I once read a Australian Defence Magazine with an article about the replacement of the DHC-4 replacement. It mainly mentioned the C-295 and C-27J and noted that they were the only viable options on the market, but neither could offer the same STOL capabilities, so the DHC-4 was made to labour on some more. In a small box the magazine showed the An-74 and noted that it would be the ideal replacement of the DHC-4, but that it would need to be westernised.

A couple of months later rumours were spread that Boeing might westernise the An-74 to offer it for the C-23 replacement. My heard skipped a couple of beats and I hoped that it would happen. But alas, Boeing dropped the idea and I doubt that this will also crush the almost non-excisting possibility of Antonov’s in RAAF service (although hired they still might play are role)

well, not the roundel, but the guys in front of them are US soldiers, so its a safe bet this pic was taken somewhere in Afghanistan. (off course, it could also be taken at one of the two US bases in Manas or Uzbekistan, but less likely)

The question is: should we???

There are plenty of other places to dive….

If this question is anwsered positivly, then the next question is: Do we have the nerve to pull something like this off???

thanks a lot

Wonder what would happen to OPEC, whether they support such a military action or whether they join Iran in cutting the supply. Even if only Iran cuts its supply of oil and gas, this will send the price rocking and causing some economic problems across the globe

Anyway, it will be interesting to see how the whole Iran thing unfolds. The Middle East will remain the cause of concern for some time to come I guess.

The only 2 cents I want to add is that the nuclear programm of Iran is more widespread then that of Iraq was in the eighties. You can’t just bomb one site, but you have to take out dozens if not a hunderd of sites that are vital to the programm. It ain’t easy

This must be some sort of record. The first version of the Tu-16 took to the air in 1952, and now China is still producing them. Thats more then 50 years. I guess the Badger has a longer production run then the An-2!!!!

Jem – They certainly scores high in my chart…. (Together with Mousse T – Is it because Im cool)

The new album of Oasis – Don’t believe the thruth just great, never thought that they could make another proprer album, but they just did it with this album

Kaisers Chief & The Killers were quite a surprise for me, good

Still prefer the previous Gorillaz album with Clint Eastwood and some other classics.

The new album of the Fun Lovin’ Criminals is pretty good as well

And I forgot to add that I fell slightly inlove with Katie Melua, when she walked on stage and did a couple of proper light jazz songs. It might have been the booze, but she really could sing that evening. (not the mention that she WAS able to do some proper Jeff Buckley covers, while the other new jazz smurf jamie cullen, couldn’t even do that

Two of the best live shows I’ve seen were T Raumschmiere Great electro Punk and zZz the best music made with an orghan and drums