"Of course, had Iran actually attacked the old Air Force One, those people who were unwitting decoys would perish, while Trump was safe in a different plan. And then Trump had the cojones to say, “if I go, you go” to the press after the switcharoo, without letting them in on the joke. “Escape from Ankara” practically writes itself. Can we get Christopher Nolan to direct? Can we get Kurt Russell?"
Dude.
John Carpenter is *still* with us and would do a MUCH better job than Nolan. Just check out "They Live" or the original "Assault on Precinct 13"* (probably a MORE relevant film) if "Escape from New York" wasn't already proof enough.
As a bonus, you'd get a great score to the film that's memorable, unlike whatever we got in "The Odyssey" (an uncharacteristically weak composition from Ludwig Göransson, who's done superb work in the past).
Is urinating in one’s Cheerios the same as pissing in one’s Wheaties? Never mind, probably a generational difference. The endless and mindless questions we are all faced with daily as trump demonstrates his “genius” are truly mind boggling.
I awake daily to a host of quality emails (including The Racket). While not often listed as “quality,” is your old buddy EE, i sometimes pop it open to read his thoughts. Today’s header was curious: “Character Still Matters.”
It was in reference to Paxton…which has to beg the question, who has less character, trump? Or Paxton?
Maybe a return to steam catapults is the wrong decision for the future, but it's not entirely unjustified at this point. Anyhow, my understanding is that it is ordered for new carriers - not to retrofit existing ships. Future Presidents will make the call.
As someone who spent the weekend slinging books at a genre convention (NecronomiCon Providence for weird fiction fans of Lovecraft, Howard, and Smith), I have to tip my hat to those writers who have made it their life's mission to backfill and justify every stupid thing that comes out of Trump*.
* (I'm not saying that the article you linked is one of those, as THEY come out in favor of electric launchers as well, while acknowledging that steam is a well-understood technology at this point with a diminishing shelf life.)
I'm positive I know more about the mechanics of compressible fluids, including steam, than President Trump. I'm also pretty sure he was told that steam catapults were more reliable by someone he believed trustworthy - probably pilots whose life might depend on that reliability. Of course, being Trump, he made an assertion instead of crediting the source.
When "pretty sure" turns into "Captain X, who flew Y sorties in the Iraq War, testifies to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense about why he prefers steam over electric launchers", let me know.
In the meantime, I salute your commitment to your craft.
I'm looking forward someone producing their cost/benefit analysis then.
That said, by the time this is sorted, the aircraft carrier may be as obsolete as the battleship is now, given the rapid evolution of drone warfare in the past five years.
Let's hope that we don't have to learn the hard way what the Chinese have figured out watching Iran make fools of us in the Strait of Hormuz.
I not sure we really have an argument here. I do think the US Navy has jumped into technology which was not fully developed and wasted tons of money. Electromagnetic rail guns for instance. Electromagnetic catapults are certainly the future.
Steam has its uses - power plants are a good example. But steam systems are very dangerous when not properly designed and maintained. Their saving grace is simplicity, and they can be maintained by good mechanics using standard components.
I have read reports of steam heat explosions causing deaths and damage at only 40 psi. I have interviewed a plant mechanic who was smashed in the face by a 10-inch pressure vessel inspection port he was removing without proper clearance when the pressure was under 20 psi. I have seen the aftermath of a 1500-pound steam pipe elbow being blown though a building siding and several hundred feet across a parking lot. That explosion killed two people including a friend.
Electromagnetic catapults will be great once they meet the reliability standards. But for now, reliability of weapons systems should be a priority, and testing should be done on test platforms.
"Of course, had Iran actually attacked the old Air Force One, those people who were unwitting decoys would perish, while Trump was safe in a different plan. And then Trump had the cojones to say, “if I go, you go” to the press after the switcharoo, without letting them in on the joke. “Escape from Ankara” practically writes itself. Can we get Christopher Nolan to direct? Can we get Kurt Russell?"
Dude.
John Carpenter is *still* with us and would do a MUCH better job than Nolan. Just check out "They Live" or the original "Assault on Precinct 13"* (probably a MORE relevant film) if "Escape from New York" wasn't already proof enough.
