#multi-rotor

[aviationd]

Multirotor drones employ fixed pitch blades vehicle motion is controlled by adjusting the relative speed of each rotor to change the thrust and torque produced by each Hence they are considered to be a simpler and cheap drone to operate

[merakisphere]

In addition to my handmade and visually delightful Mandala Bloom wire contraptions, I'd like to share with you a list of Palindromes I've recently come across! :)

A man, a plan, a canal, Panama! Eva, can I see bees in a cave? Was it a car or a cat I saw? Never odd or even. Do geese see God? A Santa lived as a devil at NASA.

All of these, when read backwards spells out the same sentence! My all time favourite Palindrome is "TACO CAT"

Palindromes also apply to single words:

Level Rotor Racecar Stats

Am I missing any? Comment below your favourite Palindromes, as I'm certain there are more out there I haven't heard of!

Also, please consider browsing my handmade Lotus Bloom fidget toys & ornament shop. :) These make wonderful gifts or ornaments this holiday season. Sharing & reblogging would help me so much as an indie artist. <3 Thank you! Use code TUMBLR (for 45% off), and so I know to include a FREE Lithograph sticker with your order. :)

[thefifteenthindotribe]

Ace’s High:

Problem: The Insulindian Civil War was not the first war to see the use of aerostatic aircraft on both sides, but it was the longest. For eight years folded multi-rotor aircrafts criss-crossed the air above Revachol, Ozonne, Face-A-La-Mer, and the Arcade Islands. They made sweeps over sandy beaches and shot each other out of the blue sky, then sank as wrecks to the bottom of the sea. The Ace's High was a custom on the revolutionary side, performed by squadron mates after landing. Lieutenant Kitsuragi likes it... why is that?

Solution: For the rest of the world the Ace's High is *just a cool Revachol* thing, politically neutral. In Revachol it still holds revolutionary connotations. Also, have you looked at Lieutenant Kitsuragi's *clothes*? He wears a bomber jacket, just like the ones worn by aerostatic brigades. And those cargo pants could store tools for hotfixing your aerostatic... maybe you should ask him about this?

[ohtobeleah]

Please do more for the Rooster concept where the reader has a daughter! Step!dad Rooster x reader is such a great one.

Alright here we go. Another series. But honestly down bad for this one. Only fluff ahead. Based off this concept

***~***~***~

“There’s no way a bird did this—“ You huffed as you practically hung half your body over into Jake Seresins Super Hornet right engine bay. This was the last thing you wanted to be looking at at three thirty in the afternoon. “You idiot—!” Shaking your head in disbelief as you pulled feathers from the rotors. Watching as they fell from your grapes, floating down to where Jake stood below you.

“Well it’s not like I could really control it now could I?” Jake groaned in response to your dismay as he stood holding the bottom of the ladder for you. He’d been able to manage a controlled landing with one engine. Most pilots couldn’t even imagine having to do that on their best day, but Hangman? He remained as calm and as level headed as he could. “Reckon you can fix her up?”

“I mean I’ll give it my best shot, but I’m no miracle worker.” Climbing down the ladder a little before you jumped to the ground with a soft thud. Dusting the oil and gunk your gloves had collected on to your technician suit before pulling them off and pocketing them. “I’d say about two, three days tops she’ll be out of action though—I dunno if I’ll need to order parts—“

“What can you do overnight?” Your eyes grew a little wider as you crossed your arms over your chest. Wondering just where the hell on god's green earth Jake Hangman Seresin had found the audacity to come into your workshop and demand you pull overtime just for him. “Please? come on it’s my baby—“

“Jake I gotta pick my daughter up this afternoon—“ You groaned in defiance. “How’s it fair you get to knock off early after wrecking a multi million-dollar fighter jet and I’ve gotta stay back and fix your mess?” You had known Jake pretty much your entire life. He was like a brother, well– he was more than a brother considering your actual brothers hadn’t spoken to you since you were sixteen.

“All I asked Fe, is what you could do for me overnight.” Hangman smirked as he packed away the workshop ladder for you. “What can you do for me this afternoon at least?” It was almost comical just how much he really needed you from time to time. If you couldn't fix his F-18, he’d be grounded till someone else could figure it out.

“I can pick the feathers from the engine bay and clean out your intake but even that’s gonna take me like two, two and a half hours considering you missed your last service.” You said it with the deadest of deadpans you could give the blonde who had taxied into your workshop just as you were getting ready to shut up shop for the day. The old hangar had been turned into a workshop for the F-18’s on site in Miramar. “I might even be able to fix the combustion chamber—but I’ll need you to pick up Odette from after school care.”

“Yeah, I can't do that either–” Jake knew what would happen next, it had happened too many times for him to not be able to expect it. An open hand came his way, but he grabbed your wrist with just enough time to spare before it connected with his chest. “I have a date! I can't!”

“Then I can’t fix your dumb plane!” You counted as you ripped your wrist from Jake's grasp. “I have to pick my daughter up, Hangman– I can't just leave her there!”

“Bradshaw can pick her up!” It was a suggestion you couldn't even believe Jake was submitting into the conversation. “He’d be so down for that.”

“I am not asking Rooster to pick my daughter up from daycare.” You were quick to dismiss the idea from whatever reality Jake was trying to conjure up. He knew you and Bradley had a thing. Everyone did. But he also knew you were too stubborn for your own good. “Don't do this to me, Jake it's not fair, you know better than anyone Dot gets attached to people and if I–”

“If you let Bradshaw pick her up just this once.'' Jake reached out to hold your shoulders tenderly, shaking you gently as he smirked in front of your face. He knew exactly what he was doing. “The world will not stop spinning Fe.” Jake stood there for a moment with his hands still on your shoulders before he let go. Sauntering over to your workshop desk in search of your phone. He’d known for a while now just how down bad Rooster really was for you and if anyone was good enough for you it was Bradley ‘family means everything to me’ Bradshaw. “Call him, just see what he says.”

“What if he's got plans?” Jake caught the sudden nervousness coming through in your questioning before you had even noticed your exterior had changed. Dropping the independent single parent act you tried your best to display more often than not. But even you had to admit from time to time it took a village to raise a child, and you were certainly no tribe of your own. “What if he just doesn't want to?” Jake just raised a brow in response. See, it wasn’t that you didn't want to ask, it was that you were afraid of the answer.

With Jake it was a given–he had been there since the day Dot was born. He was her uncle, her godfather, her babysitter and best friend. Rooster? Well, he didn't sign up to be a father to another man's child just because he thought you were cute. You didn't want to push that narrative on him either.

