it seems like Curtiss Wright sold the monstrosity of a hovercraft waste of R D to Ford maybe

found on http://bangshift.com/blog/historic-video-1960s-army-testing-of-curtiss-wright-air-car-is-a-glimpse-of-a-future-that-never-was.html

the 1961 Ford Glide Air was the 1959-60 Curtiss Wright model 2500 http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/07/1959-curtiss-wright-model-2500.html

top two images found on http://www.thegentlemanracer.com/2013/04/1961-ford-glideair-hover-car.html

Feb 5th update, the Army tried it out

found on http://bangshift.com/blog/historic-video-1960s-army-testing-of-curtiss-wright-air-car-is-a-glimpse-of-a-future-that-never-was.html

Filmed in 1960, the brief clip shows military testing of a 1959 Curtiss-Wright Model 2500 Air Car. Powered by two 180 horsepower Lycoming engines that each provided lift via a four-blade fan, the Air Car was able to steer by redirecting this air through louvers set into either side of the body.

This weighed in at around 2500 pounds, was twenty-one feet long, eight feet wide, and claimed to reach speeds of “over fifty miles-per-hour”, all while carrying up to four passengers. It also drank aviation gas from two twenty-gallon tanks to give it a range of about two hours of run-time.

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BMW i3 The Intersection of Policy Business Carbon

I recently came across this interesting report. Its titled "BMW: i3 Electric Vehicle. The Intersection of Policy, Business, & Carbon" and was written by Lauren Blasch, Jeremy Pomp, Marla Stancil, Shyam Vijayaraghavan.







The report focuses on electric vehicles and their carbon footprint in general, as opposed to being i3 specific. It demonstrates that depending on the source of the electricity used for charging the car, EVs can range from better to worse than a Toyota Prius in carbon emissions. Its interesting that they used the most efficient hybrid currently available to compare electric vehicle emissions to. I think it might have been more useful to use the Pruis and also show on the graph the average internal combustion engine cars carbon emissions also. They even go as far as to detail which states are better suited for electric cars based on their electricity generation mix. The good news is that New York and California, the target markets for the i3 since they both have "megacities" were two of the states that were "EV favorable" The report is only 28 pages long and many of the pages are graphs so it doesnt take long to read. There are some interesting fact in there so I recommend reading it if you are interested in electric vehicles and their impact on the environment.

One thing to consider though, the report is strictly focused on the carbon emissions of vehicles and I advocate electric cars for more reasons than just their carbon footprint. Even if you live in a state that produces 100% of its electricity from burning coal, and by using an EV you are producing more carbon than if you owned a Toyota Prius, you are still spending your energy dollars on a DOMESTIC product. You are not contributing to the crushing trade imbalance, much of which is created from importing foreign oil and you are not sending some your money to radical Middle Eastern regimes, many of which hate us. Electricity is produced and distributed by local and regional companies, and 100% of the money you spend on it stays local. If you ask me, thats reason enough to drive an electric car.

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Skip the first thirty seconds then watch a sped up version of the super bowl

found on http://bangshift.com/

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train built because none existed strange use of disposable income

It is the only example of a LNER Peppercorn Class A1 class locomotive in existence, the entirety of the original production batch having been scrapped without preservation.

 Actual construction of the Tornado began in 1994, being based at Darlington Works for most of the project, while numerous components such as the boiler were manufactured elsewhere.

The project was financed through fundraising initiatives such as public donations and sponsorship deals; further funding came from hiring Tornado itself on special services. Construction was completed in 2008, and full certification of the locomotive was achieved in January 2009. Having been designed with compliance to modern safety and certification standards, Tornado has been conducting passenger services on the UK rail network and on mainline-connected heritage railways since 2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_Peppercorn_Class_A1_60163_Tornado

I learned about this when the goof balls on Top Gear season 13 raced this train, a motorcycle, and some car. Clark had to shovel a lot of coal

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A Royal Story of the Tire King and his Royal Travels

Once upon a time there lived a King in the land of Tire. He lived by himself at the Palace of Pneus (Pneus is French for tire). The King of Tire or better known as, "The Tire King" loved tires and especially loved helping the people of his Kingdom and other Kingdoms with their car and tire problems. Too many times the Tire King would see hard working people being taken advantage of by other so called Tire Nobles from other kingdoms. .

