Methusala

The world has changed since 24th February 2022, and it won't come back to the former status quo.

3 hours ago, rgmwa said:

The bottom line is the Ukrainians want Putin to mind his own business and get out of their country.

Sergey Lavrov told the BBC (and hence, the world),

'We don't care what the  west thinks!'

Bob Dylan wrote (sang) in the mid 60's:-

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled

....For the times they are a changin'

We should be ready. Forewarned is said to be fore-armed.

PS. Garfly, i don't get  your  'Hair of the dog' comment. I don't care for un-informed comments on my character. I've never had my mental competence questioned by those whom I hold in any regard. My comments are not directed at individuals; nor are they meant to be perceived as malicious.

STOP PRESS!

'Biden is escalating the Russia-Ukraine conflict, risking a catastrophic fight with Moscow', an ex-congresswoman has warned. -  former congresswoman and 2020 presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard has warned.

'

5 hours ago, rgmwa said:

are you saying that the west is ultimately responsible for the current special military operation because it left Putin with no other choice but to invade a neighbouring country? 

‘Information’, ‘spin’, ‘propaganda’… all out there and accessible. The facts are indisputable and correct. Ukraine suffered constant meddling in her affairs. Attempted coup 2004 followed by the infamous (Victoria Nuland plus CIA directed) Maidan, bloody coup installing western friendly Poreshenko in 2014. After this France and Germany conspired to lead the Minsk 1 and Minsk 2 treaties which Ukraine never adhered to. It has lately been revealed, through their own speech, that Merkel and EU president admit that these were only ever hollow ruse intended to give Nato and the US time to prepare armies for the proxy war to follow.

For 8 years a murderous campaign was waged by Ukraine’s western backed govt against Russian speaking Ukrainian citizens in Donetsk and Lugansk resulting in over 14,000 civilian lives lost.

Ukraine was always ‘informally’ attached to Nato. Joined at the hip as it were. The west began pouring shipments of Lethal, offensive weapons into Ukraine in the 2020’s under the pretext o0f preparing for a Russian assault. However, the truth is that they were preparing for a final, definitive assault to return Crimea and overwhelm the Donbass.

Russia had seen the west destroy any trust by continually encroaching Nato forces and weapons eastwards. This was an abrogation of ‘sincere’, documented undertakings not to shift Nato ‘one inch further east’ given in 1991 when east Germany re-united with west.

No matter how it is attempted to be spun, the facts speak for themselves.

I could carry this explanation for ‘ever’ if I felt so motivated. All of this stuff is out there and indisputable. My hope is to instigate some genuine truth finding by people interested in the true causes and, importantly, the possible consequences of this situation. What I believe is unimportant. What effort others expend will be rewarded with a deeper understanding of how powerful are the forces trying to influence informed opinions.

 My grandpa told me when I was 5 years old, “There are 2 sides to all stories.”

The modern tragedy that is unfolding in northern Europe is blighted by the fact that the western media allows only one side to be reported. Western media relies on three news agencies for most international coverage. These are AP (US based), AFP (from France) and Reuters (UK).

Their reports on events in the Ukraine rely mostly on information helpfully provided by the Zelensky dominated Ukrainian govt. Often these reports are accompanied by statements to the effect that they have not been independently corroborated.

These reports are mostly based loosely on some facts but given a bias to throw responsibility on “those Russians”. For example the notorious shelling of the maternity hospital in Mariupol neglects to report that the hospital had been cleared of patients and taken over by Ukrainian troops as a lookout and fire base thus becoming a legitimate target for Russian attack.

Similarly, the shopping centre that Zelensky reported was occupied by 1,000 civilian shoppers had been closed for 4 months and was located adjacent to a factory used for storage of military equipment. Google images show few vehicles in the carpark. Again, Google images show that it was never directly hit but suffered some damage to its N/W corner from a strike some distance from the mall.

The latest “black flag” reported from Ukrainian sources, on an apartment block ostensibly as a cowardly attack by Russian forces on civilians turns out, as reported by a journalist from the New York Times, to have been taken over by Ukrainian troops, the civilian tenants having been advised to evacuate well before the shelling occurred. 10 elderly women declined to move and, tragically, became casualties. The majority of those wounded or killed were troops. The western media chooses to maintain silence on these facts and prefers the story as supplied by Ukrainian sources.

What is never discussed in our media is that Ukrainian forces, as a matter of tactics, set up their artillery in civilian populated centres using the inhabitants as human shields. These sights include schools, kindergartens and apartment blocks. This is an absolute war crime. Ukrainians are also using heavy artillery, including US supplied HIMARS guided rockets, to attack civilian targets, most commonly now in Russian controlled Donetsk.

