We May Not Start It – we’re stepping aside to watch

Things just keep getting tighter and tighter in the Middle East. The USA being at war in Iraq and Afganistan isn’t bad enough – Iran dodges every opportunity to tone things down but no – they keeping pushing international hot buttons with their President, his anti-Israel rhetoric  and their program to develop nuclear wepons. They just keep poking the Israeli doberman with a pointy stick and sooner or later things are going to explode (and not in a good way).

Recent events seem to be indicating that the countdown clock to war is ticking faster. Israel has been flexing its muscles in June and July 2009. In June 09, the Israeli navy sailed a Dolphin Class submarine through the Suez Canal. The Dolphin-class submarine sailed through last month to get from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea. Israeli officials said it passed through the canal above water, and that it was not done covertly. The Dolphin Class is suspected by many analysts to have the capability to fire nuclear tipped cruise missiles. By passing into the Red Sea, and beyond, Israel would be within striking range of facilities inside Iran. The significance of the move was debatable, but it could be interpreted as a message to Iran and a demonstration of strengthening ties between Egypt and Israel.

Next we read that there are unconfirmed reports that the Israeli Air Force has struck a deal with Saudi Arabia to use Saudi air space for a potential air raid on Iran. Don’t forget that the IAF has conducted similar air strikes in the past, against Iraqi nuclear facilities in the 1980’s and more recently in 2007 against suspected Syrian nuclear facilities.

Then on July 5th – just to turn up the burner a little bit on the deadly brewing situation Vice President Joe Biden said that Israel had a “sovereign right” to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities. He also stated that the US would not stand in the Jewish states way if they were to deem it necessary to strike. The VP’s statements were made on ABC. Mr. Biden said three times that Israel a right to act in its own perceived interest. Biden’s comments give Israel a “green light” from Washington, they have possible cooperation from Saudi Arabia, and have sailed a submarine through Egyptian waters to put it within range of Iran. Is this all saber rattling on a grand scale or is all hell about to bear loose in an area that’s generally ready to explode into war anyway. As was said in a movie once – “Fasten your seat-belts – it’s going to be a bumpy ride”.

 

Secret Steve Fossett submarine

This week the wreckage of Steve Fossett’s crashed plane and what appear to be his remains were finally located in the Sierra Nevada mountains. After his death was confirmed a submarine designer has come forward to reveal the story of Steve having had him design an ultra deep diving submarine. Inventor/designer Graham Hawkes was working with Steve Fossett to help him travel to the deepest place on Earth.

Hawkes Ocean Technology

Hawkes has gained fame for his series of high-speed winged submersibles, such as the “Super Falcon” submarine he’s building for Tom Perkins of Belvedere, the billionaire businessman and owner of the Maltese Falcon mega yacht, which sailed last week into San Franciso Bay.

For Fossett, however, Hawkes created a heavy-duty vehicle capable of withstanding the tremendous pressures of the Mariana Trench, 36,000 feet below the surface.

“The pressure is about 20,000 pounds per square inch, approximately 15,000 times the atmospheric pressure,” Hawkes said. “If you look at conventional technologies, the best and strongest materials such as titanium will only get you about halfway down to the ocean floor. We used carbon fiber that’s laid down filament by filament under computer control, the same as what’s used on rocket motor nozzles.”

Hawkes said Fossett first approached him about the submarine project 10 years ago. Fossett’s submarine, the “Deep Flight Challenger,” would have been “part spacecraft, part airplane and part submarine,” Hawkes said.

“We’re known as the extreme end of the undersea business,” said Hawkes, who began his 40-year career building subs for the British Navy and now creates vehicles for adventure, recreation and exploration.

Although the two were unable to reach an agreement at first, Fossett returned in 2005, and Hawkes began assembling the materials needed to build the craft. His goal was to build a submarine strong enough to withstand the crushing depths of the ocean’s bottom, yet lighter and more maneuverable than conventional submersibles.

“In 1960, the U.S. Navy sent a bathyscaphe, the ‘Trieste,’ down to the bottom,” said Karen Hawkes, Graham’s wife. “That was essentially a big underwater balloon. No one has been back since. No one has a submersible capable of diving to 36,000 feet – except this one.”

The Hawkes say they were four weeks away from launching the “Deep Flight Challenger” when news came of Fossett’s disappearance. The submersible is now owned by the explorer’s estate, and Hawkes is unsure whether it will ever get to make its historic dive. The couple would not disclose the cost of the vehicle.

Whether or not Fossett’s sub is ever used, Hawkes believes the technology developed at his request will one day prove instrumental in exploring the next frontier.

“This is an ocean planet,” Hawkes said. “The U.S. declared a 200-mile exclusive economic zone, which actually doubled the sovereign territory of the nation. It’s like there’s suddenly a whole continent full of unexplored territory, and it’s ready for a Lewis and Clark expedition.”

Specifications for Deep Challenger from Hawkes Ocean Technologies

Configuration: Record-breaking submersible built for adventurer Steve Fossett to set world record depth dive.
Life support: 24 hours
Flight endurance: full ocean depth and back in 5 hours

Dimensions: Length 17 ft 8 inches, Width 12 ft 11 inches, Height 5 ft, 7 inches
Weight: 4730 lbs

Speed: Cruise – 2.2 knots; Max – 3 knots
Ascent/Descent Rate:350 feet/second at +/- 45 degrees
Operating Depth: 37,000 fsw
Crew: 1