980s.

  0.55 s to 70 rds/s. Gun+magazine+ammo 1723 kg.



Oerlikon 35/1000 1 35x   1000       ?       ?     ?        ?        450





Bofors 57mm/L50 1 57x230 2500       744   180     3        7.5      735 5.3m, barrel 2.85 m

  Option on Saab T 18B. Long obsolete.

Single barrel linear action guns usually has a rate of 300-900 rd/min.
As you can see, during the first second, the five-barrelled Gatling only fires two rounds more than the two-barrelled gun firing the same rounds, in spite of having a cyclic rate that's more than twice as high and beeing 39 kg heavier.

Some examples of cannon fit and magazine capacity

Aircraft          Gun        Number

                             of guns  Ammunition

                            (barrels) load

F-14              GE M61 20 mm  1 (6)  675

F-15A-D           M61 20 mm     1 (6)  950

F-15E             M61 20 mm     1 (6)  512

F-16              M61 20 mm     1 (6)  515

F/A-18A/B/C/D     M61 20 mm     1 (6)  570

F/A-18E/F         M61 20 mm     1 (6)  400 

F-4               M61 20 mm     1 (6)  640

A-7               M61 20 mm     1 (6) 1000

F-111             M61 20 mm     1 (6) 1000 (in bay, not fixed)

F-104             M61 20 mm     1 (6)  725

F-22              M61 20 mm     1 (6)  480 ("With 480 rounds, the pilot has roughly five shots with the gun.")

F-35             GAU-12/U 25 mm 1 (5)  182 for the CTOL version, pod for CV/CTOL holds 220 rounds.

F-5E             Colt M39 20 mm 2      280

F-5F              M39     20 mm 1      140

A-10              GAU-8/A 30 mm 1 (7) 1174 (used to be slightly more, magazine walls thicker now)

P-80          Browning M3 12.7 mm 6 x 300 = 1800 

F-86A         Browning M3 12.7 mm 6 x 267 = 1602 (13 s shooting)

F9F Panther   Hispano M3 20 mm    4 x 190 = 760 (13 s shooting)

Messerschmitt 262  MK 108 30 mm   2 x 100 + 2 x 80 = 360 (8/10 s shooting)

Gloster Meteor  Hispano-Suiza 20  4 x 195 = 780

DH Vampire Hispano-Suiza Mk V 20  4 x 150 = 600

DH Venom        Hispano-Suiza 20  4 x 150 = 600

AV-8B Har.II     GAU-12/U 25 mm 1 (5)  300 

Harrier GR.7      ADEN 25 25 mm 2 x    ??? Can fly with one gun + one TIALD

                                           pod, this gun installation now cancelled

Hawk              ADEN 30 mm    1      150 (podded) (two 25 mm initially planned for Hawk 200 initially)

Sea Harrier       Aden 30 mm    2 x 125 = 250

Mirage IIIS       DEFA 30 mm    2 x 120 = 240

Mirage F.1      DEFA 553A 30 mm 2 x 135 = 270

Mirage 2000       DEFA 30 mm    2 x 125 = 250

Rafale        DEFA 30M791 30 mm 1 x 125    (two guns planned initially)

A 32A Lansen     Bofors 20 mm   4 x 180    (but actual warload was 4 x 80 rounds)

J 32B Lansen      Aden  30 mm   4 x  90 = 360 

J 35A Draken      Aden  30 mm   2 x 150 = 300

J 35J Draken      Aden  30 mm   1      150

JA 37 Viggen Oerlikon KCA 30 mm 1      150

JAS 39 Gripen Mauser BK 27 27 mm 1     120

Tornado IDS  Mauser BK 27 27 mm 2 x 180 = 360

Tornado ADV       BK    27 mm   1      180 (Slightly different installation compared to IDV)

AMX (Italian)     M61   20 mm   1 (6)  350

AMX (Brazilian)   Aden 30 mm    2 x 125 = 250

Su-24           GSh-6-23 23 mm  1 (6)  500

Su-27           GSh-30-1 30 mm  1      150

MiG-15bis       N-37 37 mm 1 x 40 + NR-23 23 mm 2 x 80 (6 s shooting)

