#Aircraft Development Agency

[merisarkar]

Rajnath Singh Approves 5th Gen AMCA Fighter for IAF

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Approves 5th Generation AMCA Fighter for Indian Air Force: NEW DELHI – In a move poised to fundamentally transform India’s aerial combat capabilities and bolster its strategic autonomy, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today officially approved the “execution model” for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program. This landmark decision greenlights the…

[defencecapital]

Trump confirms American F-35 contest with Russian Su-57 for India 5th Gen combat jet deal

By N. C. Bipindra New Delhi: It is official now. US President Donald Trump has effectively set up a contest between American F-35 and Russian Su-57 for India‘s big-ticket need for a fifth-generation fighter aircraft to catch up with arch-rival China on high-end combat jets. Trump, after meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington, D.C., announced that the US is offering India the…

[ameceeashish]

Aeronautical Engineering Education Requirement in Dehradun: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you fascinated by aircraft, space shuttles, and the science behind flight? If yes, aeronautical engineering could be your gateway to an exciting and high-paying career. Dehradun, the educational hub of North India, has emerged as a prime destination for aeronautical engineering aspirants due to its serene learning environment, modern infrastructure, and availability of top-rated institutes.

In this blog, we’ll explore the aeronautical engineering education requirements in Dehradun College, eligibility criteria, admission process, and why Dehradun is a perfect place to pursue this prestigious course.

📌 What is Aeronautical Engineering?

Aeronautical engineering is a branch of aerospace engineering that deals with the design, development, testing, and maintenance of aircraft and related systems. From aerodynamics to avionics, it is a multidisciplinary field requiring a solid foundation in physics, mathematics, and engineering principles.

📚 Aeronautical Engineering Education Requirements in Dehradun

To pursue a degree in aeronautical engineering from a reputed institute in Dehradun, here are the essential academic and skill-based requirements:

1. Educational Qualifications

10+2 in Science Stream: The candidate must have completed Class 12th with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) as compulsory subjects.

Minimum Marks: Most institutes require at least 50% aggregate marks in PCM. However, some top colleges may set the bar at 60% or above.

English Proficiency: English is often a medium of instruction. Hence, proficiency in English is essential.

2. Entrance Exams

Some colleges in Dehradun admit students based on national or institutional entrance tests:

JEE Main: A few reputed institutes accept Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main scores.

Institute-level Tests: Institutes like the Alpine Group of Institutes may conduct their own entrance exams or personal interviews.

3. Age Criteria

Most institutes require candidates to be between 17 to 25 years at the time of admission.

4. Medical Fitness

Students must be medically fit, especially when the course involves hands-on training in labs and aircraft maintenance workshops.

🏫 Top Colleges for Aeronautical Engineering in Dehradun

Dehradun is home to many esteemed institutions offering aeronautical engineering programs. Some of the popular names include:

Alpine Institute of Aeronautics

University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES)

DIT University

Graphic Era University

Among these, the Alpine Group of Institutes is highly recognized for its DGCA-approved curriculum, experienced faculty, and industry-integrated training programs, making it a top choice for aspiring aeronautical engineers.

🎓 Course Curriculum Overview

A typical aeronautical engineering course in Dehradun is a 4-year B.Tech program. The syllabus usually includes:

Aerodynamics

Aircraft Structures

Propulsion Systems

Avionics

Flight Mechanics

Materials Science

CAD and Simulation Tools

Students also undergo industrial training and live aircraft maintenance exposure, enhancing their practical knowledge and job readiness.

💼 Career Opportunities After Aeronautical Engineering

Graduates of aeronautical engineering from Dehradun have access to diverse job opportunities, including:

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME)

Aerospace Design Engineer

Flight Test Engineer

Avionics Engineer

Systems Engineer

R&D Engineer in DRDO, ISRO, HAL, NAL, and more

🌟 Why Choose Dehradun for Aeronautical Engineering?

✔️ Educational Excellence

Dehradun is known for its academic culture, making it an ideal environment for technical education.

✔️ Industry-Linked Programs

Colleges collaborate with aviation organizations to provide hands-on training and real-time industry exposure.

✔️ Affordable Living

Compared to metro cities, Dehradun offers affordable accommodation, food, and transport, making it easier for students from all backgrounds.

✔️ Serene and Safe Environment

Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, Dehradun provides a peaceful and safe setting, perfect for academic focus and personal growth.

📝 How to Apply for Aeronautical Engineering in Dehradun

Follow these steps to secure admission:

Research and Shortlist: Identify top aeronautical engineering colleges in Dehradun.

Check Eligibility: Make sure you meet the academic and age criteria.

Apply Online: Most colleges have an online application process.

Entrance Exam (if applicable): Prepare and appear for entrance tests.

Submit Documents: Class 10th and 12th marksheets, ID proof, photos, etc.

Attend Interview/Counselling: Depending on the college’s admission policy.

Confirm Admission: Pay the fees and secure your seat.

🤔 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Is aeronautical engineering different from aerospace engineering?

Yes. Aeronautical engineering deals specifically with aircraft within the Earth's atmosphere, while aerospace includes both aeronautics and astronautics (spacecraft).

Q2: Can I become a pilot after aeronautical engineering?

Yes. While the degree doesn't directly make you a pilot, it can be a stepping stone. You will still need to complete commercial pilot training.

Q3: Is there any scholarship available for aeronautical engineering in Dehradun?

Yes. Several institutes offer merit-based or need-based scholarships, and some provide fee concessions for students from economically weaker sections.

Q4: What is the average fee for aeronautical engineering in Dehradun?

Fees typically range from ₹80,000 to ₹1.5 lakh per year, depending on the college and facilities offered.

Q5: Are internships mandatory in this course?

Yes. Internships are a crucial part of the curriculum, helping students gain practical exposure to aircraft systems and engineering workflows.

📣 Final Thoughts

If you're dreaming of a career that combines innovation, science, and adventure, aeronautical engineering is a fantastic choice. With its world-class education infrastructure and scenic academic setting, Dehradun is quickly rising as a preferred destination for future aerospace professionals.Choose wisely, prepare well, and take flight into a high-altitude career from the aeronautical engineering colleges in Dehradun.

