Here are i Pad and i Touch tools for flight instructors, student pilots and rated pilots. There are kneeboards and apps that are useful in the cockpit. I use a wide variety of i Phoe apps in the cockpit, but my environment is busy once the cruise to location is over with. I suggest that all pilots keep their eyes outside the cockpit, and not be distracted by gadget. Simply use them as a quick glance aid, as you would a chart. Pre-flight planning is eye in preventing having to stare at charts and devices. All that said, I like these products at mygoflight.com.
CFIs/Flight Schools
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
MORE ON FOLLOWING SOME SCIENTISTS AROUND
On October 11, I started telling a story about doing a documentary on our recent California earthquakes and the science behind it, and how I heard about some leading edge scientists. I learned about these researchers while cooling off at the Lazy Lizard bar in Ocotillo one hotter than hell evening. Well, here's the rest of the story:
Indeed Desert Dude told me about these scientists that were placing magnetometers and other instruments in the ground. Desert Dude is a nickname I give to a heavy equipment operator that had helped the scientists by digging holes and trenches for them.
Desert Dude gave me the website for these scientists, and I read the material on the website, including some white papers. I then contacted them, and got in invite to go up to Palo Alto and film them. That was exciting for me! Many other scientists, especially those working for the government are not as easy to get an invite from. Government types tend to steer clear of media and film makers. I felt lucky to have the chance to interview a top leading edge scientist.
Planning the trip that far north had some glitches for my car was in the shop, and I had to fire my assistant, who had a reliable car. The guy I fired was a ivy league snob that displayed his prejudice at me for having flown jets, and because I'm a woman that had done so. He was also rude to rednecks and local Mexican farmhands I was interviewing. He's an idiot.
Anyways, during the delay, I got into contact with some key guys at NASA Aimes, and learned a lot about what these researchers are really doing. They are measuring EM emissions and other emissions in rocks that are put under pressure. The instruments placed out in the desert are placed on faults, which behave much the same way as the lab rocks when under pressure. The NASA team is squeezing various rocks and finding all kinds of cool results! When under immense pressure, rocks act as batteries, among other interesting things. I tried to get clearance and permission to film these rock squeezing experiments, but failed to gain permission. I'm not a big fat rich Hollywood producer, that's mainly why. The government prefers the big boys to do business with.
But what is cooler than just filming busting rocks, was that I actually helped one experiment indirectly, and from the sidelines! I ordered some special cameras, some super bright lights, and even a Helmut Hero Go Pro for the science team, and they used the equipment to image the rock like never before. One camera caught an image every 71 seconds over a ten hour period of time. One scientist then brought me the images, and I taught him how to do a stop motion 'film'. We turned ten hours into a minute in i Movie, and man are these researchers happy with the result!
Next time we're going to see what the squeezed rock looks like with a FLIR camera. Hopefully we'll catch some IR and escaping photons.
So I helped some scientists in a big project that may someday be history, that is, if indeed their theory and results are indeed accepted. Someday, there's a good chance that'll happen.
It's all about earthquake forecasting and developing a warning system.
Next I'll tell about a conference I went to on this very topic, EM in and around earthquakes and volcanos, and earthquake forecasting. I did post some photos of the meeting, and they are a few posts back.
Indeed Desert Dude told me about these scientists that were placing magnetometers and other instruments in the ground. Desert Dude is a nickname I give to a heavy equipment operator that had helped the scientists by digging holes and trenches for them.
Desert Dude gave me the website for these scientists, and I read the material on the website, including some white papers. I then contacted them, and got in invite to go up to Palo Alto and film them. That was exciting for me! Many other scientists, especially those working for the government are not as easy to get an invite from. Government types tend to steer clear of media and film makers. I felt lucky to have the chance to interview a top leading edge scientist.
Planning the trip that far north had some glitches for my car was in the shop, and I had to fire my assistant, who had a reliable car. The guy I fired was a ivy league snob that displayed his prejudice at me for having flown jets, and because I'm a woman that had done so. He was also rude to rednecks and local Mexican farmhands I was interviewing. He's an idiot.
Anyways, during the delay, I got into contact with some key guys at NASA Aimes, and learned a lot about what these researchers are really doing. They are measuring EM emissions and other emissions in rocks that are put under pressure. The instruments placed out in the desert are placed on faults, which behave much the same way as the lab rocks when under pressure. The NASA team is squeezing various rocks and finding all kinds of cool results! When under immense pressure, rocks act as batteries, among other interesting things. I tried to get clearance and permission to film these rock squeezing experiments, but failed to gain permission. I'm not a big fat rich Hollywood producer, that's mainly why. The government prefers the big boys to do business with.
But what is cooler than just filming busting rocks, was that I actually helped one experiment indirectly, and from the sidelines! I ordered some special cameras, some super bright lights, and even a Helmut Hero Go Pro for the science team, and they used the equipment to image the rock like never before. One camera caught an image every 71 seconds over a ten hour period of time. One scientist then brought me the images, and I taught him how to do a stop motion 'film'. We turned ten hours into a minute in i Movie, and man are these researchers happy with the result!
Next time we're going to see what the squeezed rock looks like with a FLIR camera. Hopefully we'll catch some IR and escaping photons.
So I helped some scientists in a big project that may someday be history, that is, if indeed their theory and results are indeed accepted. Someday, there's a good chance that'll happen.
It's all about earthquake forecasting and developing a warning system.
Next I'll tell about a conference I went to on this very topic, EM in and around earthquakes and volcanos, and earthquake forecasting. I did post some photos of the meeting, and they are a few posts back.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
BLOGGING ABOUT FLYING AS WELL AS EARTHQUAKES. FEELING QUAKES!
I'm sure anyone that is a regular reader of this blog of mine has noticed a lot of posts that are about earthquakes and less about aviation. Well, I have always had a great interest in science, being a techie type, but that's not the entire story. I live in a region that has had a lot of recent quakes the past half year or so, including an unusual 40 second 7.2 magnitude (grad) shaker I rode through. I decided then and there to record what I see and experience via my numerous blogs, websites, and now a full blown documentary on earthquakes.
Right after the 7.2 mag (grad) Easter Sunday quake down near Mexicali, Mexico, the one I felt for about 40 seconds - I immediately picked up my camera and started taping what ever I bumped into concerning the quake. To add to all this, I also felt a few moderate to strong quakes over the next few months, and caught some on tape.
All this led me to head into the area where these recent and frequent quakes have been happening, and caught what was going on in the towns and agriculture areas there. There are some seriously failed crops in the Mexicali valley due to broken irrigation ditches, and that will indeed impact the local economy of that part of Mexico. This is one of Mexico's key bread baskets.
I also went into a tiny desert hamlet, Ocotillo, on the USA side of the border, and I caught the locals telling of their earthquake experience. Around April to July, the locals were telling me that they felt a light to moderate quake every 30 seconds or so, and a pretty good vibration about 3 times a day! This town is parked right over an area of earthquake swarms that's a few miles wide, and is said to be related to the Mexicali quake. But these little quakes are far from the epicenter of the bigger quake, and behave in a way that has gotten a lot of geologists and other scientists interested!
And one thing led to another in a wonderful way! While filming Ocotillo and it's locals, I happened to be cooling off with a beer at the Lazy Lizard bar, a small and interesting desert hole in the wall. It was 117 F degrees outside, and a beer and plenty of water was called for after hauling cameras around out in the Yuha desert. That Yuha is our local version of Saudi Arabia's Rub al Khali! The Empty Quarter! Stark blazing white rugged desert with volcanic rocks and fossils.
Anyways, while recovering from my Rub al Khali kinda' day, with an ice cold Bud - a big dusty desert dude walked in. My cameraman was a total sissy and was scared of these rough looking desert dwellers. I'm used to them and get along fine. I'm from cowboy country and am pretty much a cowgirl anyways. But Harvard grad sissy cameraman wanted out of there, as was always the case. He prefers the Volvo littered landscape of snooty-ville. You know, Cambridge.
Myself, the least snobbish of the two person crew, and the dusty desert dude struck up some talk. Desert Dude and I started talking about the present earthquake swarm, and he mentioned that the ground seemed to be rising over the last two years, until it dropped two feet during the 7.2 Mexicali earthquake. Wow. Really...
Now that can have a few meanings in geology. It can simply be ground water changing in the aquifer below, or a shift in magma if there is magma underfoot. It could also mean a fault had shifted back and forth under immense tectonic stresses.
