We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:53:20 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification That whole incident with the water buffalo and the ninja spider was highly exaggerated. For one thing, I've never used a wrench on a spider in assault mode--a simple *flick* of the index finger and he becomes HALO qualified. If you use a wrench, you can't see the look on his face when he hits the slipstream. And if I'd inadvertently plunked down in the immediate proximity of a water buffalo, I'd at least have had the presence of mind to use today's "Okay--WTF is that?" on him. The dummy 20mm round is just there to provide a sense of... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html Tue, 09 May 2006 00:44:11 -0600 Good job Mudpuppy! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45136 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45136 Thu, 11 May 2006 07:22:12 -0600 simple, it's a butain lighter from a survival kit Mudpuppy1975 got it, although technically they're from the survival *vest* (SRU-21/P) rather than a kit, per se, and I won't knock points off for spelling...]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45133 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45133 Thu, 11 May 2006 00:14:00 -0600 Among the early airplanes with ejection capabilities for navigators were the B-45 and B-47 medium bombers. The former, a straight-wing 450 mile-per-hour jet, featured a sideways ejection seat for the navigator sitting in the nose. When it was time to bail out, the B-45 navigator left via the port-side hatch as his seat threw him clear of the craft. Of course there was some danger of hitting the engine pod, but when it's time to leave, it's time to leave. Somewhat less of a danger zone than a rotor disk... Quote lifted from here. And my foot is up. Except when it isn't. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45132 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45132 Thu, 11 May 2006 00:06:35 -0600 Umm, sorry; meant to address above comment to The Armorer. Which reminds me: You put that foot up, boy! Hear? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45131 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45131 Wed, 10 May 2006 23:35:03 -0600 Mudpuppy: A sideways ejection seat is perfectly *possible*. I think the B-45 had one. Now that's a guaranteed wide-open money faucet for chiropractors. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45130 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45130 Wed, 10 May 2006 23:31:30 -0600 simple, it's a butain lighter from a survival kit http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45127 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45127 Wed, 10 May 2006 20:48:00 -0600 Heh. I can imagine the life support techs might take a dim view of an ejection seat in a UH-1... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45126 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45126 Wed, 10 May 2006 20:24:41 -0600 Is it an impulse cartridge for an ejection seat? My damn Adobe Acrobat isn't working so I'm having trouble pulling up anything visual. Grr... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45125 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45125 Wed, 10 May 2006 20:14:17 -0600 I do think you are tricking people though, by having the top of the WTF placed to the bottom of the picture. The 1/4 turn being necessary to create the effect out the top. Long time no see--welcome back! But sorry, no cigar--the WTFs are depicted bottom=bottom and top=top. Pogue - You *know* how frikkin' huge a helicopter-mounter dispenser is. Why would I settle for a miniscule CS spritzer? Whoop. Darn. More clues on the loose.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45120 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45120 Wed, 10 May 2006 16:37:55 -0600 Hmmmm... CS dispenser maybe? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45116 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45116 Wed, 10 May 2006 13:42:47 -0600 From the comments, and noting that it would be Before My Time as a Gulf War I vet, I am wondering if it is a handheld starshell flare or a handheld parachute flare. But those tend to be longer than 20mm round, in civilian form. I do think you are tricking people though, by having the top of the WTF placed to the bottom of the picture. The 1/4 turn being necessary to create the effect out the top. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45114 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45114 Wed, 10 May 2006 13:11:46 -0600 Hmmm - Does KtLW approve of using her gossamer duvet cover as a prop for a rubber ribbbed tipped device? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45112 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45112 Wed, 10 May 2006 11:14:47 -0600 Dye marker for an over water egress situation? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45102 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45102 Tue, 09 May 2006 23:34:05 -0600 OK, last one I promise. Some kinda bizarro autoinjector for some unknown substance that convinces rotorheads that they really are in control of the "loose formation of parts flying in formation". Hee, sorry. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45101 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45101 Tue, 09 May 2006 23:29:08 -0600 OK, I'm shotgunnig (or applying Sherlock's Law) it here. Inflation device for a raft, balloon, etc. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45100 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45100 Tue, 09 May 2006 23:15:02 -0600 Hand held (or launched) smoke discharger for daylight marking? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45099 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45099 Tue, 09 May 2006 23:10:26 -0600 John - Nope. Right church, wrong pew. The flares used the protective cap, though, not the launcher. But thanks for the reminder. Heh--now, where'd I stash those flares? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45093 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45093 Tue, 09 May 2006 19:02:07 -0600 Bloodspite - A HEEDS (Helicopter Emergency Egress Device) bottle is a *lot* bigger than the WTFs are, and the WTFs don't function properly when wet (hence, the protective cap). Go a little further down the same track... MM© - The kittens hadn't even been *born* back when we carried the WTFs around! Did I score points then, or what? *nudge-nudge* *wink-wink* http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45092 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45092 Tue, 09 May 2006 18:57:14 -0600 Hmmm, while I can't find anything that matches it on the net - the *launcher* for a SAR flare? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45091 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45091 Tue, 09 May 2006 18:52:54 -0600 Bill, what with all the castle kittens around, who's evading? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45090 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45090 Tue, 09 May 2006 18:36:36 -0600 Looks a bit like a emergency breathing aparatus but I'm probably wrong. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45089 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45089 Tue, 09 May 2006 18:12:14 -0600 Geez, am I the *only* guy around this place that's taught Aviation Survival and Evasion?!!? And with that boatload of hints, too... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45088 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45088 Tue, 09 May 2006 17:56:09 -0600 Well Bill, old age and CRS don't help. I don't really remember, if I ever knew, what that is. Vaguely remember something that spread dye to mark targets that could be prosecuted later. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45086 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45086 Tue, 09 May 2006 17:38:55 -0600 I'm guessing some kind of diversion charge to help make ones escape. My first thought was an area denial mine/bomblet, but the arming process seems a little cumbersome for that.... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45085 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45085 Tue, 09 May 2006 16:36:14 -0600 Self-expanding White Phosphorous Water Buffalo Treats? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45081 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45081 Tue, 09 May 2006 13:54:03 -0600 Hmmm, let me see, it's a long cylindrical object with a protective knobbed sleeve that had to be carefully hand operated to make sure it went off at the appropriate time. What ever could that be? :©) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45065 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45065 Tue, 09 May 2006 08:43:08 -0600 Heh. Now I know what it feels like to be on the end of one of my posers. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45061 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss.html#comment-45061 Tue, 09 May 2006 08:38:48 -0600