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HAPPY BIRTHDAY NESHER!!!!!

Whoa whoa whoa, lets just get one thing straight. I'm not defending him whatsoever. His objectivity has always been in question because he's a lobbyist for the (small) pro-F-22 lobby over here (and yeah, fundamental rule of credibility, being self-referential is a big fail). He does make a few vague points (whether he means to or not) about LR strike being a much more difficult tasking in this day and age when one considers the potential threats emerging in the S-SE Asian region with regards to advanced model Flankers becoming more common place and that the RAAF is close to losing (or has lost) it's technical superiority... which will no doubt be restored with the acuisition of the F-35. But expecting it to do what the F-111 has done in the past is flawed reasoning to begin with just as is expecting to have USAF B-1Bs participating in Jimmy Doolittle style raids, given the nature of operational requirements and the ability to deploy in theatres of conflict such as Afghanistan and Iraq. And this is something he doesn't do, otherwise you'd read about how the F-111 hasn't deployed to operational theatres. No, he just bangs on about how nothing compares to the F-22 and that's what we should have, forgetting for the moment that each F-22 costs about as much as it would to build a new ANZAC class Frigate. And I'd like to know exactly where he's getting his info on the T-50 given that not even groups like Jane's have much of an idea of what the T-50 is capable of just yet. He just gives me the impression of an advid war games player, especially if you see what he has to say about China and the PLAAF/PLAN. And about the Vulcan... alls I'm saying is that it was a big, versitile, capable platform with legs long than Manute Bol (He was 7'7") that could have proven itself time and again. I mean, case in point: The B-52 has for more than 50 years. True, you don't see Buffs in the weeds any more, but that's not their major tasking these days.

He's not trashing the F-35 per se just that, in his conclusion, the F-35 is the wrong choice to fill the role of one of the aircraft it's replacing. And in many ways he's right. There were similar debates in the UK in the 80s about replacing the Avro Vulcan with Tornado GR series. He's also a proponent of lobbying for the acquisition of the F-22. But all I'll say about lobbying the US for the F-22 is that you can hope in one hand and crap in the other; See which fills up first.

I thought it was more fun than BF2, but not as fun as GRAW 2... $7.50's a pretty good price.

Those J-10s always look fantastic!

When they stop shutting down airbases for helicopters for the AAC or stop retiring aircraft early (producing capability gaps) to provide funding for future purchases, then I'll believe your military's not being starved for funds. The RAF Typhoon doesn't even have a gun installed FFS! Cost cutting measure!

You're kidding?? Caesar Milan is a champion!!

Some miscarriages can result from some completely random causes that the mother won't have any control or even awareness of...

Yeah, this is a pretty extreme knee-jerk...

I wonder when we'll start seeing something similar as part of upgrade packages to other aircraft...

Overtime 3-2 win... Just outstanding! Especially after the 5-3 pounding they took from the US in the previous meet. And with the Women's Gold too! Go Canada!! What a way to finish up! Would love to be in Vancouver right now!

Says who? That's what was said about the Taliban. Would you want to risk something like that? Besides, are there actually people in the region who would want his his support given what association with someone like Chavez does to a nation's international reputation and trade balances? The economy will always be foremost on the minds of national leaders. Leaders who screw it up suddenly find themselves out of a job very quickly...

Who gives a flying f**k about what Chavez has to say? We all know it's going to be Anti-Western in it's nature. Of course he's going to add his two cents whether we want to hear it or not. I mean, it's like asking what Bin Laden's opinion is? We know it's gonna be "Down with the imperialist (insert first world nation here) because (insert diatribe here). It's old news. The Argentine government have stated they won't raise arms against the Falklands/Malvinas, maybe issue some ecconomic 'fees' for British shipping over the sovereignty issue, but whenever I've heard the reports from the Beeb, most citizens they've spoken to in the UK and Argentine mainlands have prety much expressed opinions that they wouldn't expect much, if anything to happen. Except for the Islanders and your bog standard Nationalists. That seems to be where the majority of the sabre rattling seems to be coming from when I hear it in the news, and most of that Nationalist sentiment isn't Argentine in origin. The Argentines are in no position to re-take those islands, politically (it's a democratically elected government), economically (Argentine economy is still in an awful place) and the FAA would have to re-equip drastically just to take on the 4 Eurofighters that arrived there at the end of last year. Plus, as AFM has demonstrated twice since 2006 (I'm pretty sure...), even if it wasn't involved in Iraq and Afghanistan wars, they would be unable to mount another Operation Corporate due to the post Cold War military wind down.

My old housemate (from Vancouver) and I were watching that. Never heard anyone swear so much in my life...

Can't figure out what is more awesome. "Bring da amber lamps" or seeing those 2 punkass douchebags getting smacked into next century by those dragged up cage fighters... ...I reckon I'm going with UFC in drag!

lol!

Because currently, there are no military applications of nanotechnology and stealth currently and won't be for quite some time.

The use of nanotechnology cracked me up.

I agree, but some people get a kick out of it. Just do a search, I'm sure you'll find tonnes of PS images of aircraft in different markings of air forces that don't use them. There are a special group of people who simply LOVE making 'real' photos of IRIAF F-16s for example. More often than not it's to start BS rumors and exaggerating threats (like with the Jerusalem Post in recent years reporting that 250 Su-27s, then Su-30s, now J-10s being sold to the IRIAF) or it's just conspiracy theorist crap. Case in point: http://dailylark.blogspot.com/2007/11/xian-h-8-chinese-stealth-bomber.html Super secret "H-8" Bomber of the PLAAF... or a B-2?? (Considering the H-8 Bomber was supposed to be an enlarged H-6 with podded engines and was a design that was canceled in early 70s). I mean, I've heard of the PLAAF evaluating the Mig-29. They've done that with quite a few Russian aircraft, the Mig-23 and Mig-31 spring to mind. But I've never seen concrete proof...

Photoshopped I'm afraid. Here's the original... More info from here

Yeah, I've seen this same proposal before too.

Happy New Year!! Year of the Tiger, yeah??

May not be all that fictional. I hear (in AFM) that the RAF were recently considering the possibility of purchasing some of the type... Mind, considering how the RAF is suffering a death of a thousand paper cuts right now, I don't think it's all that likely. But still, it would be a nice fit...

Hey Biggus, yeah, Photoshop is pretty awesome, I use that personally. But Xclusiv8 said, the price can be a real sticking point. Gimp is a perfectly acceptable alternative. A buddy of mine uses one by Sony too, but I can't think of the name right now. Best way to get into it is to play around and see what you come up with. The bad news I'm afraid, is that there's no easy way to draw panel lines. Although, I'm sure there is an iPhone app for it...

3 edged sword... you're such a Vorlon Kosh-- I mean, FC.