Will Desert Dude told me more. A bridge had been torn apart by the rifting forces. I went out there to look and sure enough it was a torn up bridge, it's planks pulled apart indeed. It's supporting columns displayed signs of side to side motion, too. I filmed it, as you can imagine. We experienced a small quake while filming and Scared Cameraman freaked out. I caught that on my own camera. Oh yes. Funny.
Back at the Lazy Lizard Bar, Desert Dude then told me about a team of scientists that were in town a few days ago. Desert Dude had dug ditches and holes for these men, and then the visitors placed instruments into the holes. They were magnetometers. They measure emissions from the stressed fault rocks.
That conversation in the bar let me to eventually meet these scientists! And in my next post, I will tell you about how all this ended up with me helping a key experiment and 'saving the day" for some leading edge scientists.
I did that with my aerospace and camera know how.
Point I'm making: Opportunities pop up from adversities, and your skills as a pilot or otherwise can translate into other tech things. Don't miss those opportunities.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Part 3 Fighter Pilots Mindset While Becoming A Fighter Pilot
Here's my personal input on a fighter pilot mindset:
1. Focus.
2. Teamwork
3. Fortitude
4. Loyalty and reliability
5. Work ethic
6. Humor
7. Does compete while still within a team
8. Math and science aptitude and interest
9. Drive
10. Fitness and healthy lifestyle
11. Problem solver
12. Initiative
13. Enough imagination to visualize a few moves ahead of the game
14. Ability to work from both sides of the brain. Hard logic combined with a big picture view
15. Attention to detail
16. Guts
17. And a hell of a lot more ... These are some basics. If I missed some, as I think of it, I'll add.
Part 1 - What I Do - Fighter Pilots Mindset While Becoming A Fighter Pilot
If you want to fly, and especially if you want to fly the pointy nose jets, there are some things you can do in you personal life to maximize your potential and abilities.
First of all, you've got to stay off the damned drugs, and keep your nose clean! If you have friends that do drugs, well, you have no business hanging out with them. Those folks will only drag you down into the gutter along with them. Tell them you are boycotting them until they clean up. Some people eventually do grow up and get off of that loser's poison.
Only hang out with positive and hard working people, and go to the local airport and make friends with pilots. Pilots are usually happy to share their flying knowledge with you and the love of flying ! Since pilots usually use both sides of their brain while flying, they have used the right side, which is the creative lobe of the brain. This leads them to being great story tellers, because story telling is a creative activity. This is one reason why pilots are so friendly. Plus they live is a state of passion ! Passion for flying ! Suck some of that energy up.
Stay away from the wrong girlfriend, boyfriend or spouse. The wrong relationship is one of the top career killers among pilots. All too often, a needy partner fails to understand the demands on a pilot, and a pilot's schedule. You will travel a lot, get deployed and even while homeside, fly funny hours at times. We have planes on alert 24/7, and someone's got to man those birds. Stay away from needy girls or guys at all costs, even if it means a broken heart. A busted heart is better than a busted plane or career. The wrong partner can also be a dangerous distraction. The person you need is someone that is able to keep themselves entertained, busy or happy while you're gone. This person has to have a life !
Eat right ! I know people hate hearing that, and so do I. But you must. You depend on your body, and it's endurance and reliability during flight. Don't eat 'heart attack' foods, you know, the keep fried greasy shit. Your career depends on your healthy heart, and the avoidance of diabetes. It's hard in the military and in the world of peers, but it can be done. I stick to clean fresh meat, and fresh veggies, some milk, nuts, some cheese, some fruit and lot's of water. My sin I allow myself is beer. Military canteens have veggies, salads and plain meat usually. Stick to that and save the sin foods for when socializing. If you don't want diabetes to stop your career and well being, stay away from white wheat, white sugar and white rice. I know, it's a bitch doing so, but if you love flying, gotta' do it.
Next, love what you do. You have to truly love these jets, and flying. You have to appreciate what you're doing, and have fun. It's hard work, a bitch sometimes, so that passion is what will carry you through when the going gets tough. If you don't like planes and people, stay out of aviation. Flying is a people job too.
If you don't like other people not like yourself, fighter aviation is not for you. The military brings in people from all over the USA. There are fighter pilots from all races, both genders, from families rich and poor, and from both urban and rural homes. You'll hear all kinds of accents, ranging from New Jersey to New Orleans. If you can't work with this array of people, stay out. Safety and effectiveness requires teamwork, and prejudice will get in the way.
