tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357629822024-02-07T20:21:05.746-05:00THE FLYING PENGUINWritings on Air Traffic Control, Aviation, Music, <br>and General Mischief by an ATC trainee in Florida.Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.comBlogger207125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-21921414664075846332010-04-07T00:54:00.002-04:002010-04-07T01:04:00.766-04:00Still Around!I am still alive, contrary to popular opinion. :)<br /><br />I had some speed bumps late last year, but with a new training team the wind's back in my sails. I'm finally just about done on the Pensacola bank. Can't wait to get that out of the way, knock out the last couple of sectors, and just work traffic. Things are looking good for certification.<br /><br />On the blogging, I've written so much over the past three years that I needed to take a break and focus on some other projects. There are only so many hours in the day and I have so many different interests - my wife, family, music, design work, professional writing - that it became hard to find the time. At work I've also gotten involved in developing the training program for the next batch of trainees. We literally had no training program when I started, so hopefully things will be better for future arrivals.<br /><br />Anyways, as always here's a visual aid. This morning, the Blue Angels decided to come over to Pensacola Regional and shoot some practice approaches. I guess they need to do their currency approaches like any other pilot.<br /><br />Here's a view from the new TRACON's back porch as BA #1 executes a missed approach off our ILS 17.<br /><br /><br /><object height="224" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/1421835383646"><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1421835383646" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="224" width="400"></embed></object>Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-62461426823044139412009-10-23T19:50:00.007-04:002009-10-23T22:33:37.247-04:00Moving Day: A Tale of Two TRACONSFirst - yes, I'm still alive! I'm not going to bore anyone with the details of what I've been up to. Suffice it to say I've had a lot of music, writing, and personal things going on that have really taken up a lot of my time.<br /><br />Secondly,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> today is the last day in our old TRACON</span>. The new building goes online tonight. Over the past few days the Airways and Facilities folks have been steadily "cutting over" equipment, frequencies, and landlines. Let's just say there have been a few hair-raising moments where controllers have suddenly found themselves with lots of airplanes and - <span style="font-style: italic;">surprise!</span> -no working radios. But, everybody made it through just fine so far.<br /><br />So, come Monday I'll be doing the same ol' thing in brand new surroudings. Just for a frame of reference, here's a look at the contrast between the old facility and the new one.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Tale of Two TRACONS: A Comparison</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">OLD: The 45 year</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> old building</span><br />It has a certain weary battleship thing going on. The boarded-up tower on top was decommissioned in 1998 and had its windows blown out by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. The old radar room will stay operational for 30 days. After that, it will all be torn down and replaced with a new cargo terminal for the airport.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1bHPavM1WbilFuFld_NmKxbGh1ADBCVskwDef_ofag7glg4NH8vGGbFc0i-9pUSDGH_HH_rVUSpzoda92IcQiKPAmjekk68OK0jdGqTbKKiOsNSIcFMyRi8zMc7O2RzI6LFP/s1600-h/P1020352.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1bHPavM1WbilFuFld_NmKxbGh1ADBCVskwDef_ofag7glg4NH8vGGbFc0i-9pUSDGH_HH_rVUSpzoda92IcQiKPAmjekk68OK0jdGqTbKKiOsNSIcFMyRi8zMc7O2RzI6LFP/s400/P1020352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395956608201137378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />OLD: Panorama</span><br />My dusty, musty workplace for the past two years. You really don't want to see this place with the lights on. Oh my God.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hm5uYESDkvpC1qxHSnMd1d9JoJixvw7AgE236UCPMeUfNgM2HJprWJ3BCvChoK8fw5Q_PlMxW-6mKPSLhVTlE5IltEPZmWk9aZimWBxJrLBK4d3EARc3Q5tjNihbmkaygkNx/s1600-h/Copy+of+Pano.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hm5uYESDkvpC1qxHSnMd1d9JoJixvw7AgE236UCPMeUfNgM2HJprWJ3BCvChoK8fw5Q_PlMxW-6mKPSLhVTlE5IltEPZmWk9aZimWBxJrLBK4d3EARc3Q5tjNihbmkaygkNx/s400/Copy+of+Pano.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395964873263270098" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">OLD: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">ARTS IIE Scope</span><br />Incidentally, this is the first position I was certified on, and the last one I worked in the new building. Physical push-button radio panels above, physical landline buttons to the left, and the ARTS keyboard with a PEM stick for moving your cursor around. Never heard of a PEM? Remember those<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhKtrYDYe-2e1qZSjnAfdHt68961CD2IBBdv18T5T7ppE3u4bjTK3r_eCfmw5BCbCCcGTn8REsdfJ8q6HlkCgCFnkcdiQG7g_jFbQbUqKNumM8kTQng32CCcNMEQ2qeYen-7Q/s1600-h/P1020408.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhKtrYDYe-2e1qZSjnAfdHt68961CD2IBBdv18T5T7ppE3u4bjTK3r_eCfmw5BCbCCcGTn8REsdfJ8q6HlkCgCFnkcdiQG7g_jFbQbUqKNumM8kTQng32CCcNMEQ2qeYen-7Q/s400/P1020408.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395956613714199570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NEW: The 2009 model TRACON</span><br />Brand new government issue TRACON.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOz6Ni76YDS8TYWBzqfP3j9x80lGtvE88teJwrlwRhJ19HcsjtfnYpZJvNwuvAyoyQEW-U0VhGaq8syNDxCUD05tTM8GGsaRtfqdt22hyphenhyphens73c-rPkaELGSZNgutJICMA5ESKoS/s1600-h/P1020237_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOz6Ni76YDS8TYWBzqfP3j9x80lGtvE88teJwrlwRhJ19HcsjtfnYpZJvNwuvAyoyQEW-U0VhGaq8syNDxCUD05tTM8GGsaRtfqdt22hyphenhyphens73c-rPkaELGSZNgutJICMA5ESKoS/s400/P1020237_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395983094908676626" border="0" /></a><br />Note: The tower is separate <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDU84irZ-ufUTixhUam6YAPfmNJiYFhsw4q6jvF_x0Xrol9XdSuZm8rf-H_aHdqhtII7QXvThwWA7S96-PMWFK1t9whCs4dT26QdSHQUGzOQiFi3NxWVdTPajdqbW2TVf_z5yJ/s1600-h/P1020236_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDU84irZ-ufUTixhUam6YAPfmNJiYFhsw4q6jvF_x0Xrol9XdSuZm8rf-H_aHdqhtII7QXvThwWA7S96-PMWFK1t9whCs4dT26QdSHQUGzOQiFi3NxWVdTPajdqbW2TVf_z5yJ/s400/P1020236_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395983093397849634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NEW: Panorama</span><br />It has a much larger floor plan, with large desks in the middle for supervisors and Flight Data. There are currently 12 scopes installed, with a room for around six more. The building was designed with consolidation in mind. There's talk of either Mobile or Panama City one being integrated in here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HvDL6ChyphenhyphentRnXAHY08fHhacG035IcIYVlBslShxWltE0AMfprtFKZDPo36pwtGt_Z8jYPlUvdvQckH4h59Hg5hHQdkFWlZl8IDGkB-YBMdnQWLSkVLi01IJ08VOIx2DXhG2VE/s1600-h/NewTRACON_PanoRama_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 94px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HvDL6ChyphenhyphentRnXAHY08fHhacG035IcIYVlBslShxWltE0AMfprtFKZDPo36pwtGt_Z8jYPlUvdvQckH4h59Hg5hHQdkFWlZl8IDGkB-YBMdnQWLSkVLi01IJ08VOIx2DXhG2VE/s400/NewTRACON_PanoRama_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395956595280000130" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NEW: STARS Scope for the same sector shown above</span><br />Touchscreen RDVS panel on the left with all the frequencies and landlines, trackball in the middle of the console, and the new expanded STARS version of the keyboard at right. It's a much cleaner workspace.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jL3CLtz9yPiL86qWlsjLb3Z64rfXWbLnxBhLHUIR0JXsgA_rtE6cEvlVyHqNu-BfRU3p5MThO6Fv3hIDVqNdTfshxm_S3dTLLfCjR1MOXkHNTGd3dKBeFdUAqaMmENKUJ6NN/s1600-h/P1020407_lighter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jL3CLtz9yPiL86qWlsjLb3Z64rfXWbLnxBhLHUIR0JXsgA_rtE6cEvlVyHqNu-BfRU3p5MThO6Fv3hIDVqNdTfshxm_S3dTLLfCjR1MOXkHNTGd3dKBeFdUAqaMmENKUJ6NN/s400/P1020407_lighter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395959472341321842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">NEW:</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Logo Coffee Mug</span><br />We had some celebratory spillproof coffee mugs made, with a logo I designed on the front. I couldn't help it... it's Pensacola... the Blue Angels had to make it in...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTB0xo_k0LkzYWC7eusCj1x6QtfFm3DgBi-0kE8o1bwTBk_4SvC_scvakpT8YbUtfXh6W0r6FipoyEDpC8Tg-KcqYnA4CPiDt0CBntsAjtpuq3tuUgIKUXyy1nfPw_m1_vbjh/s1600-h/P1020412_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTB0xo_k0LkzYWC7eusCj1x6QtfFm3DgBi-0kE8o1bwTBk_4SvC_scvakpT8YbUtfXh6W0r6FipoyEDpC8Tg-KcqYnA4CPiDt0CBntsAjtpuq3tuUgIKUXyy1nfPw_m1_vbjh/s400/P1020412_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395983090262417458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Little Nostalgia</span></span><br /><br />As nice as the new equipment and new building are, there are certain things I'll miss about the old place.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Convenience: </span>My wife and I only have one car and our schedules don't match. For the past two years, every time I've worked a night shift - usually twice a week - I've gone into the airport terminal and sat in the airport's only restaurant until it's time for work. Let's just say they know my "usual" when I go there.<br /><br />At times, I've sat there for up to four or five hours before my shift starts - for instance, when my wife goes in at 10am and my shift doesn't start til 2:45pm. So, an eight hour day becomes a twelve or thirteen hour day for me. And of course, that takes away from my time to run errands, sleep, relax, whatever.<br /><br />On the plus side, they have free Wi-Fi, decent food - best Cuban sandwich north of Miami - and there's just no better place to people-watch than an airport. I have lunch, surf/write on my laptop, and generally pass the time. I've just become accustomed to it.<br /><br />The new TRACON is located in the middle of freaking nowhere. It's a couple of miles further away from my house and there's nothing useful around it. No places to sit. No places to eat. So, on those late shift days, I'll probably have to go in and just sit somewhere in the building until it's time to actually clock in. Oh joy.<br /><br />The other option is to get some addtional transporation. I did ride my bike home from the old TRACON many times. I may still ride home from this TRACON in the cooler months, since I can just jump in the shower at home. During the summer, it can get up to and stay at over 100 degrees. It's hellish. But riding to work... man, what a mess.<br /><br />Cab rides are too expensive - ~$35-$40 one way from my house. The busses here are useless. I don't want to bum anymore rides from my coworkers. Buying a second car, even a used one, is not in the financial cards right now. Maybe after the first of the year, when we get our raise, we'll explore the option. But right now, it looks like I'll just be doing the sitting game. Except, this time, without food and without internet. Yay... time to pack two meals - one lunch and one dinner.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The "Personal Space": </span>The old building had three floors and was very spacious. The first floor was management and Airways & Facilities. The second floor was the radar room, equipment spaces, break room, and a few small offices. A mostly disused conference room made up the third. There were also a number of spaces around the building where you could find a nook to read, play some guitar, and generally get some quiet time. A bunch of us actually commandeered the third floor as our own area to talk, read, watch movies, and generally hang out without a TV or YouTube blaring in the background.<br /><br />The new building is actually much smaller in terms of square footage and has only one floor. So, now management, controllers, and AF are working in much closer proximity, and sharing the same spaces. I have a feeling things will be a bit claustrophobic for a while.<br /><br />That third floor will be missed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The View: </span>The last thing I'll miss the most is the outdoor staircase at the rear of the building. It was just perfect for planespotting. I always carry a camera with me - a real point-and-shoot, not just a camera phone - because I just never knew what was going to come in.<br /><br />Here are some videos and pics I've taken over the past couple of years from that staircase, sort of a "Staircase Greatest Hits":<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Blimp Landing</span><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BrQ5WKi7dHU&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BrQ5WKi7dHU&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Navy T-45 Goshawk</span><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HawhfVdtX_s&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HawhfVdtX_s&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pano looking south from the stairs</span><br />You can see the tower and the new TRACON beside it on the other side of the field.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrFF1GO6ofEJZHy5xY3Zi2mrSSfx22IDDxvXGcXNxY02LEw7aMDDctbZmwBXFwML0V-LcHMHXRUNuGCNA1nP8LI5brsoFwceDGdAILK0e-hJU1nZ0-RTEVVToaqquMXyN04b-/s1600-h/OldTRACON_Panorama1_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrFF1GO6ofEJZHy5xY3Zi2mrSSfx22IDDxvXGcXNxY02LEw7aMDDctbZmwBXFwML0V-LcHMHXRUNuGCNA1nP8LI5brsoFwceDGdAILK0e-hJU1nZ0-RTEVVToaqquMXyN04b-/s400/OldTRACON_Panorama1_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395956594887054194" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Delta Departing<br /></span><span>Perfect lighting and a touch of haze add a sheen to this B752.