MiG-17PFU       1x37 mm cannon + 2x23 mm cannons 

MiG-19          NR-30    30 mm  2 x 70 + 55 = 195

MiG-27          GSh-6-30 30 mm  1 (6)  260 

MiG-29          GSh-30-1 30 mm  1      150 (said to be twice the needed amount)

MiG-29M         GSh-30-1 30 mm  1      100

MiG-31          GSh-23-6        1 (6)  260

Air to air shootdowns with guns are getting scarcer

By the USAF during Desert Storm two: Both by A-10s.
USAF F-4Es in 1972: Seven, out of 14 attempts.
By the RN Sea Harriers during the Falklands war: Four in all, one Pucara, one A-4, one Hercules which had been damages by one Sidewinders and one A-4 which already was damaged by ground fire which was further damaged so it couldn't land, compared to eleven plus two damaged with Sidewinders. Additionally four helicopters were destroyede on the ground by cannon.
Israel: Six Day War, 100% (of 60), lack of dependable AAMs.
War of Attrition, 70% (of 113); missiles Shafrir 30%.
1970-73, 70% (of 34); missiles 30%.
Yom Kippur War, 30% (of 277); missiles 70%.
1973-79, 17% (of 6); missiles 83%.
1979-82, 9% (of 229; missiles 91%.
Lebanon 1982, 7% (of 85), missiles 93%.
1982-90, 0%, missiles 100% (of 3).

Airborne cannon used by the Swedish air force
Document last modified 2011 Aug 21 by Urban
Text last updated 1995 Mar 15 by Urban, apart from the M61 section which was updated 1997 June 20, BK 27 update on 1997 Dec 11, Aden 30 and details 1997 Dec 16, Rafale 2005 Jan 24, aircraft list added 1998 Nov 04, links removed 2011 Aug 21

Filled memory card

2011-08-18T18:24:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I filled my camera's memory card. Partly because I kept the backups of the next to last trip on it -- and just to be sure I did it outside of the folder the camera can access.

This wasn't a problem, as the occasion was strictly limited to how many pictures one could reasonably take, but I've never before seen "Full" on the display.

Trees, sky, clouds

2011-08-15T14:31:00.000+01:00

This is an interesting photograph, because it's the first time (1998) I "used" a red filter after taking the photo. It's a scanned colour photo and post-processed so it looks like there was a red filter from the beginning.

Old jacket "found"

2011-08-14T07:13:00.000+01:00

When packing for my trip to Poland last week, I wanted a sort of summer jacket with large pockets. Removable arms would be a plus.
I had one such hanging in a closet. But what did I find in the Tenson jacket (perhaps more than 25 years old= when emptying its pockets? An airshow programme from august 2001.

Do I need clothes I only use once per decade? Sure: Not every winter is very cold.

Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books

2011-08-12T20:31:00.001+01:00

Your Picks: Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books : NPR

Another of those lists. If we include TV and movie adaptions, then there are only 26 I haven't "read" in this list, most in the 50-100 range.

OK, I may have gotten input in a few books I maybe should read.

But on the other hand, I have read, for example, The Belgariad and it's not very good at all. And The Silmarillion is just barely readable and not a novel and not intended to be a book sort of like Always Coming Home by Ursula K. LeGuin, so what it does on this list I can't understand. Nor am I sure the ones by Jules Verne are his best novels (and I've read practically all of them). I found The Mars Trilogy to be utter junk and Lucifer's Hammer not at all as interesting as for example Footfall.

Hedgehog visit

2011-08-10T18:23:00.002+01:00

Photos of the model railway at Tekniska Museet in Stockholm

2011-08-09T11:27:00.001+01:00

Butterflies

2011-08-05T14:19:00.005+01:00

Photos taken with M6 and 135 mm Hektor. Cropped a lot, but as you see, the rangefinder got focus where I wanted it.