“If Bradshaw generally can't, I will call and cancel my date.” Jake held your phone out to you, watching as you took it with hesitation and reluctancy. “But you have to call and ask him first.” If looks could kill Jake Seresin would be a dead man. He’d backed you into a corner you couldn't get out of. But for all it was worth, he watched as you unlocked your phone, stepping away as you held the phone up to your ear, biting your bottom lip as not one, not two, but three rings rang out against your eardrum before.

“Hey Fe, what's going on?” Oh if you could physically melt into a puddle at the sound of someone's voice, Badley would have that effect on you. Jake swore he saw your eyes light up as you turned to face him again. Only now instead of your lip you were chewing on the cuticles of your nails. Pacing back and forth like a madwoman.

“Hey Roos I uh, I need a favour–but please feel free to say no, I can always have Hangman–” Before you could finish your sentence Rooster was smirking as he packed his things away into his locker. Holding his phone between his shoulder and ear.

“Whatever you need.” Rooster let his gaze linger on the photo of you he had in his locker. Just a candid picture he'd taken of you working on something in your workshop. Mirimars resistance technician. “I'm just about to have a shower, but after that I'm free.” You usually would have made a comment about if there was any room in that shower for you, but with Jake still standing right in front of you waiting for you to ask the all important question, you didn't feel like now would be an appropriate time for you to stroke Bradleys ego. “Y/n you there?” Fuck. He said your name, your actual name. You only ever really heard mum or Fe these days. But Bradley, saying your name? Always got you far too good.

“Uh, yeah no no I'm here–I uh, I was just wondering if you'd be able to pick Dot up from daycare this afternoon?” The silence they came through from the other end of the line was deafening and for a moment you thought you'd crossed a line. “Rooster you can say no–”

“No, no ill uh, I’ll grab her.” Why would he ever say no? “I just wasn't expecting that to be the favour.”

“Yeah well, Hangman just taxied into my workshop after a bird strike, gonna try to get him up in the air again so he’ll stop pestering me.” You explained as you sent Jake a look—he had been lucky on two fronts this afternoon. You heard Roosters locker shut before he replied.

“He alright?” You caught the slight tone of concern flooding through the phone.

“Despite his best efforts, I think he’ll live.” You mumbled under your breath as Jake stood gloating. He knew Bradshaw would be down for a date with Dot. “Are you sure you’re okay to pick Odette up?”

“Consider it sorted.” Rooster still held his phone between his shoulder and his ear as he unbuttoned his flight suit. The warm water from the head of the shower could be heard through the phone as you imagined him standing before you. Exposed. “Besides, it gives me an in with the hot mum I’ve been trying to seduce for the past few months.” Rooster teased.

“Oh I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.” You and Bradley Bradshaw had been in this situationship for a few months now. He’d flirt with you, you’d flirt back—but everytime you thought things were getting a little too much, you’d pump the breaks. Rooster knew why, he didn’t mind waiting. In fact he quite enjoyed the game of cat and mouse, convinced wholeheartedly that with enough persistence and sheer determination he’d win you and subsequently your daughter over too. “I’ll come by yours the second I’m finished here?”

“Yeah cool, I’ll uh, I’ll see you then.”

“Thanks Bradley.” You cooed, a bashful smile gleaming across your face as you turned on your heels. “I really appreciate it.”

“It’s not a problem, honestly—anytime.” Rooster smiled to himself before he said his goodbyes. Sighing as he let his shoulders relax under the warm water with every intention of making sure his first little not so ‘daddy daughter date’ with your daughter would go as seamlessly as ever. Hanging up the phone Jake was quick to say he told you so.

“Told you he’d froth that shit up.”

“You are unbelievable, you know that?” You huffed as you dialled your daughter's day care. “I hope your date stands you up.”

“Oh I don’t have a date—“ You were about to lunge at his throat, claw deep enough so that his life would flash before his eyes. But as always, some divine intervention saved Jake Seresins life.

“Hello Sunny Side—“ The woman answered the phone.

“Hi, my names Y/n Y/l/n and I’d like to make an amendment to my daughter’s registered list of persons for pick up please?” You waited a few moments as the line went silent, only the sound of a computer keyboard being tapped away at filled the void.

“Who would you like to nominate?”

“Uh, his name is Bradley, Bradley Bradshaw.”

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***

[bekolxeram]

Heya, I've got a question since you seem to know a lot about aviation. So this point is a bit of a 'controversy' among the fans: does Tommy fly both helicopters and planes, or just helicopters? People are inferring the former because of the episode in season 2 where Chimney called Tommy, and then the water-bomber plane came, and, watching this, Chimney thanked Tommy. Now, I find it to be entirely plausible that a) Chimney meant it as a thanks because Tommy organized the rescue rather than being the pilot himself and b) also a minor detail that, while written back then, was never meant to come back in the way it did. Now, however, we have a lot more background info on Tommy, and to me it seems unlikely that he got training for both helicopters and planes, and that he does fly both in his line of work. Also, if he was able to fly planes as well and had access to them at work, why would they take a helicopter to Vegas when a light aircraft would be the better option? (I assume, though I could be wrong). What are your thoughts and your expertise on this?

Thank you for asking! Always love an aviation related question.

One of the first posts I've ever written here is about this very topic. The US Army operates mainly helicopters. Yes, they do have like a hundred or so fixed wing aircrafts for transport and recon missions, but that's nothing compared to the 4000+ helicopters currently in service. You also have to finish your entire helicopter pilot training before you can even apply for fixed wing training program for the Army. Tommy's timeline is already tight enough, I don't think he had the time to learn how to fly a plane in the military. (You need like at least 800 hours on a multi-engine airplane as pilot-in-command to be considered for the CAL FIRE training program for instant.)

But the most damning evidence is that the news reporter in 2x14 actually said the air tanker was with CAL FIRE, so not LAFD, a completely different agency. I imagine Air Ops had their hands tied during that major power outage already, so Tommy had to pull some strings and call other agencies for help. (Shamelessly pugging my own hc of Tommy dating a CAL FIRE pilot in the past here.)

And yes, light fixed wing aircrafts are much more suited for medium range trips. They are also cheaper to rent and more widely available than helicopters. So there's a chance that Tommy has no experience on an airplane at all. Helicopter pilots do have a head start when learning how to fly a plane though, the basics of flight are the same, it's just the mechanical side of things that differs between rotary and fixed wing. For example, you have to closely monitor your air speed when flying a plane, because it generates lift by deflecting the incoming stream of air downward. If you fly too slow, you risk stalling the plane and falling out of the sky. A helicopter on the other hand, actively moves air downward by spinning the main rotor, so air speed is not that important for safety, you can move straight up and down without moving an inch horizontally.

That's not to say it's impossible for Tommy to know how to fly a small airplane. He may simply have more connections in the rotary wing world, or he feels more comfortable flying a friend in a helicopter since he's more experienced. Helicopters also have the advantage of landing straight down in tight spaces, eliminating the need to wait for a landing slot on a runway when traffic is high.

