SuperDupersonic +

Source

 

 Well, you know me.  If it's got airplanes in the story, I'm interested.  Especially if they're jets and I mean FAAASSSSTTTTT jets.  Apparently, this aircraft, designated the X-59  is a Mach 5 capable aircraft which more than measures up to my interest level. I

 For those of you that are into numbers, Mach 5 is 3,705.4850 Miles per Hour on a standard day (Mach ground speed changes with air temperature and pressure variations). But, regardless of that, it's a fast (very fast) jet.

Addendum: It's 2884 miles by air from JFK to LAX, meaning the airborne time is ~45 minutes in this jet.  Heck, the steward's can't even get the scotch distributed in that time! 

It is also designed to minimize the sonic boom almost completely. They're advertising that the sonic boom won't be louder than a dull thump!

Pretty cool huh?

It gets a bit cooler.  Its official name is Lockheed Martin X-59 Quesst which is an acronym for Quiet Supersonic Technology. (I'm trying to think of a suggestion for the name, Quiet Dagger maybe?)

I hadn't heard (useful verb isn't it) about this project until I discovered it on the web.  But, evidently it is for real and is actually in a test phase.  I mean the object in the picture above is obviously flying and therefore, real, right?

Source

 

 I found it interesting that one of the ways they are reducing the sonic boom is by increasing the length of the plane while minimizing the wingspan.  Punches a smaller hole through the atmosphere, I guess.

 

No Beans, that's not me sitting in the simulator despite the physical similarities. More's the pity. 

Source

 

 Another thing I thought interesting, although a bit disturbing potentially.  There is no forward canopy, meaning you can't see what's out front.  Yes, Beans, that would be the point you're flying to.  That's handled with a TV camera.  You can see out the sides of the canopy though, so I guess if the TV quit, you could rejoin with another airplane and fly a formation approach and get dropped of at the runway by the other pilot.  

I've done that a few times, although I'll confess, I did sneak a couple of peeks at the runway lineup before we touched down.  Never had a problem though, always headed right down the runway. 

At the time of the article, there have been 19 flights since its first take off Oct 28, 2025.  The report is that it handled better than the two test pilots expected.  High praise!

As to the sonic booms, I thought this was a bit humorous.  The test flights require a chase aircraft or two.  These were F-15s (whoop!) and FA-18s.  Since the X-59 had to go supersonic in order to test supersonic flight and the folks on the ground were testing for noise level, they encountered a bit of a problem.  

The chase aircraft had to stay with the test aircraft in case something went wrong. Duh!  But if the test aircraft is supersonic, that means the chase aircraft had to be supersonic.

Guess which sonic boom was the loudest.

Yep! The Eagles and the Hornets.

So...I guess they are making progress.

They plan to test this aircraft out, by flying it over different parts of the the country, I don't understand why it would be different in different places, but, I'm not an expert.  However, there is one consideration that is required. 

The aircraft requires at least 10,000' of runway to takeoff and land. Most airline used airports meet that requirement, but are busy.  Airbases generally come close, but...not all meet the 10K' requirement.  So, they'll have to work that out.

 

Source

 And....a short video of the plane in the air.

M’’

 Hope y'all enjoyed this.  

+ Oh, It's 1700 Texas time, Sunday Evening.  I JUST  found out that my prohibition of driving due to my accident has been dismissed.  Tx Department of Public Safety posted it on their website.  I just found that out.  That's definitely worth a plus!

Thank you, Lord! 

Peace out, y'all! 

 

 

 Sources

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/06/nasas-x-59-frankenjet-tests-supersonic-flight-without-the-sonic-boom/ 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOTfR1NQ-X8&source_ve_path=OTY3MTQ&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Farstechnica.com%2F 

 

 

‘ 

 

 

 

 

John Blackshoe Sends: Serendipity History – “History is written by the winner”* Part 1

The Nation Makers
Howard Pyle
Author’s photo, Brandywine Museum of Art, Chadds Ford, PA. 2025.

Our 1876 Centennial Celebration; our horrendous defeat which spoiled that celebration; and the victors’ celebrations which continue 150 years later.