Examples of types spam mail I've gotten

2011-07-31T07:10:00.000+01:00

Nowadays I let Gmail filter and I did it myself which also worked well for years before that. But earlier some probably web keyword search based, as is not blind to every e-mail address there is, spam I've gotten include:

Offer to sell me ice cream making machines (probably because of the web page where I give a recipe for making ice cream without machines)
Would I like to buy, or find someone who would like to buy, a number of Russian 120 ton diesel locomotives (TEM3 I think) stuck in a US port?
Any interest in a secondhand Lockheed L-100 (civilian Hercules)?
Would I like to import knives?
Do I have contacts who could help sell G-suits to the Bangladesh air force?
A couple of times there has been interested expressed in acquiring spare parts in countries where I'm almost sure there were reasons they couldn't just simply ask the manufacturer or a representative in another country

Regnar again shows he understands a lot of what I say

2011-07-30T06:56:00.000+01:00

This morning when I started making breakfast for myself, he woke up and came to the kitchen, wanting something to eat. Besides the food he's already got in his bowls, that is. So I told him it was time for piece of vitamins. He don't like them very much, so he dropped the piece on the floor. Usually he just leaves it there, but today I told him to eat his vitamins. So he picked it up and went away. I don't know if he actually ate it or not but anyway it's clear he understood what I wanted.

Spider outside the window

2011-07-27T16:44:00.002+01:00

Another pen retired

2011-07-26T16:46:00.000+01:00

It's my Mont Blanc 162, bought in 2004.

Some glue seems to have lost its grip and I can't be bothered to fix it, so I'll just box it.

Worked fine last week, but suddenly when I'm unscrewing the cap, instead it looks like below. The threaded part which attaches to the cap is also threaded but also glued where it attaches to the barrel. That's what's come unstuck now, so almost every other time the refill part is stuck, hard, to the cap in a way I can't get it loose with just my fingers.

Now I'll have to find a way to use the very, very good rollerball refills without a pen made specially for them.

Netherlands, Belgium, France by train 2011

2011-07-23T08:26:00.002+01:00

With a side trip to Great Britain through the Eurotunnel.

Oden (icebreaker) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2011-07-22T08:54:00.000+01:00

Oden (icebreaker) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A quite large Swedish icebreaker. In fact it's our largest.

A couple of Antarctic missions are listed on the Wikimedia page, but it's actually been there every northern winter four years in row.

But this year it's been decided it'll actually be used in Sweden to break ice for shipping the next winter. Because last winter the four other large (but not quite as large) ice breakers weren't really enough.

The Antarctic missions are of course scientifically important. But interestingly enough, there doesn't seem to be any US icebreaker available for them.

50 Completely Useless Signs ~ Damn Cool Pictures

2011-07-22T08:47:00.000+01:00

50 Completely Useless Signs ~ Damn Cool Pictures: "Well, with these signs, it wouldn't make much of a difference whether you obeyed them or not."

Haglöfs Escape Ventilated

2011-07-20T18:18:00.001+01:00

In 2010 I thought it might be a good idea to have a pair of hot weather shoes. That's when I got my first pair, the ones with red trim, of the ventilated mesh model of Escape.

For some reason I didn't feel like using the original insoles, so instead I got a pair of green Superfeet insoles.

They work fine: On a chilly autumn evening the feet get cold in them. They're also usable for wearing and walking with all day but I don't seem to get them laced right for very rough terrain. Could be due to my choice of insoles, but when you walk so it's sloping down to your left or right they don't feel perfectly stable.

The red ones followed me to Japan in 2010 (but not alone, because there was serious hiking planned), the green trim ones were my only shoes on my recent railway trip in Europe.

Pralinhuset chocolate

2011-07-18T18:18:00.010+01:00

This is a house brand chocolate. It comes in several patterns. I choose this as it looks nice. But it's not made to break it into pieces. Surprisingly for what's presumably premium chocolate this one doesn't say which type of beans it's made of. Could mean it's made from whatever, but I didn't ask. Not much, if at all, better than what you find for about half the price.

Haglöfs Trail 2

2011-07-18T18:18:00.009+01:00

Once upon a time I used to only use one type of boots. All the time, outdoors. Nor did I think Gore-Tex in shoes was a good idea.

Oh, how I've changed.

This is my pair of Haglöfs Trail 2 I bought in 2009. Nowadays these are sort of my default shoes if I'm going away for 1-3 days and isn't sure what the weather will be like, there will be sitting in trains or planes for hours and there won't be any hiking.

In these I use the original insoles and I have no problems walking with them for 10+ km/day both on hard surfaces and off-path in the woods.

Still only got one pair, though.