[carsthatnevermadeitetc]

All I want for Christmas: Part 9 – Mazda RX-500, 1970. An experimental car presented at the 17th Tokyo Motor Show that was designed to be a mobile test bed for high-speed safety. It was powered by a mid-mounted 10A twin rotor engine. The multi-coloured rear lights indicated if the car was speeding up, braking or cruising with green, red, or amber lights. The original concept was restored in 2009 and is now on display at the at Hiroshima City Transportation Museum. 

[quite-right-too]

Prompt: “Wait, you can hear me?”

It wasn't unusual for Rose to stay in the console room while the Doctor worked on the TARDIS.

In fact, he found that he quite enjoyed the company.

She would sit on the jumpsuit, reading a book she carefully picked from the library. Occasionally, she would come by and sit with him. Legs dangling off the grating and under the time rotor where the Doctor would be fixated on some minor issue that, due to his procrastination, had turned major.

"What're you working on?" Rose asked. She couldn't help but stare, however, at the state he was in. On his back, his intense concentration exuded a level of confidence she loved to see. He had forgone his usual brown pinstriped jacket, wearing just a light blue button up shirt. His sleeves were rolled up to just past his elbows and his tie was removed, leaving the first two buttons on his shirt undone and exposing just the barest amount of chest. His glasses were perched precariously on his face, sonic between his teeth, as his hands were buried in the underside of the console.

Removing the sonic from his mouth, he continued to fiddle with the wires above his face. "Ah, nothing too important." The Doctor winced as sparks flew over him. "Just trying to tune up the multi-loop stabilizer. It had become a bit detached from the synchronic feedback circuit and has been why we've had some increasingly bumpy landings."

"So it's not just your bad driving?" Rose teased. He rolled his eyes as she grinned down at him.

"I am not a bad driver. I'm a brilliant driver, actually."

She scoffed. "Are not! Dare I remind you about about the trip to see Ian Dury in 1979 which turned into fighting literal werewolves in 1879? Or what about-"

The Doctor cut her off abruptly. "Wait, you can hear me?"

"Of course I can. You're laying right there?"

"Rose," the Doctor said, siting up and pulling himself up from under the console to sit next to her. "You don't understand. You heard me. What did you hear?"

Sighing, she stared him down. "Doctor, I just heard you say that you're not a bad driver. 'M not hard of hearing yet."

"The problem, Rose," he stated seriously, "is that I didn't say that out loud."

Send me a sentence prompt and I’ll write you a TenRose ficlet!

[ariesgamesandminis]

New Box Sets & decals as well as a whole batch of restocks are in from Death Ray Designs!

New: Akamatsu Assassination Team Box Cerberus Gunslinger Team Box Quick Build 2-Player Starter Box Faction Decals - Akamatsu Faction Decals - Cerberus Group

Restocks: 2-Player Starter Box - Battle For Prosperity Breaker Buckler Light HE-V Bulwark Heavy HE-V Burning Horizons C1-A Wheeled APC 4-Pack Close Quarters Rule Book Close Quarters Weapons Pack 1 Light / Medium Command Convoy Pack Condor Transport VTOL Core Rulebook Cutter Tactical Transport 4-Pack Feddeck Field Gun 2-Pack Fennec Light HE-V Goliath Ultra-Heavy HE-V Halberd Light Tank 2-Pack Hex Flight Stand 10-Pack Hex to Steel Rift 40mm Base Converter Pack (10) HMG Infantry Platoon 4-Pack Infantry Support Asset Box Jump Infantry Platoon 3-Pack Kite 350X Kobold LC1 Support Vehicle 4-Pack LCF-5 Flatbed Carrier 2-Pack LCT1 Tanker Truck 2-Pack Leatherback Tracked APC 4-Pack Mars Heavy HE-V Mastiff Ultra-Heavy HE-V Maverick Light VTOL 2-Pack Motorized 4-Wheeler Infantry Platoon 4-Pack Motorized Biker Infantry Platoon 4-Pack Parson Transport VTOL Pitman Recluse Rostam Battlearmor Platoon 4-Pack Shepheard Heavy HE-V Silverback Power Armor 5-Pack Silverback Power Armor w Cannons 5-Pack SRM Infantry Platoon 4-Pack Standard Infantry Platoon 4-Pack Strela Light Tank Hunter 2-Pack Strix Ultra-Heavy HE-V Tennant Battle Armor 4-Pack Vesper II VTOL (Multi-Weapon) 2-Pack Vesper VTOL with Rail Gun 2-Pack Volstrecker Heavy HE-V Weapon Insert Pack

Decals Hazard Mirrored - Base Front Green Kanji - 00-59 in all colors Kill Marks and Honor 1 Black Decals Kill Marks and Honor 1 White Decals Nose Art Shark Mouth Decals Hazard - Base Front Yellow Front Toward Enemy - Base Front Type 1 White on Yellow

Accessories & Terrain Artillery & Strafing Markers Hex City: Frontier Rotor Blades in all sizes

[the-clawtake]

An alarm tone sounded in Jehan’s ear, alerting him to the incoming flight of missiles. Without conscious thought, he hauled his Kodiak around, bringing it into the cover of a multi-story parking structure.

Most of the volley struck the building, detonating harmlessly (well, to him) on the concrete pads and few remaining parked vehicles. They’d been coming in at a high angle, and from the south. Missile Carriers, probably, firing indirect. There were few Blakist battlemechs left in Coen City this late in the day.

But for them to be that accurate, that meant they had spotters. If it was concealed infantry, he might be in trouble. He would have to go after the launchers themselves, and there was no guarantee he could stay in cover. But, if it was... He checked his sensor readout, looked up, scanned the skies. There, in the middle distance, was a chopper his battle computer had flagged as enemy.

Careless of him not to have noticed it before now. Sloppy, and dangerous. The Blakists were fielding Yellowjackets, and he had encountered variants with some sort of Heavy Gauss Rifle, as well as a variant with stealth armour. This one didn’t seem to be one of those, though. He settled his crosshairs on it, toggled the zoom function of his HUD. A Nightshade. They could be nasty, even a light PPC being capable of a fair chunk of damage.

More pressing at the moment was it’s ability to call fire on his position. He hugged the building, moving to flatten the angle between him and the unseen missile carriers. The range was long for the medium lasers mounted on his fists, and he had long ago expended his limited extended-range missiles.

He shifted his crosshairs slightly. It had been hovering at the angle of a tower, where it could duck just out of sight if necessary. If he could bracket it between the building and his beam, it’s own attempts to dodge might destroy it. He eased the reticule onto the left aileron, squeezed the trigger. Tracking the beam left, across the body of the craft.