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ntxWTnyapsP4L1pGhhH8lNItszL8z3ulqtfwjsF8FYvD_ScdviKmHf79NDpqoeI-EPbATv700bgkfZtZgItuajZqwFO0JXGOtDCCtKSDMlqzuTdT9w5PkAQsWtzELnl6LtBr/s1600-h/P1000560.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ntxWTnyapsP4L1pGhhH8lNItszL8z3ulqtfwjsF8FYvD_ScdviKmHf79NDpqoeI-EPbATv700bgkfZtZgItuajZqwFO0JXGOtDCCtKSDMlqzuTdT9w5PkAQsWtzELnl6LtBr/s400/P1000560.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395959479242573986" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />V-22 Osprey Taxiing</span><br />I was upstairs, heard this bizarre sound, went out to look, and saw this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLEoSvHvSkJy8UMBig2PP6TchA4YFHb9xVIMgNncj6cT2_rSFlStTE3KzMdvWI5WRbCdfd-d9NQfN17BjqfySYAEKcNXqL9-Do5FdioTuh73LhqmCFfjVHy7Xx3cjkOYWYnln/s1600-h/P1020347.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLEoSvHvSkJy8UMBig2PP6TchA4YFHb9xVIMgNncj6cT2_rSFlStTE3KzMdvWI5WRbCdfd-d9NQfN17BjqfySYAEKcNXqL9-Do5FdioTuh73LhqmCFfjVHy7Xx3cjkOYWYnln/s400/P1020347.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395956603304908706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Bad Weather Day<br /></span>Sarah Palin arrives in Pensacola via a Jet Blue charter. On another note, DHL ceased airborne cargo operations in the United States a few months after this pic was taken. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMKjznMOV9_tsoy0dnOPrEZuj6smCpAzz_pyc1JebdNvxfwQbxeKorJIoPUut2UByEF1OPlcNcZ2a4NFvT89DCS8qd5bBmz7NnWH-3_qxINEyinfeHPisgeuI9UV3gjJUi2e4/s1600-h/IMG_7046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMKjznMOV9_tsoy0dnOPrEZuj6smCpAzz_pyc1JebdNvxfwQbxeKorJIoPUut2UByEF1OPlcNcZ2a4NFvT89DCS8qd5bBmz7NnWH-3_qxINEyinfeHPisgeuI9UV3gjJUi2e4/s400/IMG_7046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395959485659408210" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yes<br /></span>There may be some developmental commentary here.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVZsed8XNBuhRDuV984RjKc6DG2osTWY57Ntp8bUGHulwbNOex8opk3Cnovb1QglW9SHTCuO9uuRH4bC-_y1K2LndCzxNN7Mgcqk2puElm_yO4pkiX98UfGaXvcY3vACYKynJ/s1600-h/Ramen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVZsed8XNBuhRDuV984RjKc6DG2osTWY57Ntp8bUGHulwbNOex8opk3Cnovb1QglW9SHTCuO9uuRH4bC-_y1K2LndCzxNN7Mgcqk2puElm_yO4pkiX98UfGaXvcY3vACYKynJ/s400/Ramen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395964875936730946" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Odd Couple</span><br />A sleek little CRJ being passed by what's arguably one of the ugliest - but most effective - aircraft ever made, the Navy C-2 Greyhound.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13pCT3OXwRvTH_PGBZuC5sh9wE0mszOtfM5S7zsdcDRK_MYhb73wbp-aPDFyBwyGfY76VHjD7mcSKa0wBkS_9nr4K6khxDO2OJeraMpUHC_ijIWg30htOTxJlif2aqsJH8csg/s1600-h/IMG_7056.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13pCT3OXwRvTH_PGBZuC5sh9wE0mszOtfM5S7zsdcDRK_MYhb73wbp-aPDFyBwyGfY76VHjD7mcSKa0wBkS_9nr4K6khxDO2OJeraMpUHC_ijIWg30htOTxJlif2aqsJH8csg/s400/IMG_7056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395959492399997410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jammin'</span><br />It was very, very peaceful out there most of the time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvw3c7x0_kjaA1Zi7AR8P08gILn8hl91LbstWxwwMvlIzBAC50Imh-1UExxPzwx9W7iM_jsv2DyigQdYbEj6DuAxdQCWIRmyDjusyAzDRJOgQB_dvJ_1E4yJ2Asww2Gk_Pr60/s1600-h/IMG_7052.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvw3c7x0_kjaA1Zi7AR8P08gILn8hl91LbstWxwwMvlIzBAC50Imh-1UExxPzwx9W7iM_jsv2DyigQdYbEj6DuAxdQCWIRmyDjusyAzDRJOgQB_dvJ_1E4yJ2Asww2Gk_Pr60/s400/IMG_7052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395959498329003826" border="0" /></a>Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-34934997556538034772009-09-30T18:26:00.003-04:002009-09-30T18:31:43.064-04:00Good Riddance<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIx2xrsUwM4rjb8fWS_Ha2Bb9VVtjzbkW7BP9zPzjkyiZq7_-8e-KSVO_lVZ024Vipg3j0H1bGXZN_A7DsIQT6U6n0Bc28xfFpCReY7SnImsD5msj7_BVBaOChQwTC987Tu2L/s1600-h/P1020184.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIx2xrsUwM4rjb8fWS_Ha2Bb9VVtjzbkW7BP9zPzjkyiZq7_-8e-KSVO_lVZ024Vipg3j0H1bGXZN_A7DsIQT6U6n0Bc28xfFpCReY7SnImsD5msj7_BVBaOChQwTC987Tu2L/s400/P1020184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387390887741220498" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out. I'd burn you, but I think all that accumulated hate inside of you might pollute the atmosphere like Chernobyl.<br /></div>Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-30792117716462676922009-09-11T08:19:00.007-04:002009-09-11T12:17:00.767-04:00On a Quiet Morning...Eight years ago, I awoke to a pounding on my bedroom door. "Turn on the TV!" my mother-in law - who my wife and I were staying with at the time - yelled in Spanish. She's a very mellow person usually. Something was obviously up.<br /><br />I stumbled out of bed and grabbed the remote. What could be so important that-<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Oh God.</span><br /><br />Twin towers aflame. Smoke billowing for miles in a plume so huge it could be seen <a href="http://internetpopculture.com/2009/09/10/911-as-seen-from-space/">from space</a>. How could both towers be on fire? Then they reran the clips of UAL175 streaking along, banking, correcting. My gut wrenched as I saw the huge Boeing swallowed by the tower and a huge ball of ugly flame belch out of the building. Eyewitnesses said another one had hit the first tower.<br /><br />Two airplanes? This was no accident. We were under attack. I immediately thought of Tom Clancy's <span style="font-style: italic;">Debt of Honor.</span> The anger punched me hard.<br /><br />I woke my wife up. We both sat, dumbfounded and helpless, as people struggled to survive a thousand miles away while metal wilted before the heat of flaming jet fuel. Firemen rushed to the rescue. People hovered in windows, waving frantically, trapped between a fiery death or a fall to Earth. Some held hands and leapt, together in their last moments, choosing their fate. Heroism and tragedy intertwined.<br /><br />Those buildings were so indescribably tall and majestic, and being a child of the 80's I could never picture NYC without them. I remember reading about the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-25_Mitchell#Empire_State_Building_incident">B-25 that slammed into the Empire State Building</a> in 1945. That was a 20 ton bomber crashing into a concrete and steel building, not a 150 ton airliner. But, surely, building technology had come a long way since those days.<br /><br />Then came the first collapse. A short time later, the second. And we could only watch and hope that someone - somehow - had made it out of there alive.<br /><br />I'd only visited New York once since I was a small child. In May 2001, my wife and I hooked up with my parents and sister in Philadelphia and took a whirlwind tour of the NE United States. Eight states in three days. My wife had never been to NYC before, and we saw a lot of things very quickly.<br /><br />However, my strongest memories are of the Twins. I recall standing beside them, looking up, and feeling so very insignificant. They seemed to go on forever.<br /><br />The only camera I had on me then was a DV video camera that also took 1024x768 stills, a pitiful resolution by today's standards. I had a wide-angle attachment for it as well. Here are the pics I shot on that beautiful day in May.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzV6wyvXHi9aDgq7Vu7F_gX11zaILuOTeN6ip8gztAKxP7ucyGTMved7rYcRwKxBYRFU8BRNSSeH2tG1D_3CeGFTxPF0-L9KpHxP5rPbBR4346oEG9BGe-S5ZExChVgR3P0NlI/s1600-h/nyc_worldtradecenter1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzV6wyvXHi9aDgq7Vu7F_gX11zaILuOTeN6ip8gztAKxP7ucyGTMved7rYcRwKxBYRFU8BRNSSeH2tG1D_3CeGFTxPF0-L9KpHxP5rPbBR4346oEG9BGe-S5ZExChVgR3P0NlI/s400/nyc_worldtradecenter1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380198924456903522" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_k4aVQ6zk6GNY_iUpyQXk4MBmd3vfH0HkqRJkLaKORpYd3D3O17Q4xV2nzCrk71r6ZpNKqg-koxfoiUv7qsisjrZ3hYaOFVJWFwSnljEyLmSXY4BPTkz7tSFlP_PcsmL0Fe5i/s1600-h/nyc_worldtradecenter3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_k4aVQ6zk6GNY_iUpyQXk4MBmd3vfH0HkqRJkLaKORpYd3D3O17Q4xV2nzCrk71r6ZpNKqg-koxfoiUv7qsisjrZ3hYaOFVJWFwSnljEyLmSXY4BPTkz7tSFlP_PcsmL0Fe5i/s400/nyc_worldtradecenter3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380198939449287218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GGunpPiStlS2FlIojuErtT_jwWY3V5e1haalYqw76xllHyhg7b2aKC2phYf83RPOkmVICmi66A8GZ9dzgwX7aRI00GjC7yCTaAV556ZTIhJfWbs6-fI1s5VSomH7UjA_kvDb/s1600-h/nyc_worldtradecenter2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GGunpPiStlS2FlIojuErtT_jwWY3V5e1haalYqw76xllHyhg7b2aKC2phYf83RPOkmVICmi66A8GZ9dzgwX7aRI00GjC7yCTaAV556ZTIhJfWbs6-fI1s5VSomH7UjA_kvDb/s400/nyc_worldtradecenter2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380198930741982770" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTf5F3z7iOS7c-3KH_EzLRZZ09oT4GQYWBY0GlNDsqSbU-SSC5ZH0dYfSxPvb-8ZwstUMmu81eIwTbjQz3kwcbBDlI1qfo5-pMpBB-11B6HjPUt_U7jJB-ZH-r3g_NMWBOnGJ2/s1600-h/nyc_wtc_plaza.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTf5F3z7iOS7c-3KH_EzLRZZ09oT4GQYWBY0GlNDsqSbU-SSC5ZH0dYfSxPvb-8ZwstUMmu81eIwTbjQz3kwcbBDlI1qfo5-pMpBB-11B6HjPUt_U7jJB-ZH-r3g_NMWBOnGJ2/s400/nyc_wtc_plaza.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380237630748516610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(Here's </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Battery_Park_Sphere.JPG">what the sphere looks like now</a><span style="font-style: italic;">. It actually survived the collapse and will be placed in the 9/11 memorial when it's built.)</span></span> </div><br />Those are just a little reminder of how things were eight years and one day ago.<br /><br />A few years later, I went on a class trip to the D.C. area. We hit every type of ATC facility: Washington National Airport Control Tower, Potomac TRACON, Washington Center, and - lastly - the Air Traffic Systems Command Center.<br /><br />If you haven't seen <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GH3CR0?ie=UTF8&tag=bandcodenet-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000GH3CR0"><span style="font-style: italic;">United 93</span></a>, you should. It's a powerful film and does a good job of showing what air traffic controllers do and how they react to unusual situations. While actors portray the heroes and terrorists who died aboard the aircraft, many of the folks on the ground - including ATC, military, government - are the actual people who were working that day. That includes the controllers who were on the frequencies and were the first people in the country to realize something was seriously wrong. Also, in tune with its accuracy, no other film has done as good a job presenting the "look" of ATC facilities.<br /><br />The order to land every non-military aircraft in the United States airspace originated in the Command Center - given by 1st-day-on-the-job director Ben Sliney. Controllers from around the country managed to land every airplane within two hours, a fact that the media certainly noticed in a number of post 9/11 reports.<br /><br />While visiting the Command Center was certainly a "big picture" look at the National Airspace System's normal daily ebb and flow of ground stops and delays, I also found it interesting to be in a place where a significant piece of ATC history originated.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ACmS0jLfAMToyreDB0ft1l7dupCeyje70YMKRBBJbmCmnTq2zTxp0Pid3XXXN8vKoqJRCj8B710HW0fiUhlizm1B8xEuGsqwq2J3iST9DB5Mx23J-pf9Um_6ophRX1ElZKHw/s1600-h/CommandCenter1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 102px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ACmS0jLfAMToyreDB0ft1l7dupCeyje70YMKRBBJbmCmnTq2zTxp0Pid3XXXN8vKoqJRCj8B710HW0fiUhlizm1B8xEuGsqwq2J3iST9DB5Mx23J-pf9Um_6ophRX1ElZKHw/s400/CommandCenter1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380237633637903058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLte-ybIdEKQmH3OMDgGjp8Wqu4PJj4Z4bRn4dc5MalCRActHc3kx-eQgYBFS2BbH6Qg1hDe33l7nxDStoj4ULd7tqT-nB32qtUSNp3Dxneu0ERIQ3JSGoAViEIG1SPziUzEa/s1600-h/CommandCenter2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 78px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLte-ybIdEKQmH3OMDgGjp8Wqu4PJj4Z4bRn4dc5MalCRActHc3kx-eQgYBFS2BbH6Qg1hDe33l7nxDStoj4ULd7tqT-nB32qtUSNp3Dxneu0ERIQ3JSGoAViEIG1SPziUzEa/s400/CommandCenter2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380243212895540114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXo9lfTAPGCtuNtZ7vG91yeU0t7VVNya2EVh8vy_j_3jXE_oxz0lLuICEQIYmg3bJzR0an5h6kdgBiPZt73tmfOMp5bpDQwfEpqYYsncAXTbP-a4zq6IBJyXKODjGmpoSg8xTB/s1600-h/IMG_5627.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXo9lfTAPGCtuNtZ7vG91yeU0t7VVNya2EVh8vy_j_3jXE_oxz0lLuICEQIYmg3bJzR0an5h6kdgBiPZt73tmfOMp5bpDQwfEpqYYsncAXTbP-a4zq6IBJyXKODjGmpoSg8xTB/s400/IMG_5627.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380237645124102690" border="0" /></a>Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-7777708702900384562009-09-08T00:09:00.005-04:002009-09-08T01:10:07.304-04:00Resting UpThe missus and I just returned from Dragon*Con 2009, the creative/sci-fi convention in Atlanta. I was feeling crappy before we headed out, and over the past couple of days it's developed into a full-blown cold. So, I'll be taking a little time off writing for the rest of this week.<br /><br />We did have a great time. I spent about 40% of the time at various creative writing panels, on everything from writing accurate military characters to the different factors that affect whether or not a book becomes a bestseller.<br /><br />Here are some of the authors who conducted the panels I attended. There was a whole lot of talent and experience packed in every room, folks who've been in the writing industry since the day before forever.<br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Charlaine-Harris/e/B000AQ04CS/ref=sr_tc_img_2_0">Charlaine Harris</a>: Author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels, aka the basis for HBO's awesome show <span style="font-style: italic;">True Blood</span>.<br /></li><li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mike-Mignola/e/B000APY74K/ref=sr_tc_img_2_0">Mike Mignola</a>: Creator of <span style="font-style: italic;">Hellboy</span>.