Butzzell

https://il2sturmovik.com/news/851/update-5203/?_gl=1*1n83f56*_ga*OTIzMzYzNzE5LjE3MDYzOTY2MTc.*_ga_M3ND9NY3EC*MTcxMzI5Mzc4Mi4xNTYuMS4xNzEzMjkzODEyLjAuMC4w

The AC is a C-46 which was acquired from the Marines after sitting at Pensacola for years.   Pending restoration.   This particular aircraft actually flew supply missions over the "hump' to China in WWII.
I never realized a ball gunner in a B17 did not have a down-the-barrel sighting mechanism
Exhaust flame suppressor used on C-47s carrying paratroops and gliders to destinations in France in the wee hours of 6/6/44

From acclaimed popular historian Richard Snow comes the thrilling story of the naval battle that changed the Civil War and the future of all sea power.
No single sea battle has had more far-reaching consequences than the one fought in the harbor at Hampton Roads, Virginia, in March 1862. The Confederacy, with no fleet of its own, built an iron fort containing 10 heavy guns on the hull of a captured Union frigate named the Merrimack. The North got word of the project when it was already well along, and, in desperation, commissioned an eccentric inventor named John Ericsson to build the Monitor, an entirely revolutionary iron warship - at the time, the single most complicated machine ever made. Abraham Lincoln himself was closely involved with the ship's design. Rushed through to completion in just 100 days, it mounted only two guns, but they were housed in a shot-proof revolving turret.
The ship hurried south from Brooklyn (and nearly sank twice on the voyage), only to arrive to find the Merrimack had destroyed half the Union fleet and would be back to finish the job the next day. When she returned, the Monitor was there. She fought the Merrimack to a standstill and saved the Union cause. As soon as word of the battle spread, Great Britain - the foremost sea power of the day - ceased work on all wooden ships. A thousand-year-old tradition ended, and the path to the naval future opened.
Iron Dawn is the irresistible story of these incredible, intimidating war machines. Historian Richard Snow brings to vivid life the tensions of the time, explaining how wooden and ironclad ships worked, maneuvered, battled, and sank. This full account of the Merrimack and Monitor has never been told in such immediate, compelling detail.

"The Enemy Below"    it will hold your attention and an honorable mention to "Lifeboat"  if you have not seen it definitely worth a peek. Walter Slezak plays a heck of a role. 

"The Russians are coming, The Russians are coming"

Is it wrong that one of my favorite "sub movies" is Operation Petticoat?

My favorite Navy movie, but then i have so many. 😆

Scheduled for tomorrow's viewing.

Wheels

This is old but still good:
Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by Qantas’ pilots (marked with a (P); and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers.  ———————————————————————-
P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.
P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.
P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.
P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.
P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.
P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.
P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.
P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That’s what they’re for.
P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.
P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you’re right.
P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.
P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.
P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.
P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.
And the best one for last …
P: Noise coming from under instrument panel, sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.

Special parking

Special parking

Special parking

InControl will block feature updates like 24H2 while still allowing security updates... for a while at least.
https://www.grc.com/incontrol.htm

That was the exact example on a reddit post I saw!!

Shades of the MS FFB joystick. Once again MS is ending support of something that works well. (Need a Homer Simpson head slap gif...)
 
Wheels

Looks interesting and fresh / different:
https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/87265-battle-of-the-channel-1918-special-fc-multiplayer-event/

Gentlemen I had the rare opportunity to visit the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre while on vacation in New Zealand
New Zealand has lost to see but his was a really unexpected highlight.
The WW1 exhibition is exceptional. It's the personal collection of film director Sir Peter Jackson.
More in album https://photos.app.goo.gl/SRgg7oXBrDpXu81z7

 
After this I spent 20 minutes of flying as passenger of this beauty

 
 

It's been a busy December friends, but at least there are some benefits. After a recent hop over to Heathrow, I had a spare afternoon to head up to the Royal Air Force Museum. I took way too many pictures but here are some highlights: