Stand by for take-off

{{ Jet powered, swept wings, Mach numbers. Century series. Guided missiles. Time over target. Congress. Rocket-launch tests. Telemetry. Research and development budgets. Radar. Computers. Transistors. Bell Labs. Air defense systems. Guided missiles. House Defense Appropriation Committee. RAND Corporation. 

{{ This, ladies and gentlemen, is the future speaking. And I am receiving it loud and clear.

{{ Black midwinter sky, Greenland. "When will we be ready? Will we ever be ready?" New equipment's coming into service, we're constantly unpacking large wooden crates. Sleds. Bitter cold. Then the warmth of the officers' mess, and a beer. Esquire magazines lying around on the coffee tables. Viscose rayon threads. A continuous pipeline of innovation. All over the place, everywhere you look! Defending the free world, shopping at Macy's. Best standard of living in the world. Buick or Olds? Few years ago, it was easy. Now – there's so much choice. 

{{ That sky. Soon the sun will rise to shine so briefly, no clouds. Dawn and dusk together – beautiful. Kodachrome. Built-in light-meter?  Uh-huh. Bought it in the PX in Yokota. Another beer, buddy? Sure thing. Saratoga Springs. Ever been? Nope – but I'd like to go. "Hey! Haiti! Been to Port-au-Prince? I have! Show-off. Newfoundland, man, yeah, and a trip to Europe. Squeeze in some business. Defense procurement. Show off some new gadgets to the budget-holders. We have the edge. Europe's all bomb-damaged, from England to the Iron Curtain. They'll buy from us. Malenkov and Khrushchev are the threat. Technology. Thermal imaging. Transistors. That's the future. Russia's way behind". "There's a whole world out there – and who better to see it with than the U.S.A.F."! "Drink to that, bud!"

{{ We stood outside in awe of the Northern Lights. "Was that a...? That, sir, was a meteor. Seen 'em before. Russia wouldn't dare, would they? Well, they have the bomb, they have the bombers. We have radar-guided supersonic interceptors. They'd stand no chance of getting through. Chicago's safe. My baby's safe. Kentucky's safer. Damn that's another beer – nope, some still left in the bottle. Rolling Rock. Reminds me of home. Bowl of potato chips and peanuts. Remember those Japanese snacks? Yup. Kinda miss them. Good with a beer! Seen the Republic XF-103? They say it can fly at Mach 3 and will fire nuclear guided missiles. Nah. It's political. Convair will get it. }}

This time last year:
Touched by Boris

This time two years ago
Clinging on and letting go

This time five years ago:
Out in the mid-September heat

This time six years ago:
Poland's ugliest building?

This time 11 years ago:
Weekend cookery - prawns in couscous

This time 13 years ago:
Draining Jeziorki

This time 13 years ago:
Early autumn moods

This time 15 years ago:
The Battle of Britain, 70 years on

This time 16 years ago:
Thoughts about TV, Polish and British

This time 17 years ago:
Time to abandon driving to work!

This time 18 years ago:
Crappy roads take their toll