The pilot dropped and strafed, trying to shift away from the laser, and as Jehan had hoped, clipped the tower with his rotor. Jehan accelerated, twisting down an alley, while a corner of his mind ran calculations.

Blakist C3 networks operated in sixes. The missile volley had had at least two point sources, which meant at three other units. More, if they were operating in concert with other Level IIs. He glanced down at his weapons readout. Bingo on ER iATMs. Down to the last couple of volleys of High Explosive. And the last couple of volleys for his HAG too. After that it would be down to beam weapons, the three ER Medium Lasers on each fist, and the big ER Large Laser in the torso. Still a significant punch, but a lot lighter than he would like.

He had covered two city blocks, before the alert tone sounded again, and he wheeled back into the blast shadow of a nearby structure, thanking his luck that he was in one of the more built up areas of the city, however it hampered his mobility and sensors. Almost all of the structures were three or four stories in height, with the odd skyscraper towering over them. It meant that there was a very limited band where he could be targeted by indirect fire.

Still, it was concerning, he thought, as shrapnel and debris rattled off the shoulders of his ‘mech. It meant he had missed a spotter somewhere.

But that was a problem for later. His battle computer had backplotted the missile trajectories, and he was almost on top of them. Two more blocks south, and another east. He checked his map as he continued to advance, trying to keep in the shadow of the buildings.

He was forward of the rest of the Clawtake; Most of them were still clustered around Precentor’s Park. Rauda’s reinforced Star had finished off the last of the Celestials and had been ambushing Blakist units coming to try and rescue them.

The remnants of the Battle Star, the Gladiator and Summoner and Joyce’s Dire Wolf had escorted a recovery team to where Jorge had gone down. His ejection seat had blown at an angle, and that little bit of spin had meant that the back of the chair had gone through the window first, shielding most of him from the shattered glass. He’d not had the force to punch through the floor above it, but he also hadn’t had the velocity for the impact to snap his neck, so his biggest injury had come when he had landed on his legs. And then his ejection seat had landed on them.

So he was going to be in the tender custody of the medics for a while, but that was okay because his battlemech was not any better. In fact, Jehan suspected it might be easier to bring the downed Fafnir next to it back to full functionality. That pilot had been less lucky. Apparently his body was still alive, but there was doubt as to whether there was any neural activity to speak of. The feedback from the capacitors on both Heavy Gauss Rifles shorting in rapid succession had knocked him out in such a way that it wasn’t certain if he’d ever wake up.

Both pilots, and their ‘mechs, had been carted off to safety.

He had no idea where the Elementals were, beyond Evelyn’s Star which was providing security for the Smoke Jaguar aid station. The rest of them had been given the same orders as everyone else under Jehan’s command. Havoc. Hunt the Blakists through Coen City, support other Touchdown forces where possible, and above all, be unpredictable.

He veered to his left a block early. Didn’t want to give the LRM carriers the range for a direct volley at him. Street was clear. Covered the block. Turned right. Clear.

He rounded the last corner, and before him loomed the pale shadows of the Blakist armour. The spotter must have been keeping them appraised of his position, because the LRM carriers were already turning to bring their launchers to bear.

Before he could respond, they belched fire and a rain of warheads flew at him. He cringed, bracing against the explosions.

And staggered slightly under a hail of impacts. The expected detonations did not.

He started to laugh,

The range was too low! The warheads had not armed. Oh, the impacts would have dented armour, but he was not dead.

And then his laughter stopped.

Two of the Blakist vehicles were LRM carriers, true. The other two were not, and his blood chilled as he recognised the distinctive silhouette.

And their turrets were already rotating to engage.

Demolishers. Although the closer one, the one already facing him, seemed to have a hull-mounted cannon as well. He threw the throttle open, engaged the supercharger for good measure,

Sprinting obliquely, he opened up with everything he had into the far tank. It still had it’s rear armour facing him. The cockpit temperature spiked.

“Warning. Heat Levels Critical. Shutdown Imminent.” the battle computer informed him in it’s monotone.

“I know, I know,” he muttered, slapping at the override as his shots went home. Then the two heavy tanks returned fire.

The impacts struck the Kodiak like hammer blows, and Jehan had to struggle to keep the ‘mech on it’s feet, even as the myomers strained against the rising heat and his pace slowed.

The damage indicators on his hud, already showing yellow armour in most locations flashed to orange with a smattering of red, and he squinted at the readouts. That couldn’t be right. At least one of those had been a direct hit.

A Class 20 autocannon should have blown his arm off, let alone four of them, and firing in a cadence that suggested Ultra Autocannons.

He pushed it to the back of his mind, dragging his massive warmachine into a serpentine towards the closer tank. The lasers on his arms lashed out again as the heat fell to a manageable level. The far tank was still trying to turn to face him, but his last volley had torn it’s rear armour to shreds.

He did not have a great shot, but at least one of the beams went home and it began to smoke. He ignored it when he saw crew clambering out of the top hatch.

The LRM carriers loosed another volley, but the range was still close and the projectiles cratered largely impotently against his armour.

Then the close tank opened up again. This time it had brought the hull-mount to bear.

“STRAVAG!” Jehan swore, as the heavy gauss slug tore through the Kodiak’s lower leg, shattering armour and shredder myomers. His speed, only just starting to return to normal as the temperature of the myomers fell dropped again, as the damaged limb forced a limp.

He was close enough to bring his fists into play though, and he wrapped a huge hand around the autocannon barrels and squeezed. Something crunched, gave, and that would have been the end of it, but the panicked gunner had already squeezed the triggers, and there was no way to stop the mechanisms from sending the dozen 120mm shells streaking towards oblivion.

Fire jetted from the barrel, around the Kodiak’s grip, and there was a brief pause before the whole turret blew off it’s mount.

Jehan reeled as most of his ‘mech’s left arm went flying, the force of the explosion knocking the huge assault ‘mech onto it’s back. He cursed, turning his head, and spitting blood, as he rolled the ‘mech onto it’s side, bringing the remaining arm round and lifting it to his knees. Just in time for a blast of blue lighting to spatter off the ground where his cockpit had been.

He drove the stump of the arm into the side of the building beside him, levering his ‘mech up and looking up at the hovering Nightshade preparing to hit him with another blast from it’s particle cannon.

As he struggled to bring something, anything to bear, on the looming vtol, something streaked from the nearby building, and his dazed mind tried to place.

It was too big to be a missile, unless some idiot had decided to use Arrow IV for anti-air.

It hit the Nightshade. And stopped.

Jehan squinted. Toggled his zoom.

And watched, dumbstruck, as the Elemental clinging to the side of the chopper put it’s battle claw through the cockpit and tore the pilot out of his seat, before dropping backwards.

