Dubbed ‘Warthog’ – or just ‘Hog’ – by those who fly and maintain it, the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is the world’s undisputed close air support attack jet. As tough as it is ugly, it has built a fearsome reputation as a tank buster and infantry killer in conflicts around the globe, and its GAU-8 Avenger 30mm cannon strikes fear into the hearts of all unlucky enough to be on the wrong side of it.he A-10 was clutched from the jaws of retirement by the 1991 Gulf War. At the time of the conflict, the United States Air Force was making plans to shed it’s A-10 fleet, citing obsolescence and redundancy. As the ensuing conflict showed, nothing could have been further from the truth, and no other airframe could have provided the US and Coalition commanders with the sort of forward air control, close air support, combat search and rescue, and tank busting capabilities that the Hog did. Since then the A-10 has delivered capabilities to battlefield commanders in the Balkans (1990s), Afghanistan (2001 onwards) and the second Gulf War (2003 onwards), and Libya (2011). A-10s have flown around 11 per cent of Operation Inherent Resolve sorties (striking IS targets in Iraq) since combat operations began in August 2014.
Americans have always had a fascination with flight. In 1896, man’s first man-made aircraft left the ground… if just for seconds. Over the years followed such headliner successes as the Wright Brothers (1903), Charles Lindbergh (1927), Amelia Earhart (1928), Chuck Yeager (1947) and Neil Armstrong/Buzz Aldrin (1969). By the early 1940s and World War II, it was clear that air power would play a decisive role in winning the struggle. War demands pushed aircraft technology and design ahead at a dizzying pace, quickly going further and faster than ever thought possible and providing a treasure trove of legacy aircraft. A new dream of flight began emerging in the early ’60s, beyond the birds and clouds, to visit a world beyond our own. The U.S. and the Soviet Union engaged in a race to the moon, generating huge advances in science, medicine and technology. The Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum (established in 1946), also known as America’s Hangar, houses over 300,000 square-feet of aircraft and is the world’s most visited museum. It has preserved and displays many of the world’s most renowned historic aircraft. From the first airplane, commercial aircraft and spacecraft to take an American into orbit, Smithsonian Channel takes you on a personal tour of the collections of the National Air and Space Museum, chronicling the first century of flight.
Diesel-powered trucks have never been more popular, and Ford’s Powerstroke family of Diesel engines have been a mainstay of the marketplace since they were introduced in 1994. While these engines are well known for their durability and longevity, they still require a rebuild at some point. How to best diagnose, repair, and rebuild these engines is somewhat of a mystery for those without access to the factory manuals until now.
This book covers the vast majority of Powerstroke Diesel engines on the road, and gives you the full story on their design. Each part of the engine is described and discussed in detail, with full-color photos of every critical component. A full and complete step-by-step engine rebuild is also included.
The book’s appeal extends further with a wide range of engine-building tips, charts, graphs, and information-packed sidebars to share even more information. Detailed graphics showing the engine’s various system designs are also a unique feature of this book.
How to Rebuild Ford Powerstroke Diesel Engines 1994-2007 includes information on the 1994-2002 7.3L and 2003-2007 6.0L engines used in Ford’s popular pickups and industrial work trucks. Author Bob McDonald is a well-known Diesel engine expert. He is the owner of Diesel repair specialty shop and has more than 20 years’ experience repairing and rebuilding both gas and diesel engines of all kinds.
“Made in 2002 as a “”follow-up”” film to the 1988 “”Handmade”” this programme looks at the introduction of the Aero 8 and how it is constructed. It also highlights the changes made to the way the factory now runs.
Reviewed in Miscellany (the magazine of The Morgan Sports Car Club) in June 2008, Brian Downing, assistant editor, stated:
“”In 2003, Richard Atherton released Handmade 2 on DVD. It is made at a livelier and more business like pace reflecting, quoting the sleeve notes, “the quiet revolution at the Morgan Motor Company”. Like the original Handmade, it deals with the introduction of the new model, the Aero 8. Again, like the original, it goes into great detail how, the Aero 8 is put together. Charles Morgan talks of his detailed research into what he wanted to achieve with the Aero 8. Peter Morgan speaks of “embracing change” as the only way to survive. It is interesting to note that in the original he says that Morgan production runs were too small for computerised equipment. Which in 1988 was true but now, through advances in technology, the factory uses state-of-the-art computerised equipment in conjunction with their traditional equipment. Handmade 2 also looks at the improvements in production of the traditional Morgan. There is a fascinating sequence at Radshape showing the making of superform wings. Richard Atherton, who grew up in Malvern Link and at one time owned a 4/4 {and a +4 and a +8 – RA}, has taken great care not to repeat himself; so making Handmade 2 a perfect companion to the original. If you want to know how this car we all love was and still is Handmade then look no further.””
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