</li><li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Timothy-Zahn/e/B000APAX8E/ref=sr_tc_img_2_0">Timothy Zahn</a>: Author of a gazillion <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Wars</span> universe books and other sci-fi novels.<br /></li><li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kevin-J.-Anderson/e/B000AQ0072/ref=sr_tc_img_2_0">Kevin J. Anderson</a>: Author of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Dune</span> prequels (along with Brian Herbert).<br /></li><li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Richelle-Mead/e/B001IGUOAQ/ref=sr_tc_img_2_0">Richelle Mead</a>: Author of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Succubus</span> series. I've never read them, but my wife and sister are huge fans.<br /></li><li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Peter-David/e/B000APYOHU/ref=sr_tc_img_2_0">Peter David</a>: Author of over 70 novels and 1000 comics in a ton of different markets.<br /></li></ul>I also got to watch and meet some of my favorite indie bands - <a href="http://www.myspace.com/theghostsproject">The Ghosts Project</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/abneypark">Abney Park</a>, and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/faithandthemuse">Faith and the Muse</a>. Excellent performances by all.<br /><br />And, I had a walk-by encounter with <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.watchtheguild.com/">The Guild's</a> Felicia Day in the Art Gallery. Even though I'm not an MMO player myself, I love her web series (and of course <span style="font-style: italic;">Doctor Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog</span>). She is so very, very cute in person.<br /><br />For the sci-fi fans out there - and not that bullcrap SyFy thing....eck - we went to a<span style="font-style: italic;"> Babylon 5</span> panel and a <span style="font-style: italic;">Battlestar Galactica</span> panel. The <span style="font-style: italic;">B5 </span>one was fantastic, with five of the major stars of the show in attendance. If you've never seen the show, once you get past the corny mid-90's 3D graphics and focus on the story and characters, you'll find one of the best dramas ever written in any genre. It actually took me until about episode 20-something to realize how good it was. Unlike Star Trek's crappy standalone "alien of the week" episodes, B5 is all about an ongoing storyline and fully realized character arcs.<br /><br />The <span style="font-style: italic;">BSG </span>panel was hella fun as well. The actors who played Laura Roslin, Saul Tigh, Ellen Tigh, Tom Zarek, "Dee" Dualla, Kat, Sam, and Felix Gaeta were there. Great group of people, and they dropped some hints about the upcoming <span style="font-style: italic;">BSG </span>movie <span style="font-style: italic;">The Plan</span>.<br /><br />The only problems - with both the BSG panel and the B5 group - were the few audience members who insisted on asking some seriously ridiculous questions and making outlandish comments. I was reminded of this clip from <a href="http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/ii137/Alembic-/Videos/?action=view&current=SNL-WilliamShatner-GetALife.flv">William Shatner's famous SNL skit</a>, directed at detail-obsessed Trekkies who seem to think the show was real. It was really, really just like that. It's like, "People, it was a show - a great show, yes - but nonetheless, just a frakking show..." Seriously guys, did your parents not socialize you? Did you spend the past 20 years in grandma's basement?<br /><br />*Sigh*. Sci-fi convention stereotypes exist for a reason, I guess. <a href="ttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001S86J0I?ie=UTF8&tag=bandcodenet-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001S86J0I"><span style="font-style: italic;">Galaxy Quest</span></a> does tend to be pretty accurate.<br /><br />But anyways, I'm going to hit the sack. My wife doesn't have to work tomorrow. I do. Meh. Let's see how I feel in the AM. I'd rather not be sneezing all over the ARTS keyboards. They're disgusting enough as it is...<br /><br />Heck, that's probably where I got this bug. There isn't enough hand sanitizer in the world to clean up after using those keyboards.Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-42544786198747666042009-09-01T21:40:00.003-04:002009-09-01T22:17:52.131-04:00Seventy YearsSeven decades ago today, Germany ignited the fires of World War II by shelling - and then invading - Poland. To say the world was forever changed pays poor respect to the tens of millions of people who perished in the carnage that ensued.<br /><br />In the midst of the destruction, new, terrible words were born that have since left an indelible mark on the world's lexicon.<br /><ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust">Holocaust</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapon">Nuclear weapon</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Christoph_Freiherr_von_Gersdorff#Conspiracy_to_assassinate_Hitler">Suicide bomber</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-2">Ballistic missile</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-1_flying_bomb">Cruise missile</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocide#Coining_of_the_term_genocide">Genocide</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpet_bombing">Carpet bombing</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_Code">Nuremberg Code</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_shield">Human shield</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_731">Unit 731</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamikaze">Kamikaze</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiten">Kaiten</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Tokyo">Firebombing</a><br /></li></ul>Such small words with such gruesome connotations.<br /><br />In somewhat related news, my WWII story "Day 483" has made it to the top ten stories of all time on <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.everydayfiction.com/features/top-stories/">EveryDayFiction.com</a>. For those who haven't read it yet, <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.everydayfiction.com/day-483-by-mark-rossmore/">click here</a>. It's a tale of ordinary citizens surviving the darkest hours of WWII's Eastern Front.<br /><br />Some commenters have called it a horror story. I don't agree - horror stories are fantasy. What happened on the Eastern Front goes far beyond what fiction can conjure.Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-16817211379074440552009-09-01T00:46:00.004-04:002009-09-01T02:58:36.999-04:00Nightly LOL<span style="font-style: italic;">I'm working Flight Data and simultaneously monitoring the one radar position we have open. The phone rings at the supervisor's desk and the sup picks up. It's the operations office for a regional air carrier. They have a flight arriving here in about fifteen minutes and apparently the flight's gate has been changed. They ask us to pass the information on to the pilot.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Why they called us, I have no idea. I've yet to see someone issue a "taxi to ramp" instruction from a radar position, but we've got the information. The radar controller agrees to pass it on.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Shortly thereafter, the plane gets handed off to us.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">RGL3421: </span><span>"Approach, Regional 3421 with you descending to 11,000 with Bravo."</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Controller: </span><span>"Regional 3421, Approach, roger. Descend and maintain 3,000."</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">RGL3421: </span><span>"Down to 3,000, RGL3421."</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Controller: </span><span>"Oh, RGL3421, I'm not sure why this got passed to me, but your gate's apparently been changed. It's now G9."</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">RGL3421:</span> "Errr, G9? Roger, 3421."<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- A minute or so passes -</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">RGL3421: </span>"Approach, you did say G9?"<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Controller: </span>"Uh, RGL3421, like I said, that's what got passed to me. It's G9."<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">RGL3421 (laughing): </span>"Yeah, we were just discussing that and, uh, your airport's only got <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">eight </span>gates."<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- We all crack up. A few seconds pass. -</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Controller (deadpan):</span> "Well, just look for the guy with the flashy lights."<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">RGL3421 (laughing): </span>"Yeah, we'll do that. If that doesn't work, then we've got some <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">real </span>problems!"Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-62840151289704485832009-08-29T14:16:00.009-04:002009-08-29T15:22:43.948-04:00Flock of OspreysI think it'd be pretty hard to find a modern military aircraft that's stirred up more controversy than the V-22 Osprey. Sure, the F-22 is expensive and much of its role arguably obsolete, but it's still the best damn air superiority fighter in the world.<br /><br />The Osprey, on the other hand, seems to be one teething problem after another. Engine exhaust that warps unprepared decks and lights landing zone foliage on fire. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">HIGE</span> (Hovering in Ground Effect) issues when operating aboard ship with one engine over the side. Numerous crashes during its development phase that killed nearly two dozen people. Mechanical and maintenance problems caused by a lack of parts. Public relations disasters in many areas of its deployment, from falsified maintenance records to massive cost overruns. It hasn't lived up to its promised range and speed requirements.<br /><br />Nonetheless, I'll admit: I'm a fan of the airplane, or at least its concept. When pushing aside the logistics, costs, and general public relations issues, the aircraft is a marvel of engineering. Unlike many other <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">bloggers</span> who hope it fails and want the U.S. to buy up a ton of modernized CH-53s or CH-47s, I'd actually like to see it succeed. The last I've heard its situation appears to be improving, with its deployment ships learning how best to operate their new toy.<br /><br />Until today, I'd only seen one before in real life. In 2007, I took a Caribbean Carnival cruise out of Fort <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lauderdale</span>. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">FLL</span> Air & Sea show was in full swing as we were getting ready to depart. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Kearsarge_%28LHD-3%29"><span style="font-style: italic;">USS <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Kearsarge</span></span></a> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">LHD</span>-3) pulled into Port Everglades and docked right beside us, right in front of my balcony. On her deck sat a V-22.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9FeKGX7q1pQAkAXhf4Cd-nr5TYw0eH_NwDNEfbrhrXnHj2Dax5gr6xi7SWZ7L5ZXMKqgEQnI9iFTaYqhdf0qq-ICWDYYPAArcKY1uuvB-x33n8eGctGKGPk8iHcqL0OFp_JT/s1600-h/DSC01435.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9FeKGX7q1pQAkAXhf4Cd-nr5TYw0eH_NwDNEfbrhrXnHj2Dax5gr6xi7SWZ7L5ZXMKqgEQnI9iFTaYqhdf0qq-ICWDYYPAArcKY1uuvB-x33n8eGctGKGPk8iHcqL0OFp_JT/s400/DSC01435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375456632784662978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">USS <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Kearsarge</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> getting pushed into her berth.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64bX9EdrNMrX1p8TExkt6_pd7fiHn8VAFOPJi2ElEw6ExAm5L9cjElxC6LI2OF8LUCEbj3Q8qvzo7BIZqTiLeu5hSsXSoZ2W1LNQmp4QoPmEpamu6bHJbEKQzDUkRZwLaUy07/s1600-h/DSC01437.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64bX9EdrNMrX1p8TExkt6_pd7fiHn8VAFOPJi2ElEw6ExAm5L9cjElxC6LI2OF8LUCEbj3Q8qvzo7BIZqTiLeu5hSsXSoZ2W1LNQmp4QoPmEpamu6bHJbEKQzDUkRZwLaUy07/s400/DSC01437.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375456640335313410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">V-22 Osprey <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">onboard</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqneuTnAlO7YPrlnvFC6cM9psTasrm-c_v8WqQmHHg2uLxu-yOQxpmYaxun1ZsT1ZAGKMm1txbiajDE0ADlCivwHx9l5HuorbCXh7CS90LiIXNd1F7-dDgUXt8n_AXV0ZWphjB/s1600-h/DSC01445.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqneuTnAlO7YPrlnvFC6cM9psTasrm-c_v8WqQmHHg2uLxu-yOQxpmYaxun1ZsT1ZAGKMm1txbiajDE0ADlCivwHx9l5HuorbCXh7CS90LiIXNd1F7-dDgUXt8n_AXV0ZWphjB/s400/DSC01445.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375456652879029058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">V-22 getting maneuvered about by a tug with a Princess cruise ship leaving beyond it.</span><br /></div><br />Well, this morning, I was running some errands near Pensacola Regional Airport. Driving past the main airport entrance, I happened to look left towards the terminal. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Heliworks</span> - our local helicopter <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">FBO</span> that sits next to the terminal - sometimes has odd aircraft over the weekend. I've seen CH-53s, CH-47s, CH-46s and other military hardware there before.<br /><br />A gaggle of strange rotors and twin tails peeked up beyond the fence. <span style="font-style: italic;">What the...?</span><br /><br />After a quick U-turn, I drove into the parking lot adjacent to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Heliworks</span>. And there I found five V-22s from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMM-266">Marine Medium <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Tiltrotor</span> Squadron <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">VMM</span>-266</a>. Odd aircraft indeed!<br /><br />This is a perfect example of why I always keep a camera on me. I took a couple of panoramas and a bunch of standalone shots.