[journosatyam]

india-5th-generation-stealth-fighter-jets-amca-explainer

भारत में बनेंगे 5वीं पीढ़ी के लड़ाकू विमान, क्या होगा खास? सबकुछ जानिए

अब 5वीं जनरेशन के स्टील्थ लड़ाकू विमान भारत में ही बनेंगे. रक्षा मंत्री राजनाथ सिंह ने इसकी मंजूरी दे दी है. उन्होंने मंगलवार को एडवांस्ड मीडियम कॉम्बैट एयरक्राफ्ट (AMCA) को डिजाइन करने और बनाने के लिए 'एग्जीक्यूशन मॉडल' को मंजूरी दी. इसका मतलब यह हुआ कि अब सबसे एडवांस्ड 5वीं जनरेशन के लड़ाकू विमानों को भारत में ही बनाया जाएगा. 

यह इसलिए खास है क्योंकि भारत अपने दम पर 5वीं पीढ़ी का लड़ाकू विमान बनाने की तैयारी कर रहा है. पहले रूस के साथ मिलकर विमान को बनाने की तैयारी थी लेकिन बात नहीं बन सकी.

पूरा आर्टिकल पढ़ने के लिए नीचे लिंक पर क्लिक करें👇

भारत में बनेंगे 5वीं पीढ़ी के लड़ाकू विमान, क्या होगा खास? सबकुछ जानिए

[northgazaupdates]

10 October 2024

Resistance News Network translates and summarizes on Telegram the latest updates from journalist Anas Al-Sharif about the IOF's ongoing campaign against north Gaza:

🚨 Journalist Anas Al-Sharif:

—

Latest developments in the field situation in Jabalia Camp and its surroundings, as well as some northern areas on the sixth day of the aggression, and on the 370th day of the genocide war on the Gaza Strip:

- Journalists Fadi Al-Wahidi from northern Gaza and Ali Al-Attar from the southern part of the Gaza Strip were injured while covering the ongoing aggression. Their health condition is critical, and they urgently need treatment abroad. *We call on international organizations and press agencies to intervene and provide them with treatment and transportation to save their lives.*

- The three hospitals in northern Gaza are still operating at minimal capacity with limited medical services and continue to receive the injured, the martyrs, and patients.

- The number of martyrs from the ongoing aggression on northern Gaza has risen to over 220, with around 400 injured and others still missing.

- Fierce clashes between the resistance and the occupation forces are ongoing on the eastern and western battlefronts of Jabalia Camp, and the occupation has admitted to losing several soldiers and officers in a complex ambush east of Jabalia.

1) The occupation forces continue to impose a siege on northern Gaza for the sixth consecutive day, with heavy artillery and air strikes, and shooting at anyone moving on main or side streets in an attempt to forcibly displace tens of thousands of citizens holding on to their homes and shelter centers. Despite this, the people of the north have not complied with the demands to move south.

2) Continuous and intense airstrikes by occupation warplanes on Jabalia Camp, Beit Lahia Project, Beit Hanoun, the city of Beit Lahia, Jabalia Nazla, Al-Tawam, and Bir Al-Naaja, and Al-Saftawi.

3) Ongoing gunfire from occupation vehicles, drones (quadcopters), and helicopters (Apaches).

4) Extremely intense artillery shelling in all northern areas, targeting many homes, neighborhoods, and streets—even ambulances have not been spared from the shelling.

5) Occupation forces are intensifying the demolition of citizens' homes in Al-Tawam area west of Jabalia and Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in southern Gaza.

6) 8 martyrs in the targeting of civilians near Abu Shurukh roundabout west of Jabalia Camp in northern Gaza.

7) Occupation aircraft targeted the Da’our Tower behind Jabalia Camp Police Station.

8) Martyrs and injured in the targeting of the Rimal Clinic west of Gaza.

9) 3 martyrs and injuries in the targeting of a group of civilians near the Al-Jalaa Rocket Intersection.

10) 5 martyrs and several injuries in the shelling of a gathering of civilians near the Ghazali Intersection in Sheikh Radwan neighborhood.

11) Drones are flying at very low altitudes in all areas.

12) Intense airstrikes by occupation warplanes targeted several homes and agricultural lands in Al-Tawam area, Bir Al-Naaja, and Ahmed Yassin Street in Al-Saftawi neighborhood.

13) A number of martyrs remain on the roads and in the neighborhoods of the north, and medical crews have been unable to rescue them due to being fired upon by occupation forces.

14) Occupation vehicles are present in the eastern areas along the camp's front and the western side of Jabalia, extending along the coastal line with Beit Lahia, with intermittent gunfire from time to time.

[darkmaga-returns]

by Brenda Baletti, Ph.D.

The Florida House of Representatives last week passed a bill to ban and criminalize geoengineering and weather modification, Newsweek reported.

The bill makes it a third-degree felony to release any chemical, substance or apparatus into Florida’s atmosphere to affect the weather or climate.

It imposes a penalty of up to $100,000 for any person or corporation and up to $5,000 and five years in prison for an aircraft controller or pilot involved in such releases.

It also requires Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection to develop protocols to investigate reports of geoengineering and directs the department to send the reports to other state agencies, including the health department, when appropriate.

The bill has cleared both the House and the Senate and awaits Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature.

“There is a lot of unauthorized activity that is currently not regulated, both at a federal and a state level, and this is where we wanted to start,” Sen. Ileana Garcia, who introduced the bill, told members of the Senate.

GreenMedInfo’s Sayer Ji praised the bill on his Substack. “Florida has drawn a bright line in the sky: It will not allow corporate interests, climate interventionists, or covert operations to tamper with its atmosphere or pollute its environment.”

[luimnigh]

So, I had a thought. The planes usually used as Air Force One are modified Boeing 747s, and I was wondering if they'd been affected by the ongoing clusterfuck at Boeing.

Turns out, the US Government is currently in the process of building new Air Force One planes, and guess who got the job?

And as for if they're affected by the ongoing clusterfuck:

According to The Wall Street Journal, the development process has been hit by multiple "production mishaps", including the discovery of empty tequila mini-bottles on one of the aircraft, and the use of jacks that were not rated to support the weight of the aircraft. While the jacking did not result in damage to the planes, "the Pentagon's contractor-management agency formally requested Boeing improve its operations."

...I know people have spoken about the fact that the dropping standards of late-stage capitalism affects products purchased by the rich just as much as products purchased by the poor, but fucking hell they're even fucking up their most important contract.

You kill a President with a crap plane and you're not getting a military contract ever again.

[usafphantom2]

The F-16 Will Be Equipped with the AGM-158C LRASM

NAVAIR is looking to award a contract for the integration of the AGM-158C-1 Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) on the F-16.

Stefano D'Urso

F-16 LRASM

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) released on Mar. 17, 2025, a presolicitation to negotiate a contract with Lockheed Martin for the integration and test support of the AGM-158C-1 Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) on the F-16. This development follows the recent news of a new contract to Lockheed Martin to increase the production of the JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) and LRASM.

NAVAIR is looking to award a contract for the integration of the AGM-158C-1 Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) on the F-16.The AGM-158 production increaseThe LRASM

The notice mentions that NAVAIR “intends to enter into sole source negotiations and subsequently award a Cost-Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) Delivery Order (DO) to Lockheed Martin Corporation-Missiles Fire Control.” Also, the notice mentions that the “requirement includes testing both the AGM-158C-1 Legacy and UAI interfaces.”

The UAI, or Universal Armament Interface, is the result of a U.S. Department of Defense program to develop standardized functional interfaces in both aircraft and weapons to support a rapid integration of new weapons independent of an aircraft’s Operational Flight Program (OFP) cycles. The F-16 and JASSM were already tested with the new interface.

NAVAIR has not released additional details about the integration of LRASM on the F-16 at this time, although we might have more info after the response day planned for Apr. 1. Earlier this month, Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF) disclosed that the F-35B Lightning II started flight testing as part of the integration with LRASM.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Peter Giesige and Airman 1st Class Brian Bowser, both weapons specialists assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing, and Staff Sgt. Katelyn Barrow, a munitions specialist also assigned to the 180FW, successfully load a JASSM AGM-158 on to a F-16 Fighting Falcon during an Agile Combat Employment stress test in Swanton, Ohio, Sept. 12, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Camren Ray)

The AGM-158 production increase

On Mar. 14, 2025, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control has been awarded a $122,6 million contract modification to the original production increase’s contract awarded in 2018. As part of the contract, the company will “procure tooling and test equipment needed to increase production quantities of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile.”

Lockheed Martin has been investing in the increase of the AGM-158’s production since 2022, when it added a new 225,000-square-foot factory to its existing production facilities. In 2024, another contract modification was awarded to “enable the ability to increase annual production quantities by providing additional resources for long-lead procurements and facilitating production line efficiencies.”

In the fiscal year 2025 budget the U.S. Air Force requested 550 JASSMs, after the same number was also requested in 2024 and 600 were requested in 2023. The Air Force budget requested for its own and the Navy’s stocks 115 LRASMs in FY2025, 27 in FY2024 and 57 in FY2023.

An F-35 Lightning II test pilot conducts flight test Sept. 9 to certify the carrier variant of the fighter aircraft for carrying the AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). (Image credit: Dane Wiedmann).

The LRASM

The AGM-158C LRASM, based on the AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile – Extended Range (JASSM-ER), is the new low-observable anti-ship cruise missile developed by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. NAVAIR describes the weapon as a defined near-term solution for the Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (OASuW) air-launch capability gap that will provide flexible, long-range, advanced, anti-surface capability against high-threat maritime targets.

NAVAIR says the weapon reduces dependency on Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, network links, and GPS navigation in electronic warfare environments. In fact, once launched, LRASM guides to an initial point using a GPS guidance system and employs onboard sensors to locate, identify, and provide terminal guidance to the target. Semi-autonomous guidance algorithms will allow it to use less-precise target cueing data to pinpoint specific targets in the contested domain.

There are currently three variants which comprise the OASuW Increment 1 program, designated LRASM 1.0, LRASM 1.1, and LRASM C-3. The LRASM 1.0 variant, which was fielded with early operational capability in 2019, has already been integrated on the B-1B Lancer and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

An F-35 Lightning II test pilot conducts the first flight test to certify the F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing variant of the fighter aircraft for carrying the AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). (Image credit: Kyra Helwick)

The newer LRASM 1.1 variant was fielded in 2023 and is undergoing Initial Operational Test & Evaluation, according to the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation’s report. The weapon is also being integrated on the P-8A Poseidon, with the activities expected to be completed by Summer 2024, although no updates about the status were released.

As for the future LRASM C-3, which adds extended range capability, the program planned a land strike capability was part of the LRASM C-3 upgrade but has since decided to remain focused on surface warfare capabilities. The missile concept of operations and system requirements were completed last year, focusing on anti-surface warfare employment range and updating the missile target threat library compared to LRASM 1.1.

The Navy has scheduled LRASM C-3 early operational capability (EOC) for 4QFY26. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense continues to plan for OASuW Increment 2 to be developed via full and open competition, with EOC anticipated in FY29 and initial operational capability anticipated in FY31. The Navy funded LRASM C-3 to bridge the gap until an OASuW Increment 2 program of record is established.

LRASM

File photo of an F/A-18F Super Hornet launching an AGM-158C LRASM during a test event in 2019. (Photo: NAVAIR)

In January 2025, NAVAIR disclosed that the U.S. Air Force’s F-15E Strike Eagle and F-15EX Eagle IIs are now set to be armed with the LRASM. Similarly to the F-16, the F-15E/EX has already been tested with the similar JASSM and the UAI.

In September 2024, an F-35C test aircraft from Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Maryland, conducted the first test flights for the integration of the AGM-158, both in the JASSM and LRASM variants. In January 2025, the same testing was also conducted with the F-35B.

@TheAviationist.com

[lonestarflight]

The Ingenuity Rover's Helicopter, nicknamed Ginny, is broken and alone

"In this most recent photo of Ingenuity, the dual-rotor 'copter can be seen motionless on a sandy dune in the background, as a barren, rocky Mars landscape fills the foreground.

The photo was taken on Feb. 4, 2024, at 1:05 p.m. local mean solar time, a little over two weeks since it suffered its mission-ending damage.

NASA and JPL's Ingenuity helicopter on the surface of Mars as seen by the Perseverance rover's Mastcam-Z camera on Feb. 4, 2024.

Ingenuity suffered damage to its rotors during a flight on Jan. 18 as it made a landing on a featureless, "bland" patch of sandy Martian landscape. The helicopter usually makes use of landscape features such as rocks to help it navigate, but its 72nd flight found the drone without visual cues.

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is still analyzing the damage to Ingenuity's blades, but regardless of what JPL finds, the helicopter's mission has officially come to an end now that it's no longer capable of flight.

Ingenuity landed alongside its robotic companion, the Perseverance rover, on Feb. 18, 2021. When it took to the Martian skies in April 2021, Ingenuity made history by conducting the first flight of a powered aircraft on another planet.

The Ingenuity-Perseverance duo has been exploring an area known as Jezero Crater ever since, discovering signs of ancient bodies of water on the Red Planet that may have once harbored life billions of years ago. Ingenuity served as a scout for Perseverance, identifying areas of interest for the rover to explore.

In recent weeks as NASA and JPL have been coming to terms with the end of Ingenuity's groundbreaking mission, agency leaders have praised the helicopter and the teams behind it.

'We couldn't be prouder or happier with how our little baby has done,' said Teddy Tzanetos, Ingenuity Project Manager at JPL, during a livestreamed tribute to the helicopter on Jan. 31. 'It's been the mission of a lifetime for all of us. And I wanted to say thank you to all of the people here that gave their weekends, their late nights. All the engineers, the aerodynamic scientists, the technicians who hand-crafted this aircraft.'

Tiffany Morgan, NASA's Mars Exploration Program Deputy Director, added that Ingenuity leaves behind a legacy that could pave the way for future aerial missions on other worlds.

This image, which shows the shadow of a damaged rotor on NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity, was taken after its 72nd and final flight on Jan. 18, 2024 on the Red Planet.

'The NASA JPL team didn't just demonstrate the technology, they demonstrated an approach that if we use in the future will really help us to explore other planets and be as awe-inspiring, as amazing, as Ingenuity has been,' Morgan said during the livestream.

NASA is already developing another drone destined for another world, the nuclear-powered Dragonfly, to someday explore Saturn's largest moon, Titan. The agency expects Dragonfly to launch no earlier than 2028."

[misfitwashere]

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

MAY 2

READ IN APP

President Donald Trump waited until the 101st day of his administration to fire national security advisor Mike Waltz, the official responsible for including the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic on an unsecure Signal chat in which leaders shared classified information about a military strike on the Houthis in Yemen. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who uploaded the classified information in that chat and shared it in another unsecure chat with his wife, brother, and personal friends, is still in the Cabinet.

On April 28 the U.S. campaign against the Houthis cost a $60 million F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet. The plane fell overboard from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier when the vessel turned sharply to avoid fire from the Houthis while military personnel were moving the aircraft. Both the aircraft and the tow tractor moving it were lost, and one sailor suffered minor injuries.

The Signal scandal does not appear to have changed the Trump team’s communications habits. A Reuters photographer caught Waltz looking at his Signal messages during yesterday’s Cabinet meeting. The list of messages included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Vice President J.D. Vance, whose message began: “I have confirmation from my counterpart….” Although Signal messages appear to violate the Presidential Records Act that requires the preservation of documents from an administration, the Trump team apparently continues to use the app.

Trump announced that he will nominate Waltz to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, the position Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) expected but that Trump pulled from her because the Republicans' majority in the House of Representatives is so slim. Secretary of State Rubio will assume the duties of national security advisor. Rubio is now serving as secretary of state, national security advisor, U.S. archivist, and head of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). All of these jobs are high-level, work-intense positions.

A spokesperson for the State Department learned about the change in Rubio’s portfolio from a reporter during a press briefing.

At 101 days, the “Department of Government Efficiency” and its leader, billionaire Elon Musk, are also running into trouble. Musk vowed to slash $2 trillion from government spending, but that number kept dropping until he said DOGE will save about $150 billion. As David A. Fahrenthold and Jeremy Singer-Vine noted in the New York Times, that number is largely unsubstantiated. The DOGE team’s list of cuts is riddled with errors. In addition, the nonpartisan nonprofit Partnership for Public Service estimates that DOGE cuts have actually cost taxpayers $135 billion this fiscal year, not including lawsuits.

Yesterday Musk told reporters that Congress will have to get to work to make the cuts he began permanent as he pulls back from government work to oversee Tesla. His foray into politics so badly hurt the company’s performance that it saw a 71% drop in profits in the first quarter of 2025. According to Emily Glazer, Becky Peterson, and Dana Mattioli of the Wall Street Journal, Tesla’s board has begun looking for a new chief executive. While both Musk and Tesla’s board deny the report, Musk will move back toward company business. When asked if he needed a successor in the White House, Musk answered: “Is Buddha needed for Buddhism? Was it not stronger after he passed away?”

It’s not clear that Congress will, in fact, embrace the cuts DOGE has made willy-nilly throughout the government. Three days ago, a Washington Post–ABC News–Ipsos poll found that only 35% of Americans approve “of the way Elon Musk is handling his job in the Trump administration,” while 57% disapprove. “The amazing thing is that they haven’t actually done anything constructive whatsoever. Literally all they’ve done is destroy things,” a current federal employee told Nick Robins-Early of The Guardian. “People are going to miss the federal government that they had.”

As the damage it has caused becomes clearer, DOGE seems unlikely ever to become more popular. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has turned control of the Interior Department over to a DOGE operative, and Wes Siler reports tonight that DOGE is preparing a “reduction in force” for the National Park Service, bringing total workforce losses there to about a quarter of all NPS staff. According to a group of NPS employees calling themselves the Resistance Rangers, the cuts are directed at regional and national offices that support park-based staff in order to make the cuts less visible to the public.