*Attributed variously to Napoleon or Winston Churchill, but a recurring thought over many centuries, so they may have said it, but likely were not the first to do so. Churchill noted he would be well regarded by history, for he intended to write it… and did so.

Part 1 of 3 - Our 1876 Centennial Celebration

Celebrating our Victory!

Our Revolution’s first shots were fired April 19, 1775. The war ended with the Peace of Paris signed September 3, 1783 confirming our victorious liberation from British colonial status after a long and arduous struggle. That was nearly a year after the surrender of the British army at Yorktown, VA on October 19, 1782 where Lord Cornwallis claimed to be indisposed and skipped the surrender ceremony. The United States of America had truly won over the most powerful country in the world at that time, and proudly recorded that in our historical records

Since we had declared our Independence on July 4, 1776, we chose that date to celebrate as our official “Independence Day."

0ne hundred years later, now 150 years ago, our great nation prepared to celebrate the Centennial of our Independence Day. Just like today, with parades, fireworks, and public festivities. The Philadelphia “Centennial Exhibition” had opened on May 10th hosting nearly a million visitors by the end of June.

1876 Centennial Exhibition- opening day, attended by 160,000 people!
Source

One of the most impressive parts of the Exhibition was the 14 acre “Machinery Hall” highlighting our industrial accomplishments. A 1,400 horsepower two cylinder Corliss steam engine with a 56 ton flywheel provided line shaft and steam power to 800 exhibits in the building. Agriculture, historical items, domestic goods and all sorts of other interests were featured in the 60,000 exhibits under a total of 75 acres of enclosed space. We were truly a leading world power. “The late unpleasantness” which had ended April 9, 1865 had faded, and the nation was reunified, and the Centennial was celebrated North and South.

Portion of the Machinery Hall, with the Corliss engine in the back, and new locomotives right foreground, steam launches front left.
Source

Military technology was also on display, and the Army Ordnance Department had an exhibit where workers made dummy .45-70 cartridges with a special headstamp, passed out as souvenirs.

A “draw set” showing detailed steps in making a cartridge in 1876.
Source

A “draw set” showing detailed steps in making a cartridge in 1876. For nerdy details on the centennial cartridge sets, and a view of the production line set up to make them, chase that Source above.

These were made with soft copper cases which later experienced extraction problems, possibly aggravated by verdigris build up from carrying in leather belts. The soft copper cases were later partially blamed for extraction problems in a famous battle.

To be continued ...

Napoléon's "Wife"¹

Maréchal Louis-Alexandre Berthier
Source

He was torn, the Emperor had returned. Though he had reconciled himself to the Bourbons, deep inside he couldn't shake his feelings for Napoléon. As much as the Emperor had abused him during their many campaigns together, both understood that together they made a powerful team.

He had decided to pull up stakes and move into Germany, Bamberg to be specific. He had many friends there, not a few enemies as well. But he wanted to put distance between himself and the uproar in Paris. Then he would decide whether or not to keep himself aloof from Napoléon's return, or rejoin the Corsican.

Another factor was his age, after all, he was 61 years of age and was worn out from the campaigns. Particularly Russia, like many in the Army, though he had survived, he had left many friends there, their bodies left to rot under foreign soil. To be honest, he felt as if he'd left a piece of himself there as well.

For a moment he thought of his mistress, his Giuseppa, the love of his life. The Emperor frowned upon that relationship, had even forced him to marry a German princess. Oddly enough, his mistress and his wife became fast friends. Berthier still wondered if his wife knew the whole story behind his Italian lover. Surely she must know.

Berthier sighed, then opened the letter which had been handed to him by the young man waiting patiently behind him some minutes ago. He had recognized the seal instantly, one which he had issued orders under for many a year, the personal seal of the Emperor himself.

Breaking the wax, he opened the letter, wondering if the Emperor had written it himself or if he had dictated it to an aide. He recognized the handwriting, the letter was in the Emperor's own hand.

"Better than any code," he chuckled as he said that.

"Sir?"

"The Emperor's handwriting, I'm one of the few who can actually read it. And interpret its meaning."

The young messenger remained silent at that.

Berthier read the missive, nodding once, then again, as he if agreed with what the Emperor seemed to be saying. Well, one thing was clear, war was coming and Napoléon wanted him back, at headquarters and in the field. Berthier sighed.

