Methusala

"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

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.

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."

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?

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?

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

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.

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!

Or a gust! Watch out!

Happenstance can make the unlikeliest of heroes. Not making less of her great achievement.

1957 I was 6 and living in Cooma East.

Tumut (home airport these days) is pretty good in both directions. Not so with some ( Wambalong ?).