As Siler notes in his Wes Siler’s Newsletter, the National Park Service is an important public-facing part of the federal government. Parks are “highly visible, and serve as symbols of national pride.” He notes that hurting “the visitor experience, attraction closures, and general bad news around NPS may serve to embarrass the administration more than news of, say, reductions to Internal Revenue Service staffing.”

Problems at DOGE continue to emerge. Jake Pearson of ProPublica reported yesterday that the DOGE employee who is working to shrink the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Gavin Kliger, owns stock in four companies the CFPB oversees. This conflict of interest potentially violates federal ethics laws.

Yesterday David Gilbert and Vittoria Elliott of Wired reported that the DOGE operative installed at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Christopher Sweet, is an undergraduate with no government experience. He is using artificial intelligence to comb through the agency’s rules and regulations, compare them with the laws authorizing them, identify rules that can be relaxed or removed, and rewrite them.

A source from HUD told Gilbert and Elliott that such work is redundant: officials created the rules only after “a multi-year multi-stakeholder meatgrinder.” Another source told the Wired reporters they were informed that Sweet is refining a model “to be used across the government.”

As Trump’s poll numbers have dropped, Trump’s team has doubled down on immigration to energize its base. Today Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., a federal judge Trump appointed to the Southern District of Texas, rejected the administration’s use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to justify deporting Venezuelans from his district. This ruling may have implications for lawsuits elsewhere.

Rodriguez permanently prohibited the Trump administration from deporting Venezuelans from the Southern District of Texas under that law. He noted that the law authorizes such deporations only during wartime or a hostile invasion, and concluded that its “plain ordinary meaning” meant an invasion by military forces, not migration by alleged gang members.

Trump’s empowerment of heavy-handed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactics led last Thursday to a raid on a house in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in which agents who said they were U.S. Marshals, ICE, and the FBI put a family outside in the rain in their underwear and then tore apart the house. They took the family’s phones, laptops, and life savings. But the people in the house were not the ones on the search warrant. They were all U.S. citizens, a mother and three girls recently arrived from Maryland.

“I told them before they left, I said you took my phone. We have no money. I just moved here,” the woman told KFOR news. “I have to feed my children. I’m going to need gas money. I need to be able to get around. Like, how do you just leave me like this? Like an abandoned dog.”

In his recent interview with Trump, Terry Moran of ABC News revealed that Trump has a problem with a disconnect between his actions and the country’s principles. Trump had a copy of the Declaration of Independence installed in the Oval Office, and Moran asked the president what it means to him. Trump’s answer made it clear he has never read the document. “Well, it means exactly what it says,” he answered. “It's a declaration, it’s a declaration of unity, and love and respect and it means a lot. And it's something very special to, to our country.”

Last night, former vice president Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president in 2024, gave her first major speech since losing the election. “Throughout my entire career…I have always believed in the ideals of our nation,” she began, “[t]he ideals reflected in the Declaration of Independence, that all are created equal and endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights. Ideals advanced and affirmed by the service and sacrifice of generations of patriots, the ideals that ground the Constitution of the United States, that here in our country, power ultimately lies not with the wealthy or well connected, but with all of us, with ‘We the People.’”

After excoriating the Trump administration’s “narrow, self-serving vision of America where they punish truth tellers, favor loyalists, cash in on their power, and leave everyone to fend for themselves, all while abandoning allies and retreating from the world,” Harris noted that “this is not a vision that Americans want.” She urged the audience to “gear up for the hard work ahead, and please, always remember, this country is ours. It doesn't belong to whoever is in the White House. It belongs to you. It belongs to us. It belongs to ‘We, the People.’”

—

[defencecapital]

India's quest for 5th Gen Fighters: Hope Floats for Russian Su-57, American F-35

By N. C. Bipindra Bengaluru (Karnataka): India’s search for a fifth-generation fighter aircraft for its air force doesn’t stop at its indigenous effort, but goes beyond to Russian Su-57 and American F-35, both of which are flying at Asia’s largest air show AeroIndia here from Feb. 10 to 14, 2025. “All options are open to us. We will ensure the armed forces’ preparedness in every way possible,”…

[tomorrowusa]

Few countries are as disproportionately innovative as Ukraine. Ukraine has modified existing weapons systems and created some new ones way beyond what most defense experts could have imagined at the start of Russia's full scale invasion.

Starting with the sinking of the Russian Black Sea flagship Moskva with a homemade Neptune R-360 missile, Ukraine has demonstrated its resourcefulness and skills in defending itself against an aggressor with 3½ times its population.

Apparently Ukraine now has developed a functional defense laser which can shoot down objects over 2 km away.

Ukraine has developed a laser weapon capable of shooting down targets from more than a mile away, the country’s drone force commander has claimed. Speaking at a defense summit in Kyiv this week, Vadym Sukharevskyi, Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems said, “Today, we can already shoot down aircraft with this laser at an altitude of over 2 kilometers (1.2 miles).” “It truly works, it truly exists,” he said, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported, adding that efforts were being made to enhance the weapon’s scale and capabilities. The laser is named the Tryzub, or Ukrainian for “trident,” a nod to Ukraine’s national symbol representing independence, strength, and unity.

Ukraine's national symbol.

Sukharevskyi did not offer any further details about the Tryzub laser and CNN cannot verify his claims. However, experts told CNN the existence of the Tryzub was “feasible.” Patrick Senft of the Armament Research Services, a technical intelligence consultancy specializing in arms in munitions research, told CNN that while little is known about the Tryzub system, “it is entirely feasible for Ukraine to develop a functional directed-energy weapon (DEW) capable of destroying some aerial targets.”

Targeting is key with directed-energy weapons (DEWs). If Ukraine develops a practical targeting system it would be a major step forward in its defense. But a lot of the drones used by Russia against Ukraine are slow moving and clunky. Occasionally such drones are shot down by machine gun fire.

As far as we know, Russia is way behind in its own development of DEWs.

Only a few countries are understood to be in possession of laser weapons, including the US, China and Israel. The UK is also currently developing its own laser weapons system, called the DragonFire, which is set to be operational in 2027. In April, former Defense Minister Grant Shapps said that the DragonFire could potentially be used in Ukraine to counter Russian drones, Reuters reported.

Some readers will note that DragonFire is "dracarys" in High Valyrian. And some day winter will indeed come for Vladimir Putin.