"Will you be returning directly to the Emperor?" he inquired of the messenger.

"Only if you continue on into Germany, Sir. Otherwise I am to accompany you back to Paris. There is a squadron of Chasseurs waiting nearby to provide your escort. To protect you."

"Do I need protection?" Berthier turned in his seat, suddenly annoyed.

"Not from the Emperor, but there has been rumor of a plot to murder you."

"Rumor?"

The messenger looked towards the door, then reached into his jacket, producing another message. This one too had a seal, but the seal was broken.

"Someone else's mail?" Berthier scoffed as he took the paper. He saw that the seal was that of the Ministry of Police, the seal of Fouché himself.

He read the letter, then handed it back to the young man. "Has this been verified?"

"Non, monsieur, but every indication we have tends to make us believe it."

"So Fouché thinks to take charge of the government himself ..."

"So the Emperor believes."

"Let us be on our way then."

"To?"

"Why Paris, of course."

¹ The relationship between the Emperor and Berthier, his long time Chief of Staff, was very close. Though Napoléon abused the man at times, he knew that Berthier was the perfect interpreter of the Imperial will. The Emperor's orders were often short, unclear, but Berthier apparently lived in side Napoléon's brain and could issue concise and clear orders. The Emperor's will was often indiscernible, until it went through Berthier. The Army often referred to Berthier as the Emperor's wife.

Initial Moves - A Waterloo What If

Portrait de Napoléon Ier
Robert Lefèvre (PD)

The Emperor ran his hand over the desk, it was covered in dust, it appeared to have been left in the state in which he had last seen it. As if the Bourbons had stayed away from this particular palace, the last home of his Joséphine.

He felt a deep sadness at the thought of her. She had failed to provide him with an heir, so he had divorced her and married an Austrian princess. The Army, particularly the Guard, had been fond of the Empress, many never forgave him for divorcing her. Now, after Elba, it seemed that he might need an heir after all. But the Austrians held his wife and son captive, in Vienna. So ...

He shook his head and looked up as his Mameluke, Ali¹, finished preparing the Emperor's bed.

"Ali!"

His servant jumped at the Emperor's bark, though the man could be abrupt, it was rare for the Emperor to bark at him so. He saved that for his marshals.

"Sire?"

"You have something to tell me?" Napoléon's voice was softer, he hadn't meant to startle the man, but he was exhausted, there was much to do and little time to do it in.

"I have heard from a man close to both of us, Roustam² wishes to rejoin your service."

The Emperor winced as a sudden pain flared in his tired brain. When he opened his eyes he looked at Ali and in a quiet voice said ...

"Out of the question, the man betrayed me."

Ali stood up straight, "As did Maréchal Ney, and others I could name, yet you welcome them back into your service as if they had not."

Napoléon's eyes opened wide, then he took a deep breath. "I know, Ali, I know. But I need men who can lead my armies, you do Roustam's job as well as he ever did. So no, let him know that I no longer bear him a great deal of animosity. But he cannot return to my service."

"Very well, Sire. My apologies."

"Accepted, you rogue, now leave me. I must think."

Upon awakening, the Emperor sent for the commander of the day's duty squadron, which that day was the 2nd Squadron of the Chasseurs à Cheval of the Imperial Guard. The man commanding this day had been with him since Marengo.

"You understand what is needed, yes?"

"Yes Sire. Messieurs Fouché and Talleyrand are to be secured, taken to the forests outside of Versailles, and disposed of." The officer didn't even blink, in his own opinion the police minister and the foreign minister should have been disposed of years ago. Things must be desperate for le Tondu³ to take this step.

"Very well, now please ask Maréchal Davout⁴ to come in."

The cavalryman simply banged his heels together and with an abrupt nod, spun on his heel and departed. The jingling of his spurs echoing on the tiled floor.

The Emperor looked away from the door for a moment, when his gaze returned there, the Iron Marshal stood in the doorway. His bald head made him look like a schoolmaster, but the posture, and the glint in the eye said "soldier."

"Sire?"

"I have changed my mind about your posting as Minister of War ..."