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RiSGwJkxmyfSmoMlA_eMipFMsjIfetfLVOM9CyuvpPfCYaix96Uh9jDwOj9PYHQpImvkjxQf9MDaeaukpn_OBRAW5OKORQDnRzaPlgdPwZt3oQY7aXScr1h0HVEoZiVvYzNw/s1600-h/V22_Pano2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 88px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RiSGwJkxmyfSmoMlA_eMipFMsjIfetfLVOM9CyuvpPfCYaix96Uh9jDwOj9PYHQpImvkjxQf9MDaeaukpn_OBRAW5OKORQDnRzaPlgdPwZt3oQY7aXScr1h0HVEoZiVvYzNw/s400/V22_Pano2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375459323230613778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Five Ospreys of </span><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">VMM</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">-266</span> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqGiO8lkgK97zFVPdWtTwK-MDVubs3eBPkC5B0FsGjMd4zV5xU14Ai2sDW_JQTmMsvIWbpefYmXVFpPq5P_eehEZQfuTUddW2nx5zNGXIqo4eXwUh5jm1NiPkZ63TZXl3HMpT/s1600-h/V22_Pano3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqGiO8lkgK97zFVPdWtTwK-MDVubs3eBPkC5B0FsGjMd4zV5xU14Ai2sDW_JQTmMsvIWbpefYmXVFpPq5P_eehEZQfuTUddW2nx5zNGXIqo4eXwUh5jm1NiPkZ63TZXl3HMpT/s400/V22_Pano3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375459339278645538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Continental Express Beech 1900 taking off beyond.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6t3xjgIPzDdHAd6NPYnwWBkP17utsBVPAeh89taciop1aO3XmBYyqsckMcHtzqrKfMNgLyL7At4CogUYdP2Y94x_6nuvbsSEPnJYzKZnIqgj8OBG3J0IMVJvzFRl8LfVLrAf/s1600-h/P1010751.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6t3xjgIPzDdHAd6NPYnwWBkP17utsBVPAeh89taciop1aO3XmBYyqsckMcHtzqrKfMNgLyL7At4CogUYdP2Y94x_6nuvbsSEPnJYzKZnIqgj8OBG3J0IMVJvzFRl8LfVLrAf/s400/P1010751.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375461337217132498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cloudy nose-on. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarPkF_7BIt5ech3SMnEJRKg1PCopXJ1H9k2t1GcuAt1K_66Ac8iBDUQthuDdQDhTvcdb0AIEXacllhPtAf7dHeX8wFF9STjBqQKKBed-xSzRAZQdcW-mHVs5_VG0z6itR7UuT/s1600-h/P1010796.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarPkF_7BIt5ech3SMnEJRKg1PCopXJ1H9k2t1GcuAt1K_66Ac8iBDUQthuDdQDhTvcdb0AIEXacllhPtAf7dHeX8wFF9STjBqQKKBed-xSzRAZQdcW-mHVs5_VG0z6itR7UuT/s400/P1010796.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375462619058627522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ah! There's the sun.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1YPFRv1YN02OQZsp4IOa9mX0ChBd4cuZ-zPRbXKt9jOL9IGxAJ4SA4atl_2ErF80uEqCBFYbCIl0WgHKmdatMY5NVhr42LuU6uu9q5XqHikxeaLRrGIaRohlMjzJsnBsearH/s1600-h/P1010747+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1YPFRv1YN02OQZsp4IOa9mX0ChBd4cuZ-zPRbXKt9jOL9IGxAJ4SA4atl_2ErF80uEqCBFYbCIl0WgHKmdatMY5NVhr42LuU6uu9q5XqHikxeaLRrGIaRohlMjzJsnBsearH/s400/P1010747+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375461335561207746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Broad rotors.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHsvGwJJ-q7d7uRmSRjK-0jZN2md1VuNCvLaX5wp9g7pdQjnQ_E3RUg_7zrK5vWwP79AqZY_FY_H86GGl0nIkODHEAE2zsVXbYfC646ytb6G51rtFhmhoHehuXcGolQodx3QT/s1600-h/P1010797.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHsvGwJJ-q7d7uRmSRjK-0jZN2md1VuNCvLaX5wp9g7pdQjnQ_E3RUg_7zrK5vWwP79AqZY_FY_H86GGl0nIkODHEAE2zsVXbYfC646ytb6G51rtFhmhoHehuXcGolQodx3QT/s400/P1010797.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375462630387154930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Funny how dirty the engine nacelles are. These aren't exactly two decades old.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeDpwlRzaih55mIPun0OxTgBqmr9sMhjF-8WBDWoe-5pUOGsuxFlAzSw7wi9ZjgbkmPvXV4m4zuFSUL6Qelrq-JyFmzpGHkXoGIAA-_2pkUCwkBZZQzW0V2NqYYVDIHkqk41E/s1600-h/P1010754.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeDpwlRzaih55mIPun0OxTgBqmr9sMhjF-8WBDWoe-5pUOGsuxFlAzSw7wi9ZjgbkmPvXV4m4zuFSUL6Qelrq-JyFmzpGHkXoGIAA-_2pkUCwkBZZQzW0V2NqYYVDIHkqk41E/s400/P1010754.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375461352823376322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rotors up.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWn06weiyCozyjjqm-wAr9L0k9ZwtYk6GIFxqL3UMR2lM1ghYTk6nT1jiETPfP5HznWQh80r1y8Jysab6nacgJriPwGi01U16WGLTpZzlAVFjwjeUJtpLaB4ul4ZaH5bOX_Zu/s1600-h/P1010746.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWn06weiyCozyjjqm-wAr9L0k9ZwtYk6GIFxqL3UMR2lM1ghYTk6nT1jiETPfP5HznWQh80r1y8Jysab6nacgJriPwGi01U16WGLTpZzlAVFjwjeUJtpLaB4ul4ZaH5bOX_Zu/s400/P1010746.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375461325291853218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pilots from Navy Training Air Wing Five (TAW-5 NAS Whiting) tying down their H-57, with their (possible) future ride in the background.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaukiBeJWvMjeEwrd48nQxsz9uQSeafh5ocaIu6LldL3d4bBHpgvGmmZoWmm7q7pizu74YLB31KXfbhY1OVR_FNc-lV8n3xiJcR33UUPIuAIsavxCRoXK3PntKj7E1B6aRoLmy/s1600-h/P1010794.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaukiBeJWvMjeEwrd48nQxsz9uQSeafh5ocaIu6LldL3d4bBHpgvGmmZoWmm7q7pizu74YLB31KXfbhY1OVR_FNc-lV8n3xiJcR33UUPIuAIsavxCRoXK3PntKj7E1B6aRoLmy/s400/P1010794.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375461365857504818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">That's our new TRACON to the right of the tower. Hopefully we'll be there in October.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It's funny; I wasn't the only one intrigued by these strange airplanes. I was there maybe ten minutes taking these shots, and no less than a dozen cars pulled up to admire the Ospreys. Parents with kids in tow, old ladies, photographer-types with long lensed cameras - a bizarre crossection of people, all fascinated by these aeronautical oddities.<br /></div></div>Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-21231391868662223872009-08-27T21:19:00.007-04:002009-08-27T21:48:41.997-04:00In the NewsIt's kind of funny when the aircraft you work - or may wind up working in the future - appear as front page news in the local paper.<br /><br />The articles below relate to Choctaw Field and Whiting NAS. Here's where these fall within our radar map:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAJqNJ551Cg5UtBxwyvapu-QGWFEIW_vtRUur_WFcmkwpa-SoQ4Wr1YZwXrIizL5p-vFpq-7umR0MzcRPB8QDLqIBYSsdUz8roptLLz6HnoWhAjFS1BZ-LpILZdBVr2TCoKtL/s1600-h/NewsMap1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 373px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAJqNJ551Cg5UtBxwyvapu-QGWFEIW_vtRUur_WFcmkwpa-SoQ4Wr1YZwXrIizL5p-vFpq-7umR0MzcRPB8QDLqIBYSsdUz8roptLLz6HnoWhAjFS1BZ-LpILZdBVr2TCoKtL/s400/NewsMap1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374824462341323346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />From the <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/span-19997-class-style.html">Northwest Florida Daily News:</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Navarre Potential Destination for F-35</span><br /><p class="Bodycopyjustified"></p><blockquote><p class="Bodycopyjustified">NAVARRE — Eglin Air Force Base officials hosted a meeting Tuesday to discuss an alternative that would use Choctaw Field in South Santa Rosa County for the Joint Strike Fighter training mission.</p><p class="Bodycopyjustified"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeS-h8epkZq8160tKz0mMYbqLSTDfWplrdhmGN_LXJjANp_ii2uuRIv8-SXVRhf9CrG35yn3OhfwqahHbjFC40JZCJRff9Kgm5DcbDD9v47SZ6OPetE1C27j3hTyqrbsIMSAw/s1600-h/F35.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeS-h8epkZq8160tKz0mMYbqLSTDfWplrdhmGN_LXJjANp_ii2uuRIv8-SXVRhf9CrG35yn3OhfwqahHbjFC40JZCJRff9Kgm5DcbDD9v47SZ6OPetE1C27j3hTyqrbsIMSAw/s400/F35.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374824948881002482" border="0" /></a></p> <p>The meeting introduced three alternatives that are being considered in the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the bed-down of the F-35 jets.</p> <p>Of the three alternatives introduced, Choctaw Field (also known as Alternative 3) would have the greatest impact on the Holley-Navarre area.</p> <p>The alternative would add a runway to Choctaw’s main airfield for the F-35 or use the current runway and add a landing, helicopter and assault area on the east side of the existing airfield. Either option would conflict with the existing Navy training at the airfield.</p> <p>Two residents spoke at the meeting. Both favored using Choctaw Field, calling the potential noise “the sound of freedom.”</p> <p>David Del Castillo lives 13 to 15 miles from Choctaw Field and saw several advantages.</p> <p>“I believe that placing military aircraft at Choctaw Field, or anywhere in this area, is very good for the community. It’s also good for the Air Force,” he said. “I believe that Highway 87 directly connecting to Choctaw Field offers a lot of advantages. Heavy cargo could be brought in by trucks, never having to impact communities in Navarre. It could potentially provide employment to the community.”</p> <p>Choctaw Field is located on the far west corner of Eglin Air Force Base’s range between East Bay and State Road 87 south of Interstate 10.</p> <p>The airfield would be an hour commute for Joint Striker Fighter students who will attend classes in the training school under construction at Eglin.</p> <p>Increased activity at Choctaw Field also could interfere with Bob Sikes Airport, Whiting Field and Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport, according to a brochure available at the meeting.</p> <p>Another alternative suggests Choctaw and Duke Field share the mission with Eglin’s runways. Two parallel runways would be built at Eglin and Choctaw would be used as one of two outlying fields.</p> <p>An additional alternative would move the Joint Strike Fighter training to Duke Field. That option calls for building a landing, helicopter and assault area, and use either the existing runway or add a parallel runway east of the existing one.</p> <p>“We support whatever the military needs to do,” said Sherry Del Castillo after the meeting.</p> <p>However she did express one disappointment.</p> <p>“I’m disappointed Santa Rosa County officials weren’t here to speak on our behalf,” she said.</p> <p>The meeting was the first time Navarre has been included as a possible destination for the F-35.</p> <p>Choctaw Field was excluded as an option previously because its runways could not support the mission and were already used by the Navy, base officials said in an interview in March.</p> <p>Most of the F-35 discussion has centered on Valparaiso, where city officials are extremely worried about the jets’ noise.</p> <p>Many of the alternatives presented involve building additional runways at a cost that was not included in the original BRAC funding. Estimated costs of the alternatives were not available but would be included in the final draft of the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.</p></blockquote><p></p><br />I'm morbidly curious as to how a unit of nearly fifty supercruising F-35 fighters based ten miles from our two busiest facilities will affect our already <strike>completely whacked</strike> unique operation.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">New T-6B Texans Arrive at Whiting NAS</span><br /><br />From the <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://pnj.com/article/20090827/NEWS01/90827007&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL">Pensacola News Journal</a>:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4voptClLiTSpvsUXWp0TDgdXFNPi0RkItN6pVJYxyZVvlg5ZMSfYPTb_0eP4VEMiwV7qw5RbhLgVNKIbIADWZA9Nt8WK4JqrBe_nB7nCarxZ1HWFG7z6lR3D2iE-X7anHQB1/s1600-h/T-6Texans_Whiting.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4voptClLiTSpvsUXWp0TDgdXFNPi0RkItN6pVJYxyZVvlg5ZMSfYPTb_0eP4VEMiwV7qw5RbhLgVNKIbIADWZA9Nt8WK4JqrBe_nB7nCarxZ1HWFG7z6lR3D2iE-X7anHQB1/s400/T-6Texans_Whiting.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374818478055273618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">A pair of T-6B Texan II aircraft taxi down the runway at Whiting Field Naval Air Station Thursday morning Aug. 27, 2009. T-6B Texans are among the first of new training aircraft to be delivered to NAS Whiting Field. The Texans scheduled to replace the current T-34 trainer as Navy's primary flight trainer.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">Louis Cooper - August 27, 2009: </span>Threatening skies did not keep the next generation of training air craft from arriving at Whiting Field Naval Air Station this morning.<br /><br />Whiting's Training Air Wing 5 took delivery of its first two T-6B Texan II training aircraft, which will replace the T-34 Turbo Mentor. The older craft have been in use by the Navy since 1978.<p>"It's pretty exciting to be bringing in a new training system that is going to train these airborne warriors for the next couple of decades," said Marine Col. John Walsh, commodore of Training Air Wing 5.</p><p>He pointed out that the T-34 he trained in at Whiting in 1987 is still in use today.</p><p>"You can see around here we're not big fans of the cash for clunkers program," Walsh said, with laughter from the crowd assembled in a hangar. </p><p>"We like to keep things flying around here. The taxpayers buy things for us, we take good care of it and we put it to good use."</p>The new plane will fly a maximum of 316 knots, where as the old one topped out at 280 knots. Whiting will receive periodic shipments of the new plane until it reaches a total of 156 on 2015. Student pilots will begin using the new planes in April.<br /></blockquote>These two were doing laps around North Whiting this morning. Fast airplanes. I'm wondering how well they're going to mesh in the pattern with the South Whiting helicopters.Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-84497433766103428262009-08-15T18:51:00.002-04:002009-08-15T19:17:23.954-04:00"Day 483"<a href="http://www.everydayfiction.com/day-483-by-mark-rossmore/">EveryDayFiction.com</a> has just published a new 1000 word short story of mine titled "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 483</span>". EDF posts a new short story every day, 365 days a year. They have a pretty strict selection process, so I'm pleased that they included my story in their roster.<br /><br />The story is a dark historical piece about an infamous period in 20th century history: <span style="font-weight: bold;">the Siege of Leningrad during WWII</span>. For 900 days, the Nazis blockaded the Soviet city and left its citizens starving to death over three brutal arctic winters. It is estimated 1.5 million Russians perished, most simply fading away from the hunger and the cold.