Chevrolet Volt vs Vauxhall / Opel Ampera

2011-07-17T12:57:00.000+01:00

Almost everywhere you can read about these cars, the Ampera is described as a re-badged Volt. But listen to what Robert Llewellyn says beginning at 1:25.

Developed in Europe: European developed petrol engine, different chassi, different suspension. "Different" could of course be very little different and you need to give some reasons to sell two almost the same cars in the same market, if the Volt is going to be sold in Europe.

Dispersed basing - traditional Swedish air force method for protecting its aircraft

2011-07-17T06:43:00.000+01:00

(Note: This was written in 2001 and slightly updated in 2008. Today the air force does not rely as much on dispersed basing as it used to. Actually, not at all, really. But it has the ability to operate from unprepared sites.)

We like it, in part, because if you do have the space to spread out,dispersal and mobility is a more cost effective solutionfor protecting your aircraft and their ability fo fly missionsthan hardened shelters. It also gives the air force thecapability to concentrate forces in different directionswithout overcrowding, as the bases together have thecapability to handle more aircraft than the air forceowns.

It should be noted that in our case, "dispersed basing"is and has not been a question of relocating off the ordinarybases when they've been subjected to attack, the dispersedbases are the main bases, with the wings' ordinary locationmainly being peace time training establishements.

Background and history

The early years

The air force was created in 1926 from the army's andnavy's aviation units and took over the very fewairbases existing then. For several years, therewasn't new building done, this in spite of the air force being the only part of the defence forceswhich wasn't reduced in size with the 1926 defencebudget. Still, it wasn't until a decade later anyreal build up was started.

The situation in 1939

The air force had gotten a few more air bases, butmore were needed and planned for, partly as a consequence of the increasing number of aircraftforeseen.
The defence forces by then planned for two main cases ofwar, against Germany or the USSR.In both cases there would be a number of rear bases forthe bombers but the actual attacks would be launched fromdispersed forward bases which were to be grouped threeand three, one for each squadron in a bomber wing, withdispersed parking spaces for each air field.
The air fields were grass by this time and sown with patternsof different types of grass so the three landing "strips" wouldn't be seen clearly from the air. The buildings werealso camouflaged to look like normal farm buildings.
For a war against Germany the southern and Gotland forwardbases were to be used, against the USSR Gotland and theones along the northern coast.
In the event, the air force grew more and got a significantfighter component added, so more dispersed air bases werebuilt, but according to the same principles.

The 1940's buildup

By 1945 there were a total of 60 bases across the nation.Very few with anything but grass runways, but a few ofthe newest ones and a very small number of civilian airportshad concrete runways.
By this time another dimension was added to the protectionof aircraft on the ground, as at some wings like F 9 inGöteborg and F 8 and F 18 in/outside Stockholm were builtwith underground hangars deep in solid bedrock.

1950's: Jets require stronger runways

During the 1950's the number of bases werereduced to 30, because building hardened runways in alllocations wasn't feasible.
Backup runways were often built as parts of nearby roads,but in at least one case, Ålem, the term "road base"was literally correct.
Bases had the capacity to keep more than one squadronat a time in the air and generally had the main taskto fully serve either attack/reconnaissance squadrons or fighter squadrons and always a secondary task to at leastrefuel and launch any kind of aircraft.