[mahmod12345]

The Story of a Displaced Gazan Family:

Our story began on the morning of October 7th. I had woken up as usual to get ready for school, while my father Nidal, as always, was up early to go to his construction job, and my mother Amani was preparing breakfast for us. But that morning was different; it wasn't like any other morning. Barely an hour had passed before the sounds of massive explosions echoed everywhere. The peaceful morning transformed into a horrifying scene, as if the entire city was shaking beneath our feet 💔.

Within moments, Gaza turned into a sea of fire and smoke. The sky was filled with aircraft, and shells rained down on every corner. There was no time to think or make decisions—every moment held danger that threatened our lives 😞. My father was talking with our neighbors, then he returned to us, his voice filled with worry: "We have to leave immediately. We’ll go south, where it might be safer."

We hurriedly gathered whatever essentials we could—some clothes, some food—and carried my little brother Ahmed, who was just five years old. My mother held him close, as if shielding him from the world 🌍💔. My sister Sama cried silently while holding my hand, and my brother Mohammed looked scared but tried to hide his fear.

The Journey South:

The journey was long and difficult; we took rugged paths and tried to avoid areas that might be targeted. Other families were also fleeing, each carrying their own story of suffering and fear 😔. Children were crying, mothers exchanged worried glances, and fathers silently searched for safety. After hours of walking, we finally reached a southern area where some makeshift tents were set up for shelter. We had to start over, but this time, our home was just a tent that barely shielded us from the harsh summer heat or the cold winter nights 🏕️.

Life in the Tent:

Life in the tent was harsh and difficult 💔. It was small, not enough to meet our basic needs. During the day, the sun blazed intensely 🔥, and we tried to hide from its stifling heat. At night, the air was cold, and we huddled together for warmth. We had no electricity, and the only blankets we had were those distributed by aid agencies 😞.

In the first weeks, things were extremely challenging; we barely had access to clean water, and sometimes we had to drink contaminated water, which led to health issues 🤢. We suffered from diarrhea and fevers frequently, and our bodies grew weak, especially my little brother Ahmed, who developed a persistent cough and high fever 😥.

Health and Skin Issues:

Over time, red spots and severe itching began to appear on our skin. At first, we didn’t understand what was happening to us, but soon we realized we were suffering from skin diseases due to the lack of cleanliness and insufficient water to bathe regularly 💔. Both my skin and Mohammed’s were covered in itchy sores that caused us intense pain 😢.

My mother was worried about all of us, especially Sama, my fourteen-year-old sister, who was developing severe allergies. She tried not to tell my mom about the pain she was feeling, but sometimes she would wake up at night crying 😭. We missed seeing a doctor; in this area, only one doctor visited occasionally to give out some basic medicines, which were not enough for our condition 💔.

Psychological Struggles:

It wasn’t just the physical suffering that we endured; fear and uncertainty loomed over our lives. I would wake up every night to the sound of Mohammed screaming in his sleep 😰; he constantly dreamt of scenes of war and bombings, and these dreams turned into nightmares that haunted all of us 😟. My mother would whisper words of comfort, though she too was struggling in silence. She tried to hide her tears from us, but I could feel her pain and her helplessness to protect us from everything happening around us 💔.

My father, Nidal, was always trying to find work in the south to provide us with some food, but each time he returned disappointed; work was scarce, and the situation was hard 😞. He looked at us with eyes full of sorrow and pain, especially when he saw my little brother Ahmed pleading for a small piece of candy or a toy to ease his suffering 😔🍬.

Life Without Hope:

The days passed slowly, each day bringing a new challenge. I tried to find hope in anything—a conversation with our displaced neighbors, or a small laugh from my brother Mohammed when he tried to forget. But everything around us reminded us of our harsh reality: the dust covering our faces, the increasing illnesses, and the hunger that never left our bellies 🍂😔.

I started feeling that life was slipping away from us, and that the world had completely forgotten us. We hoped this war would end soon, so we could return to our home, which is now destroyed. But as days passed, those hopes began to fade 💔. The idea of going back became a distant dream, and staying in this tent became an inescapable reality 🏕️.

Conclusion:

Today, as we live amid this suffering, all I can do is share our story and try to hold on to a glimmer of hope. We may not have a home, we may not have enough food or healthcare, but we still have each other ❤️. My mother, my father, and my siblings are all I have, and I will stay strong for them, no matter the hardships.

[workersolidarity]

[ 📹📸 Major destruction is evident everywhere one looks after Israeli Occupation Forces withdrew its soldiers and vehicles from the Karama, Intelligence towers, Sudaniya, al-Saftawi and al-Tawam neighborhoods in Gaza City.]

🇮🇱⚔️🇵🇸 🚨

💥ISRAELI TANKS WITHDRAW FROM PARTS OF NORTHERN GAZA AS BOMBARDMENT CONTINUES FOR 119TH DAY💥

119 days into Israel's ongoing war of genocide in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) withdrew tanks and armored personnel carriers from the Karam neighborhood, as well as the intelligence towers and the al-Sidaniya neighborhood, even as the occupation's bombardment across various parts of the Gaza Strip continues unabated.

Belgium has announced it has called upon the Israeli ambassador to the central European country to explain Israel's bombing of the Belgian Agency for Development and Cooperation in Gaza after IOF warplanes bombarded and flattened the building.

Interestingly, Belgium's Foreign Minister, Hadjab Lahbib, declared on the social media platform X, "targeting civilian buildings is unacceptable." However, silence as Israel has flattened more than 2/3rds of all buildings in the Gaza Strip belies Belgium's unwillingness to confront the Israeli occupation.

Meanwhile, scores of civilians were killed, and dozens more wounded after Israeli aircraft targeted a residential home in the eastern outskirts of Rafah City, in the southern Gaza Strip.

In addition, six Palestinians were killed after occupation aircraft targeted the Al-Diri Family home in the al-Nasr neighborhood of Rafah City.

At the same time, an occupation airstrike targeting the Deeri family home in the Nasr neighborhood left four dead and wounded several others.

The decomposing corpses of six individuals were transported from the north of Deir al-Balah to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital after the withdrawal of IOF soldiers and vehicles from the area.