<br /><br />"Day 483" is a glimpse into the horror of those desperate times:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.everydayfiction.com/day-483-by-mark-rossmore/">http://www.everydayfiction.com/day-483-by-mark-rossmore/</a><br /><br />Any feedback is welcome. Feel free to post comments beneath the story.Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-50894590545066732222009-08-15T02:40:00.003-04:002009-08-15T08:43:31.474-04:00Punching Holes in a Leaky Hull<span style="font-style: italic;">I'm going to break from the norm on this blog and make one comment on the new contract:</span><br /><br />We've all heard the arbitrators' results by now. Truly bittersweet. I know many were hoping we'd see the last three years of the White Book erased and everybody made whole again. That's obviously not what happened.<br /><br />Yes, I'm happy that myself and the other new guys are getting a phased raise over the next three years. That'll be very nice. I'm looking forward to many of the other changes in the TAUs as well.<br /><br />However, I am not happy that the people who have the most to offer - both to the public for safety and to us neophytes who need them to pass on their decades of experience- are getting the short end of the stick. They stuck their necks out for us three years ago in fighting the B-scale, and now they get shafted.<br /><br />Given the economy and the need to compromise, I wasn't expecting everyone to walk away completely satisfied. Would I have liked a full, immediate raise? Sure. Would I have liked back-pay for the thousands of dollars of <span style="font-style: italic;">per diem</span> myself and my classmates rightfully deserved - and did not receive - during our Tower class in early '07? Of course. Who wouldn't? But such is the nature of compromise. You lose one thing to gain another.<br /><br />But the old guys and gals? They really didn't gain a thing. There was no compromise. And it sucks - for them, for us trainees, and for the flying public. They no longer have a real reason to stay past retirement.<br /><br />We have two people eligible to retire. We have two more eligible within the next few months. We just lost one person to a staff position. Another one just got promoted to supervisor. Since I've been here, we've had an additional seven people either retire or transfer to other facilities as supervisors. Insofar as I know, there are no new developmentals scheduled for this year, though there is a rumor of one or two transfers.<br /><br />If those four potential retirees decide to go, that leaves us with nineteen CPCs and six Developmentals to run a nine scope, 24/7 operation. The six day weeks and 10 hour days many other facilities have been living with are almost certainly in our future.<br /><br />Am I looking forward to the pay and other changes? Sure. But I think in some ways we're losing more than what we're gaining. Some things - like experience - just can't be replaced.Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-31193291495620405312009-08-13T00:15:00.004-04:002009-08-13T00:37:47.100-04:00The BluesWe continue to have visitors in our neck of the woods: my parents and some family friends. I took them to see the Blue Angels practice over at NAS Pensacola. Aside from my dad - who is a phenomenal aviation photographer - none of them had ever seen the Blues perform before. The same goes for my wife. They all came away very impressed.<br /><br />My wife kept talking about the sound they made, how it just knocks you in the gut. It was the first time she's ever heard afterburners. Her favorite part, of course, was the "sneak pass" where the two solos come screaming by at nearly Mach 1 - one from directly behind the crowd and the other along the airfield.<br /><br />Here are some pics I took with my little point-and-shoot camera. I can't wait to see the ones my dad took with his far-superior image-stabilized camera equipment.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">The diamond flight in formation, smoke on and condensation popping off the wings.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12PrPWnUxm1xqQjAZCs9ovBn5izdsfC79ASdp-Ce6jJAeyQFQEyHStHwYhQLfWoEXdwkNQMRyux-TbH4izCLOsg6dJhc94yzWFFcYSXMM4kjjmY_1Fxj3oGDlW3X2SKFjxtN2/s1600-h/BA_4Flight_Closeup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 161px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12PrPWnUxm1xqQjAZCs9ovBn5izdsfC79ASdp-Ce6jJAeyQFQEyHStHwYhQLfWoEXdwkNQMRyux-TbH4izCLOsg6dJhc94yzWFFcYSXMM4kjjmY_1Fxj3oGDlW3X2SKFjxtN2/s400/BA_4Flight_Closeup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369298109983455954" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shooting for the moon</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpYgrBfPHgzd_xkQje7wZ1TnI0mCMHEFI-jc_o0zhmFg0kiDDPU6PCROhwBASY4NLTY85S23FiB7rmlH8HSPoORp-IZuBq0daY-9QxJKfWzpdVwBjsEhnHk0zfboQNCIPpTwY/s1600-h/BA_4FlightMoon_Vert.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpYgrBfPHgzd_xkQje7wZ1TnI0mCMHEFI-jc_o0zhmFg0kiDDPU6PCROhwBASY4NLTY85S23FiB7rmlH8HSPoORp-IZuBq0daY-9QxJKfWzpdVwBjsEhnHk0zfboQNCIPpTwY/s400/BA_4FlightMoon_Vert.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369298131585671842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtgneBnJnbAXJa38aVb1rf_OwobrkcusVrKc9Qz3pn2WTSdPliMiQZPWrViodCjtnIqQFnvadpEPPUE-4-Hm-_61mZaPGm_s3KiQ71nkWPs888OU2rK_8kWhvlR-RadeUNPgU/s1600-h/BA_4FlightMoon_Horizontal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtgneBnJnbAXJa38aVb1rf_OwobrkcusVrKc9Qz3pn2WTSdPliMiQZPWrViodCjtnIqQFnvadpEPPUE-4-Hm-_61mZaPGm_s3KiQ71nkWPs888OU2rK_8kWhvlR-RadeUNPgU/s400/BA_4FlightMoon_Horizontal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369298117427735586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Solos doing a high-alpha pass<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj21nHdNDeSoxj1JSqPfRKKaHCC_fawmE-EH8lzfwbzy9LCbX1hGaMRaHJEzgZdSZ-qtmPxS0080WWYw4rx_C0UgLCbv1HLJ3XyZtBqggeJo2Sfpl7Rloq4DaX8PSRuKd1z4M9/s1600-h/BA_SolosPair_Slow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj21nHdNDeSoxj1JSqPfRKKaHCC_fawmE-EH8lzfwbzy9LCbX1hGaMRaHJEzgZdSZ-qtmPxS0080WWYw4rx_C0UgLCbv1HLJ3XyZtBqggeJo2Sfpl7Rloq4DaX8PSRuKd1z4M9/s400/BA_SolosPair_Slow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369298325127158754" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Solo climbing out after the high-alpha, condensation breaking off the leading edge extensions</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrS93ycf0iY_Pd4GqFX9tyToxh3JwVivAgI6zf-BC592fTSNQhCLoQ8baDl-lmFpW0f5FN9fDFKHWLA1iKe40jWJYUOkKOhBhkPulFGPRAHe-jS7gUsaSma3EaxzmZB6j2XYc/s1600-h/BA_SolosPair_Breakaway.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrS93ycf0iY_Pd4GqFX9tyToxh3JwVivAgI6zf-BC592fTSNQhCLoQ8baDl-lmFpW0f5FN9fDFKHWLA1iKe40jWJYUOkKOhBhkPulFGPRAHe-jS7gUsaSma3EaxzmZB6j2XYc/s400/BA_SolosPair_Breakaway.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369298150280842802" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Solo coming back down</span><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YvaEYPIdrg0NQ1bgURvdxOdMTDVtHXCzIwSgKc8h7OaDIW3s2hlK23at6WvTnZjx0d4bAPffCWKGNWVO8LQf8A6B9VGEgVdUrXp5vBZ_-c5xkKaVXWM_MO_ZR8-_ojtNLUoN/s1600-h/BA_SingleMoon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YvaEYPIdrg0NQ1bgURvdxOdMTDVtHXCzIwSgKc8h7OaDIW3s2hlK23at6WvTnZjx0d4bAPffCWKGNWVO8LQf8A6B9VGEgVdUrXp5vBZ_-c5xkKaVXWM_MO_ZR8-_ojtNLUoN/s400/BA_SingleMoon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369298134044141954" border="0" /></a><br />When the Blues practice, we completely shut down the airspace around NAS Pensacola. This restriction has a radius of 6 miles and goes out to 10,000 feet, and usually lasts from 8:30am to 9:30am on the days the Blues are practicing.<br /><br />It's funny to watch Sherman's Training Wing 6 scatter like ants before the dreaded 8:30am rolls around. No one can arrive or depart while the Blues have the field, so Sherman usually pumps out T-6 Texan IIs, T-39 Sabreliners, T-1 Jayhawks, and T-45 Goshawks like it's nobody's business. We'll go from two stripbays full of proposals to nothin' in no time flat.<br /><br />Once the Blues start taxiing out, the gates lock up tight. A few weeks back, we had this one Jayhawk coming in at around 8:25am. The controller working Sherman tried to get him in and called up the tower. The guy was descending like a rock, flooring the gas pedal, and was only a few miles north of the field. "Sorry" the tower sup said. "The Blues are on the move." The Jayhawk had to divert to Mobile, AL.<br /><br />It's just the way it goes with the Blues.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtgneBnJnbAXJa38aVb1rf_OwobrkcusVrKc9Qz3pn2WTSdPliMiQZPWrViodCjtnIqQFnvadpEPPUE-4-Hm-_61mZaPGm_s3KiQ71nkWPs888OU2rK_8kWhvlR-RadeUNPgU/s1600-h/BA_4FlightMoon_Horizontal.jpg"><br /></a>Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-46003519307745491252009-07-28T10:52:00.006-04:002009-07-31T11:06:53.043-04:00Summer DaysIt's been a surprisingly busy summer, with family visiting and a lot of projects in the works.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Firstly, I'd like to direct your attention here ----></span><br /><br />A few people have expressed an interest in making donations to the blog. I know many authors just put up a big PayPal donation button. I'm not really comfortable with that. I'm a big believer in giving folks something for their money, whether it's an album of MP3s or some original fiction.<br /><br />Via those links to the right you can help support this blog and my varied creative endeavors.<br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Escape the Clouds</span> is my own instrumental musical project, a blend of many different sounds from hard rock to industrial to Latin rhythms to steampunk to electronica. I play and record all of the instrumentation - guitar, bass, drums, keys, synths, etc.. It's something I've done for years. The band name comes from music's power to shove away all of your troubles.<br /><br /><ul><li style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://store.payloadz.com/details/detail_239415.html">Buy the album <span style="font-style: italic;">Bring the Rain</span> (MP3 format)<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></a></li><li style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/iescapetheclouds">Listen to the album on MySpace</a><br /></li></ul><br />I've also started working on a second album. Demo tracks are available here:<br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://atchours.com/Media/index.cfm">http://atchours.com/Media/index.cfm</a><br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Steampunk Tales</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>is now available on <span style="font-weight: bold;">all platforms</span>, not just iPhone. The <span style="font-weight: bold;">PDF </span>version is <span style="font-weight: bold;">only $1.99</span>. It is DRM free and includes 10 original short stories - over 120 pages of reading! My story is titled "A Grain of Sand".<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://steampunktales.com/">Click here to buy!</a><br /><br />Also, I just found out one of my other stories has been picked up for a new issue. This particular story is the longest and my favorite of the ones I've completed so far (about 15,000 words). I'll post more when I find out the publication specifics.<br /></li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ATC Updates</span><br /><br />So far, I've been recommended for a couple of the Pensacola scopes. However, we've basically had to stop training over the past few weeks due to staffing. Our new TRACON building is nearing completion and they had to pull seven people off the floor to send to STARS cadre training for two weeks. Lots of OT as a result for the remaining CPCs. In addition, we developmentals were used for coverage, so there was slim pickings for training.<br /><br />On the upside, the new building's looking good. It's a smaller, one-story facility as opposed to the three story "battleship" we have now, but I'm looking forward to the new STARS scopes. One thing I don't like about it is that there are far fewer places to hide. In our current building, if you want to go read a book or fool around on your laptop in a quiet place, we've got a lot of spaces where you can still hear the pager but there aren't a lot of people around. The new building's a lot more compact and we're all just going to be on top of each other.<br /><br />I took these pics in the winter. I haven't been over there since, but apparently all the new equipment's in and they're getting close to completion. The switchover is scheduled for October and it actually seems to be right on schedule.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBcse7ZXBsHjK5SBECG8ZoEZWhUn5yT91lgH6d6XQqOVjSfXAO0VpL0SjU01HZwJDdn5lV_s9QAHGcPks2_fnnQGeZXHfkmPFA1krvawZ8dXwFhtcXrFiWwAvtoZ8OQTyHW7C/s1600-h/P1000311.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBcse7ZXBsHjK5SBECG8ZoEZWhUn5yT91lgH6d6XQqOVjSfXAO0VpL0SjU01HZwJDdn5lV_s9QAHGcPks2_fnnQGeZXHfkmPFA1krvawZ8dXwFhtcXrFiWwAvtoZ8OQTyHW7C/s320/P1000311.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363535030197028050" border="0" /></a>New TRACON, next to the new PNS tower (built late 90's)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIx9va8lyR291bc90WWEtsjQUJSkRXpjLQrECPFPpVcRgWeEVh0p52P_RQelb_GETM_RtPrlGZn223QGZPqm4H6p0nNfn_FdSKC8mIV5d2vhyphenhyphenUT0tB_6Ec_obVL3EpVBzbBHI/s1600-h/P1000320.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIx9va8lyR291bc90WWEtsjQUJSkRXpjLQrECPFPpVcRgWeEVh0p52P_RQelb_GETM_RtPrlGZn223QGZPqm4H6p0nNfn_FdSKC8mIV5d2vhyphenhyphenUT0tB_6Ec_obVL3EpVBzbBHI/s320/P1000320.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363535044663381954" border="0" /></a>The radar room. Ah, that new TRACON smell.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHwTK1ObHei1hRLQKeE5AuYWVTlUi6C70fXYoTzgXz-rgcy4ShIhMCB_-L8eI2XO0bVwXxaXjWyjp_eqFEiMcwQPRVHeTXjbrnmDvPl_qctSg8zP4XkDVrByceMQTfpJ2SA0q/s1600-h/P1000319.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHwTK1ObHei1hRLQKeE5AuYWVTlUi6C70fXYoTzgXz-rgcy4ShIhMCB_-L8eI2XO0bVwXxaXjWyjp_eqFEiMcwQPRVHeTXjbrnmDvPl_qctSg8zP4XkDVrByceMQTfpJ2SA0q/s320/P1000319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363535040622740130" border="0" /></a>The back porch, looking out on runway 17/35.