Good luck, and have fun.
I'll write more as thoughts come to my mind. I've been busy lately, so I write here and there.
First of all, you've got to stay off the damned drugs, and keep your nose clean! If you have friends that do drugs, well, you have no business hanging out with them. Those folks will only drag you down into the gutter along with them. Tell them you are boycotting them until they clean up. Some people eventually do grow up and get off of that loser's poison.
Only hang out with positive and hard working people, and go to the local airport and make friends with pilots. Pilots are usually happy to share their flying knowledge with you and the love of flying ! Since pilots usually use both sides of their brain while flying, they have used the right side, which is the creative lobe of the brain. This leads them to being great story tellers, because story telling is a creative activity. This is one reason why pilots are so friendly. Plus they live is a state of passion ! Passion for flying ! Suck some of that energy up.
Stay away from the wrong girlfriend, boyfriend or spouse. The wrong relationship is one of the top career killers among pilots. All too often, a needy partner fails to understand the demands on a pilot, and a pilot's schedule. You will travel a lot, get deployed and even while homeside, fly funny hours at times. We have planes on alert 24/7, and someone's got to man those birds. Stay away from needy girls or guys at all costs, even if it means a broken heart. A busted heart is better than a busted plane or career. The wrong partner can also be a dangerous distraction. The person you need is someone that is able to keep themselves entertained, busy or happy while you're gone. This person has to have a life !
Eat right ! I know people hate hearing that, and so do I. But you must. You depend on your body, and it's endurance and reliability during flight. Don't eat 'heart attack' foods, you know, the keep fried greasy shit. Your career depends on your healthy heart, and the avoidance of diabetes. It's hard in the military and in the world of peers, but it can be done. I stick to clean fresh meat, and fresh veggies, some milk, nuts, some cheese, some fruit and lot's of water. My sin I allow myself is beer. Military canteens have veggies, salads and plain meat usually. Stick to that and save the sin foods for when socializing. If you don't want diabetes to stop your career and well being, stay away from white wheat, white sugar and white rice. I know, it's a bitch doing so, but if you love flying, gotta' do it.
Next, love what you do. You have to truly love these jets, and flying. You have to appreciate what you're doing, and have fun. It's hard work, a bitch sometimes, so that passion is what will carry you through when the going gets tough. If you don't like planes and people, stay out of aviation. Flying is a people job too.
If you don't like other people not like yourself, fighter aviation is not for you. The military brings in people from all over the USA. There are fighter pilots from all races, both genders, from families rich and poor, and from both urban and rural homes. You'll hear all kinds of accents, ranging from New Jersey to New Orleans. If you can't work with this array of people, stay out. Safety and effectiveness requires teamwork, and prejudice will get in the way.
Good luck, and have fun.
I'll write more as thoughts come to my mind. I've been busy lately, so I write here and there.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
95th Fighter Squadron Boneheads Mug from Zazzle.com
95th Fighter Squadron Boneheads Mug from Zazzle.com
I bought this mug a couple of weeks ago and walk all over the place with it. I feel good doing that! I hang out at a coffee house with my Bonehead stein and get a reaction! Liberals stare and then look away, and non-liberals give a smile or head nod. My fighter pilot friends think it's a real hoot. I know it's kinda' silly, but fun. Now I see other people is custom cups and mugs. Am I starting something?
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
STEIN - ARMCHAIR FIGHTER PILOTS ASSOCIATION, ... MUG from Zazzle.com
STEIN - ARMCHAIR FIGHTER PILOTS ASSOCIATION, ... MUG from Zazzle.com
I designed this! Check it out and get yours! Show the world that you are a part of my wild and crazy world of flying, filmmaking and hell raising!
Join my club, the Armchair Fighter Pilots Association for online simulated dog fights, air show announcements, live broadcasts, fly ins and more.
http://afpaonline.ning.com
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Defcon 2012: The Movie T Shirt from Zazzle.com
Defcon 2012: The Movie T Shirt from Zazzle.com
Order your T-shirt now, and be a part of a cult of fans of this edgy sci-fi movie - one that has die Krupps, V2A and Jeremiah Saint on the the soundtrack. More items for sale coming soon! So check the store periodically for cool stuff.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
JUST TAKING A BREAK, AND CATCHING UP ON READING
It looks like I may be doing some travel very soon, but I've got a pile of books I must finish reading before I go. I'm reading Shaw's great book on ACM and BFM, Fighter Combat. I read this book every couple of years or so. I experiment with some of Shaw's moves in the bitter box (simulator). I've noticed some of his tips in turning fights are helpful.