Napoléon's hand went up as Davout began to speak, "I need you in the field my Prince. I have spoken with Ney⁵, I cannot trust him, his mind, what he has of it, is quite addled by his service in Russia. The people of France, most of them anyway, want me, need me on the throne. The rest of Europe would rather see me at the end of a rope I think."

"Ney is popular with the troops, Sire."

"You should have seen him at Grenoble, Davout. He had sworn to that fat king that he would return me to Paris in an iron cage. His men submitted to me, to me, I merely had to offer my chest as a target. They flocked to my eagles. Ney is a spent force."

"Who will you leave in Paris when the Army marches? Fouché and Talleyrand are already hedging their bets ..."

"They will not be a factor much longer." The tone of the Emperor's voice made even the Iron Marshal shudder. Now he understood why the Emperor would speak to a squadron commander before one of his marshals. The cavalryman had carried out other missions for the state. Davout would not want to be in Fouché's and Talleyrand's shoes, he suspected that they didn't have long to live.

Napoléon looked at Davout and said, "What think you of Maréchal Soult⁶ as Minister of War?"

"A capable man in the field, but in Paris? I have my doubts. Why not St-Cyr⁷? A good man, perhaps too old for active service, but he is cold, calculating, he'd make a fine man to watch your back while you are in the field."

"The Owl?" The Emperor chuckled at the nickname given the man by his troops, then he grew thoughtful.

"The man will follow orders, Sire. He always has."

"I shall think on it, you will accompany me with the Army."

"When do we march?"

"Soon, my dear Maréchal, soon. There is an opportunity in Belgium, we deal with the shopkeepers and the Prussians, then the rest as they approach the frontiers."

After Davout's departure, the Emperor was up late, studying his maps, reading correspondence from his agents in foreign capitals. He had a chance, barely a chance, but if they moved quickly, he might keep the throne.

Knock the English paymaster from the war, then who would pay to overthrow him then?

He rubbed his eyes, the headache was returning.

¹ Louis-Étienne Saint-Denis was a member of the Mamelukes of the Imperial Guard, leading him to be known in his lifetime as "Mamelouk Ali".

² Roustam Raza, Napoléon's first Mameluke servant, presented to him by the Sheikh of Cairo in 1798. Roustam had served the Emperor for 15 years before abandoning him in 1814.

³ Literally "the shorn one." The Imperial Guard kept their hair in the old style, long and tied back in a queue. As the Emperor kept his hair short. The Guard had a number of nicknames for their Emperor.

⁴ Louis-Nicolas Davout, Prince of Eckmühl, Duke of Auerstadt, Marshal of the Empire.

⁵ Michel Ney, Prince de la Moskowa, Duke of Elchingen, Marshal of the Empire.

⁶ Jean-de-Dieu Soult, Duke of Dalmatia, Marshal of the Empire.

⁷ Laurent de Gouvion Saint-Cyr, Marquis of Gouvion-Saint-Cyr, Marshal of the Empire.

The Cost

Bivouac après le combat du Bourget, 21 décembre 1870
Alphonse de Neuville (PD)

Alright, first things first - I'm not quite ready to climb back into the saddle (as in posting every day) just yet. Sloth is a bad habit to break, while I've not been completely idle, as far as writing goes, I have been completely idle. So it's going to take some time to break the not writing habit.

Another factor is that I am at a loss as to what to write about. War is my "thing" and I've told many a war-related story since the inception of this here blog. But I grow tired of it. War is a horrid thing, nothing to be celebrated and only to be engaged in as necessary.

People die, stuff gets destroyed, lives are changed forever and to what end? So some group of powerful assholes gets their say over something. Or they get to claim something which isn't theirs.

Sometimes war will start as one thing, then become something else. For instance, when, in 1789, the French dumped their king, and later executed him AND his queen, most European monarchies saw that as a very bad thing. Not because the Bourbons were necessarily wonderful rulers but hey, we don't want our own peasants and bourgeoisie getting the wrong ideas. As in, "Hey, we don't like how things are being done, so we're throwing you out and putting someone else in charge."

