When 33 single-handed yachtsmen and women set off from Les Sables d’Olonne in France tomorrow, to race non-stop around the world for the Vendée Globe trophy, there’s a good chance they will do so quicker and safer than ever before. That will be down to state-of-the-art technology...
The Historic Vehicle Association (HVA) has announced the 27th and 28th vehicles to be added to the National Historic Vehicle Register. The HVA established the National Historic Vehicle Register in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior, Heritage Documentation Programs and Library of Congress, respectively, to...
Everybody dreads their driving test, but every country has its own version with a huge range of standards and idiosyncrasies, so ours/yours may not be the worst. Here in the UK, our new drivers are clearly daunted by the test. UK driving test pass rates have plummeted...
A Swedish shipping company, Wallenius Marine, is developing a car transporter* ship, Oceanbird, with telescopic aerofoil sails. When launched, it will be the world’s largest sailing ship. The design is elegantly simple; take a pretty standard car transporter hull with the boxy shape and loading ramp at...
Environmentally-friendly, remotely-controlled, electric aircraft tugs are taking over the role of ground handling, pushback and hanger movements at airports around the world. Spanish airline, Iberia is the latest to start using remotely controlled Mototok electric tugs for moving their aircraft at Madrid and Barcelona Airports. Their eight...
Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg are producing Masters of the Air for Apple TV, a third WW2 mini series to follow their Band of Brothers and The Pacific. Where are the likely airfield locations? This post was first published in Oct 2020. We know now where MOA is...
Work is complete on 516 Arouca, which at 516 metres long is now the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world*. 516 Arouca hangs 175 metres (574 ft) over the Paiva river in the eastern part of Arouca UNESCO Global Geopark, Portugal. It connects the escarpment of...
Keen to reconnect with its fanbase, Ducati is reopening its museum today (5 Oct) at their motorcycle factory in Borgo Panigale, Bologne, Italy. The museum’s new coronavirus protocols mean that visitors have to book online and register a specific date/time slot in advance. The 15-min time slots...
The Aston Martin Heritage Trust museum is home to some classic, and beautiful, examples of auto engineering excellence. The museum tells the story of the brand’s luxury sports cars and grand tourers – their amazing engine design, development and manufacturing, and their motor racing history. I went...
The KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence has unveiled its plans for a new aviation museum and conference centre at Kelowna International Airport. Site preparation work will start this autumn on the site on Lapointe Drive beside the Kelowna International Airport, across the road from their current airfield...
Yesterday, the historic ‘tall ship’ Peking was welcomed back to her home port of Hamburg, where she is due to become a permanent highlight on the waterfront, and the primary exhibit of the new German Port Museum. “With the Peking, Hamburg is gaining a new landmark,” Hamburg...
Edinburgh-based Gravitricity are starting work on a scaled down demonstrator tower to test the response of their design for a gravity driven energy storage system. It’s not exactly a ‘new’ idea – I keep thinking of my dad’s fabulous 18th century grandfather clock – but it is...
This is a niche blog about technically-minded travel. It reflects my own interests in the mechanical, technical, historical, engineering, transport and military world.
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