In southern Gaza, one civilian was killed and multiple others wounded in Khan Yunis as a result of an occupation airstrike on the al-Amal School where the displaced were seeking shelter from Israel's ongoing bombardment, while 13 additional casualties were recorded after occupation warplanes targeted a civilian home in the vicinity of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) headquarters in the west of Khan Yunis City.

As Israel's bombardment goes on, more than 30'000 civilians sheltering near the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis face severe water shortages, as well as shortages of food and critical medicines.

A multitude of civilians were also martyred, and several others injured after Israeli forces bombarded a civilian gathering in the vicinity of a stadium in Gaza City while attempting to repair communications and Internet services in the neighborhood.

Several dozen corpses were also discovered northwest of Gaza City after occupation forces and vehicles withdrew from several neighborhoods in the area, revealing the scenes of major destruction and carnage left behind by the Israeli entity.

In the central Gaza Strip, occupation artillery and airstrikes targeted various areas in the al-Bureij Refugee Camp, while occupation jets bombed buildings in the Sheikh Zayed area, as well as in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza.

Israeli jets also launched several firebelts on the Tal Elhwa and Daraj neighborhoods in northern Gaza, while occupation forces destroyed the police headquarters in Gaza City.

Occupation tanks and armored vehicles withdrew from the vicinity of Al-Aqsa University before relocating to the Nasser Hospital area west of Khan Yunis to terrorize civilians near the local medical complex. Additionally, occupation aircraft also bombarded the Taliba Towers neighborhood in Khan Yunis.

Meanwhile, Gaza's Medical authorities are reporting that the IOF has committed a total of 95 massacres resulting in 936 deaths and 1'652 casualties in the period since the International Court of Justice at The Hague ruled that Israel must take steps to reduce civilian harm in its all-out war on Gaza.

Medical sources with PRCS are reporting the continued siege and bombardment of the Al-Amal Hospital area for the 11th consecutive day, with occupation artillery shelling and gunfire targeting the area, while occupation soldiers repeatedly raid the hospital premises, firing towards civilians and medical staff while terrorizing the displaced and the hospital's patients.

Al-Amal's medical staff also reported burying five Palestinian civilians in the courtyard of the hospital complex, bringing the number of buried on the premises to 15.

PRCS is also reporting seven patients severely wounded who face life threatening injuries as a result of occupation shelling and gunfire, warning of their deaths if the wounded cannot be relocated to a better equipped hospital.

As a result of Israel's ongoing genocide, more than 27'000+ Palestinians have been martyred, while another 66'000+ have been wounded by occupation bombing and shelling across the Gaza Strip since October 7th, 2023.

#source1

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#photosource

#videosource

@WorkerSolidarityNews

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

NASA to gather in-flight imagery of commercial test capsule re-entry

A NASA team specializing in collecting imagery-based engineering datasets from spacecraft during launch and reentry is supporting a European aerospace company's upcoming mission to return a subscale demonstration capsule from space.

NASA's Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery (SCIFLI) team supports a broad range of mission needs across the agency, including Artemis, science missions like OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security—Regolith Explorer), and NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The SCIFLI team also supports other commercial space efforts, helping to develop and strengthen public-private partnerships as NASA works to advance exploration, further cooperation, and open space to more science, people, and opportunities.

Later this month, SCIFLI intends to gather data on The Exploration Company's Mission Possible capsule as it returns to Earth following the launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. One of the key instruments SCIFLI will employ is a spectrometer that detects light radiating from the capsule's surface, which researchers can use to determine the surface temperature of the spacecraft.

Traditionally, much of this data comes from advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics modeling of what happens when objects of various sizes, shapes, and materials enter different atmospheres, such as those on Earth, Mars, or Venus.

"While very powerful, there is still some uncertainty in these Computational Fluid Dynamics models. Real-world measurements made by the SCIFLI team help NASA researchers refine their models, meaning better performance for sustained flight, higher safety margins for crew returning from the moon or Mars, or landing more mass safely while exploring other planets," said Carey Scott, SCIFLI capability lead at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

The SCIFLI team will be staged in Hawaii and will fly aboard an agency Gulfstream III aircraft during the re-entry of Mission Possible over the Pacific Ocean.

"The data will provide The Exploration Company with a little bit of redundancy and a different perspective—a decoupled data package, if you will—from their onboard sensors," said Scott.

From the Gulfstream, SCIFLI will have the spectrometer and an ultra-high-definition telescope trained on Mission Possible. The observation may be challenging since the team will be tracking the capsule against the bright daytime sky.

Researchers expect to be able to acquire the capsule shortly after entry interface, the point at roughly 200,000 feet, where the atmosphere becomes thick enough to begin interacting with a capsule, producing compressive effects such as heating, a shock layer, and the emission of photons, or light.

In addition to spectrometer data on Mission Possible's thermal protection system, SCIFLI will capture imagery of the parachute system opening. First, a small drogue chute deploys to slow the capsule from supersonic to subsonic, followed by the deployment of a main parachute. Lastly, cloud-cover permitting, the team plans to image splashdown in the Pacific, which will help a recovery vessel reach the capsule as quickly as possible.

If flying over the ocean and capturing imagery of a small capsule as it zips through the atmosphere during the day sounds difficult, it is. But this mission, like all SCIFLI's assignments, has been carefully modeled, choreographed, and rehearsed in the months and weeks leading up to the mission. There will even be a full-dress rehearsal in the days just before launch.

Not that there aren't always a few anxious moments right as the entry interface is imminent and the team is looking out for its target. According to Scott, once the target is acquired, the SCIFLI team has its procedures nailed down to a—pardon the pun—science.

"We rehearse, and we rehearse, and we rehearse until it's almost memorized," he said.

The Exploration Company, headquartered in Munich, Germany, and Bordeaux, France, enlisted NASA's support through a reimbursable Space Act Agreement and will use SCIFLI data to advance future capsule designs.

"Working with NASA on this mission has been a real highlight for our team. It shows what's possible when people from different parts of the world come together with a shared goal," said Najwa Naimy, chief program officer at The Exploration Company.