Mainly what I have been reading are books on directing documentaries, camera work and on using Final Cut Pro. Last night, I actually did my first green screen sequel and it's very funny. I green screened a buddha with his hand held up, and me flying the F-16 in the background. The Buddha says, "Oh no, you can't fly that jet! Peace, love and harmony!" and I say back, "Aw hell with that. Let's have some fun! Hold on to your belly, Buddha!"
It's very basic as it goes on from there, but it's a new editing skill I'm learning, and might as well goof off with it. A green screen is where you film something in the foreground, and them in the background, you have a blue or green back drop. In you editing program, you then replace that green back ground with another image of whatever you want as a new background.
I've bought some helmet cams too, and hope to figure these out and use them while I fly. I'm fooling around with a lot of velcro and superglue right now. The real need for these cams is the fact that soon I am doing a documentary on a motorcycle club in Europe. I love filming from machines! I think that is really fun to do. I'm looking forward to that.
After working so hard on Defcon 2012, I need a break. Sometimes it's a little rocky these days. I have had a big falling out with some liberal chicks that are food nazis, and I dubbed the conflict the Del Mar Beer Wars, just because they bugged me every time I saw them about my love of beer!
And yes, I love beer. The good kind. Handcrafted and imports, and yes a good cold Bud as long as the company is good.
Just as I type this, I just felt a strong aftershock to the big quake we had a couple of weeks ago. I feel a lot of them. They are centered near a volcano in Mexico, just across the border. It's interesting. My travel plans are on hold due to that volcanic eruption in Iceland too. Crazy times.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
HERE IS A VIDEO OF THE BIG 7.2 QUAKE I FELT
Here is a video I did, in a funky way, but it works for me as a way of making a record of what happened on Easter Sunday. During the heavy wave like motion, I was calm. I wouldn't know any other way. I was busy trying to get a i Touch seismograph to work.
They say this quake had not relieved the stresses on the San Andreas, and might had increased those stresses. That's the latest on that one.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
FELT A BIG EARTHQUAKE TODAY
This afternoon, I was napping, when I was woken up by a rattling house. It was pretty strong, and the whole house moved. I heard the structure making it's noises, and a rumbling sound. There were some things slapping too. I was not scared at all and merely was frustrated that I could not get my i Phone seismograph application on in time.
The shaker lasted about 40 seconds, and it eased off at one point, and then picked up again. I have been studying that region, where the quake happened, for years. There have been a lot of earth quake swarms in that area for years, and over the past few days, there had been many moderate quakes, one being 4.1. And then this 7.2 hit this afternoon.
The region where this 7.2 quake hit is in a rifting zone, and spreading zone, where the North American and Pacific plates are pulling apart. This kind of area is known for it's volcanism. There is a quiet cinder cone close to where this quake occured, and there is enough hot magma under it to heat up a lot of water. Right near this cinder cone is one of the world's bigger thermal energy power plants.
This concerns me, for this is not an isolated quake. It is a part of a complex system that includes a nearby magma chamber, other near by magma chambers, and several faults. All of which are a part of the the rifting zone. This is at the south end of the San Andreas system, which ends at Bombay Beach, at the Salton Sea. The Mid Ocean Range ends at the Salton Sea.
Well, anyways, I can go on about the science of all this. All we have to keep in mind, is that California sits on some complex ground, and the people here need to be prepared for earthquakes.
I expect more to come, and wonder just how much the local magma chambers are agitated. If they are, we run the risk for volcanism.
But I'm calm about it. Not one bit of fear. It's just the world doing what it does.
Let me add that I gathered more info on the damage in Mexicali and other cities via social networking, which was almost immediate. The news was two or three hours behind with the images. These two on Twitter. I got within an hour.