The modern era

BAS 90 / Basbataljon 85

Until the 1980's more or less the same concept was retained and developed. But then it becameclear that something better would be needed to counternewer threats.
The number of bases was reduced to 24. Partly this wasbecause the exposed strategic location of some bases nearthe coast, partly because the air force no longer had asmany fighter squadrons.
This didn't necessarily mean a decrease in capability, as in somecases nearby bases were merged into one and all BAS 90 wasto have four or five runways.
24 bases is the number deemed right for 16 fighter squadrons + miscellaneous transport and support units, so still like earlier thereare more bases than fighters squadrons and every basehas the capacity to serve more than one squadron.
The ground unit for a BAS 90 is designated Basbataljon 85and consists of 1500 - 2700 persons, including 48 civilianemployees, spread out overan area around 20 x 40 km, where there is also army units for its protection both against against groundborne threats and with anti-aircraft units.The air force has also some specialized counter commandounits as protection.
The infrastructure includes one main base where all activity is concentrated, with onelong runway plus tree to four 800 m short runwaysand usually one backup base some distance away withone short runway. There are two bunkers on the base, one for command ofground base operations and one for air operations.Everything having to do with maintaining and operatingaircraft is fully mobile.
One BAS 90 has as its two main tasks to support the operation ofseveral fighter squadrons as well as transport and liasion flights.
A BAS 90 is capable to function while under attack, eitherfrom long range or from commandos on or near the base.If it's functionally disabled activity moves to the auxilarybase, runways are cleared and repaired and activity returns.It can sustain operations and resist attack for about 14days and generate at least 80 aircraft sorties per day forfive days.
In 1996 force reductions decree that the number of BAS is decreased to 16, with 16 full and two short base battallions, making a total ofabout 20 air bases, with each of the six wings organizingup to four BAS 90 (earlier F 21 had had five and was the firstwing to have them all rebuilt to BAS 90 standard, but afterthis reduction only three were left).This, among other things, means every batallion has to take charge of a larger geographical area.
Plans for an ambitious development of the BAS 90 concept, BAS 2000, which is later abandonedas being to expensive and not totally suited for modern operationsas for example the threat level is lowerstarted in 1993. BAS 2000 was supposed to be much like BAS 90, butwith even more runways and mobility over much larger areas.

BAS 04 / Flygbasbataljon 04

The BAS 04 which partially builds on the BAS 2000 has been trialled during 2000, training has started andall units are to be trained, organized and equipped for it bythe end of 2003.
One of the main features of BAS 04 is that it's fullyindependent of infrastructure, apart from runways of course,nothing else is needed where it will operate.This means it's not as tied in to specific locations asBAS 90 and precessors was.As a result of this, it's also suited for internationaloperations as everything is mobile and it's easier toupgrade to more modern equipment as needed,and should the threat become more serious it's easierto enhance the organization with more resources.
Compared to BAS 90 the numerically smaller personell,122 officers,550 soldiers and42 civilians,is based more concentrated, but not necessarily in the same place over time, and is more mobilewithin the bases.
BAS 04 has one main task to support one fighter squadron.Additionally it can also as a secondary task supporttransport and liason flights.
The organization is designed to be split up in order tosustain operations simultaneously on two different airbases, while still being led as a single unit.It's capable to withstand attack in shorter termthan BAS 90, but to otherwise sustain operationsindefinitely.
For international operations starting in 2002 the airforce will have the ability to start operations at aforeign location 30 days after the word go. Onebattalion will have this readyness as well as onefighter squadron (optimized towards reconnaissance)and one transport flight with Herculeses.

2007

Since BAS 04 doesn't need prepared sites, more than a runway, and the air force's strength was reduced, only a few bases were kept in 2007.
Any other air field in Sweden can be used, in case of mobilisation.
Remaining are two fighter wings, F 17 and F 21, each with two squadronsof JAS 39 Gripen and one auxilary base each.
F 7 is the Gripen training centre and a transport base.
Halmstad is a technical school.
Malmslätt the flying school and special flight (SIGINT and VIP)home as well as main helicopter base.
Karlsborg is used to support army airborne units.
Uppsala supports international missions.
Vidsel is a test and research site with a large live fire range, also used by foreign air forces.
F 17G is a forward base.
Kallax, Ronneby and Halmstad are dual use airports, withcivilian aircraft, private and airliners, using them too.

Aerial photos and maps

At Eniroyou can find maps and aerial photos of all of Sweden.

Lots of unread books

2011-07-16T21:25:00.000+01:00

I think that I at present have more unread [science fiction(*)] books than I've had in a long time. Probably since the 1980's when I recall that during the years I bought on average four books/week I had at one time 16 unread.

Now, it's only half a dozen, and it so happens it's those which don't have their backs toward us, but that's just because three of them are too large to fit upright on the "to read shelf" (those to the left I've already read, but will re-read).

For the last couple of years I've tried to read one new book and re-read one alternatingly and in the last weeks there's been a flood of new books incoming.

