Lockerbie – from aircraft bombing till bomber release

Here is a look back at the Lockerbie tragedy that happened on December 21st, 1988, the release of the « dying-still-living » bomber, the partnership between Libya and the UK, and more in two videos to understand further:

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A MUST in chivalry history – When Guynemer spared Udet after strafing through his wing

Here is a tribute to CPT Georges GUYNEMER who was killed in action on September 11th, 1917. Three months earlier, he fought with Ernst Udet, the ace who came up 2nd after the Red Baron. You can watch hereafter how this dogfight reportedly happened, and how these fighter pilots had the gut to keep honor above all:


Georges Guynemer, French Air Force pilot and WWI ace
Georges Guynemer by "Lucien" - Jebulon https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Jebulon

Remember Guynemer’s mottos: FAIRE FACE (face up to it) was then adopted by the French Air Force Academy (FAFA) as their motto. A few words that well expresses the French pilots’ bravery.

The WWI French ace Georges Guynemer used to say:

– « Il y a une limite à toute chose, et il faut toujours la dépasser. « Everything has a limit which has always got to be surpassed. »
– « Lorsque l’on n’a pas tout donné, on n’a rien donné. » « As long as you have not given your all, you have given nothing »

Loyal to these principles, the French ace took part in several hundreds of aerial combats, crediting 53 victories. He was shot down seven times, and he was admired for he always survived, but that September 11, Ninety-three years ago. The hero took off once again. Outnumbered by German warplanes in a last dogfighting over Belgium. Then, he fell.

Since then, the French Air Force aviators have worn a black tie in sign of mourning.

RIP

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Sikorsky X2 helicopter milestone – 417 km/h!

The Sikorsky X2 Technology demonstrator reportedly broke the speed record for rotorcraft on Monday at a maximum speed of 225 knots (417 km/h).

The previous record had been set by Trevor Egginton on a Westland G-Lynx at a speed of 216 kts (400 km/h) on August 11, 1986. The fly-by-wire X2 helicopter was flown by Kevin Bredenbeck. Unfortunately, the test flight performance was not officially.

With a counter-rotating coaxial rotor, and its brand new tail configuration, the X2 is more maneuverable as the helicopter gains in speed. Moreover, the X2 would be excellent at low-speed handling as well as hovering.

The X2 Technology demonstrator combines an integrated suite of technologies intended to advance the state-of-the-art, counter-rotating coaxial rotor helicopter. It is designed to demonstrate that a helicopter can cruise comfortably at 250 knots while retaining such desirable attributes as excellent

Thanks to its integrated auxiliary propulsion system – coaxial pusher prop concept, and to other assets among which its reduced hub drag, the Sikorsky X2 prototype should exceed the 250-knot benchmark (463 km/h)!

SIKORSKY X2 VIDEO BELOW :

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British PM David Cameron’s statement about Bloody Sunday

« There is no doubt, there is nothing equivocal, there are no ambiguities. What happened on Bloody Sunday was both unjustified and unjustifiable. It was wrong. » said the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland in the House of Commons this afternoon.

Also, he added:

« I know that some people wonder whether, nearly 40 years on from an event, if a prime minister needs to issue an apology.

For someone of my generation, Bloody Sunday and the early 1970s are something we feel we have learnt about rather than lived through. But what happened should never, ever have happened. The families of those who died should not have had to live with the pain and the hurt of that day and with a lifetime of loss.

Some members of our armed forces acted wrongly. The government is ultimately responsible for the conduct of the armed forces and for that, on behalf of the government, indeed, on behalf of our country, I am deeply sorry.  »

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1967 – USS Forrestal fire

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