Here's a link and some pics.
http://quake.usgs.gov/recenteqs/
Friday, April 2, 2010
Global Anomalies Linked to Large Hadron Collider
The other day, I watched a live webcast of the start and power-up of this world's biggest machine. I then watched as they moved the two particle beams closer to together and then meeting. Once they met, world breaking levels of energy was reached. It is said that this machine has the ability to crate black hole conditions, but scientists claim the the stability of these lacks, and they dissipate in nano-seconds. But still, strange lights have been seem before on CERN operating days, so who know what in the hell is going on. I personally welcome science, and it's discoveries. But I want the scoop on this one.
I jut hope it's all for the best.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
The past few days have gotten me worried about the state of things in our great nation of ours, the US. There is a lot of tension and strong words, and the fringes on both sides are over the top. Such crazy words and a lot of hate.
First of all, I consider myself a conservative for I am for a strong military, and for free enterprise. I am pro meat, pro middle class lifestyle, pro wealthy, pro designer clothes and pro guns. The biggest thing that sticks me in the conservative camp is my love of small business ownership, and the right to get rich. This idea is dear to me, and I love being my own boss. I'm an individualist, and that is a part of wanting to preserve small business in America. I'm anti-socialist for this reason.
But why should hate come into the picture? That's taking it too far. We are all Americans, and this is a democracy. This is how we work, having both sides voting and having a voice. Even if I disagree with the present day White House, and their supporters, I don't think it's right to toss around some hate.
Hard right conservatives will do much better if they dropped the prejudice and be more welcoming. More people will join their ranks. If more joined, then we just might have a chance of preventing the slow creep of socialism. But right now, a lot voters are being scared off.
Right now, I feel very alone in all this. Standing alone and confused, probably in the line of cross fire, for I'm not going to hate. I also belong to some categories of human being that do not fit the tighter boundries defining conservative - according to the haters.
That being said, I have gotten more rudeness from liberal anti-war people. Mainstream conservatives tend to be a polite group for the most part.
Our country seems to really be in a thunderstorm - and riding such a storm, scaring a few passengers.
I just ask that we vote, and keep in peaceful if we can.
Monday, March 29, 2010
HAD THE PREMIERE FOR DEFCON 2012, AND STUDYING ALOT
About a month ago, we had the premiere of the movie Defcon 2012, and that went well. We had delivered the movie to the theater only one day before the screening - after doing some last minute tweaks on it's sound levels. That was nerve wracking! Jeeeeeze ....
Ok, I'm used to leading teams, and getting the overall job done. But I'm used to pilots, the USAF, and leading this movie team has been a challenge. Getting my film crew to get along, to complete tasks as instructed - well, it's like herding cats! I think I keep saying this too.
I had one fellow join us, save the day and the movie's first screening, and then he insulted my co-producer to the point I almost lost that essential team member.
All this makes me miss flying! Most pilots are pretty mature and will do their job. Understatement.
Well the parties that week were great. We had our premiere one week before the Oscars, so I hit some Hollywood parties. I met a lot of cool people, and hit it off with a couple of rock stars. I always get along with music people anyhow. Rockers are totally down to earth too. The one's I met were from the old school hard rock genre, which I really prefer.
Now we're transferring the movie into DigiBeta, and our distributor is sending it off to Cannes. I'm going too, and then after following my movie at various venues, going off to do a documentary.
I just ordered a helmet cam, and will get some more. I'm filming some flying as well as doing a documentary on some bikers and their custom bike shop. That'll be fun! I'm aiming at some great angles at speed, of bike, boot and road.
Also, staying current as much as possible with the bitter box, you know, the simulator. I have been doing very good with it, but last night had a few more lost BFM fights than normal. Probably my mind is on my movies too much. That's why I'm staying on the ground. I've got 'movie head' happening right now.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Women have been flying military aircraft for decades, and they did so during WWII. In this country, the USA, they really haven't been given their due credit and recognition. It's about time that they do get that credit! They need to be honored, and young people, especially girls, should learn about them.
There has been such a steady resistance when it comes to women fliers. But they do just as well, and very often better than male pilots.