This information is readily available from internet based sites. A little effort will enable access to alternate information sources. Do not accept any information from any source as being wholly reliable. The way to finding some semblance of actual events is to read widely and apply analysis till you are satisfied with you own judgements. Not everybody is inclined to put this effort into finding truth. But if you accept the common media’s version without doing this you cannot expect your opinion to have much value. The superb, adult diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, was stating the obvious when advising Penny Wong to do her homework and to read the widely available history of the west’s provocation, leading to Russia’s launch of their special military operation in Ukraine.

https://www.bitchute.com/video/8vKieJbMmHz3/

This comes not from US propaganda daily NYT. Nor from the UK's  BBC. It speaks directly to the morally bankrupt NATO and the USA, who have invaded and destroyed Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq (wmd's), Libya, Yemen, Granada, Panama etc, etc...

No innocent babies, pregnant women, children or geriatric citizens killed, maimed and tortured there?

There are NO hero's, no exceptional, morally correct leaders in this desperate world. War stinks, all can agree. Don't confuse propaganda for information.

 "The first casualty when war comes is truth". Hiram W Johnson, US Senator. 1917.

I Have contributed to this thread only with the aim to show that there are both sides to be considered by anyone interested in seeing more clearly what is going on in the catastrophe now unfolding. All are free to read events in their own way. 

Intelligence is not in short supply in this forum and I appreciate every input from contributors. I have said all that I wish to and leave you all with a repetition of my belief that all wars are grotesque and detestable. There are no winners and no good guys. I say, give peace a chance

On 09/03/2022 at 11:44 PM, Garfly said:

"War is hell for anyone in it."

I have read this piece. Seems to be a further attempt to whitewash the part played by, a)The Ukraine since being illegally taken over in the 2014 Maidan coup, entering into the Minsk agreements then abrogating them, b) The dreadful war MIC in the US, supplying weapons, advisors and intelligence while ignoring the plight of eastern Ukrainians over 8 years of military atrocities - resulting in over 13,000 deaths of innocent Russian speaking Ukrainians and, c) The implications of NATO exercises conducted with Ukranian military including the openly fascist Asov units which, in any bodies language , are threatening to Russia, the sworn enemy of NATO.

It is a ridiculous oversimplification of the swarm of issues enmeshed in the current deplorable situation. Russia won't and neither can they stop what has been forced upon them by the insatiable and wrong west which has bought the world untold suffering in so many post WW2 theatres.

As the infamous Snake Island incident attempted, unsuccessfully because it was a flagrant lie, to paint the Russian forces as inhuman devils, so this "bombing of maternity hospital" latest was actually the result of Asov artillery , having evacuated civilians, used it as an attack command centre upon Russian forces.

This state of affairs needs to be viewed from a wide perspective. What would we think of a teacher in the schoolyard, listening only to one side of a scrap before deciding who was at fault?

There are no "gentlemen" in this game. This is no after dinner soapie. It could end in extinction for us all.

14 minutes ago, skippydiesel said:

I dont believe that  "Europe's supply of energy for heat generation, mobility, power supply and industry cannot be secured in any other way". 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz probably has a better handle on Europe's access to energy supplies. Here we have Angus Taylor in charge of energy. The energy sector don't trust him so maybe you have something after all

Difficult to achieve the "delicate balance" required to keep Germany in the club.

BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz today pushed back against calls from the U.S. and Ukraine for a ban on imports of Russian gas and oil as part of international sanctions on Moscow.

“Europe has deliberately exempted energy supplies from Russia from sanctions," Scholz said in a statement, adding: "At the moment, Europe's supply of energy for heat generation, mobility, power supply and industry cannot be secured in any other way. It is therefore of essential importance for the provision of public services and the daily lives of our citizens."

10 minutes ago, turboplanner said:

Channel 9 News. 

Has taken the US by complete surprise. Very dangerous situations can arise quickly. Question is where these ac could operate from and not draw NATO into a hot war.

We live between Tidbinbilla satelite tracking ststion and Joint Operation Command HQ. Prime strategic targets.

You could say that this is a further step into the abyss of Nuclear WW111. Mad Neocons of the world! 

<Poland is giving Ukraine all its MIG 29s now free of charge and the US is giving Poland F16s >

Could you give a citation for this?

1 hour ago, danny_galaga said:

I guess you could say Ukraine was rail roaded into a war, just like Poland was railroaded into having a war with Hitler...

Yes, you could SAY that, except that you'd be wrong. Researching the facts, you'd find that Ukraine has, for 8 years, been the aggressor and provoker of military activity.

Ukraine has :

a) In 2014, shortly after the Maiden coup, which installed an unelected government by ousting the elected Lukashenko mob, voluntarily entered an agreement (The Minsk Protocol) to withdraw forces from Donetsk and Lugansk and give them some regional autonomy. They never abided by this agreement which caused the deaths of 13,000, mostly Russian speaking, inhabitants. ;

b) Cooperated with NATO and the US to host joint military exercises over this period and requested many times to  join With NATO. It is a fact that the western leaders had repeatedly and unequivocally agreed not to move NATO "one further inch" towards Russian territory. This has been spectacularly ignored over that past 20 or so years.

c) Accepted US and EU lethal arms shipments increasingly, in the build-up to the present, giving the unmistakably obvious signs that 'something was up'. This has been accompanied by an increase in troop strength along the Dobass frontier of some 60,000 Ukrainian forces. Russia has responded by moving troops into adjoining Russian territory in a logical answer to this build-up.

d) Zelensky has repeatedly claimed that he wishes to have nuclear arms added to Ukraine's arsenal, and;

e) Has acted belligerently throughout his term towards Russia and the Donbass region despite having been elected with a promise to seek peace and de-escalate tensions in Ukraine. 