At first it was just the King and his Tire .

This was pleasing to the King, but the tire was heavy so he mixed it up a little and tried to balance that tire out.

The King decided that he needed to find someone worthy enough to help him buy and sell but especially hold up with him the best tires in the world for his Kingdom. So the King trekked out about his Kingdom looking for someone strong enough and worthy enough to hold the world class tire from the Kingdom of Tire.

Many people tried out for this great honor. But Try as they might, no one could hold up to the world class standards that the Tire King held for his customers in the Kingdom of Tire.

So the King tried to disguise himself and see if he could find someone amongst the people of the Kingdom that would take on this royal task. The Tire King got himself a job at at Big Jims Pizza Den from the Kingdom of Tire. Everyone seemed more interested in eating Big Jims Pizza than having the royal responsibility of holding up the standards of world class tires within the Kingdom of Tire.

The King thought to himself, "well if I cant find anyone by land, maybe Ill find someone by sea?

That idea may have sounded good on dry land behind the safe walls of the Palace of Pneus. However once out in the ocean, the Tire King rethought this idea.

"If I cant find someone within this planet to keep and hold up my high world class tire standards, then maybe I need to go outside this planet to find someone", the King exclaimed.

So off on a royal trip to the Moon the King rocketed.

But when the King got to the Moon, all he found there besides his fellow astronaut was once again just himself holding the royal tire and high standards.

We he returned to Earth the King was still frustrated. He was frustrated that all his royal travels had not produced anyone that would help him hold his royal tire.

So the King decided to join the American CIA and help them fight terrorism around the world. The King was very successful at his new job. However, even when taking down the biggest of bad guys, he still found himself drawn to holding up the Royal Tire. It appeared that rubber really ran through his veins. So back to his Kingdom of Tire the King went.

It was back in the Kingdom of Tire when the handsome King found that the only person wanting to help him hold up the royal tire along with his world class standards and the best tires for the Kingdom of Tire was a lovely Princess named Princess Deb.

The King married the Princess and together holding the Royal Tire, they lived happily ever after at the Palace of Pneus in the Kingdom of Tire. Better known as Carolina Tire & Auto.

The End

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Warning Signs of Brakes Wearing Down

Safe driving is not only about following the correct speed or following traffic rules – it is more than that. You must have at least an idea of the importance of your car parts particularly the brakes. Car brakes have also their wear and tear; you must know when the appropriate time to have it change or recognize signs of them wearing down.

Being a woman is not an excuse. You might think…oh, it’s my husband’s job to know that. Anyone who drives must be aware of these things. It is not necessary to do it yourself, as long as you know how to detect the need for a brake check-up is far better than driving around, obliviously putting you and your family’s life at risk.

Warning Signs

1.       Weak response when stepping on the brakes

If you notice that stepping on your pedal brakes is not as responsive as it used to then it is something to be considered. Or perhaps, it sinks towards the floor while stepping on it. Experiencing these scenario are indications that brake change is imminent. Reasons for reduced responsiveness of your brakes may include leaking in your brake system, air leak (hose), and brake fluid leak.

2.       Pulling Effect

Pulling effect means, if you try to step on the brake pedal and your vehicle is pulled to one side – it may be because of an uneven lining. There could also be presence of foreign matters in your brake fluid. That being said, your brake system may need adjustment or a need for fluid draining and replacement.

3.       Loud Grinding or Growling Sound

When you hear a sharp howling noise while braking – this means your brake pads are completely worn out. The growling noise is the result of the disc and caliper rubbing together. Ignoring this can scratch your rotors causing the uneven surface which will actually incur bigger expenses. Your mechanic will advise you to have your rotors “turned” or replaced. Turned is a process that evens the rotor surface.

4.       Vibrating or Pulsating Brake Pedal

Vibration is usually a sign of warped rotors although this could also mean a problem with the alignment.

If your anti-lock brakes are not engaged and vibration occurs while braking, this is a sigh of warped rotors. Severe use of your brake system (steep-mountain driving or towing) causes warped rotors. Activities like driving in steep mountains or towing and the like produces tremendous friction which is the cause of warping. And, once the brake pads are unable to grab an even surface, vibration occurs. If being in this situation is inevitable, make sure to take a break every now and then to allow breaks to cool off.