"What the SCIFLI team is doing to spot and track our capsule in broad daylight, over the open ocean, is incredibly impressive. We're learning from each other, building trust, and making real progress together."

NASA Langley is known for its expertise in engineering, characterizing, and developing spacecraft systems for entry, descent, and landing. The Gulfstream III aircraft is operated by the Flight Operations Directorate at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.

IMAGE: A rendering of a space capsule from The Exploration Company re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. Credit: The Exploration Company

[justforbooks]

Ron Ayers

Engineer and aerodynamicist involved in land-speed record-breaking cars and guided missile design

Working at the Handley Page company, and then in the guided weapons division of the Bristol Aeroplane Company (now part of BAE Systems), in the 1950s and 60s, the engineer and aerodynamicist Ron Ayers, who has died aged 92, became one of Britain’s most experienced supersonic and high-speed aircraft designers.

Following retirement in 1988, he took on a volunteer role at the Brooklands Museum, Weybridge, and was fascinated to discover, among the aviation archives held there, aerodynamic and wind tunnel work on the prewar generation of land-speed record-breaking cars. This led to Ayers meeting Ken Norris, designer (with his brother Lew) of Donald Campbell’s Bluebird car and jet-powered boat. With these two vehicles, in 1964, Campbell had achieved world records, for land speed of 403.1mph (648.73 km/h), and for water speed of 276.3mph (444.71km/h).

Norris had also been manager of more recent world-record-breaking runs by the self-styled “adventurer and engineer” Richard Noble with Thrust, a car that gained a world record of 633mph (1018.7 km/h) in the Nevada desert in 1983. When Ayers bumped into Noble by chance, while they were both passing through Bournemouth airport in 1992, he found that Noble’s next project was the Thrust SSC, a jet-powered “car” intended to break the sound barrier on land – at a speed of about 767mph. “Don’t be an idiot – you’ll kill yourself,” Ayers said.

The problem is that a land-speed car is an “interface vehicle” running between air and earth. Designing a stable supersonic shape for that regime is quite different to making an aircraft or missile that could achieve supersonic flight safely in free air. On land, where would the supersonic shock waves around the vehicle go and how might they upset it? What would the airflow underneath it be like and how might it lift or destabilise it? There were no precedents. But, intrigued by the challenge, Ayers mulled over the problem and, a little later, got back to Noble saying that he thought he could see a way to do it.

There are no wind tunnels capable of modelling this situation, but between them, they called in favours and all their contacts to win time for day-long simulations that ran on Britain’s most powerful supercomputer (a Cray machine), in parallel with physical experiments with a scale model attached to an 800mph rail-mounted rocket sledge at the Defence Research Agency’s establishment at MOD Pendine in Wales.

The research paid off, and on 15 October 1997 the RAF pilot Wg Cmdr Andy Green finally achieved a supersonic world record of 763.035mph (1,227.986 km/h) in Thrust SSC – a record that still stands.

Ayers was born in London, the son of Frederick Ayers, an engineer, and his wife, Maud (nee Jardine). To escape bombing during the second world war, in 1940 the family, and Frederick’s factory, moved to Barnstaple in Devon. Deemed not suitable for university, due to chronic childhood ear infections (alleviated with the advent of penicillin) and an interrupted education, Ron went straight into the Handley Page company in 1950 as an engineering apprentice, where he worked on the Victor bomber project. This also allowed him “day release” to gain a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of London. He then won a scholarship to study for an MSc at Cranfield College of Aeronautics (now Cranfield University).

Britain had some of the most technically advanced aircraft companies in the world and Handley Page was one of the most esteemed, at the forefront with an exceptionally advanced aerodynamic design team. Its Victor bomber became central to the V force – Britain’s cold war deterrent. These aircraft had been devised to evade interception by flying faster and higher than any aircraft before.

It is impossible to overstate the importance of aerodynamic science to national policy at the time. Cold war aircraft development was a contest of the brightest minds to achieve unprecedented performance in the tricky transonic regime – the speed range approaching the speed of sound. As the new postwar generation of military aircraft approached that speed, the airflow over them could be mixed – flowing in a familiar, well understood way in some areas, but becoming supersonic over parts where the air accelerated.

This supersonic (incompressible) flow was a new, little studied, phenomenon, and it posed fresh problems in stability, control and structural integrity. The whole industry was supported closely by the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough, Hampshire (and at Bedford). This was probably the biggest research enterprise in Europe in those years.

This was the milieu in which Ayers developed – solving problems that the feasibility of Noble’s supersonic car would recall. The national deterrent policy back then was to devise near-supersonic bombers that could outfly the fighter defences, exploiting speed, height and the limitations imposed by radar warning time. But at the same time, the aim was to create home defences that could catch anything similar developed by an enemy.

As part of this war of innovation, the Bristol company was developing the Bloodhound guided missile, intended to destroy incoming enemy aircraft, so it is intriguing that Ayers in 1956 joined the Bristol’s guided weapons division, becoming chief aerodynamicist. The revised Bloodhound Mk II that he worked on was a highly effective missile intended to destroy bombers attacking Britain, capable of reaching 65,000ft (nearly 20,000 metres) at more than twice the speed of sound. It went into service “to defend the deterrent” – the V-bomber force that Ayers had originally contributed to in his first job.

However, on the death of his father, Ayers left aeronautics and in 1967 took over the family business, which made printing presses, remaining with the company until it was sold in 1988.

In retirement, as well as volunteering at Brooklands, Ayers was actively involved in promoting engineering education, and he viewed the Thrust SSC record-breaking attempts as valuable publicity to showcase engineering and its intrinsic interest. Subsequently, he was chief aerodynamicist for the JCB 2006 Dieselmax car, which still holds the world diesel car record of over 350mph (560 km/h), and also for the projected 1,000mph Bloodhound car.

All this highly original work done in the later decades of Ayers’s life was, he said, “much more fun than mowing the lawn”.

Ayers married Irene Graham, a psychologist, in 1968. She died in 1991 and he is survived by their son, Roger, and granddaughters, Lily-May and Daisy.

🔔 Ronald Frederick Ayers, engineer, born 11 April 1932; died 29 May 2024

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