Reminded*, IIRC, in 1999 there was a TV show on the BBC about general aviation, I think it was called Airshow World(?) or something along those lines, and on one episode there was a feature on BAE Warton where they were testing an IRST system on a Tornado F3. it was linked to the pilot’s helmet. This pilot demonstrated he could put a cover over his visor, in-flight, effectively blinding him though he relies on what the IRST see’s. I remember he demonstrated this at ‘low-level’ and intentionally flying towards the ground and towards objects while the system alerted him. Great stuff. I do wonder if this was R&D for Typhoon’s PIRATE?

Theres a lot of areas where FLIR can be used; take-off, landing in bad weather be it on land or an aircraft carrier, searching, tracking and identification of targets in A/A and A/G as well as sea targets too. And its quite an inexpensive bit of kit too, compared to the likes of an AESA.

Clive was an amazing drummer, very versatile, great talent and was without a doubt difficult to replace but they got an equally great drummer with the bonkers and the nutter of all nutters, Nicko McBrain.

The Number of the Beast was the very first album I ever bought when I was very young, in single digits, I remember saving up my pocket money for it. Although initally I didn’t really know what I was saving up for, it was just for the cool album cover. I had no idea what kind of music it was or what it sounded like, but when I finally got it it was amazing! My mother said just play it, you might like it! So I did and BOOOOOOOOOM! YES! I was an Iron Maiden fan! Sold my soul to Eddie as you’d say! And of course, all the other albums started to build up!

Seen them live countless times in all sorts of places and festivals and the special Clive Burr gigs Maiden do every now and then.

At our Guitar store, most of us our hardcore Maiden fans (I have Iron Maiden written in it’s traditional lettering tattooed down the side of my left Calf) or are at the very least rather fond of them and tomorrow we’re going to have our own little tribute to him in store by having the Iron Maiden, Killers and The Number of the Beast albums he was featured on shuffle/repeat through the working day on the store’s systems.

When someone picks up a very ‘effin expensive, very rare, very exclusive Gibson Les Paul and drops it! Despite having a 12″x12″ sign that has printed on it; ‘PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH! THANK YOU!’ attached to it!

‘A jack of all trades, a master of none’

You’ve just opened up the flood gates of Hell, i.e. France, with that!

Regarding IEDs and Tanks. Well, a Land Rover, Jackal, Warrior, Bradley and what have you wouldn’t be any better off if they set one off…

Tanks still have a place on the battlefield, its just that there are more ways to take out targets than there was, maybe more expensive ways to take out another Tank(?), and not always the best options. There’ll be, well there was, situations where the Tank was the prefered option to take out other armoured units. Air assets do have their problems too, poor weather, availability issues etc.

I bet £20 in the not too distant future, there’ll be complaints because Jeremy Clarkson and James May offend someone because they took the p*ss out of Richard Hammond’s height. Like what happened tonight:

James May on Hammond being knighted: ‘Arise, Sir Richard Hammond!… Oh? You already have.’ lol