from old sailing ships. It’s same way pilots refer to port and starboard in relation of the airplanes wings, since in the sky - there is no landmarks to reference against.

a little satire on this blog always nice after all the doom and gloom current affairs surrounding us.

Really? Thank you for enlightening me with your worldly wisdom. Please tell me more!

I was saying that your statement that Indonesia not able to project power is false. They have been known to invade and annex other countries. If you are going make a factual statement, try to be right.

So it’s a flying hair-dryer?

Papuans and West Timor might disagree with your statement.

Aussie - kiwi relations? Kiwis are great people. Pretty friendly all round except in rugby where All-Blacks rule all. Though kiwi are sensitive of being condescended to, so they repay the favour on the rugby paddock.

In my opinion, it’s not in China’s best interest to “invade” North Korea. They’ll been reluctant to add another diverse culture into their own (Tibet and Uighur - are domestic problems for them).

At least there is Outer Space Treaty, to stop shenanigans spreading to space to reaffirm your belief in humanity.

sabre-rattling already started.

Yep, North Korea is batshit crazy, but putting a bird in the air - is the point of no return.

With stuff in Middle East and South China seas, North Korea seems like small potatoes. Though not to South Korea.

Hey Alcalde, thanks for taking the time to debate my points with your own. Too many times I have seen differing views on FA turn into senseless name-calling. So your posts is a refreshing change.

The Kingdom of Saud is not there to help innocent people of Syria. They don’t really care two brass bolts about them. Like Turkey, they want use the Syrian civil war to increase their own influence in the region.

Russia is definitely not the most depressing place on earth. It’s a hard country that inevitably builds a hard people.

Thanks for the F-14 Wolfpack photo. Very fond memories of putting/painting together a model version of one in one weekend when I was a kid.

Aircraft and aircraft carriers - only topic that fanboys will agree on.

Woah, woah. Let’s not say things we might regret! Just stay away from Fosters, you’ll be right mate - in regards to Aussie beer.

To me, 1960's and 1970's were great times for plane aficionados. So many different jet corporations building so many different designs and philosophies. To be an engineer during these times would have been great.

Another good article. I’d be more worried if there wasn’t a Plan B, US has contingencies for contingencies.