Remembering the LRM carriers behind him, he turned, only to find that the rest of the point had that covered. Two Elementals had dropped on each carrier, and were occupied tearing open hatches.

His comms hissed static at him, and then

“You looked like you could use some assistance, Star Colonel.”

Jehan toggled his zoom, picking out the unit insignia on the Elemental’s shoulder. The rune Fehu.

“Aff, Eirik. My thanks.” He examined his damage readouts. His left arm was gone as far as the elbow, what armour he had left was critical, and there was internal damage to his right leg.

“I am no longer combat effective, and I believe the whole unit is due for relief. Pass the order. We withdraw from Coen to rearm and recuperate.”

He looked down at the diminutive figures of the armoured Elemental and his flight-suited prisoner.

“I would offer you a ride, however I am not equipped to carry Elementals.”

He turned, and began to trudge to the north, alerting his fellows to their new orders, and making a mental note to warn General Hazen that some of the Blakist Demolishers had Gauss Rifles.

[stevebattle]

Odetics Adaptive-Shape Robot Gripper by Bruce Schena (1990) for Odetics Inc., Advanced Intelligent Machines Division, Anaheim, California. This is a lightweight, high-strength (200 lbs finger grip force), reconfigurable (multi-grip) robot hand designed for Odetics, who also produce the Odex 1 functionoid robot. It uses custom Seiberco 18-pole brushless motors with integrated resolvers – sensors providing feedback on servo rotor position and speed. It has three fingers with titanium linkages, with two outer fingers that are able to rotate, effectively giving it two opposable thumbs.

[aviationd]

Multirotor drones employ fixed pitch blades vehicle motion is controlled by adjusting the relative speed of each rotor to change the thrust and torque produced by each Hence they are considered to be a simpler and cheap drone to operate

[midnightactual]

Walk

聞けよ 風さえ泣き そびえ立つ影の塔 [Hear me, oh soaring tower of shadows, where even the wind does weep] 撃たれて夜道を這うキミに灯をともせよ [Light your lamps for the wounded one who prowls the roads at night!] 忘れはしない キミのことは [I will not forget about you] かなわぬ道に なおひとり立ち [I still stand alone on this bleak and brutal road] 行けよ饒舌の 影よ来て導 [Go forth, oh loquacious shadows! Come and guide me!]

The final refuge of small minds was imagining that the world was simple. Engaging in follies such as treating it as though it were cast in black and white, imagining that there was only one kind of intelligence, and imagining that there was only one kind of power. The world cared nothing for such delusions—it cared not even to crush them. Illusions such as those would helplessly break themselves upon its splendorous multi-hued and multi-flavored wonder. That was simply the way of the world.

The staccato wash of rotor blades droned through Yoruichi's aviation headset, forming a humming backdrop to her drifting thoughts. The music her helicopter broadcast was an even more muffled rumble, more felt than heard, yet known intimately to her through countless hours of exposure. A voice crackled into her ears and stirred her from her rumination.

"Ten klicks out. Descending to one-five-zero meters. ETA three mikes."

"Affirmative," she replied calmly, drawing in a breath and straightening up in her seat. A mental timer began to tick down in her own mind, and she soon removed her headset, stowing it above. The whup whup whup whup of the Huey's rotors instantly filled her ears, but that only really served to help with marking time.

Power often lay less where it was actually concentrated, and more where it was perceived to be. Perception was, of course, exceedingly fallible. Accordingly, displays of power were necessary both for correcting perceptions as to where power seemed to be, and to suggest where it actually resided. Small minds might call that propaganda, yet once more that was simply the way of the world.

Yoruichi pulled a light blue beret from the right shoulder strap of the camouflage fatigues she wore, shaking it out and fluffing it before she put it on. Normally, she wasn't one to overly primp, but this was all part of the show. She adjusted it this way and that so it sat appropriately high and puffed atop her head rather than looking flattened or deflated, its silver badge proudly displayed while a few stray bangs poked out characterfully.

A beret was a lot like a souffle—you didn't want it to fall flat. She briefly wondered if they'd done something special with theirs during the filming of Street Fighter: The Movie. The trick was to get things looking as naturalistic as possible while still appearing to be the best version of themselves. A lack of attention to detail and overly-polished appearances were both distractions. It was why she'd picked well-worn fatigues, much as they had in that movie.

At last, she fussed with her matching blue cravat, then adjusted the rest of her uniform some to get it just so. Finally, she turned to her aide in the seat next to hers, gestured to herself, and gave a smoothly rotating gesture from thumbs-up to thumbs-down.

He flashed back a clear thumbs-up and received a nod in kind.

With that settled, she turned her attention out the nearer of the opened side doors to either side of the helicopter's fuselage, watching Rukongai whip by below them. This close to the Seireitei, it looked the same as it ever had—even from the air, it was nothing like what they'd managed to achieve further out. It felt sort of surreal to see it like this now from this vantage point, as though she'd fallen through time. To have such a perspective was a kind of power in itself. Then again, so was being able to simply appreciate the moment.

She had trained all of this crew, or trained their trainers, or trained their trainers' trainers. One of her powers was to change the state of the world such that she was able to delegate—to focus exclusively upon what only she could do, while trusting that others could handle themselves and even herself on her way to doing exactly that. It was why she had chosen to make her entrance this way—she didn't have to, but she could.

What was a clearer statement of power than, 'Because I can'?

Shinigami had long allowed themselves to believe that only the concentration of power was meaningful—that only being able to do things oneself was important. It had never come across as being especially important to Old Man Yama where his meals had come from, or how his laundry was done, or who filled out reports for him, or who stood watch for him. Anyone could do such things; all of it was 'expendable'.

Was it?

Who was actually expendable in the end? The world had delivered its answer already: Old Man Yama was gone. Another illusion of strength breaking across the bow of the unstoppable way of the world.

She would not be meeting with him, but with Shunsui, and Shunsui was no Old Man Yama. With all due respect to him, he was softer, and that was no insult—just as a sword needed ductility to keep its shape, a person needed a measure of softness to keep theirs. Some give was essential. Softness also invited being shaped and molded though—it invited impressions. She was here to make one.

The helicopter slowed and tipped up its nose to come to a halt just as the paving stones that denoted the edge of the Seireitei came into view. They were at the west gate, exactly like back then. Aizen wasn't waiting to drop the Seireimon at just the right moment this time, but there was a line between assertiveness and arrogance. Flying all the way to Sōkyoku Hill might come across as unnecessarily disrespectful.

Once they leveled back out, four of her men rappelled out the open doors from outward facing seats behind her own. A few moments later, the helicopter shuddered and lifted some as the old WW2-era Willys Jeep it was carrying underslung was detached. Well, it looked like a WW2-era Jeep, anyway—it was actually much lighter than the original article, having been rebuilt from more modern materials.

