Download or read book The Dream Machine written by Richard Whittle and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2010-04-27 with total page 464 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: WHEN THE MARINES decided to buy a helicopter-airplane hybrid “tiltrotor” called the V-22 Osprey, they saw it as their dream machine. The tiltrotor was the aviation equivalent of finding the Northwest Passage: an aircraft able to take off, land, and hover with the agility of a helicopter yet fly as fast and as far as an airplane. Many predicted it would reshape civilian aviation. The Marines saw it as key to their very survival. By 2000, the Osprey was nine years late and billions over budget, bedeviled by technological hurdles, business rivalries, and an epic political battle over whether to build it at all. Opponents called it one of the worst boondoggles in Pentagon history. The Marines were eager to put it into service anyway. Then two crashes killed twenty- three Marines. They still refused to abandon the Osprey, even after the Corps’ own proud reputation was tarnished by a national scandal over accusations that a commander had ordered subordinates to lie about the aircraft’s problems. Based on in-depth research and hundreds of interviews, The Dream Machine recounts the Marines’ quarter-century struggle to get the Osprey into combat. Whittle takes the reader from the halls of the Pentagon and Congress to the war zone of Iraq, from the engineer’s drafting table to the cockpits of the civilian and Marine pilots who risked their lives flying the Osprey—and sometimes lost them. He reveals the methods, motives, and obsessions of those who designed, sold, bought, flew, and fought for the tiltrotor. These stories, including never before published eyewitness accounts of the crashes that made the Osprey notorious, not only chronicle an extraordinary chapter in Marine Corps history, but also provide a fascinating look at a machine that could still revolutionize air travel.

Download or read book Belle s Journey written by Rob Bierregaard and published by Charlesbridge Publishing. This book was released on 2018-05-15 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Take flight with Belle, an osprey born on Martha's Vineyard as she learns to fly and migrates for the first time to Brazil and back--a journey of more than 8,000 miles. Dr. B. and Dick, two osprey scientists in Massachusetts, observe ospreys and their offspring, tagging one special fledgling with a transmitter to better study migration habits. Follow Belle as she attempts her first flight, conquers her first fishing endeavour, and heads south for her first migration all while her tracking device transmits information about where's she been. Based on information garnered through twenty years of research by the author, Belle's Journey will soar into reader's hearts.

Download or read book Osprey written by and published by Sweetgrass Books. This book was released on 2021-11-09 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Osprey--Pandion haliaetus--is also known as the Fish Hawk, but that simple label does not do this magnificent bird justice. The Osprey is a master angler whose fish catching skills are unparalleled. There is no other living creature on this planet that comes hurtling out of the sky at speeds exceeding fifty miles an hour, dives feet first into the water, and somehow resurfaces with a fish clutched tightly in its talons. A true apex predator in a league of its own, being on top presents its own unique set of challenges that must be faced and overcome on a daily basis.

Download or read book Steampunk Soldiers written by Philip Smith and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2014-11-20 with total page 157 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Between 1887 and 1895, the British art student Miles Vandercroft travelled around the world, sketching and painting the soldiers of the countries through which he passed. In this age of dramatic technological advancement, Vandercroft was fascinated by how the rise of steam technology at the start of the American Civil War had transformed warfare and the role of the fighting man. This volume collects all of Vandercroft's surviving paintings, along with his associated commentary on the specific military units he encountered. It is a unique pictorial guide to the last great era of bright and colourful uniforms, as well as an important historical study of the variety of steam-powered weaponry and equipment that abounded in the days before the Great War of the Worlds.

Download or read book Soaring with Fidel written by David Gessner and published by Beacon Press. This book was released on 2008-04-01 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Book Sense Notable Title "As Gessner pursues [the ospreys] down the Eastern Seaboard and even into Cuba with a BBC documentary team at his heels, a lively tale of fish-eating raptors, broken embargoes and a nail-biting race to the finish line ensues . . . Gessner finds his Mecca not in the thrilling launch or triumphant end of his own 7,000-mile migration, but in the living done in between."—Jennifer Winger, Nature Conservancy Magazine "An engaging, lyrical guide to osprey migration, Cuba, and a common humanity."—Orion Magazine "Gessner's finest book, unpredictable in the best way, and funny, too; an adventure book and much more—a book of contact by a writer who quickly becomes an audible and visible presence."—Clyde Edgerton, author of Solo "An interesting and complex book . . . In a surprisingly short amount of time, David Gessner has evolved into one of our most accomplished and singular writers about nature. While many authors treat their experiences in nature with a hushed earnestness and a suspect neatness, Gessner writes about the messy humanness of being outside."—Mark Lynch, Bird Observer "An ideal traveling companion and guide. Soaring with Fidel lets you hover for a while in the thermals of fine language, seeing the same old world from a fresh and invigorating altitude."—Ben Steelman, Wilmington (NC) Star-News

Download or read book Ospreys written by Alan F. Poole and published by Johns Hopkins University Press. This book was released on 2019-03-19 with total page 221 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book shows us why.