So they invaded France to put Louis back on the throne, and once he was dead, to put a different, though related, Louis, back on the throne. What all those European crowned heads didn't count on was the French people fighting back, en masse. Not with some uniformed properly trained professional army, but with common folks, semi-trained and armed, in large numbers.

In essence, in order to set back the clock, those royal armies seeking to do so would have to kill a lot of Frenchmen, and armies are expensive dontcha know. Keeping them fed and in the field for long periods of time drains treasuries. And a drained treasury is what the French Revolution was caused by (in part).

What was worse is that a very talented guy, Napoléon Bonaparte, took over the French armies in Italy, drove the Austrians out, then went back to France and essentially drove the French Revolutionary government out.

Now Napoléon was a big believer in a good offense is the best defense. Go to the enemy's home country and kick his ass there, rather than wait for him to come to your country. But one thing led to another and before you know it, the French were bleeding troops and cash in Spain and then Napoléon went into Russia and got his ass kicked by the Russian people and the Russian weather.

So it took a number of years to restore the Bourbons to the French throne. The French rather resented all that. Some years later, Napoléon's nephew made himself Emperor and went to war again. The cycle continued ...

Now as I read about the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, I read of destroyed villages, people uprooted from their homes and killed, if not as a direct effect of battle in their towns, then as a result of the disruption of everyday life.

I looked out my window one day after reading an account of a particularly nasty battle and imagined what my neighborhood would look like if a battle had been fought there. Well, for the most part it would be pretty much gone.

Buildings knocked down or in flames (or both), dead bodies everywhere. Not a pretty sight by any measure, and imagine the stench. Yes, dear readers, battlefields stink. Blood, voided bowels, the stench of expended explosives, the soil itself ripped and torn. Only an idiot would wish to see such a sight.

And there are people out there, people who have no clue as to what reality is, who clamor for just such a thing. Of course, they don't see themselves as actually having to participate. Someone else, the peasantry, the plebians, you know, the riffraff, will do the actual killing and dying. Not them, oh heavens no.

Those who desire war to seize property or to shove an ideology down someone's throat should be avoided. It would be nice to hand them a weapon and say, "You first." Though I don't see that happening anytime soon.

You can vote yourself into a socialist hell, but you can't really vote your way out. (Looking at you NYC.)

Think before you choose, remember, someone else might show up on your doorstep and shove a gun in your face to make you do something.

Anyhoo, war sucks and I tire of writing about it.

So yeah, I'm running out of stuff to write about.

We'll see how this goes ...

Ciao!

There and Back, Again x 3

First day
OAFS Photo

So for the third year in a row we spent a week at a lovely place on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. As you might guess by the title, this year's trip is in the history books. It's over, we're back at our base in Maryland, contemplating a return to Little Rhody after Independence Day. While it's a big parade in the old home town, we've "been there, done that." The parade (America's Oldest) doesn't change much from year to year and once you've seen one, you've seen most of 'em.

Yes, there are new marching bands from one year to the next but hey, it's all the same to me. While it's a pretty big deal in town, it attracts thousands of tourists. It also attract lots of traffic, parking issues, and noise. In my dotage, I prefer a quiet 4th of July. As I can see the fireworks from my deck, I don't need to go into town to see those. Yes, I still enjoy a good simulation of cannon fire and the rocket's red glare, but I can sit at home, adult beverage in hand, and watch it in comfort.

The trip to the beach house was, again, spectacular. The weather, for the most part, was cooperative and the water was just right, not too warm, not too cool. We did get a couple of impressive storms, one of which my granddaughter and I watched come in from the west and provide some incredible lightning shows from well to the south and well up to the north. According to the radar the storm stretched from North Carolina up to Delaware.

The family surveying the aftermath ...
OAFS Photo

We strolled down to the beach to see the waves first hand, the photo doesn't do them justice ...

OAFS Video

Wind was gusting up to about 30 mph after the storm, a steady 20 mph in the video. It was pretty wild. The temperature stayed reasonable throughout.

Don't know if you can tell, but the beach is private. My grandson Roberto thinks the whole world lives this way. Why disillusion him now?

We even had a kayak this year, I talked to the maintenance guy, Carl, on Sunday last as we were loading up to leave, he said the kayaks blew ashore from further up the Bay from a rental place. There were four of them, three back in the dunes, one right on "our" beach. So we availed ourselves of that, grandkids loved it!