As a bonus, you'd get a great score to the film that's memorable, unlike whatever we got in "The Odyssey" (an uncharacteristically weak composition from Ludwig Göransson, who's done superb work in the past).
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5UU2TxOcZs
I think he's too busy writing music and playing video games, unfortunately
I'm not going to fault the man for making new art[1] and having fun with his new friends[2].
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nC5TBv3sfU
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlUJTtBphb0
Is urinating in one’s Cheerios the same as pissing in one’s Wheaties? Never mind, probably a generational difference. The endless and mindless questions we are all faced with daily as trump demonstrates his “genius” are truly mind boggling.
I awake daily to a host of quality emails (including The Racket). While not often listed as “quality,” is your old buddy EE, i sometimes pop it open to read his thoughts. Today’s header was curious: “Character Still Matters.”
It was in reference to Paxton…which has to beg the question, who has less character, trump? Or Paxton?
Like E S’s comment below, good to have you back.
I’d say Paxton, mostly because Trump would never be a toady to someone like Donald Trump. Paxton is.
"Today’s header was curious: 'Character Still Matters.'"
At what point does EE become liable for neck injuries due to the whiplash he's been inducing in his readers for the past decade?
Welcome back Steve. Enjoy reading your offerings when you have the time.
Trump id the gift that keeps on giving. Becoming a truism in life that if Trump supports or wants something then it has to be a terrible idea.
The EML is also just plain faster than a steam system.
Maybe a return to steam catapults is the wrong decision for the future, but it's not entirely unjustified at this point. Anyhow, my understanding is that it is ordered for new carriers - not to retrofit existing ships. Future Presidents will make the call.
https://boltflight.com/which-aircraft-carrier-catapult-is-more-effective-steam-or-electric-the-real-battle-behind-modern-naval-aviation/
As someone who spent the weekend slinging books at a genre convention (NecronomiCon Providence for weird fiction fans of Lovecraft, Howard, and Smith), I have to tip my hat to those writers who have made it their life's mission to backfill and justify every stupid thing that comes out of Trump*.
* (I'm not saying that the article you linked is one of those, as THEY come out in favor of electric launchers as well, while acknowledging that steam is a well-understood technology at this point with a diminishing shelf life.)
Weird taste in literature.
I'm positive I know more about the mechanics of compressible fluids, including steam, than President Trump. I'm also pretty sure he was told that steam catapults were more reliable by someone he believed trustworthy - probably pilots whose life might depend on that reliability. Of course, being Trump, he made an assertion instead of crediting the source.
When "pretty sure" turns into "Captain X, who flew Y sorties in the Iraq War, testifies to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense about why he prefers steam over electric launchers", let me know.
In the meantime, I salute your commitment to your craft.
I will never believe Trump researched and formed this opinion on his own.
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/why-trump-is-dumping-advanced-emals-for-1950s-steam-catapults-on-future-u-s-aircraft-carriers/
I'm looking forward someone producing their cost/benefit analysis then.
That said, by the time this is sorted, the aircraft carrier may be as obsolete as the battleship is now, given the rapid evolution of drone warfare in the past five years.
Let's hope that we don't have to learn the hard way what the Chinese have figured out watching Iran make fools of us in the Strait of Hormuz.
I not sure we really have an argument here. I do think the US Navy has jumped into technology which was not fully developed and wasted tons of money. Electromagnetic rail guns for instance. Electromagnetic catapults are certainly the future.
Steam has its uses - power plants are a good example. But steam systems are very dangerous when not properly designed and maintained. Their saving grace is simplicity, and they can be maintained by good mechanics using standard components.
I have read reports of steam heat explosions causing deaths and damage at only 40 psi. I have interviewed a plant mechanic who was smashed in the face by a 10-inch pressure vessel inspection port he was removing without proper clearance when the pressure was under 20 psi. I have seen the aftermath of a 1500-pound steam pipe elbow being blown though a building siding and several hundred feet across a parking lot. That explosion killed two people including a friend.
Electromagnetic catapults will be great once they meet the reliability standards. But for now, reliability of weapons systems should be a priority, and testing should be done on test platforms.