Here is an article that hits home for me on two fronts, because I am both a pilot and a filmmaker. I produce and sometimes direct. Check this article out, how it takes so long for women of excellence to get credit for what they do.
http://marilyns.nexcess.net/2010/03/first-woman-wins-oscar-for-bes.html
Saturday, February 20, 2010
CITIES AROUND THE WORLD I HAVE BEEN TO
With my careers as a pilot and also as an ESL English teacher, I have lived and worked in a number of countries. I have flown into many cities around the USA and the world. Some destinations I do not show for reasons of my own, but here's most of the them.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
JUST GETTING STARTED - SHARING FLYING
I'm going for a unique approach to sharing about fighter aviation. It will sometimes be very funny, often from my own notebook on ACM and BFM, which is air to air, plane against plane, fighting. I'll share my photos, videos, drawings, cartoons and thoughts on things. Lot's of flying stories and practical tips on flying aircraft of any type, including jets - and also on flying the simulators so many of you have deep in the guts of your hard disk.
This will be a light hearted fun blog, and one where you will do some learning. At least I hope you will. If I can inspire a few people to keep their noses clean, and to get into aviation, then I think I've done my job here. In this blog, this will about inspiration, learning and excelling, and not a place for activists and their debates and attacks on those unlike themselves.
Here's a bit about myself:
Currently I'm a film producer and director, and one with a previous career as a pilot and instructor pilot. I have about 1000 hours, including jet time - in light high performance military birds. Today I am into the jet warbird scene, and want to earn my civilian CFI (instructor ratings). I also am aiming for getting my own aerobatic plane. I miss flying inverted! It's the only way to look at the world ...
My flying started when I was a little girl, flying with my grandpa in his Piper Cub off his farm. He would give me the controls a lot, and made for me a Backseat Pilot's Certificate. I thought everything of him, just because he was a pilot. His plane was non-frills and very basic.
Later, while in High School, I decided to take up flying lessons at a local airport close to my house. I would do all kinds of small jobs to earn the money for lessons, including cleaning out barns, switching irrigation pipes, babysitting, etc. At 16, I started a few courses in Aircraft Systems at Northrup University as a part of a program for high school kids. At 17, I earned my Private Pilot's certificate. At 18, I enlisted in the Air Force.
And, at 19, I made a killing on the commodities market and bought a small plane for ten grand. They were much less expensive back then, and I placed it on leaseback to help pay for it and it's upkeep. In fact, it paid for itself and then some! I'm pretty good at business. Within a few years, I finished a BA in Business Administration, and after began to fly and get paid for it. I instructed for a long time. And the story goes on after that to flying some amazing birds. Eventually I also earned an MBA in International Business, taking courses after my work hours.
Along the way, I have had some scary moments, and lost some pilot pals that had gone down. Once, during a checkride I lost one of the engines, and managed it back, with the check pilot totally in silent observation. That ride I passed, indeed. No sweat. I once had no choice but to continue an instrument approach, an ILS, right as a thunderstorm parked at the other end of the runway, giving us a lightening show. I once hit turbulence so bad, I banged my helmet on the plexiglass. That's when you ask the guys on the ground to look for hairline stress cracks. No fun. And I once got into an unintentional spin during a turning contest during ACM. And there more tales to tell like that.
And the great things happened too, and they far outnumber the not so fun events. I have seen my share of beauty, and nothing matches it. How about a full moon night over the clouds on a perfect Christmas Eve night, returning after a well executed series of maneuvers? Or how about flying over the vast lights of LA at night for the first time? Or dipping low to check out the surf, finding the waves looking perfect! Flying past snow capped mountains and then over Meteor Crater, a giant impact crater seen for miles. Now that's a cool sight from the air! And once I spotted two blue whales just off the California coast. Endless beauty from the air, I tell you!
And the people I have met. Some amazing individuals.
In 2003, I stopped flying, but the flying bug hasn't left me. I guess pilots never really leave that. I wondered at what I would do next, and after some ventures into retail and e-commerce, the film industry found me. I have always been a hobby photographer and filmmaker. One day a producer liked my work that I submitted to a small film festival. So that's my new job, directing and producing feature films. We just completed a feature sci-fi, Defcon 2012, and in a few weeks, it will be screened for the first time at the New York Film Festival in LA!
My goal is to succeed to the point where I can shoot a fighter pilot flick. My next goal to to get a L-39 and put it on leaseback somewhere, and to give rides to those that show potential and massive improvement in their lives. My main goal, like I keep saying, is to inspire, lead and change peoples lives.
What do I do when I'm not working so hard? Oh, let's see ... surfing, gaming, writing, social networks, experimenting with new foods and flavors, drinking beer under the stars and going to the movies with a gaggle of friends.
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