There was another brief pause to allow that detachment to move it out from below, then they finally touched down. The Huey's rotors audibly slowed and the music died as the engine was turned off. Everything would be pure theater now.

Yoruichi unbuckled her harness and got out with every confidence, not even bothering to stoop below the rotors and finding the four waiting for her, standing at attention. They saluted as she approached, her aide and two more guards following after. She returned the gesture sharply, and in her wake those four moved to form a perimeter around the Huey. None of them had any weapons, of course, but they didn't need them either—she had made sure of that—and she could see curious Shinigami gathering to look their way.

"Everyone remember where we parked," she chimed merrily, going to the front passenger's seat of the Jeep. Her aide took up the driver's seat, and the guards got in the back. She promptly allowed her reiatsu to flow forth some just before they began to drive down the Seireitei's western main boulevard at a pace which was neither hurried nor stately.

They'd only come to a stop when the Seireitei's changes in elevation brought the boulevard to an end, parking there. The remaining two guards took up a vigil, and Yoruichi proceeded on foot with her aide, taking up an easy and confident stride.

[hirocimacruiser]

Tommykaira R-z brochure translation.

The wonders of Tommykaira Magic that you can experience while driving. R

Total balance with a high degree of perfection commensurate with 530ps.

The displacement has been increased to 2700cc, achieving a maximum output of 530 horsepower and a maximum torque of 54.52kgm. To achieve this, various types of tuning have been applied. For example, the crankshaft, which is the most important element for bringing out the best performance of the engine, is an original crankshaft manufactured by Fandon in the UK. Highly rigid full counter type provides excellent balance performance. Furthermore, the R-z uses an H-section connecting rod and forged aluminum piston, making it both highly rigid and lightweight. What's more, it achieves well-balanced tuning. In addition, the R-z uses metal head gaskets, high-lift camshafts, valve springs, and racing plugs to bring out the best in the pistons, connecting rods, and crankshafts that are the main moving parts. Composite Radiator Improves cooling effect by using NI water pump.

I got it.

Changes to the intake and exhaust system have resulted in a significant increase in efficiency through the use of a stainless steel exhaust system with suction from the front pipe and a racing type intercooler. By increasing the size of the fuel system parts and strengthening the drive system, you can enjoy ample torque even when driving at low rpm around town. What's more, the sense of power, extension, and revving at high rpm will captivate anyone sitting in the driver's seat.

suspension tuning is

"High ride comfort and handling"

Balance in Dimensions.” During normal driving

Passenger-friendly ride

While realizing the taste, wine day

It is sharp and has excellent turning performance when turning.

Tomita has achieved this goal and has received rave reviews from many quarters.

It's a magic called Kaira Magic.

The front brake has been strengthened to control the 530 horsepower. Uses AP 6-pot calipers, AP brake rotors, and PFC brake pads. This is a highly reliable braking system that responds precisely to the driver's wishes.

[mechanism]

engine body

・Cylinder head/port polishing

・Cylinder block/boring, internal polishing

・Original crankshaft made in UK Fandon

・Special H section connecting rod

・Special forged piston

・Titanium coated piston ring

・Metal head gasket

・High lift camshaft

・Reinforced valve spring, valve guide

・Racing plug

computer unit

・R-z dedicated computer unit

cooling system

・Large capacity water-cooled oil cooler

Water pump for high speed N1

Intake and exhaust system

・All exhaust system

・Large capacity intercooler

・Special turbine

fuel system

Large capacity air flow meter

large capacity injector

・Large capacity fuel pump

drive system

・Twin plate clutch

Reinforcement parts

・Strut tower bar (with master cylinder stopper)

・Reinforced engine mount

・Enhanced mission mount

[Suspension]

Brake system

・AP 6-pot caliper & rotor (F)

・PFC brake pad

suspension

・Bilstein original shock absorber

・Original spring (F)

Original double spring (R)

tires/wheels

・Forged magnesium cut wheel “PRO R” 9.5×19+22

・DUNLOP FORMULA FM901 275/30ZR19

Reinforcement parts

・Stainless mesh brake hose

・Front tension rod (pillow ball)

* [Exterior] and [Interior] are the same specifications as R-s.

Tommykaira R-Z SPECIFICATION

PRICE ¥10,500,000-

PERFORMANCE

Max Output 530ps/7300rpm

Max Torque 54.52kgm/6000rpm

ENGINE

RB26DETT STRAIGHT-6 DOHC Turbo with multi-cup Intercooler

Piston Displacement: 2700cc

Bore x Stroke: 87.0mm x 75.7mm

BODY

Length: 4620mm

Width: 1785mm

Height: 1335mm

Wheelbase: 2665mm

Tread: Front 1496mm

Rear 1496mm

LAYOUT

4 Wheels Drive

Transmission: 6MT

Brakes:(F) 6 Piston Opposed Type Caliper + Ventilated Disc

Brakes:(R) 2 Piston Opposed Type Caliper + Ventilated Disc

Wheels: 9.5JJX 19 (Front&Rear)

Tire: 275/30ZR19 (Front&Rear)

Suspension : Original Shock absorber + Original Coil Spring

Steering: Rack & Pinion < SUPER HICAS >

*Price is vehicle price delivered at Kyoto store, registration fees and consumption tax not included US specifications, data, etc. are subject to change without notice. *Detailed options, equipment, body color, etc. are based on genuine Nissan. Catalog photos may look different from the actual products as they are printed materials. For inquiries and requests..

TOMITA

dream factory

http://www.tommykaira.com

[nmsc-market-pulse]

Airbus: Soaring High in the Drone Market

Introduction:

Airbus S.A.S., a global leader in the aerospace industry, has made significant inroads into the rapidly expanding Drone Market. Renowned for its expertise in aviation and aerospace technology, Airbus is leveraging its core competencies to redefine the landscape of drone delivery and aerial mobility.

Download FREE Sample: https://www.nextmsc.com/drone-market/request-sample

Airbus' Strategic Approach: A Holistic Ecosystem

Airbus' strategy in the drone market centers on a holistic approach that encompasses:

Core Competencies: Leveraging expertise in aerospace engineering, manufacturing, and systems integration to develop advanced drone platforms.

Urban Air Mobility (UAM): Integrating drone delivery services into a broader UAM ecosystem, encompassing passenger drones, cargo drones, and air taxis.

Infrastructure Development: Investing in the development of drone infrastructure, including charging stations, landing pads, and air traffic management systems.

Data Analytics and Optimization: Utilizing data analytics to optimize drone delivery routes, improve efficiency, and enhance customer experience.

Regulatory Engagement: Actively participating in the development of drone regulations to shape a favorable regulatory environment.