For the curious, these are the ones:

The Dragon's Path by Daniel Abraham
Rule 34 by Charles Stross
Embassytown by China Mieville
How to live safely in a science fictional universe by Charles Yu
The last two Merchant princes(**) books by Charles Stross

Some bought on recommendation (The Dragon's Path was suggested by Walter Jon Williams), some because I'm sure I'll like them (Rule 34) and some... not quite random, but not based on any reliable indicator. During the years I bought 4 books/week (I know from my records I kept that up for three years in the 1980's) I usually bought 1/3rd I knew I'd like, 1/3rd based on the author being famous or the book written about and 1/3rd almost random. Last was almost always second hand books but a rather large proportion of the first 1/3rd was too as it could be out of print books I'd been looking for a long time. The second hand SF book market in Stockholm today is not as good as 10 years ago. In fact, I don't even notice there is one anymore.

(*) It's easy to buy nice railway or aviation books, for example, with lots of photos but hard to find the time to actually read them. I recently found a book in my to read pile by the bed which must have been there since 1994. (But the bed isn't in the same part of town.)

(**) Now I'm halfway into the fourth. They're enjoyable to read, but not very likely to end up in a re-read pile. You read them fast and there're no scenes which grabs you and you go "Wow!". Back in the 80-90's I quite often re-read new books 6-9 month after the first reading, but it's soon time for Implied Spaces by Walter Jon Williams again.
About the Merchant Princes, there's one thing about the plot which strikes me: If I could, or if it could be proven to me that someone else could, move between this world and a similar one where the timelines diverged a couple of centuries ago, the conclusion I'd draw is "This cannot be real. This must be a simulation!". Possible the subject of another post.

Time for a new micro wave oven

2011-07-14T16:38:00.000+01:00

This one failed silently a couple of days ago. Acted normally, but didn't warm the food.

I bought it in spring 1988, so it served well for 23 years.

N gauge Kato 583 video

2011-07-11T17:26:00.000+01:00

Very good video from a good layout. Looks very much like Japan.

This is the kind of thing which makes me want to try to make a layout with a Japanese theme. But I seem to never get any layout finished.

Watch rubber bands

2011-07-09T08:31:00.000+01:00

I used to dismiss rubber band as something "special purpose", meaning diving. But some time ago I had the idea to fit my Marathon SAR with a rubber band, so I bought myself a nice patterned Hirsch band made out of natural rubber.

Unfortunately, I managed to misplace one of its spring bars (it's actually the first time that's happened to me ever). Instead I fitted the band to my Sinn 656, which I had tried out a clasp on which didn't fit me well at all. Turned out to be a great combination as it looks good and is very comfortable.

The Hirsch bands come in several colours and I thought red would go well together with the SAR.

Mississippi River Basin Model

2011-07-09T07:41:00.000+01:00

The Scale of Nature: Mississippi River Basin Model: Places: Design Observer: "As construction began on control structures throughout the Mississippi River Basin, and as floodwaters rushed into the Ohio River Valley in January 1937, a district engineer in Memphis, Tennessee, Major Eugene Reybold, raised concerns about this approach. Although the scope of flood control had expanded beyond the Mississippi, the work was limited by current field research methods; engineers found it difficult to track what was being done at various points along the river and thus impossible to predict how isolated 'solutions' might affect one other. To understand the Mississippi River Basin as a dynamic system of interconnected waterways, the Corps needed new, more sophisticated scientific tools."

Via io9.

Märklin book shelf layout

2011-07-08T08:53:00.000+01:00

A video I've found. Doesn't look like anything but a model railway, but it's filmed from a viewpoint which gives a sense of presense anyway.

Intricate Ship Sterns: Art on the Ocean

2011-07-06T05:40:00.000+01:00

Dark Roasted Blend: Intricate Ship Sterns: Art on the Ocean

"More elaborate than Barocco palace facades, these monumental sterns were built to impress"

150 years of tap water in Stockholm

2011-07-02T09:14:00.001+01:00

The water works in Skanstull was also the first in Sweden.

There were at that time no taps in houses, only six tap places with free water in different places. But already at the end of 1861 80 houses with 2500 rooms were connected.

The summer of 1862 showed a considerable increase in population health, leading to a recommendation not to use the circa 30 wells still in use.

Dentetsu 轨道线 Sakamachi

2011-07-02T08:57:00.001+01:00

Dentetsu 轨道线 Sakamachi

A small, really charming, streetcar layout. Mostly about design and construction. In Japanese.