The braking system is the most commonly overlooked section by car owners which is supposedly tantamount to safety. Thus, knowing when to have a brake system check-up or learning the signs of a worn out brake system ensures your safety in as much as avoid possibility of costly repairs. Importantly, circumvent any untoward circumstances or any types of road accidents just because of mere brake system negligence.

photo credit: LVCHEN via photo pin cc

Author Bio:

Howard J. Fleischmann Sr. is the owner of Community Tire Pros and Auto Repair...offering complete automotive repair as well as brake repair and replacement and service to both domestic and import vehicles. 

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FIA WEC Audi at the top of the third and final practice session in Bahrain

By Johan Laubscher

The third and final practice session concluded in Bahrain this morning. Toyota may have been fastest during both sessions yesterday, but Audi has regained the top stop.

The Toyota/Audi/Toyota/Audi order from the second free practice was reversed this morning, as Audi #2 of Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and Loïc Duval set the fastest time. They were followed by the #8 Toyota in second and Audi #1 of Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Treluyer in third, ahead of the fourth placed #7 Toyota. Rebellion Racing placed fifth with their privateer Lola.

All four of the factory cars dropped below the one minute forty-four second lap time bracket, with the #2 Audi dropping into the forty-twos.

This third session concluded the free practice sessions in Bahrain and qualifying will be up next later today, scheduled to begin at 15:45 local time.

LMP1 third free practice results:

1 #2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro - 1:42.479

2 #8 Toyota TS030 Hybrid - 1:43.871

3 #1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro - 1:43.904

4 #7 Toyota TS030 Hybrid - 1:43.907

5 #12 Lola B12/60 Coupé - Toyota - 1:47.324

Photo credit: Audi Sport Communication / Media

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Get the Most out of Inkjet Cartridges

Inkjet cartridges are expensive. They also do not have a long shelf life once installed. If you use the ink jet printer frequently, of course, the cartridges run out of ink, but whats worse is that when you dont use them and they dry out then become useless or at least, print with very bad quality.

To get the most out of your ink jet cartridges, you can store them in an air tight container or zip lock bags any time you are not using them. Even if the printer will sit for a few days, you should remove the cartridges and seal them up. Air is the enemy of ink cartridges, so this will help prolong their usable life.

When you are ready to buy ink jet cartridges, 123InkJets has the best prices and service you can find. Try them by clicking one of the ads on my site at:
http://www.HowToFixYourStuff.com

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The cost of a Thanksgiving Turkey The blood of heroes

Think about it for a moment. As I sit here in my jammies in a cushy house in suburban America, taking the day off from work like most and smelling the bird cook in the oven, I cant help but think of those brave men and women in Afghanistan and around the world that are sitting in fox holes or bunkers. They sit with M-16s in their hands, relying on them to keep them alive. And when I think of that scene, I all of sudden feel very lazy and ashamed.

I wish I had the guts, the honor, and the will to be a military man. And I guess maybe that is why I stand in awe of those who do have it. And why at almost every holiday I think about them, and what they do for us. And then I think of the fact that they rarely get thanks, they dont make a bunch of money, they just do it because they have a sense of duty.

And if you think they dont sacrifice, I implore you to click this link and see the emotion on the faces of those people as their soldiers come home. If you dont cry, you dont have a heart. This video and others like them will show you just exactly what kind of sacrifice is being made by these brave men and women.

And so I just want to remind you today as you hug loved ones not often seen, and eat and be merry, there are still men and women who are away from their families and loved ones. Say a prayer for them, ask God to protect them and keep them. And continue to give them the strength and courage to be the heros they are.

And so Ill leave you with a quote from General George S. Patton, Jr "it is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived"

Be thankful for our troops! God Bless them all!!

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Haynes Project 50 Update for the weeks of March 7th and 14th

Hello from the Haynes Project 50 Team! Over the next two weeks, well be working on the following as we restore a 65 Mustang convertible in time for the 2011 SEMA/AAPEX show:

1. The interior quarter trim panels and steering column shroud are being stripped and repainted.

2. The steering gearbox is being cleaned and resealed.

3. The front suspension components are being refinished and re-bushed.

4. The rebuilt engine is receiving its final touches: Wire-wheel and refinish the exhaust manifolds, install the new water pump and drive in the new freeze plugs.