Inquire before buying: https://www.nextmsc.com/drone-market/inquire-before-buying

Airbus' Contributions to the Drone Market

Airbus' contributions to the drone market are multifaceted:

Advanced Drone Platforms: The company is developing cutting-edge drone platforms with extended range, payload capacity, and flight autonomy.

Hybrid Drone Concepts: Airbus is exploring hybrid drone designs that combine the advantages of fixed-wing and multi-rotor configurations.

Urban Air Mobility Ecosystem: The company is actively involved in developing a comprehensive UAM ecosystem, including drones, ground infrastructure, and air traffic management systems.

Integration with Existing Aviation Systems: Airbus is leveraging its expertise in aviation to seamlessly integrate drone operations into the broader airspace.

Focus on Safety and Security: The company prioritizes safety and security, incorporating advanced technologies and rigorous testing into drone development.

Airbus' Role in Shaping the Future

Airbus' strategic vision positions the company as a key player in shaping the future of the drone market. The company is likely to focus on:

Expanding Drone Capabilities: Developing drones with advanced features such as autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, and payload flexibility.

Global Market Expansion: Expanding drone delivery services to new markets and regions, leveraging Airbus' global presence.

Sustainability: Incorporating sustainable practices into drone operations, using eco-friendly materials and reducing noise pollution.

Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborating with governments, cities, and other stakeholders to accelerate drone adoption.

Data Monetization: Leveraging data collected from drone operations to create new revenue streams and insights.

Case Studies: Airbus' Impact

To illustrate Airbus' role in the drone market, consider the following examples:

CityAirbus: Airbus' electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft concept demonstrates the company's commitment to urban air mobility and its potential application for drone delivery.

Cargo Drone Development: Airbus is actively developing cargo drones with increased payload capacity for delivering heavier packages.

Drone Infrastructure Investments: The company is investing in the development of droneports and charging stations to support the growth of drone delivery services.

Airbus' Focus on Urban Air Mobility (UAM)

Airbus sees UAM as a key growth area and is investing heavily in developing a comprehensive ecosystem. The company's vision includes:

Passenger Drones: Developing passenger drones for urban transportation, reducing traffic congestion, and improving mobility.

Cargo Drones: Integrating cargo drones into the urban logistics network for efficient delivery of goods and services.

Air Traffic Management: Developing advanced air traffic management systems for safe and efficient drone operations in urban environments.

Infrastructure Development: Building the necessary infrastructure, including vertiports and charging stations, to support UAM operations.

Challenges and Opportunities

While Airbus is a major player in the drone market, the company faces challenges such as regulatory hurdles, public acceptance, and technological limitations. However, the potential rewards are significant, including increased market share, revenue generation, and the opportunity to redefine urban transportation.

Airbus' focus on UAM and its ability to integrate drones into the broader aviation ecosystem position the company well to capitalize on the growing demand for air mobility solutions. By addressing challenges and leveraging opportunities, Airbus can solidify its leadership position in the drone market.

Conclusion

Airbus, with its deep-rooted expertise in aerospace engineering and a global presence, is poised to be a major player in the drone market. The company's focus on urban air mobility, coupled with its commitment to innovation and sustainability, positions it well for future growth.

As the drone market continues to evolve, Airbus' ability to adapt to changing market dynamics and technological advancements will be crucial for maintaining its leadership position. The company's success in developing safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly drone solutions will be essential for building public trust and expanding the adoption of drone technology.

[scruffyplayssonic]

Are the ArchieSonic comics actually an 80’s/90’s syndicated cartoon? Episode 64 - 65: Two Multi-part Finale (part 13: Panic in the Skies parts 3 and 4)

Welcome back to my investigation of how Archie Comics’ Sonic the Hedgehog series was actually a syndicated cartoon from the 80’s and 90’s! Last week I checked out the first two chapters of Panic in the Skies: the finale of the Sonic Unleashed arc and, in my humble opinion, the proper finale to the ArchieSonic series. Today it’s time to cover the second half of this story, Sonic the Hedgehog issues #286 and 287. 

So in the previous issues, Eggman had struck when the Freedom Fighters’ guards were down. He’d gotten his grimy mitts on Chip, the Chaos Emeralds, the Gaia Keys, and the Gaia Colossus, and both the Sky Patrol and Nicole had been severely damaged. Sally split the Freedom Fighters into three teams designed to stop Eggman, with her, Antoine, Bunnie and Tails attacking Eggmanland, Rotor flying into battle against the Death Egg, and Sonic sent to rescue Chip from Eggman. 

For those of you familiar with the Sonic Unleashed game, it will be no surprise to find that Sonic had to go up against Eggman in the Egg Dragoon. And he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself too.

Meanwhile the team at Eggmanland managed to take down a couple of the E-100 units that had gotten in their way and continued fighting towards the central tower they were planning to sabotage.

Rotor however was having a much more difficult fight. At full power the Sky Patrol might have been a match for the Death Egg, but in its crippled state it was clear that he and Nicole were barely hanging on. Orbot and Cubot, who were piloting the Death Egg, noticed that too and decided they needed to stop him quickly with one massive blast, to avoid draining their fuel reserves any further.

Woof, that’s some nasty turbulence.

Back at the Gaia Colossus Eggman managed to land a lucky hit on Sonic and freeze him in a block of ice. Unfortunately for him this happened right at sunset, so when Eggman moved in for the finishing blow…

With his Werehog strength, Sonic managed to destroy the Egg Dragoon and send Eggman packing.

But just after he’d freed Chip, the Dark Gaia energy started draining out of him. Sally’s team had managed to sabotage the control tower, releasing all of the Dark Gaia energy that Eggman had collected from around the world, and now Dark Gaia was bringing all of it together to finally take a corporeal form.

Chip was disheartened and thought that it was all over, but one pep talk later Chip was ready to pilot the Gaia Colossus into battle for the fate of the world, with Super Sonic right by his side.

Dark Gaia raised a shield to protect itself, but Chip tore through it to pummel Dark Gaia directly while Super Sonic attacked the snake monsters powering its shield.

While the battle was raging on, the Freedom Fighters were watching from the safety of the Tornado. They noticed that the Death Egg had stopped moving and decided it must have finally run out of gas. Eventually Sally spotted the downed Sky Patrol in the ocean and Tails brought them in for a landing.

Sonic and Chip seemed to have the battle well in hand until Dark Gaia managed to grab the Colossus and started charging up a massive laser for a point blank attack.

Aside from being one of the most frustrating parts of the boss battle in the game (I lost so many lives trying to get to Chip before that laser charged!), in the comic version of this fight there was another problem. Sonic noticed that its line of fire would also obliterate his friends atop the downed Sky Patrol. 

