Only 37 years to go until retirement!

You should get your mind set up first about what you want to do with your scanner. Military frequencies? Civilian frequencies? Do you want to go logging long-range flights, or do you want to use your scanner as ESM gear during planespotting? A mobile scanner or a fixed one? For use in the UK only, or one to travel abroad with?

All things you should count in when buying a scanner.

Why do you guys always look at things in such a negative way?

Usually, killing ten terrorists in the War on Terror is considered to be a major succes. There was a bit more collateral damage then planned, but still…

Steve,

You know very well that neither the ETA nor the IRA cared much for the strike/counterstrike routine. I doubt it will be much different for Al Qaida or other militant islamists. Just look at Algeria (even though the GIA is not Al Qaida, they seem to be pretty close in both ideology and methods).

I’m not sure if the XB-35 indeed had contraprops, but it was one American design which was eventually planned to have contraprops. However, the US never managed to get a reliable enough gearbox for such an engine (for some reason the US more often had problems developing massive high-power gearboxes) so in the end they cancelled the whole idea of counter-rotating props. A few American aircraft did fly with them though – the Ryan XF2R-1, and the A2D Skyshark.

The Russians of course flew the Tu-95/114/116/142 series and An-22 with counter-rev props, but they also flew the Tu-91 Bychek (ASCC designation Boot) which was a prototype for a CAS/COIN aircraft which got cancelled under Khrushchev, appearantly for being absolutely hideous.

Actually i would like to see a US-style system, with a chosen president, a parliament elected directly by the people and a senate elected via the states within the EU. I would be very happy if we got rid of the, bureaucratic, ineffective and way too undemocratic system with the current Comissioners. Their role should be brought back to maintaining the civil servants corps, and refrain from the real policital stuff.

Too tired to make something decent of this post… sorry.

Kev – those single-colour series of books in your cupboard aren’t just empty dummies just to look more intelligent, are they 😀 ?

(Note from the translator: this is Arthurian for: “What are they actually?” Bookcovers make him curious)

Nope – i don’t give up. Hope you don’t mind though.

You were refused to enter Iran because of your dayjob – you’re a reporter as well IIRC? A lot of visa-requiring countries then only let you in if you come on an extra expensive business-sponsored press visa.

Answer? Do as i do! On a visa application, you’re a (copy)writer. It’s not really lying…

If the photo of your girlfriend in tight jeans is any good, you understand we might ask for other garments as well of course. And no, i won’t be asking for a burqah 😉