Let us know if you have any questions and watch us live on the Mustang Garage Cam!

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Project 50 Update Activities for the Weeks of August 29 and September 5 2011

Project 50 Fans--
Haynes is celebrating its 50th birthday as a company with Project 50--a complete restoration of a classic 65 Ford Mustang convertible! Were getting pretty close to the SEMA/AAPEX show where Project 50 will be shown in its fully restored state at our Haynes booth.

Activities over the next couple of weeks will be as follows:

• Installing the convertible top


• Fine-tuning the engine


• Restoring the jack


• Restoring spare wheel/tire


• Installing windshield molding

Watch the Haynes Project 50 team work live via the Haynes Live Garage Cam. Wish us luck as we bring the project to its final stages. Also, enjoy the videos we have of our project work on the haynes.com site!

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Top 5 Reasons And Signs To Get Rid Of Your Old Car

I know there are a lot of us out there who wants to keep our cars forever. But some times it is best to just get rid of your car than putting more and more money into it. There will be a time when you will have to make that decision weather to keep the car or just get rid of it. Here are the Top five signs to look for.


1. Smoking from your exhaust pipe. This is usually a sign of your engine internally having problems such as worn seals and gaskets. The most common problem are worn valve guide seals. These seals wear and allow engine oil to enter the combustion chamber area fouling out your spark plugs and causing a whole lot of smoke.

2. Transmission shifting poorly. When you can feel your automatic transmission shifting very hard or very late then you have transmission problems. You will most likely have to have it over hauled or replaced. I have seen sometimes where changing your automatic transmission fluid to late will actually make it worse to drive.

3. Smelling a sweet antifreeze smell coming from your tail pipe. This usually means that your car has one time over heated and may have warped your cylinder heads or your entire engine block. You may see your temperature gage fluctuate a lot and averaging around the “hot” mark most of the time. You may be able to have your head gaskets checked and tested but in the end its also most likely your engine is warped also.

4.When you first start your vehicle in the morning you hear a lower engine knock until the oil circulates. What this is most likely to be is worn or bad piston rods. You will need to have the engine overhauled to fix this problem. You may get lucky and find a auto mechanic who will drop your oil pan and replace your pistons. But that is not a very good idea.

5. Constantly replacing your oil fouled spark plugs. Just as I mentioned above, there are also more reasons other than your valve guide seals. Your piston and compression rings inside your cars engine will need to be replaced and the cylinders rebored. Basically an engine overhaul will fix this problem.

I hope this article will help you to make that decision. For more car care information please visit My AssociatedContent Page Here.

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Characteristics of a Good Automotive Repair Mechanic

Knowledgeable on various auto parts.

This is perhaps the most basic characteristic that any auto mechanic should have. Lots of different auto parts are out in the market today. And because we, as car owners, do not necessarily possess the sufficient knowledge when it comes to vehicle parts, we will inevitably depend on the expertise of our mechanic. A simple trick to determine if your chosen car specialist really knows his business is to ask him to differentiate a few parts and gauge whether he is confidently answering your question or is just making his way around.

Diverse background on automotive repair experiences.

Years ago when the makes of our vehicles were much simpler, any mechanic would have been okay. But with todays high-tech and complex vehicles including family sedans, sports and luxury cars, SUVs, and pick-up trucks, we need someone who has a diverse background in automotive repair services. Mistakes have no room when it comes to automotive repair as these will only make things even more costly. Choose a mechanic who has certifications of training programs and classes that he has attended. The mechanics time spent in studying as well as in the actual practice of automotive repair is very advantageous for us car owners.

ASE certified to be an automotive repair professional.

Speaking of certifications, perhaps the most famous and widely recognized one, when it comes to professionals in the automotive industry is the ASE certification. Annually, an estimated 100,000 automotive technicians take ASE certification exams each May and November at over 750 locations.