Carl did let the owner know where his kayaks were, seems the fellow hadn't found the time to come collect his property yet, he lost them over a month ago! Oh well ...

Anyhoo, the beach vacation is done, the Maryland vacation continues. I'll let juvat continue to regale you with his MoH series (which I'm enjoying) and I'll be back on board in a bit. We'll see. Being idle is a joy all to itself!

Last day
OAFS Photo

Until next year!
OAFS Photo

Ciao!

Col John R. Kane MOH

 

When I started research on this man's story, I thought this was going to be another Ploesti story.  While Ploesti was a significant episode in his career, it's not the only high heart rate mission he had flown.  So, we'll get started.

Source

He received his commission and wings in the early 1930's and in 1940 commanded a squadron in my neck of the woods, Lackland AFB San Antonio.  Many of you readers may have stories to tell about your time there.

Anyhow....After the WWII started he was sent to the Mediterranean Theater of Operation.  He flew 43 combat sorties for a total of 250 combat hours, commanding the 98th Bombardment Group, a B-24 unit.  That's a lot of combat. An intercepted German message reported to him that the Germans had nicknamed him "Killer Kane".  For some reason, he accepted that with gratitude.

He received a Distinguished Flying Cross after leading a mission to Naples in 1942 where he and his unit sank a Cruiser and a Battleship.  He later received a Silver Star while leading his unit on a mission.  He was attacked by a BF-110.

Source

Though his tail and top turrets were inoperative (my source does not say why) he as able to avoid hits by the fighter until it ran out of ammunition after 8 passes his bomber and it returned to its base.  Upon returning to Col Kane's base, an inspection of his aircraft had little appreciable damage.

Pretty darn good flying, I'd say!

But the mission which earned him the Medal of Honor was dubbed Operation Tidal Wave. This was the low level bombing raid on the oil plants at Ploiești Romania. As many of you history buffs will remember this was a disastrous raid with 53 aircraft and 500 men were lost for little damage to the target.  It was back up and running within a few weeks.

Col Kane led his squadron on this mission, and elected to circle the target area helping other bombers get oriented.  Evidently there was a lot of smoke obscuring it.

Source

 See what I mean?

Anyhow, this decision used up his reserve fuel and he was forced to land on Cyprus. 8 Days later he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Yeah, I'd say he's a warrior!

Source 

 

He continued his Air Force career and commanded several bases.  He retired in 1954 and passed away in 1996 at 89. 

 

Source

Rest in Peace, Warrior! 

Citation for the Award of the Medal of Honor to Col John R. Kane

For conspicuous gallantry in action and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 1 Aug 1943. On this date he led the third element of heavy bombardment aircraft in a mass low-level bombing attack against the vitally important enemy target of the Ploesti oil refineries. En route to the target, which necessitated a round-trip flight of over 2,400 miles, Col. Kane’s element became separated from the leading portion of the massed formation in avoiding dense and dangerous cumulous cloud conditions over mountainous terrain. Rather than turn back from such a vital mission he elected to proceed to his target. Upon arrival at the target area it was discovered that another group had apparently missed its target and had previously attacked and damaged the target assigned to Col. Kane’s element. Despite the thoroughly warned defenses, the intensive antiaircraft fire, enemy fighter airplanes, extreme hazards on a low-level attack of exploding delayed action bombs from the previous element, of oil fires and explosions and dense smoke over the target area, Col. Kane elected to lead his formation into the attack. By his gallant courage, brilliant leadership, and superior flying skill, he and the formation under his command successfully attacked this vast refinery so essential to our enemies’ war effort. Through his conspicuous gallantry in this most hazardous action against the enemy, and by his intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, Col. Kane personally contributed vitally to the success of this daring mission and thereby rendered most distinguished service in the furtherance of the defeat of our enemies.

 

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_R._Kane

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ploie%C8%99ti 

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/operation-tidal-wave-why-the-1943-raid-on-ploesti-oilfields-failed-to-diminish-the-supply-of-fuel-to-germany-and-its-allies/ 

https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/colonel-john-r-kane/