Download or read book British Sniping Rifles since 1970 written by Steve Houghton and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2021-11-25 with total page 143 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In response to the challenge of the Soviet Dragunov self-loading rifle, the British Army adopted the 7.62mm L42A1 bolt-action sniping rifle in 1970. The L42A1 was deployed in Dhofar and Northern Ireland, but arguably saw its finest hour during the Falklands War in 1982. The harsh conditions of the South Atlantic laid bare the L42A1's inadequacies and a new company, Accuracy International, won the contract to replace the L42A1 and the PM Rifle, a world-beating revolutionary design, was adopted in 1985 as the L96A1. Progressively upgraded, the L96A1 went on to serve as the British Army's primary sniper system, being deployed in Northern Ireland, the First Gulf War, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. The L115A3, chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum, joined the L96A1 in the front line in 2008 and since 2012 has been Britain's standard issue sniping rifle. Featuring full-colour artwork and close-up photographs, this absorbing study assesses the development, combat use, impact and legacy of these three iconic British sniping weapons.

Download or read book Oscar the Osprey written by Edward Martin Polansky and published by AuthorHouse. This book was released on 2015-06-02 with total page 62 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Oscar the Osprey is one of those must-read children's chapter books that teach kids how to get over embarrassment and humiliation, inspire others, and understand what self-acceptance means. It’s one of those how-to books for kids that teachers can use to show their students how to overcome challenges in life and teach the consequences of lying. Unable to fly over the mountains, Oscar finds himself alone, left behind to fend for himself in a bitterly cold winter in the Tetons. Will he adapt to the challenges in his life and learn how to overcome the humiliation he faces for having an unusual flying technique that isn’t how an Osprey is supposed to fly? Or will he give up and fail to learn how to overcome challenges in his life? Join Oscar as he meets other animals in the forest, challenges his elders, and unexpectedly learns how to inspire others. Elementary kids will learn about self-acceptance and see that everyone must overcome challenges. “A charming tale about deceit’s tangled web with textured, kinetic illustrations.” - Kirkus Reviews If you’re looking for an artfully illustrated must-read chapter book or a how-to book for children, Oscar The Osprey: The Bird Who Was Afraid of Heights delivers both.

Download or read book Wild Wings written by Gill Lewis and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2011-05-24 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This “vividly imagined and well-written novel” (Booklist, starred review) tells a gripping story about a boy from Scotland and a girl from West Africa who join together to save a migrating Osprey—and end up saving each other. When Callum spots crazy Iona McNair on his family’s sprawling property, she’s catching a fish with her bare hands. She won’t share the fish, but does share something else: a secret. She’s discovered a rare endangered bird, an Osprey, and it’s clear to both her and Callum that if anyone finds out about the bird, it, and its species, is likely doomed. Poachers, egg thieves, and wild weather are just some of the threats, so Iona and Callum vow to keep track of the bird and check her migratory progress using the code a preservationist tagged on her ankle, no matter what. But when one of them can no longer keep the promise, it’s up to the other to do it for them both. No matter what. Set against the dramatic landscapes of Scotland and West Africa, this is a story of unlikely friendships, the wonders of the wild—and the everyday leaps of faith that set our souls to flight.

Download or read book Osprey Island written by Thisbe Nissen and published by Anchor. This book was released on 2007-12-18 with total page 299 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As summer begins on Osprey Island, preparations at the Lodge -- the island’s one and only hotel — are underway for the busy season. On maintenance and housekeeping there’s Lance and Lorna Squire, Osprey locals and raging drinkers; and their irrepressible son Squee. There are college boys to wait tables and Irish girls to clean rooms. And a few unusual returnees, too: Suzy Chizek, single mom and daughter of the Lodge’s owners, who’s looking for a parentally funded vacation; and Roddy Jacobs, another former local, who has come back after a mysterious twenty-year absence. But when tragedy strikes, dark secrets explode, dividing the island community over the fate of a young boy suddenly more vulnerable to his violent father than ever. In the uniquely ephemeral atmosphere of a summer resort, Thisbe Nissen unfolds, with charecteristic warmth and charm, an ever-deepening story of lost loves and found romance, of loyalties and betrayals; and of lingering–sometimes fleeting–joy.