<br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Grilling Time</span><br /><br />Summer wouldn't be complete without the smell of outdoor grilling, and we aimed to make good.<br /><br />My in-laws came to town for a week and a half for their anniversary. We Hispanics usually equate family time with food, and this was no exception. My wife and I broke out the grill and went to town. We're normally pretty light eaters by ourselves, but for that week we just decided to enjoy ourselves food-wise.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7UrvpVUCDhZgmHdDxPijyKLcNBwbboyIdkLfTQkHo5JYsCj63M2Y4kvLlh2aolelKDdwB4ZVCi5qbTX_xjc9X7I1vHm1NnAKxePXngO-etNbCwLHy_1tXKAD44lxLQNNnP3m/s1600-h/P1010166.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7UrvpVUCDhZgmHdDxPijyKLcNBwbboyIdkLfTQkHo5JYsCj63M2Y4kvLlh2aolelKDdwB4ZVCi5qbTX_xjc9X7I1vHm1NnAKxePXngO-etNbCwLHy_1tXKAD44lxLQNNnP3m/s320/P1010166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363554753775208306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fired up, ready to go: </span>Chicken, brats, and peppers<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbE_9zg-0Nb4QLfPV1HHnEAWoC-kHplN-Aq4awZc4aMvax6htrG4CogPQhULafVaHYZ-CYELvQLtGu8vOHe4qj35I-YgWMHKsE3F_hyfVRo3G_YmwHEDYbVt8q5-sSWRzvvHe/s1600-h/P1010203.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbE_9zg-0Nb4QLfPV1HHnEAWoC-kHplN-Aq4awZc4aMvax6htrG4CogPQhULafVaHYZ-CYELvQLtGu8vOHe4qj35I-YgWMHKsE3F_hyfVRo3G_YmwHEDYbVt8q5-sSWRzvvHe/s320/P1010203.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363554749487617954" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Movie Night snacks. </span>Front to back, right to left: half-size burgers, pepper and goat cheese salad, fig and cheese puffs, risotto and cheese balls, zucchini fritters, spinach and cheese puff pastry, and some refreshing strawberry lemonade my wife whipped up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8BKKFC7e2rbSH-tox1NL5DQZImveDOL9evwds54ADi_jBPaODR-356YzBJ1oudVhJN2LFvoTkvLIVXGmSs5YltxJembiEcit41nwMuSEZtIfuxmv3wGJN-eDynEnbcuJf2hF/s1600-h/P1010185.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8BKKFC7e2rbSH-tox1NL5DQZImveDOL9evwds54ADi_jBPaODR-356YzBJ1oudVhJN2LFvoTkvLIVXGmSs5YltxJembiEcit41nwMuSEZtIfuxmv3wGJN-eDynEnbcuJf2hF/s320/P1010185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363554741543659682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday special: </span>Potato and beets salad, homemade <span style="font-style: italic;">moros</span> (rice and beans mix), chicken wings, sausage, steaks, and pepper and homegrown eggplant salad.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroDX8QLNyidOhVlke98k7oukkBIQIILq8R1EidBT9aBsr7IDVEbb6Pcoqiav1Eoo0d8NjK_NwggmRbrN8UioXtJPSWClG_7aXcTNDgXsPzezw6_qogPKfkD4IdkronMXgU-8C/s1600-h/P1010149.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroDX8QLNyidOhVlke98k7oukkBIQIILq8R1EidBT9aBsr7IDVEbb6Pcoqiav1Eoo0d8NjK_NwggmRbrN8UioXtJPSWClG_7aXcTNDgXsPzezw6_qogPKfkD4IdkronMXgU-8C/s320/P1010149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363556717616651330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">In-Laws' Anniversary: </span>Steak, homemade gravy, and homemade risotto and cheese balls<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbv0bqRgYnyeDevVU0IEjettiSs_q-VUBANkR2jL1FWAkYwDMURnL2V6AdWa7Zzd5QGrMhPBn6e9jmobeIINAviVQekI7IGJSuvqLLCJ3qcmZ94I4c0FiXbV9Wfd0vK-fGAwj/s1600-h/P1010160.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbv0bqRgYnyeDevVU0IEjettiSs_q-VUBANkR2jL1FWAkYwDMURnL2V6AdWa7Zzd5QGrMhPBn6e9jmobeIINAviVQekI7IGJSuvqLLCJ3qcmZ94I4c0FiXbV9Wfd0vK-fGAwj/s320/P1010160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363556724553229602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Breakfast: </span>Homemade guava pastries<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Let's just say, after the in-laws went home, the missus and I went back to eating salads and wraps. I'm actually eating a nice healthy turkey wrap right now. :) Need to get back on an even keel before I capsize!<br /></div></div>Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-16471859010057795842009-07-09T23:48:00.004-04:002009-07-10T00:11:06.511-04:00Feeling GassySo I was working the Whiting sector the other day. Things were dead. I had nary a plane on the freq.<br /><br />Suddenly, I got a call: "Approach, Airship 156LG."<br /><br />Readers of this blog know I've got a thing for airships. I read about them. I write about them. I have a general fascination with the subject matter. I'm a fan of all things alternate history/steampunk, and airships are just a huge part of that. So, needless to say, when I heard that my reaction was a mental <span style="font-style: italic;">"Ooooh...."</span><br /><br />I keyed up and asked him his intentions. Turns out he wanted to land at Pensacola Regional. I issued him a squawk code and a few seconds later he popped up on my scope. I told him to proceed as requested to the airport, which was 20 miles south. He was cruising at 1000 feet.<br /><br />It was at that I point realized that airship pilots must be some really patient chaps. His ground speed was showing a whopping 20 knots over the ground. 20 nautical miles to fly. 20 knots of ground speed. That's right - he took nearly an hour to traverse that distance.<br /><br />We have a function on our scope that lets you click on an aircraft, click on a point along the aircraft's route (in this case our airport), and it'll tell you how long the aircraft will take to get there and what his ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) is. Yeah... when I tried that with Mr. Airship, it spat back "XXX". He was going too slow for it to calculate, LOL.<br /><br />The funniest moment came courtesy of a Navy trainer. She was departing Whiting NAS about six miles east of the airship's position and turning west towards him. As she was climbing up to 2500 feet, I noticed another, unrelated target, approaching the airship at 1000 feet. So, I call the airship and tell him, "Airship 6LG, traffic, 9 o'clock, three miles, southwest bound, altitude indicates 1000 feet, type unknown."<br /><br />Well, the Navy trainer thought the traffic call was for her. "Approach, Red Knight 123, I have the.... uh... traffic in sight. I, uh, I... I think it's a <i>blimp</i>!" The tone of wondrous confusion in her voice was hilarious. I cracked up.<br /><br />I responded. "RN123, Approach, that traffic call was not for you, but, yes, there is indeed an <i>airship</i> out there. He's no factor for you."<br /><br />Anyways, after a (long) while I handed the airship off to the next sector, who actually worked the arrivals into Pensacola Regional. I got relieved by another controller and grabbed my camera (Always keep a camera handy!). I wanted to snap some pics of him landing. After all, it's not very often we see airships in these parts.<br /><br />I hit the outdoor rear staircase. The airship was still 4 miles away. I swear, he looked like he was standing still in the sky. I took one pic, then went inside and packed up my laptop... made a phone call... checked my e-mail... hit the bathroom... and did a bunch of other errands. I had plenty of time. :)<br /><br />Upon finishing my business, I took another peek out the window. At last, he was on his final approach. I ran outside, set my camera on video, and started filming. The entire ground crew was ready and waiting, along with a mooring mast.<br /><br />Here's the resulting video of his approach and landing, about 2.5 minutes long after editing. The music is "Wings of Steam Remix" from the soundtrack to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_McGee%27s_Alice"><i>American McGee's Alice</i></a>.<br /><br />(Don't forget to hit the "HD" option)<br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="258"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BrQ5WKi7dHU&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BrQ5WKi7dHU&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="258"></embed></object>Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-77243013016409351022009-06-30T10:52:00.007-04:002009-06-30T11:19:02.194-04:00Rain Days and VideosWell, it's still hot. At least we've had some thunder-bumpers roll through to give our water bill a respite and our lawns some life. Of course, the air's nice and humid now and the airplanes are climbing like three-legged dogs, but things look a lot greener... when you can see them, that is.<br /><br />There's a control tower out there, somewhere:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SqAcYZmR7LvIHfZmhD6_qSCmEzdXty-NpUPRlMeTwngbOb2j2iGh31F57pjc65SvLnqYWxH3RCbC4hcN_YX4pPc6YhR8qlNJbpG36UcMWsySUY2G2f0z44QeziGXRvKcdI3u/s1600-h/P1010064.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SqAcYZmR7LvIHfZmhD6_qSCmEzdXty-NpUPRlMeTwngbOb2j2iGh31F57pjc65SvLnqYWxH3RCbC4hcN_YX4pPc6YhR8qlNJbpG36UcMWsySUY2G2f0z44QeziGXRvKcdI3u/s320/P1010064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353139256355234370" border="0" /></a><br />Kind of quiet today. I was going through my blog roll and came across a funny little video someone had posted.<br /><br />Remember when Delta came out with the "hot flight attendant" aircraft safety video a year or two ago? It hit the web and TV news like wildfire and caused quite a stir. But watching it now, there's absolutely nothing remarkable about the video other than the fact the spokeswoman's, well, a hottie. Outside of a "no smoking" finger waggle, she just delivers her lines with a smile.<br /><br />Here's the "Deltalina" vid for those that don't remember it.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MgpzUo_kbFY&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MgpzUo_kbFY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Well, you gotta love the Kiwis of Air New Zealand. When they make an inflight safety video, they also do it wearing a smile... and little else.<br /><br />Two words: <span style="font-weight: bold;">body paint</span>. (And yes, it's safe for work - all the bits are strategically covered)<br /><br /><object width="425" height="258"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7-Mq9HAE62Y&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7-Mq9HAE62Y&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="258"></embed></object><br /><br />Could anyone imagine a U.S. airline doing something like that? Oh, the scandal....Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-62146413952017996692009-06-22T21:11:00.005-04:002009-06-22T21:28:31.590-04:00Away with the HeatOkay, this heat needs to go away. A few days of 90+ degree weather is fine, but we're going on a week now, with no letup in sight.<br /><br />My wife's lovingly cared-for vegetable garden is shriveling up (except for the eggplants). The water bill's sky high from all the sprinklers we've been running. I've had to curtail my bike riding because the heat is so oppressive.<br /><br />Friday, I was working a Skylane landing at a local field. He was at 8000. I told the guy to descend to 3000. He replied, "Is there anyway you can make that a pilot's discretion descent? We're trying to stay up as long as possible to keep cool." I granted his request. Having flown Cessnas all over South Florida in the thick of summer, I can relate to that lovely greenhouse effect those big windows provide.<br /><br />On Saturday, I planned to head down to the beach and find a nice place outdoors to do some creative writing. The 110 degree heat index changed my mind in a big way. As much as I love the ocean and the outdoors, I felt like I was going to melt.<br /><br />Instead, I headed on down to the Naval Aviation Museum, laptop in tow. I figured, it's free, it's air conditioned, and it's full of airplanes. There are worse places to write about real aviation and about ficticious aerial adventures in times long past.<br /><br />With a view like below, I can't complain. Plus, the Cubi Bar Cafe makes a darned good chili, that was absolutely worth eating even though it was hella hot outside.<br /><br />(Taken with my crappy laptop webcam, as I stupidly left my regular camera at home)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQfLr_DL1mNh1oMbC88GWxVI2rhsBuMlszXkx93dCHs2yLMOui7wJUsEnIW9BtOnR3Sv9KE_Ary4W74_fTqrXXK-fzDC038RKTqsyfIYzlqyaLzKaadNdD45sE4pAp80oeFIn/s1600-h/Picture+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQfLr_DL1mNh1oMbC88GWxVI2rhsBuMlszXkx93dCHs2yLMOui7wJUsEnIW9BtOnR3Sv9KE_Ary4W74_fTqrXXK-fzDC038RKTqsyfIYzlqyaLzKaadNdD45sE4pAp80oeFIn/s320/Picture+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350327428136400962" border="0" /></a>Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-50456315398439201132009-06-17T11:52:00.004-04:002009-06-17T12:44:40.814-04:00Fun with LandlinesWe use two main kinds of landlines to communicate with other facilities: shout lines and ring lines.<br /><br />A <span style="font-weight: bold;">shout line</span> works like it sounds. You key up another facility - let's say, our tower - and your voice immediately gets "shouted" out over a loudspeaker in the other facility. They're typically used for positions that require extensive coordination and rapid response times, since you can immediately start talking. The other facility then picks up the line.<br /><br />Say I take the handoff on Cessna 123 from Jacksonville Center. They switch the aircraft to me and he comes over requesting a descent. He's still 5 miles inside Jax's airspace so I can't descend him without their approval. I call up Jax's Crestview Low sector and say, "Crestview Low, Pensacola West, ApReq (approval request)." They hear that come over the speakers on their end. Then the Crestview Low controller - or his D-side - answers me. "Crestview low." I then say, "Request control for lower, Cessna 123." They make sure it works for them, then say, "Cessna 123, your control, [operating initials]." I say my initials, unkey the landline, and then tell the Cessna, "Cessna 123, descend and maintain [altitude]."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ring lines</span> actually ring like a telephone line on the other end and you can't speak until the other side picks up the line. They're used for lower intensity positions like Flight Data, where time and action aren't always critical.<br /><br />Here's the thing: I'm not 100% sure on the shout lines, but the ring lines are essentially regular phone lines. They have actual telephone numbers associated with them by the phone company.