With an ASE certification, we are assured that our mechanic has good background in all automotive services because an ASE certification requires a minimum of two years work experience in addition to passing a series of examinations that include Engine Repair, Engine Performance, Electrical/Electronic Systems, Brakes, Heating and Air Conditioning, Suspension and Steering, Manual Drive Train and Axles, and Automatic Transmissions for auto technicians alone. There are separate tests for those who want to be collision repair technicians, engine machinists, parts specialists, and others.

Furthermore, all ASE certifications have expiration dates which requires technicians to re-test every five years to keep up with technology and to remain certified.

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Auto Repair Beware of Skeezy Technicians

Taking your car to the mechanic can be a frustrating experience. Most people no little if anything about car repair, leaving them at the mercy of the mechanic. While many mechanics are reputable professionals, there are also many who pull quick scams in order to make a fast buck and keep your car coming back for repairs indefinitely. Here are some common auto repair scams to keep a look out for the next time you bring your car in for a service.

Not Doing the Job

Many auto mechanics simply cant get the job done right. While no mechanic is perfect and sometimes fixing a problem takes a bit of trial and error, others simply dont perform the required auto repairs. Look for auto shops with good customer service policies such as warranties and free estimates. Its also wise to ask the mechanic to show you what was done and explain it to you. If youre having a new part installed, ask to receive the old part along with the packaging for the replacement to ensure you got what you paid for.

Extra Work

You brought your car in for a tune up and ended up with an outrageous bill. Some auto repair con artists will try and convince you that they performed necessary and important repairs without your express permission. No repair should be performed without consulting the owner first. You should also get everything in writing. Be wary of charges that greatly exceed the estimate as well.

Premium Prices

Many auto repair shops have a "dont ask, dont tell" policy when it comes to the type of parts they order. They often choose the most expensive, and most people are so clueless about cars that they agree. The internet gives you a cheap and fast way to shop around for prices. Ask what part is needed and then do a search on your own before having the repair done. You may bring in the part yourself and just pay for the labor if you find a better price. You can also ask to have a used part instead of a new part.

Multiple Estimates

Some people are so desperate to get their cars back on the road that they drop them off at the first auto repair shop they find. This can put a huge dent in your wallet. Visit two or three different shops and youre likely to find great discrepancies in the prices, possibly even by hundreds of dollars. Youre also likely to get different opinions on what repairs need to be performed.

Unnecessary Repairs

Sometimes scam artist auto repair mechanics will try and convince you that you need extra repair work done. While some may be legitimate suggestions, its good to check around and see how often certain parts should be changed. Its also good to keep records of all your repairs and tune-ups so you can check to see what has been performed recently. If you just had your air filter replaced and you find a shop owner is insistent you need a new one, time to find a new mechanic.

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Haynes Project 50 Update for the weeks of April 4th and 11th

The Haynes Project 50 Team will be working on the following over the next two weeks:

• Finishing details on the under-chassis ( brake lines, fuel lines, cables, etc)
• Making the brake system functional
• Reassembling the dash
• Upholstering the seats

Be sure to watch us live on the Mustang Garage Cam above! Thanks for visiting, the Haynes Team

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Haynes Project 50 Update for the weeks of March 21st and 28th

Thanks for visiting the Haynes Project 50 Blog! Heres a summary of the Project 50 Team activities over the next two weeks:

1. Final assembly of the suspension and steering system to the car

2. Final assembly of the transmission

3. Beginning interior reassembly

Be sure to take a look at the Mustang Live Garage Camera to watch the restoration work live during business hours. Ask us any question or leave us a comment about the work. Till next time, the Haynes P50 Team

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Project 50 Activities for the weeks of January 3rd and 10th 2011

Hello Project 50 Fans and Happy New Year! The Haynes Project 50 Team is making great progress on the restoration of the 1965 Mustang. Activities for the this week and next are the following:

• The Mustang body is in the shop getting final preparations for the primer. Priming will be completed next week.
• Suspension parts are being cleaned and will go out for powder coating shortly.
• The Mustang engine is being re-assembled in our garage (see the Project 50 Live Mustang Garage Cam on this blog page to see LIVE work being done). The P50 Team is using new bearings, rings, pistons, camshaft, lifters and oil pump along with reconditioned connecting rods and crankshaft. The engine block has been bored and decked. And the cylinder heads have been reconditioned too.

Thats it for now. Let us know if you have any questions! The Project 50 Team

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