I mean, Chip still got blasted. But only a little, I guess? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Eggman was also watching this battle unfold, and even having been soundly defeated only minutes ago, was already plotting for his next scheme.

It seems pretty obvious that Eggman’s next big move would have been on Lost Hex and would have been a comic adaptation of Sonic Lost World. Buuuuuuut considering how most of the fanbase feels about that game, perhaps it was a mercy that the comics were cancelled before that could happen. At least we were spared all the Twitter hot takes.

With Dark Gaia exhausted from using its kill-laser, Sonic was able to land the final blow and take the monster down.

All that was left now was for Chip to do his part and restore the world, yeeting Sonic back to his friends while he brought the planetary pieces back together and taking the Gaia Temples with him back into the planet’s mantle to prevent Eggman from reaching them again. In a very emotional scene Chip telekinetically thanked all the friends he’d made on his adventure and said farewell.

Oh, and as you can see, Amy and Knuckles managed to restore the Master Emerald to Angel Island just in time. Phew!

I don’t usually copy entire groups of pages for these reviews, but this ending always hits me right in the feels and I think the entire thing needs to be shown for the full emotional impact. The writing and the art is just perfect. Thank you Ian, for doing this game justice. 

That final scene of the Freedom Fighters watching the sun rise feels like the proper ending to the series to me. But as I’ve mentioned before, even though I think it’s the perfect send-off for ArchieSonic, this issue was not the final issue published before the series cancellation. Instead we got three more issues of a new arc, Genesis of a Hero, which ran from Sonic the Hedgehog #288 - #290 and featured adaptations of Sonic 1, Sonic 2, and Sonic CD.

This was supposed to be a four issue arc, with Sonic #291 featuring an adaptation of Sonic 3 & Knuckles, but SEGA pulled the plug before that issue could be released. The timing of this cancellation means we also never got to see the final issue of the Sonic Mega Drive series, a story which was Ian’s shot at writing a comic book version of a game he envisioned, set in Sonic's classic era. And it was damned good too.

But while I’m still salty seven and a half years later that we never got to see the final issue of Mega Drive (or the adaptation of SegaSonic the Hedgehog starring Mighty and Ray that was supposed to be in Sonic #294), I am at least grateful that we got a fully finished Sonic Unleashed arc. Like I said before, the ending of that story is very emotional and I think it’s quite beautiful too. Ian, Diana, and the rest of the creative team really knocked it out of the park.

Well, I have now covered all 65 episodes of the theoretical cartoon that ArchieSonic should have been. So is this the end of my series? In a word… no. xD Let's be honest - I posted the first episode of this series way back in December of 2022, and it has evolved a lot from my original plans since then. I’m going to need one more post (probably split into two parts) to properly summarise this whole experience and go back to my original goal for this blog series. Next time I'm going to finally answer once and for all the question that has been keeping us all awake at night: were the ArchieSonic comic actually a syndicated cartoon from the 80s/90s? Stay tuned to this space, because my final assessment is coming soon!

[diabolus1exmachina]

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GT-A Wagon 

I don't know about you, but when I think of a wagon, I normally think of a car that's had the thrill factor turned down a notch or two. Not here. The Lancer Evolution Wagon is a fully-blown Evo in every detail. Dropped onto the same four-wheel- drive platform as the Evo IX, this luggage-lugger is about as extreme as they come.

Outside, it's no raving beauty with its Volvo-esque rear end grafted onto the chunky, sharp-edged Evo front. Inside the story's much the same. Except for the leather-wrapped gear-shifter and three-spoke steering wheel, and the supportive Recaro seats, bland grey plastic is the order of the day. Fortunately, when you fire up that 2-litre turbo it all starts to get rather more interesting.

The Wagon gets the same turbocharged 2-litre engine that debuted in the Evo IX saloon, complete with its sophisticated MIVEC variable valve timing system, but uniquely has the option of an automatic transmission to supplement the standard and excellent six-speed manual.

Bottom-end torque response is beefy and comes on hot and strong from 2500rpm, while at the top-end you can enjoy a deluge of free-flowing revs. That's the beauty of the MIVEC system, in that it allows you ready access to the considerable all that the engine has to give, but if you're stuck in slow-moving city traffic it gives you the luxury of shunt-free progress. The six-speed manual has deliciously short throws and is ideally matched to the engine's torque curve. So how fast is the Evo Wagon? Around Japan's most popular race track, the 2.1km-long Tsukuba Circuit near Tokyo, it clocked an impressive 1min 7sec, a mere one second off the pace of its booted brother. Just like the saloon, the Evo Wagon employs MacPherson struts on the front and a multi-link on the rear with the same rally-bred body rigidity and Bilstein dampers added for good measure. And just like the saloon, the Wagon feels rock-solid in the corners with minimum body-roll, while the ride quality is noticeably better and more compliant than that of the Evo currently on sale in Europe.

But while the Wagon inherits the four-door's Active Centre Differential (ACD) with the three-way Tarmac/Gravel/Snow control, it doesn't get the Evo IX's highly-rated Super Active Yaw Control (AYC). One Mitsubishi engineer suggested that price was the probable reason for its omission, but this car doesn't really need it. With its squared-off and heightened rear bodywork the wagon hauls an extra 70kg over the rear wheels, which works to improve the car's front to rear weight distribution.

Throw it into a corner and the Wagon turns in fast as the extra kilos at the rear get the tail moving and the nose turned-in, while the front-mounted helical LSD and ACD keep the nose in check. At the limits of adhesion, either understeer or oversteer is there for the taking. With no AYC to get in the way of a good slide, and the extra rear weight making it easier to provoke rear-end breakaway, the Wagon can be chucked into prolonged power-slides all day long. And unlike the four-door, which 'floats' its rear inside tyre in tight, fast corners, you can actually feel all four tyres (Yokohama Advan AO46s) in contact with the road, even through the quick corners.

Throw it into a corner and the Wagon turns in fast as the extra kilos at the rear get the tail moving and the nose turned-in, while the front-mounted helical LSD and ACD keep the nose in check. At the limits of adhesion, either understeer or oversteer is there for the taking. With no AYC to get in the way of a good slide, and the extra rear weight making it easier to provoke rear-end breakaway, the Wagon can be chucked into prolonged power-slides all day long. And unlike the four-door, which 'floats' its rear inside tyre in tight, fast corners, you can actually feel all four tyres (Yokohama Advan AO46s) in contact with the road, even through the quick corners.With four-piston Brembo callipers up front, sports pads and large rotors, the brakes wipe speed off instantly and feel perfectly balanced under-foot.

The Evo IX Wagon was without doubt the fastest- cornering wagon on the planet (at least until new versions of the Audi RS6 and RS4 Avants arrived to challenge its supremacy). But as Mitsubishi maked only 2500 Wagons, none officially destined for export.