Old newsreels are something else, and it is always interesting to watch them. And the 50s-60s were, without a doubt, the era of the fastest development of Mankind, at least in the 20th century. And maybe one of its peak points.

here we have the 1953 Farnborough Air Show. Virtually everything shown is British designed and built, with its own engines and armaments. That's when, in the first year after the coronation of the previous queen, Britain could still do anything. And then.... But to look at this aircraft, sometimes a little naive or archaic looking, and sometimes - very bold, but, most importantly, original (and not like now, when the pseudo-fifth generation of fighter jets). People were looking for and looking to the future, not this stuff. So, we can see V-bombers, for example, "Valiant", "Victor" and "Vulcan". And jet and turboprop liners like the Comet, the Viscount. And fighter jets, fighter-bombers, Sea Vixen, Hunter and a host of others. And the Princesa flying boat. And many more

@Slavyangrad

FPV drones FAQ - analog vs digital VTX

A question was asked in Slavyangrad chat about why most or all FPV drone strike videos we have seen are in low-resolution analog form, instead of digital HD. I answered the question in the chat but will copy it here, for historical & reference purposes:

TLDR answer:
Analog is used because it has better range & penetration, lower radio signature, more channels and it's much, much cheaper.

Full answer:
Most FPV hobbyists use digital VTX if they can afford it, because it provides a much more immersive high-resolution view. A digital FPV system has a digital HD or even 4K camera, and a VTX which transmits at SHF (Super High Frequency) such as 5.8GHz. The high frequency enables high data bandwidth, which is required to transmit the HD signal to the pilot's goggles. Digital VTX cameras and VTX modules are expensive, costing several hundred US dollars per aircraft.

Downsides of SHF are decreased range, and greater sensitivity to interference from obstacles or from competing radio signals. These can be overcome to a degree by greatly increasing the transmission power of the VTX module. Digital FPV systems are usually factory limited to 25-100mw or so (for regulatory compliance) but generally can be software-hacked to transmit at 1200mw or more. Regardless of power levels, SHF signals require LOS (line of sight) in order to transmit digital VTX streams. For a reliable digital VTX stream at more than 5km, the pilot must operate at the highest power or risk losing signal.

In a military application, a transmission power of 1 watt or more results in a highly visible and easily detectable electromagnetic signature. The VTX can be jammed (blinding the pilot), by sending a much higher power rubbish signal on the exact same frequency. VTX signals are also generally unencrypted, so once detected, the enemy may be able to view the VTX feed on their own equipment.

Analog VTX systems generally operate at UHF frequency around 800MHz. Radio signals at this frequency have much longer range and penetration. UHF signals can diffract around obstacles, meaning if the quad dips below the horizon, goes behind buildings or a treeline, the signal can still be maintained (up to a degree). Analog VTX operating at only 25mw can operate up to 5km, and up to 20km or more is possible at around 400mw. The total cost for an analog camera and VTX is less than $50 per aircraft - many times less than digital VTX.

One more limitation of digital VTX is it operates on one band only with not more than 8 channels. This limits the number of birds which can fly simultaneously. By comparison, analog VTX operates in 5 bands with 8 channels each, for a total of 40 channels.

Summary:
While digital FPV systems provide clarity to the pilot, analog VTX provides a more reliable feed over much longer range, operates at much lower power, provides more channels and is much less expensive.

For a deep dive into FPV VTX hardware, check out this resource.

@Slavyangrad

I'm talking about this feathered wonder.
And yes, why is the power tower made of wood? Saving money, huh?

@Slavyangrad

Sber CEO German Gref and Lipetsk Region Governor Igor Artamonov signed an agreement to open the School 21 campus in Lipetsk. This is a free programming school from Sber.

The School 21 trains IT specialists in various fields - programmers, ML-engineers, development engineers, IT project managers, analysts, junior, middle- and senior-developers. At the same time, admission to the school does not depend on previous knowledge, work experience, programming skills and diplomas.

Training takes place on a domestic digital education platform developed by Sberbank, with flexible and constantly evolving content focused on current market needs.

"Together we will be able to train highly qualified specialists who will actively develop the Lipetsk region. School 21 will help us train such experts," Gref said.

In turn, Igor Artamonov emphasized that this is not the first project that the region is implementing in cooperation with Sber.

@Slavyangrad

"The press is here! I have a few words. I have an advanced vocabulary and my pronunciation is perfect!": Kamala Harris, fun and useful VP skills.

Holy crap, how did we get to this point....
I thought VP's were supposed to say all sorts of boring numbers, metrics, etc...

Hell, what if you put that woman's laughter instead of an alarm clock....

@Slavyangrad

Macron joins in condemning Israel: In fact, civilians are being bombed today. In fact. These children, these women, these old people are being bombed and killed. There is no justification and no legitimacy for this. So we call on Israel to stop. I am not a judge. I am a head of state. I remind everyone of international law. I call for a ceasefire.

Note: Well, he's understandable. because Paris has a lot of young Muslims with a lot of heart. And one more pogrom Paris may not be able to withstand.

@Slavyangrad

Missiles are returning to Kiev and Odessa!

