BAE Systems UXV Combatant

Type: Multirole ship
Displacement: approx. 8,000 long tons (8,128 t)
Length: 500 ft (152.4 m)
Beam: 70 ft (21 m)
Propulsion: Un-confirmed
Speed: 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Complement: 60 (not including UVX support crew)[1]
Sensors and
processing systems:Radio Frequency Identification sensors, infrared, radar
Armament: • 20 × MK 57 VLS modules, comprising a total of 80 missiles
• Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM)
• Tactical Tomahawk Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASROC)
• 1 × 155 mm gun (920 × 155 mm)
• 2 × Mk 110 57 mm gun (CIWS)
• 4 × CIWS missile launchers
Aircraft carried:

Taranis UCAV or other UCAVs.
Merlin and Lynx wildcat or possible new helicopter's.
possibly VTOL or STOL aircraft.
other Various aircraft ranging from anti-submarine helicopters, Helicopter gunships,Unmanned helicopters or others.

Aviation facilities: small hangars below launch decks

Found on eBay: Lockheed Alpha Jet

Model of Lockheed Alpha Jet proposal for the United States Navy VTXTS competition found one eBay.

URL: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Lockheed-Alpha-Jet-US-Navy-Proposal-Model-/180678659449?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a11498d79

Seller's description:

Here is a Lockheed Proposal Model to the US Navy for a carrier based trainer based on the Dassault / Dornier Alpha Jet. Very unusual, and definitely an in-house model. The US Navy started the VTXTS advanced trainer program in 1978. I'm making my best guess that this was done and used in presentations around that time or by 1981 at the latest.

Rockwell Space Station Proposal Model

Model of Rockwell Space Station proposal found at the Bonhams Auction House web site.

URL: http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=USA&screen=lotdetailsNoFlash&iSaleItemNo=4570361&iSaleNo=17778&iSaleSectionNo=1

Seller's description:

Lot No: 1135
PROPOSED ROCKWELL SPACE STATION.
Model of an early earth orbiting space station 6 inches tall and 3 inches wide made from wood and metal. Displayed on an 8 by 5½ inch wood base with a plaque that reads: "North American Rockwell Space Division Space Station 1/200 scale." The seven 2½ by 1 inch cylinder type modules are attached to a central core with a 10 by 3½ inch movable (and removable) solar panel array.

Several proposals throughout the late 1960s and 1970s were developed to create a permanently manned space station. North American Rockwell was aggressive in proposing a space station to keep their talented work force together as the Apollo Program funding was ending. A Nixon Administration decision to fund either a Space Station or Space Shuttle, but not both, was given to the space agency. NASA chose to develop a space shuttle, with Rockwell winning the contract. This space station design never had the funding to be developed. Presented to Dr. Faget.

Estimate: $1,500 - 2,000

LTV Gemini Astronaut Maneuvering Unit (AMU) Model

Model of LTV Gemini Astronaut Maneuvering Unit (AMU) found at Bonhams Auction House website.

URL: http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=USA&screen=lotdetailsNoFlash&iSaleItemNo=4565052&iSaleNo=17778&iSaleSectionNo=1


Seller's description:

Lot No: 1084
GEMINI ASTRONAUT MANEUVERING UNIT (AMU) MODEL.

Model of the AMU made of metal, wood, and plastic in one quarter scale. Two arm control units extend 4 inches out from the 8 by 6 by 4 inch "back pack" unit. Details include small thruster jets, astronaut support strap, wire electrical connectors, two large tanks, and instrument gauge decals.

The US Air Force awarded a contract to Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) Aerospace Corporation for development of a system to allow a space-suited astronaut to maneuver untethered in space, totally free from this spacecraft. The AMU consisted of 12 hydrogen peroxide reaction jets to allow three axis movement via hand controls which extended from the unit.

NASA carried the AMU on Gemini 9 during June 1966. Astronaut Gene Cernan performed a spacewalk on this mission traversing out from the crew cabin to the aft spacecraft adapter section and strapped himself into the AMU. This effort caused some fogging of his helmet visor due to heaving breathing which continued to get worse because of difficulty deploying the AMU's control arms. When he connected to the AMU's communications unit, broken and garbled sound was the result. Cernan was nearly blind by this time due to the visor fog which endangered his ability to return safely to the spacecraft cabin. The crew and Mission Control decided to cancel all AMU operations and allow the visor to clear. Cernan was then able to slowly get back to the crew cabin.

The AMU was then schedule to fly on Gemini 12 but NASA decided the risk and unknowns associated with the unit did not warrant the effort involved. Due to the limited flight use of the AMU during the Gemini Program, models of this system are extremely rare.

Estimate: $4,000 - 6,000

Found on eBay: North American Rockwell VTXTS Concept

Artist's concept of the North American Rockwell VTXTS proposal found on eBay. The United States Naxy VTXTS competition would be won by the McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk.

URL: http://cgi.ebay.com/Navy-North-American-Rockwell-Jet-Trainer-Concept-Art_W0QQitemZ110499269906QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item19ba450d12

Seller's description:

North American Aviation - Rockwell International Navy Jet Trainer Concept Art.

I was fortunate to have obtained a number of ORIGINAL concepts from North American Aviation.This 1980 Navy twin engine jet trainer concept art shows a twin jet in Navy high visibility orange and white paint scheme. Aircraft was painted and then applied to a sky photo background . There is some wrinkles in the upper left (see photos) Size is @ 24"x19" and is labeled DS-80-5931.

Found on eBay: North American Rockwell NGT Concept

Artist's concept of the North American Rockwell Next Generation Trainer (NGT) proposal found on eBay from 1978. The United States Air Force NGT competition would be won by the Fairchild T-46 "Eaglet".

URL: http://cgi.ebay.com/North-American-Rockwell-Jet-Trainer-Concept-Art_W0QQitemZ110499263933QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item19ba44f5bd

Seller's description:

North American Aviation - Rockwell International USAF Jet Trainer Concept Art.

I was fortunate to have obtained a number of ORIGINAL concepts from North American Aviation. This 1978 USAF twin engine jet trainer concept art shows a side by side twin jet in USAF high visibility orange and white paint scheme. Aircraft is similar to the Cessna T-37 in size with the exception of external engines. Size is @ 22"x18" and is labeled TSP78-9892 on #82 water color board

Iranian AWACs Crash

Recently released video of a terrifying crash that occurred on September 22, 2010 of an Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) AWACs-modified Ilyushin Il-76 taken by the boom operator of an IRIAF Boeing 707 tanker. The Simorgh, formerly an Iraqi Air Force Adnan, collided with an IRIAF Northrop F-5E Tiger II in mid-air during a display commemorating the Iran-Irag War. Both planes crashed with the loss of seven crew members.

More information can be found here at DefenseNews:
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4289949&c=AIR&s=MID