From EDN(electronic Design News) a fascinating history of a WWII bomber remote control gunsight, and it’s failure, repeatedly, while the bureaucrats insisted on pushing it forward. Great things were done during WWII but not without cost and not without clearly showing the strengths an weaknesses of the bureaucratic ‘blue model’ way of doing complex programs (at the time the only practical method of management.)
Dornier Seastar CD2, developed by the son of the original Dornier and the grandson is now looking for venture capitalists to build it in the US. Designed for the Baltic and Oceania as a utility small airliner to provide access to islands and sections of islands with no airport but lots of water access. Normal 9 passenger 2 crew, up to 12 passengers. The latest seaplane designed in the world…hopefully not the last. Seaplanes are always beautiful in their functional ugliness and romantic (as in day dreaming of adventure) by nature.
Started in France but now in Quebec, projected to start shipping in 2014, 4and a half seat, 220 MPH, 600 mile rang, only downside is its avgas but hopefully a diesel/kerosene fueled option will arrive. See more at this AWST blog.
This World and Others 