Zin Note: These strikes are becoming a lot more targeted while using fewer drones/missiles. We know what the RF is capable of producing, so I can only assume that they're building up an arsenal for larger strikes at a later date. However, with a weakened Ukrainian air defense shield and the improvements made to these weapons and how they are used, fewer are needed to achieve results in the first place. When the big strikes do happen, it's going to be devastating.

#Source

@Slavyangrad

🔴 Kiev at these moments.

The Patriot air defense system is trying to intercept our Ballistics

#Source

@Slavyangrad

Current deployment of US Navy attack ships in the Middle East.

#Source

@Slavyangrad

⚡⚡⚡ Two powerful explosions in a row sounded on the Left Bank of Kiev

After them, the air raid warning sounds in the city.

Klitschko has everything under control, don't panic!

#Source

@Slavyangrad

The Ukrainian Armed Forces tried to counterattack from Novokalinovo towards Krasnogorovka, north of Avdeevka, but were defeated and driven back

Meanwhile, military correspondents confirm that Russian fighters have entered the village of Stepovoe, where they have established a foothold on the eastern outskirts.

▫️On the southern flank, the Russian Armed Forces also have progress in the industrial zone in the Mineralny area.

#Source

@Slavyangrad

🌟 Avdeevskoe direction
Situation at 9:00

🔴 The night passed steadily and tensely. The guys were gaining a foothold in new positions. All enemy counterattacks were repulsed.

🔴 Now heavy artillery is working, clearing the way for our assault groups, which at that moment went forward .

#Source

@Slavyangrad

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived on a state visit to Saudi Arabia.
One of the main topics is the Gaza Strip.

#Source

@Slavyangrad

🪂 Artemovsk direction.

In the north of Andreevka, the Russian Armed Forces regained their previously lost positions above the reservoir and secured a position in the forest plantation behind the railway track.
Thus, they cut off the enemy forces’ access to the road from Opytny to Otradovka.

In the north of Kleshcheevka, behind the railway road, the enemy still manages to hold positions.

Zin Note: To remind you that aren't aware, there is an Opytnoye Southwest of Artemovsk as well another Southwest of Avdeevka.

#Source

@Slavyangrad

In order to judge the moral strength of a people and what it is capable of in the future, one should not take into account the degree of ugliness to which it can temporarily and even though in the majority, humiliate itself, but only the height of spirit to which it can rise when the time comes.
Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Today is 202 years since the birth of the great Russian writer.

@Slavyangrad

Famous mixed martial arts fighter Jeff Monson came to the LNR.

He held a master class for the children of Lutuginsky district, which ended with mass hugs.

@Slavyangrad

The whole country should know the names of the Heroes of Russia! Recently, this title was awarded to Guard Sergeant Yuri Shcherbakov, who, as part of the crew of an anti-tank missile system, destroyed a total of:

- nine tanks,
- four armored personnel carriers,
- twelve infantry fighting vehicles,
- four trucks with ammunition, as well as two platoon strong points and more than a hundred Ukrainian fighters.

#source

@Slavyangrad

The entire territory of Ukraine is on air alert as of 11.11 at 13:15 (Moscow time)

An air alert has been issued for the entire country, with anticipated arrivals at military facilities.

#source

@Slavyangrad

FPV drone operator Jumbo mastered the control of a combat drone in record time - two weeks. In just the last 24 hours, the fighter has already hit his sixth target. Russian drones operate in a swarm in Rabotino and detect enemy movements from the air. Detachments of Ukrainian Armed Forces militants, under artillery and tank fire, are trying in vain to gain a foothold in the barely surviving trenches.

The tank will begin to destroy the trench. The enemy understands this and hurries to hide in neighboring trenches or deeper shelters. Then Russian fighters launch an FPV drone into the sky. Upon takeoff, the warhead of the drone is automatically cocked. It is best to fly directly above the treetops - then the enemy will not have time to notice. A few moments pass, and the operator places the drone directly at the enemy hiding in cover.

#source

@Slavyangrad

"This action was organized in support of Jews living in France and abroad who have nothing to do with what is currently happening. I am surprised that politicians and media in France interpreted this as an anti-Semitic act": The French media, which had started to spin the "Russian trace" in the appearance of Stars of David on the walls of Jewish homes, were upset - Moldovan businessman Anatoly Prizenko admitted to organizing the action.

Note: always looking for a Russian trace and find someone from the post-Soviet countries. Truly for the West we are all Russians here.

@Slavyangrad

Medvedev: According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, drug production in Afghanistan has decreased by 95% from the end of 2022 to the present day. And this applies both to the reduction of poppy cultivation (from 233 to 11 thousand hectares) and opium production itself (from 6.2 thousand to 333 tons). In less than a year, the Taliban (banned in our country as a terrorist organization), no matter how we treat it, has done what the coalition of NATO impotents led by the Americans, supposedly fighting terrorism in the country, could not do in 20 years. This is what happens when the one who was really interested in exporting heroin to Russia and other countries leaves the region. Extra joy: everything is still the same in Mexico.....

Note: once the invisible hand of the market was removed from Afghanistan's throat, the system began to work differently....
I wonder if there is the same invisible hand of the market behind fentanyl.

@Slavyangrad