<br /><br />Let's look at the phone company for a second. When a customer cancels a line, that number gets sent back into the phone company's pool of available numbers. When the FAA asks the phone company for phone lines for its facilities, the phone company dips into that pool of numbers and gives the FAA however many numbers it asked for.<br /><br />However, the FAA has no idea who was using those numbers beforehand...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Getting Religion</span><br /><br />One afternoon, I'm working Flight Data. The line from a local control tower rings. I pick it up, answering, "Pensacola Flight Data."<br /><br />"Hi, yes! Is this Brownsville Baptist?"<br /><br />"Uh, no. This is-"<br /><br />"I'm looking for Pastor Larry. Is Pastor Larry there?"<br /><br />"No sir, this is Pensacola-"<br /><br />"But I'm looking for Pastor Larry. I need to speak with him. I was wondering if-"<br /><br />"Sir, you have the wrong number."<br /><br />"But I really need to speak with him. Can you tell me-"<br /><br />"Sir, again, you have the wrong number."<br /><br />"Oh? Are you sure Pastor Larry's not there?"<br /><br />"I'm sure he's not here, sir. You have the wrong number."<br /><br />"Oh, well sorry about that. God bless!"<br /><br />"You too, sir."<br /><br />*Click*<br /><br />:)<br /><br />Well, apparently that ring line's particular number used to belong to Brownsville Baptist Church of Pensacola, FL. Maybe they moved. I don't know. Whatever the case, they cancelled a phone line, the number got recycled, and it wound up in the FAA's hands when the FAA setup their landlines. But somewhere, somehow, there are plenty of people out there who think it still belongs to BBC.<br /><br />Those kind of exchanges happen at least a couple of times a month, although it was the first time it happened to me. I'm always so tempted to just "run with it" but I feel bad about doing it. Others have different ways of handling them.<br /><br />For instance, there was the time a coworker here got a call very similar to the one I just described. "I'm sorry," he said, "Pastor Larry's not here at the moment. I'm new here, but let me see if I can find his number for you."<br /><br />And... he proceeded to give the caller another controller's cell phone number.<br /><br />A minute later, we hear a cell phone go off in the break room.<br /><br />Confused hilarity ensued. :)Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-34459149599852247372009-06-16T13:30:00.003-04:002009-06-16T13:36:49.616-04:00A Beaver to the HeadPeople around the world love to planespot. You grab your favorite camera, drive over to the nearest airport, and sit back and watch the traffic come and go. It can be quite relaxing.<br /><br />However, if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time, you might not just be watching the action. You could be <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">in </span>the action.<br /><br /><br /><object width="450" height="273"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YVwlodvWh7w&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YVwlodvWh7w&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="450" height="273"></embed></object>Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-9958579937569608992009-06-10T10:46:00.012-04:002009-06-15T12:58:53.680-04:00iPhone App: Steampunk TalesIt's a good start to the day. I'm very pleased to announce the launch of a brand new fiction magazine exclusively for the Apple iPhone: <span style="font-style: italic;">Steampunk Tales</span>.<br /><br />I'm fortunate to be part of this original, exciting venture. My story "A Grain of Sand" is one of the ten short fiction pieces featured in its inaugural issue, <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=312861158&mt=8">available now for $1.99</a> on the Apple iTunes App Store. It's humbling to be included alongside award-winning authors with decades of writing experience and hundreds of works in print.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=312861158&mt=8"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzafLY_CH6mGPZOHzpQgvTm-Zxfm-VT81D73yV4QIZFHtNG7Sx7mzYSwNew42OE94_3BGSQPpo8B5f89AxTS6Ch_AoQ1jYS53aIc38AbidgUuuNFT30_bFNNQvWcYLJCvLV4v/s320/steampunk.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345713318905392722" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=312861158&mt=8"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 70px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_JlB4xHu7raGb4n1qtbZAGERscIfWatiVwxnAc4V5r3uHIIw6EXRgmv12f_0WqHtKjWvUoKr1HnYewX4QbqkJ76l2lzAUo-ZesTT-Tbb-jmV9aQVxDErx1B0x1-RA-aU5VNX/s320/App_Store_Badge_BlueBG.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345736744663957218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is steampunk, you ask?</span> It can best be described as "a past that never was". Think of Jules Verne's <span style="font-style: italic;">20,000 Leagues Under the Sea</span>. Think of H.G. Wells' <span style="font-style: italic;">The Time Machine, The Invisible Man</span>, or <span style="font-style: italic;">The Island of Doctor Moreau</span>. These are all predecessors of what has become known as steampunk. Most stories take place in the 1800s and very early 20th century, but fill them with science fiction technology and fantastical inventions. Some use historical settings, others create entire new worlds. It's a very broad genre with unlimited possbilities.<br /><br />I love the genre, because it's essentially a giant "What if?" Very exciting stuff.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The full press release from the creator of <span style="font-style: italic;">Steampunk Tales</span>:</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><blockquote>>Steampulp Publishing LLC has released the world’s first electronic pulp fiction magazine created exclusively for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Emulating the style of the pulp adventure magazines of the 1920s and ’30s, Steampunk Tales #1 contains first-run and original fiction written by an A+ list of award-winning authors.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=312861158&mt=8"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyg1V-Iw4mvx181W_RuFkf7Agw3YEqZaBTiImFN7oUvD9RvtfvE3SCagc__U5pQix4XHMHm_TLfpRWYt2v1XnpboPK6Yu_CcKUairE83vUotGH0wuJFLlMpKxUOMcajBIDmnwv/s320/indexscreen.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345720380266236626" border="0" /></a>Issue #1 contains 10 short stories (between 4,300 and 11,000 words) for the unbelievably low price of $1.99. Authors contributing to Issue #1 include Jay Lake, Catherynne M. Valente, SatyrPhil Brucato and G.D. Falksen. The cover art was painted by popular artist Melita “Missmonster” Curphy. Steampunk Tales is distributed exclusively via the iPhone App Store and features the unique Steampunk Tales Reader, which renders the stories with a retro-futuristic Victorian flair never before seen in any eBook reader application.<br /><br />“We stand at the beginning of a revolution in the distribution of print,” says John Sondericker III, founder of Steampulp Publishing. “The combination of low distribution costs and the potential for high volume sales allows us to provide an astounding value for the consumer. The timing is perfect to re-introduce the world to the ‘Penny Dreadfuls’, and the iPhone is a platform that can truly do them justice.” <p>Steampulp Publishing LLC is the first and only company to release a fiction magazine exclusively on the iPhone platform. New issues of Steampunk Tales will be released monthly. Steampunk Tales will be one of the first applications to implement several of the forthcoming iPhone 3.0 features, as 3.0 will allow readers to purchase back-issues as well as new content from within the Steampunk Tales Reader.</p></blockquote><p></p><p></p>Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-43361832880215419072009-06-06T22:26:00.013-04:002009-06-09T13:13:40.825-04:00DCS: Black Shark ReviewI'm a flight sim junkie. I can't help it. And to feed my needs, I just picked up a new PC flight simulator: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OAUBR2?ie=UTF8&tag=bandcodenet-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001OAUBR2">DCS: Black Shark</a>. It's the first real dedicated helicopter sim I've ever owned, and it's been an interesting ride.<br /><br />Most other sims offer a hangar full of aircraft. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GCJ6MK?ie=UTF8&tag=bandcodenet-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000GCJ6MK">Microsoft Flight Sim X</a> has twenty. The latest iteration of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000N4JENW?ie=UTF8&tag=bandcodenet-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000N4JENW">IL-2 Sturmovik series</a> now has a whopping <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">246</span> flyable aircraft. However, in each of those, the aircraft are "dumbed down" so that the minimum of learning is involved before the pilot takes to the sky. The flight models are reasonably accurate, so the aircraft perform well enough, but in terms of cockpit operation most aircraft above the piston twin level are severely limited. For instance, if you're flying the A321 or B777 in FSX, don't expect a truly functional Flight Management System without buying an expensive 3rd party add-on. But, it also won't complain about TOGO and flap settings when you push the throttles to stops for takeoff. It makes it easier for new pilots to fly.<br /><br />DCS:Black Shark, on the other hand, simulates only a single aircraft, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamov_Ka-50"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Russian Kamov KA-50 Black Shark attack helicopter</span></a>. One aircraft, you say? How can that be any fun? Easily. There is more detail put into this one aircraft than an entire squadron of Microsoft Flight Simulator or IL-2 Sturmovik aircraft.<br /><br />Here's a user-created video showing what the sim looks like in action.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RZjSI021j-c&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RZjSI021j-c&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQpgcX5aFRulB3RBSAYkPTKl8lY10xarHUzlcRc3nQzLrqE6HfwEERNnGos3hbrN4Q5Way-8e1QyoQWE8DhIRdafqoQzCpEJ5HD8Dtvlp3YqPrtBLzUZJjg-2BYc1pWKNbtbo/s1600-h/ScreenShot_078.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQpgcX5aFRulB3RBSAYkPTKl8lY10xarHUzlcRc3nQzLrqE6HfwEERNnGos3hbrN4Q5Way-8e1QyoQWE8DhIRdafqoQzCpEJ5HD8Dtvlp3YqPrtBLzUZJjg-2BYc1pWKNbtbo/s320/ScreenShot_078.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344831821828858850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">So ugly it's... ugly. </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuM2Dnb0ujI125E8WctJ5gQniWbyRIRLHWTweU2zLSRTm-qU5t3tzdEQb1olfsse_RIX3yVtSiAMaeH69slY9dVUfun8nLYnaYwNOUNcf8NGcF6rXS2wxmI9d9zpSJXIgb9gVp/s1600-h/ScreenShot_064.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuM2Dnb0ujI125E8WctJ5gQniWbyRIRLHWTweU2zLSRTm-qU5t3tzdEQb1olfsse_RIX3yVtSiAMaeH69slY9dVUfun8nLYnaYwNOUNcf8NGcF6rXS2wxmI9d9zpSJXIgb9gVp/s320/ScreenShot_064.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344832128162041538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Don't mind us. We're just hunting deer.</span><br /></div><br />Flying and fighting this thing is more akin to a first person shooter than a jet simulator such as Falcon or Lock On. Rather than screaming in the Mach numbers and the flight levels in your F-15 and launching AMRAAMs at targets far beyond visual range, here you're low and in the dirt. Those are trees whipping past your windshield, not clouds. Below the radar is the name of the game. And you need to be careful. No Rambo antics. You need fly intelligently. If you wander too close to that M-1 Abrams while you're trying to lock it up, it <span style="font-style: italic;">will </span>blow your ass out of the sky with its 120mm smoothbore.<br /><br />The KA-50's role is similar to that of the AH-64 Apache or Mi-28 Havoc: low level attack and interdiction. However, it is unique in three regards.<br /><ol><li>First, it has a coaxial rotor system which gives it excellent maneuverability and survivability. The entire engine and transmission is kept very compact. Without a tail rotor, there's no chance of a <span style="font-style: italic;">Black Hawk Down</span> "Super 64" moment.<br /></li><li>Secondly, it has only a single crewmember. Every other attack helo in the world operates with two: a pilot and a gunner, usually seated in tandem. This divides up the workload very efficiently, allowing the gunner to focus on the tasks of targeting and weapons deployment while the pilot flies and navigates.|<br /><br />The Black Shark forces one person to take on all of these roles. It's a challenge, because you're operating a high performance aircraft at extreme low levels, deploying numerous weapon systems - laser-guided missiles, rockets, and 30mm cannon - and communicating with your wingmen. When you're in the weeds, keeping track of your enemy, dodging SAM launches, and<br /></li><li>Lastly, it is not an all-weather aircraft. While you can use it at night and in bad weather, it's not designed for it. It doesn't have thermal imaging sensors or radar warning receivers. It doesn't have an actual radar like the Apache Longbow has mounted on its rotor. It's strictly a line of sight aircraft and the most important sensors are the pilot's eyeballs. </li></ol><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cockpit and Systems Complexity </span></span><br /><br />This is by far the most complex simulator I've flown outside of the real full-motion Level-D Boeing 757 sim at Alteon. Like most advanced aircraft, you're literally surrounded by control panels. In front. Above you. To the left and right. Even behind your shoulders.<br /><br />However, unlike most other sims, all of those panels actually function. You're immersed in a fully clickable cockpit. 99% of the switches, buttons, toggles, rotary pots, and dials operate as they do in the real aircraft.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzAyomGNLebWjVv9saNy0jef9WZocpSjrytTWHDNXmwBpf12gbsKekf1JrfPIcmoDEQKT6d-ckTvniAWpXl53eE8VDpr4IWVtRTjlmKV4XMGFrghVAuBshbKdb0MI3vD-oEdz/s1600-h/ScreenShot_023.