Download or read book The Call of the Osprey written by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This book was released on 2015 with total page 85 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A stunning addition to the Scientists in the Field series that explores mercury pollution found in the rivers and streams of Western Montana that might cause harm to humans--and the extinction of the entire osprey species."--

Download or read book Oscar the Obstinate Osprey written by C F Tomalin and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2019-07-08 with total page 25 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Young Oscar, the osprey, learns why his parents call him Obstinate Oscar in this story about a very picky eater. Oscar must learn how to provide for himself when he is left behind at Massey’s Landing for the winter. Little Oscar’s tale will warm the heart of the young reader as it teaches a little lesson about the importance of nutrition.

Download or read book Tempest V vs Fw 190D 9 written by Robert Forsyth and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2019-09-19 with total page 81 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Arguably two of the finest piston-engined fighters ever built, the Tempest V and Fw 190D-9 raised the bar in terms of aircraft design and operational capability during World War II. The long-nosed 'Dora 9', designed by Kurt Tank, first appeared in the skies over the Western and Eastern Fronts in the late summer of 1944. Fast, and with an exceptional rate of climb, it quickly bettered almost every fighter that the RAF, USAAF and Soviet Red Air Force could field. The Hawker Tempest V entered service in early 1944, initially proving itself a stalwart performer when it was deployed to intercept V1 flying bombs over southern England. From the autumn of 1944, the Tempest V also equipped squadrons of the 2nd Tactical Air Force, operating in support of the Allied armies advancing across north-west Europe. It became a potent ground-attack aircraft, armed with underwing rockets, but also a first-class interceptor when pitted against the Luftwaffe's advanced Fw 190D-9 and Me 262. Featuring full colour artwork, this book describes in fascinating detail combats between the Tempest Vs of No 274 Sqn and the Fw 190D-9s of I. and III./JG 26 between February and April 1945.

Download or read book The Balkans 1940 41 2 written by Pier Paolo Battistelli and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2021-07-22 with total page 97 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Wehrmacht's last Blitzkrieg campaign was indeed a lightning war, since German forces were required to seize both Yugoslavia and Greece before redeploying immediately to the East ready to attack the Soviet Union in a matter of weeks. Although the plans for the conquest of Yugoslavia were developed in haste, the campaign was extremely successful: in a short space of time, both Yugoslavia and Greece had fallen, accompanied by the capture of large numbers of British, Australian and New Zealand troops. The 1941 Balkan campaign was an apparently brilliant military accomplishment that demonstrated once again the superiority of the Wehrmacht, and its cutting-edge campaigning skills. This superbly detailed work details the opposing forces that took part in this campaign, documents their weapons and analyzes the effectiveness of their tactics. It explores the initial Axis campaign against Yugoslavia, the breakthrough of the Metaxas Line and advance into Macedonia and the withdrawal of Allied troops south. Detailed battlescenes depict key moments in the land, sea and air battles that took place in the Balkans, vividly bringing to life events of almost 80 years ago.

Download or read book War in Japan 1467 1615 written by Stephen Turnbull and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2014-06-06 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1467 the Onin War ushered in a period of unrivalled conflict and rivalry in Japan that came to be called the Age of Warring States or Sengoku Jidai. In this book Stephen Turnbull offers a masterly exposition of the Sengoku Jidai, detailing the factors that led to Japan's disintegration into warring states after more than a century of peace; the years of fighting that followed; and the period of gradual fusion when the daimyo (great names) strove to reunite Japan under a new Shogun. Peace returned to Japan with the end of the Osaka War in 1615, but only at the end of the most violent, turbulent and cruel period in Japanese history.

Download or read book Osprey Island written by Anne Lindbergh and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This book was released on 1974-01-01 with total page 164 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A brother and sister in Paris and their cousin in Vermont discover magic pictures that bring them together on an island full of adventures.

Download or read book Osprey Adventure written by Jennifer Keats Curtis and published by Schiffer Publishing. This book was released on 2018-10-02 with total page 30 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Osprey Adventure describes the heroics of a boy and his biologist father who save a young osprey from certain death. Young Pete is concerned when he spies a trash bag in an osprey nest. He and his dad boat around the bird's channel marker and learn that, not only does the raptor's home contain trash, but one of the fish hawks has become tangled in fishing line and is gravely ill. This story is based on the work of a real hero, Pete McGowan, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Chesapeake Bay Field Office biologist, who has studied osprey for years. He believes that half or more of all osprey nests on the bay and surrounding rivers contain fishing lines, or similar cordage material. This story describes a big problem among these well-known birds of prey. Happily, ospreys are making a comeback after being nearly eradicated by pesticides in the 1970s, but fishing line and balloon ribbon have become serious threats to the well-being of chicks and adults. Early reader-ages 5-8.