Preserving a piece of US Maritime History - invaluable

The USS Olympia is a cruiser that fought in the Spanish American War in 1898 and has been preserved in Philadelphia. She's a one of a kind ship, a national historic monument, and in danger. She needs approximately $10-15 million in repairs to keep her a viable museum for years to come. If you have the resources, or connections to those resources, please consider helping. (full disclosure - there is no financial benefit to me to ask the question - we need to save this ship for posterity). Please contact me at 612-599-1935 or bdskon@fedex.com if you have additional questions.

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Friday, November 18, 2011

The decommissioned Spruance-class destroyer ex-Paul F. Foster (EDD 964) conducts a successful demonstration of shipboard alternative fuel use while underway in the Pacific Ocean.
PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 17, 2011) The decommissioned Spruance-class destroyer ex-Paul F. Foster (EDD 964) conducts a successful demonstration of shipboard alternative fuel use while underway in the Pacific Ocean on a 50-50 blend of an algae-derived, hydro-processed algal oil and petroleum F-76. Paul F. Foster has been reconfigured as the Self-Defense Test Ship to provide the Navy an at-sea, remotely controlled, engineering test and evaluation platform without the risk to personnel or operational assets. (U.S. Navy photo by Charlie Houser/Released)
he Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) steam alongside one another in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) steam alongside one another in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) steam alongside one another in the Strait of Hormuz.
STRAIT OF HORMUZ (Nov. 12, 2011) The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) steam alongside one another in the Strait of Hormuz. John C. Stennis is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate/Released)

Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) bow in prayer.
PHILIPPINE SEA (Nov. 16, 2011) Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) bow in prayer during a burial at sea ceremony. George Washington is on a scheduled patrol in the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Juan Pinalez/Released)
Capt. Brian E. Luther, commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush presents the national ensign to Master Chief Electrician's Mate Brian C. Legg during a burial at sea ceremony.
RED SEA (Nov. 17, 2011) Capt. Brian E. Luther, commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), presents the national ensign to Master Chief Electrician's Mate Brian C. Legg during a burial at sea ceremony. George H.W. Bush is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility on its first operational deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Brian Read Castillo/Released)

Monday, November 14, 2011

F/A-18 Hornets perform a fly-by at the conclusion of the presentation of colors during the inaugural Quicken Loans Carrier Classic basketball game.

SAN DIEGO (Nov. 11, 2011) F/A-18 Hornets perform a fly-by at the conclusion of the presentation of colors during the inaugural Quicken Loans Carrier Classic basketball game on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson is hosting Michigan State University and the University of North Carolina for an NCAA basketball game. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Evans/Released)

Blue Angels close season with Pensacola show - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Blue Angels close season with Pensacola show - Navy News News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

“That is so neat!” William Murrah yelled as he watched through binoculars as an A-10 and P-51 flew together in formation before the Blues took to the air.
Murrah, an eye surgeon, said he enjoyed watching the warbirds in the sky.
“I find the old planes thoroughly fascinating,” he said.
Those old war planes are flown by people such as Mike Burke, who considers himself an airplane fanatic.
“People can have their boats and stuff, but we have airplanes,” Burke, 62, of Galveston, Texas, said.
Burke, along with a handful of others, donned jumpsuits to fly old warplanes during the air show.
And it takes a true aeronaut-lover for the job.
Burke was joined by fellow enthusiast Ted Short, 80, a Korean War vet from Fort Worth, Texas.
“I never dreamt I’d be able to touch one or fly in one or just to be able to see one, so I jumped on the chance when I got the opportunity,” Short said. He flew a 1945 SB2C Helldiver twice during the air show.
“When I was a kid, I made models of all these airplanes,” Short said as he gestured toward the lineup of warbirds before they took off. “What’s nice about this is getting to teach people about what these planes are and what they did.”

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Navy, Corps buying decommissioned U.K. Harriers - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Navy, Corps buying decommissioned U.K. Harriers - Navy News News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

This is a great plan. And of course - it shows that these aircraft are not worn out, just that GB is spending too much on domestic welfare programs like every other country and not in defending itself!