All wars are horrific and to be avoided at almost any cost. This one is portrayed in western media propaganda falsely and with the strongest bias against the east. It's about control of Russia's resources and a desire by Washington and the EU to finish Russia off completely.

What does this mean for the companies who leased them to Russia. How does one seek compensation when this, as an act of war, means no insurance. 

Russia officially holds “hostage” more than 470 foreign planes worth a dozen billion dollars. This is . . . after the Russian aviation authority asked its airlines to no longer fly abroad with aircraft chartered by Western companies neither for passenger connections, nor for cargo connections from Sunday 6 March. This means that it becomes impossible for leasing companies to recover jets rented to Russian companies — such as Aeroflot, S7 Airlines, Rossiya, Azur Air, Ural Airlines — which could give rise to a legal, as well as financial, headache of global dimensions.

The BIG PROBLEM is that avgas increased by 8% last week at my airfield. It may increase by a similar margin next week and then next week again. $200bbl oil is in the sights according to the media. ULP has increased by a similar %. Food prices are increasing rapidly and housing "goes through the roof". Russia is contributing about 30% to world energy demand. Did Washington and the EU realise this would happen when they railroaded Ukraine, headed by that master diplomat Zelensky, (loads of geopolitical experience - not!), into war with a military super power? Answer, yes, but, as Madelaine Albricht said, it was worth it.

Aviation and all forms of motor transport are about to become expensive.

I have been anti-war all of my thinking life. US has been the instigator of all of them. Just so sad. Sorry for any hurt feelings, Don

This thread discusses the topic of aviation effects of western counter measures against Russian Aviation. My interest over 20 or so years on this forum has been the broad field of aviation. I think that this devastating proxy war was instigated by western powers and may affect them badly. No, I dont enjoy watching innocent people suffer.

Answer or not. What's the problem?

Nix to the story of Ukraine operating combat aircraft. Russkies have a no fly (no take off either) zone over all of Ukraine. Poland, somewhat hopefully volunteered its airstrips. Oh-oh, this would mean that Poland had become a military adversary to Russia giving them carte blanche to attack Poland. If this happened then, Poland, being a member of NATO, the rest of NATO would then be at war with Russia. Didn't anyone in Poland see this coming before shooting their mouths off?

10 minutes ago, octave said:

An interesting analysis of the possible effects of aviation sanctions.

Leasing arrangements are most likely subject to Force Mejeure clauses most likely covered by sudden changes in international conditions. I think that we are witnessing a tsunami like change in world power dynamics which will have greater effects than had the demise of the USSR. Some see this as a hangover from the triumphalist western reaction to those events.

I truly don't think that the governments headed by such towering intellects as BoJo and sleepy Jo Biden have a strong handle on the effects of their proxy war on Russia.

PS. I believe that all wars are bad but that not that all wars are avoidable. Don

1 minute ago, RossK said:

Are you advocating that the West sits back and does nothing whilst a meglomaniac invades a sovereign nation, killing thousands of innocent people?

Please tell me what your reaction was to US and NATO invading Afghanistan?

"Felines owned by Russians have been banned from international competitions as punishment for Moscow’s attack on Ukraine." A further, crippling blow by the west against Russia!

I have read that Boeing has withdrawn support for its aircraft based in Russia. Don't know whether Airbus has shadowed this doubtful strategy. Russia has one of the most advanced aerospace technologies in the world. Also, most western airspace is now closed to Russia. If it proves essential, they can keep Boeings flying internally without Boeing's "help". Russia and China are currently flight testing the CR-929 wide bodied competitor to the trouble plagued 787. This type of pressure from the west could have the result of speeding a 3rd competitor to Boeing and Europe's Airbus. 

I have trouble following the logic of US and Europe forcing a war against the Russian republic which, I see, as creating many unknown and definitely unexpected adverse consequences.

Once had an "instructor". Went round & round always landing nervously. Nary 1 word did he speak apart from, "Do another one!"

Another instructor took notice and invited me to do circuits with him. He said land this thing twice and you can solo. 2 good landings and off I went! Hahaha. Don

I have my share of poor landings in the Thruster. Trying to flare in a normal progressive sense results in an abrupt collision of mains on the ground bouncing  into the air. Application of power is required to avoid stalling. My technique is to pull and maintain full aft stick just before stalling. The elevator has sufficient authority at 50kts and I approach power off except with a passenger. I can land with idle power from 300 ft turning base quite comfortably. The power off attitude is quite steep.

3rd option, I think.

22 hours ago, facthunter said:

I've always added a bit of speed to the early climb to make it less critical. Nev

Maintain 50kts till you get about 100ft under you. Then, if the engine quits you have sufficient airspeed over the elevator not to stall. It's all about energy management.  Best climb is about 42kts.

Go Airbus!