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzAyomGNLebWjVv9saNy0jef9WZocpSjrytTWHDNXmwBpf12gbsKekf1JrfPIcmoDEQKT6d-ckTvniAWpXl53eE8VDpr4IWVtRTjlmKV4XMGFrghVAuBshbKdb0MI3vD-oEdz/s320/ScreenShot_023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345301707354252002" border="0" /></a><br />The developers modeled nearly every system to its full functionality. Hydraulics. Engines. Avionics. For a full list, <a href="http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/index.php?end_pos=950&scr=default&lang=en#p1">check out this page </a>on the developer's site.<br /><br />For beginners, there's a "Game" mode which simplifies everything. It's designed for folks who want to fly the missions, but don't want to deal with learning all the controls. It simplifies everything down to something like Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X where you've got radar, big glowing compasses, target icons, and all kinds of computerized help to assist you on your way.<br /><br />But when you're in "Realism" mode, this is not IL-2 Sturmovik where you press "I" to start the engine and a few seconds later you're trundling down the runway in your P-51. The sim requires players to do some actual study and practice with the systems, almost like you would if you were learning to fly the real aircraft. And when these systems break, the results are pretty interesting.<br /><br />Example: I got shot up by flak during one of my missions. I crested a hill, didn't see the convoy directly below me on the far side, and got a belly full of 23mm from a ZSU-23 Shilka. I quickly turned tail, but not before the damage punched holes in my hydraulic lines and caused a fire in my right engine.<br /><br />I triggered the right engine fire extinguisher, cut the fuel for the right engine, and shifted the throttle (not the collective) for the left engine from "auto" to "emergency" so I could sacrifice engine life for raw engine power. At the same time, I was getting a "Main Hydro" warning. This bird's hydraulics control landing gear extension, cannon movement, and the flight stabilization system. Not wanting to make a belly landing, I lowered my gear before all the fluid bled out. A minute or so after the attack, I lost my pitch and bank dampeners, turning a normally steady helicopter into the "Phugoid Cycle Queen". I actually made the 20km trip back to base and landed safely, although I think those 23mm shells damaged my pride as well.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Flight Model Realism</span></span><br /><br />The flight model physics are second to none. Vortex ring states are <span style="font-style: italic;">very </span>accurately modeled. VRS occurs when you're descending rapidly with little forward airspeed, so essentially you're dropping vertically into your own rotorwash. Aircraft move relative to the air around them. If you're settling into your rotorwash your helicopter is now flying in descending air. If you try to add power to arrest your descent, it only worsens the state. Your only real recourse is to nose over and start moving laterally away from the rotorwash to build up transitional lift. If you're too low to the ground to recover... BOHICA.<br /><br />VRS is just one facet. The Black Shark's a tough bird, but you need to be careful just like in the real aircraft. Overly hard maneuvering can cause your co-axial rotors to touch and, well, that's a bad thing. Pouring on too much collective for too long can make your blades meet as well. Hard landings will result in blown tires. Strong winds will have you weathervaning, which make landings even more interesting. Overspeeding will tear your helo apart. Rotors and engines will ice over when weather conditions are right.<br /><br />And trimming. Trimming is a constant in this helicopter. In a fixed wing aircraft, you can dial in the trim and use that setting even when you make minor changes to attitude or speed. Not here. Trim, trim, and trim some more at the slightest change. After a while, it all becomes natural.<br /><br />Hovering is also a real feat the first time you do it. The helo does have an auto-hover function, but you really do need to learn to hover on your own. Heck, that's Lesson #1 when flying a real helicopter. Finding that perfect balance of power, attitude, and trim is tricky. Your first few missions will inevitably end in disaster since hovering is part of, well, landing. But soon, you'll get the feel for it. Smooth transitions from 280kph speed runs to a complete standstill behind cover will be easily executed.<br /><br />All that sounds tough, right? A lot to learn and process? That's what makes the sim so great. These are all issues that real-life helicopter pilots deal with and they're accurately modeled here.<br /><br />And that's just flying the helo. I haven't even talked about weapons, communications, or the world you fly in.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The World</span></span><br /><br />In the simulator, Russia and the former Soviet republic Georgia have gone to war over oil. The United States and other NATO forces have stepped in to assist Georgia, sending in carrier groups and marines. What began as an insurgent action is now a full-blown war between major military powers. You're dropped into the middle of this situation.<br /><br />DCS:BS features four different campaigns, all based around different stages of the war. The developers have done a good job of bringing the region to life using a combination of satellite imagery and 3D modeling. Some areas make for good helicopter country with plenty of foliage and terrain cover. Canyon running is quite fun. Then there are the wide open plains where your only protection is to fly as low as possible. You don't pick your warzones; they pick you, and you need to make the best of it.<br /><br />The orders of battle for both sides include all kinds of units. Main battle tanks. SAM batteries. Air strikes. Command posts. Attack helicopters. APCs. Artillery barrages. Aircraft carriers. Individual soldiers armed with Stinger or Igla MANPADS. You need to operate carefully and use cover to your advantage to remain hidden.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnEfZSuPNTZKv7tDKicbatcaRHqnGZVVsI5fK-q4fh-y0s0lLZbarq4ONs3UfcCrDn1IXWsFr4sXDhcoetSzDwY7dkMPUrfjQByFYKd8nYb1RJNSi5_yhO0GIfZDSPBS9PiNO/s1600-h/ScreenShot_074.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnEfZSuPNTZKv7tDKicbatcaRHqnGZVVsI5fK-q4fh-y0s0lLZbarq4ONs3UfcCrDn1IXWsFr4sXDhcoetSzDwY7dkMPUrfjQByFYKd8nYb1RJNSi5_yhO0GIfZDSPBS9PiNO/s320/ScreenShot_074.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344831820261038162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Black Shark in its natural habitat</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvhR0GxgPCMoNxgqOQbZs2wb8blsNaZzqF3hW3JU7BEfsz302tt8lNCOkpjEqS-kWllmrbHsSEGWRyrfsJSuJDRS019fUiinIe9n1tPy5BaEDA9i4f_4hjWKODugi0VEqstGe/s1600-h/ScreenShot_006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvhR0GxgPCMoNxgqOQbZs2wb8blsNaZzqF3hW3JU7BEfsz302tt8lNCOkpjEqS-kWllmrbHsSEGWRyrfsJSuJDRS019fUiinIe9n1tPy5BaEDA9i4f_4hjWKODugi0VEqstGe/s320/ScreenShot_006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344824892443030450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Urban locations</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgetq_pcRdgF0wt_4X4sAamOw6nPkFOhLaVZu6yzSWsuCFVBobYB-VOv_Ok1AuuKUpnr7dAQpEll4ZxpEfizWw880w5ZcLFy0k6E0XbHtQ1kAE3deGltASW8OWdkQK8WwyXwY-/s1600-h/ScreenShot_033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgetq_pcRdgF0wt_4X4sAamOw6nPkFOhLaVZu6yzSWsuCFVBobYB-VOv_Ok1AuuKUpnr7dAQpEll4ZxpEfizWw880w5ZcLFy0k6E0XbHtQ1kAE3deGltASW8OWdkQK8WwyXwY-/s320/ScreenShot_033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344825680372785794" border="0" /></a> <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The port city of Novorossiysk, Russia. Correlate the locations of the piers to </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&q=Novosibirsk&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=us&ei=ZFsuSuSGHZTcM_bPuYYK&ll=44.72954,37.801037&spn=0.036221,0.090981&t=h&z=14&iwloc=A">this shot from Google Maps</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir96LwYcNSyaimkoeG4iF2U6nhLm7mR7s2zSnlBZhKCdulCY1zz9ohzj_1CMO-0VLv3rIMs7GkWDiRdnkwlr0qis1bPKNH8J_8l0xZDkUB29MAk6Sr8OBnruM9M7sD4bFtxhDR/s1600-h/ScreenShot_007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir96LwYcNSyaimkoeG4iF2U6nhLm7mR7s2zSnlBZhKCdulCY1zz9ohzj_1CMO-0VLv3rIMs7GkWDiRdnkwlr0qis1bPKNH8J_8l0xZDkUB29MAk6Sr8OBnruM9M7sD4bFtxhDR/s320/ScreenShot_007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344832870412703266" border="0" /></a>Wide open fields = no cover<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp325EesiZDKOIzLJSvohwHZpiZBzO78dt9YtXLlz4AjEp3iP5GRpj8jnvUUxY4V8rrbGQSdvT8KIc3NLf6LvyR5agxCrwy1NRxbQ3KAGS4R_CDJO-lpKyl4aL8-GreZqJ6T2t/s1600-h/ScreenShot_003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp325EesiZDKOIzLJSvohwHZpiZBzO78dt9YtXLlz4AjEp3iP5GRpj8jnvUUxY4V8rrbGQSdvT8KIc3NLf6LvyR5agxCrwy1NRxbQ3KAGS4R_CDJO-lpKyl4aL8-GreZqJ6T2t/s320/ScreenShot_003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345319076891412082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The <span style="font-style: italic;">Admiral Kuznetsov</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Weapons Systems</span></span><br /><br />The weapons and their support systems are just as accurately rendered as the flight model.<br /><br />Targeting is built around the Shkval electro-optical targeting system. The video from a camera on the helo's nose is displayed inside the cockpit on a screen below the HUD. A laser designator provides the range and there are various modes for Air-to-Ground and Air-to-Air that calculate lead times for moving targets. (It's damn satisfying to engage another helicopter and blow them out of the sky). The system is only visual, not thermal, so you can't track, say, the heat bloom off a tank's engine.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Missiles:</span> The KA-50 carries up to 12 Vikhr laser guided Anti-tank Guided Missiles (ATGM). They've got about 7.5km worth of range and good striking power, easily able to kill an M-1 Abrams or T-72/T-80.<br /><br />Targeting and firing takes a little practice, but it soon becomes second nature. Take a look at how many steps I need to go through to take out an enemy tank.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dGQwrIjDl53zsnoLyOEZfrhqfDM1NrFuqw5qNHzhyphenhyphenRsLeCP9IOyH2kGrbCjxsXP5IBpUtPzOPPgnetQWkQu7HFKKjTuUGvnUURMOhWSjRx3AE_mHLJHPqzO_rA3OOwRL0_Z7/s1600-h/ScreenShot_023_labeled.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dGQwrIjDl53zsnoLyOEZfrhqfDM1NrFuqw5qNHzhyphenhyphenRsLeCP9IOyH2kGrbCjxsXP5IBpUtPzOPPgnetQWkQu7HFKKjTuUGvnUURMOhWSjRx3AE_mHLJHPqzO_rA3OOwRL0_Z7/s320/ScreenShot_023_labeled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344824885437310994" border="0" /></a>Once I've killed the first one, I can just repeat steps 3, 8, and 9 to engage the next one. Acquire. Lock. Fire. Acquire. Lock. Fire. Rinse. Repeat.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTI-DHmg7sIm87FRkBSBtClMPx9l4tPvl2Gu7OR_Up8oUWesGfqDXqO-4FjFjX0c1w4YXRrcHe1OYH2eF3m4kD5Bmnib-G1FLcUYr_b0-bfkI14PZy2rYnYlfBFaB48h3qUr05/s1600-h/ScreenShot_029.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTI-DHmg7sIm87FRkBSBtClMPx9l4tPvl2Gu7OR_Up8oUWesGfqDXqO-4FjFjX0c1w4YXRrcHe1OYH2eF3m4kD5Bmnib-G1FLcUYr_b0-bfkI14PZy2rYnYlfBFaB48h3qUr05/s320/ScreenShot_029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344824892175949282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Boom!</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rockets: </span>A variety of rocket pods can be carried, with different quantities and sizes of rockets. They can be fired in selectable bursts, with the smallest number being 2 rockets.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQh-Mskktlb2T2Vn91s7OVqsR-IgoW2JS_ovUOvBHk9iDKyACFzaOwNRGPJbKqInrCsKjTvCILCA6FcTO95L1EfB2sn3nCg2-HBClQM7WFemLaSpYoTluJh5qriFMtVA2E6VaV/s1600-h/ScreenShot_037.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQh-Mskktlb2T2Vn91s7OVqsR-IgoW2JS_ovUOvBHk9iDKyACFzaOwNRGPJbKqInrCsKjTvCILCA6FcTO95L1EfB2sn3nCg2-HBClQM7WFemLaSpYoTluJh5qriFMtVA2E6VaV/s320/ScreenShot_037.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344825680215621026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rockets away</span> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHxwFlvIw7Rjj2WqFZY1h0bQfX5HTeLqGGNlK7UDAloRk2GQrKhAevocYXQ7-grWd-1tGtk3x5AR9dnoa35aoYARyL8LKBofD63UdIKsWC_tVrxkJyW4qctNWBCRo7nJ2T7yQ/s1600-h/ScreenShot_069.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHxwFlvIw7Rjj2WqFZY1h0bQfX5HTeLqGGNlK7UDAloRk2GQrKhAevocYXQ7-grWd-1tGtk3x5AR9dnoa35aoYARyL8LKBofD63UdIKsWC_tVrxkJyW4qctNWBCRo7nJ2T7yQ/s320/ScreenShot_069.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344831821528936002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Small helo. Big world.</span> </div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cannon: </span>Unlike all other attack helos, which have a chin turret controlled by the gunner, the KA-50 has a 30mm cannon on a semi-rigid mounting on its right side. While obviously it doesn't have the traverse of a traditional chin turret, it makes up for it in other ways. Remember step #6 above, "Auto-turn on target"? Enable that, and when you lock up a target the helicopter will automatically rotate to engage it nearly as fast as a chin turret moves.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhB-M1VseMFOrph62CsiEJOgRuCB7aMc058NHiQFlmW51DSoK2-2Bm_fs2xdYTCo3LtVZXEWBOqxeYTD-MwUfFInfOMkP88T6QbulwquL0PjXSvE5Zc19a8LQ4cFc9OcHfgQa4/s1600-h/ScreenShot_048.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhB-M1VseMFOrph62CsiEJOgRuCB7aMc058NHiQFlmW51DSoK2-2Bm_fs2xdYTCo3LtVZXEWBOqxeYTD-MwUfFInfOMkP88T6QbulwquL0PjXSvE5Zc19a8LQ4cFc9OcHfgQa4/s320/ScreenShot_048.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344831826359175218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Open fire</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISLnevu-b4g1spms-C4w23lYlkf4bCxoT80kBktDfdfK2aOhBMM2oFN-snsD3YUCR4PyQii3g-YKt_1smFe4lB1PdE_hZ7tIYQSzj6F5oy3-2YDJ4LE1FgCgZAI8-9NvJRKyl/s1600-h/ScreenShot_038.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISLnevu-b4g1spms-C4w23lYlkf4bCxoT80kBktDfdfK2aOhBMM2oFN-snsD3YUCR4PyQii3g-YKt_1smFe4lB1PdE_hZ7tIYQSzj6F5oy3-2YDJ4LE1FgCgZAI8-9NvJRKyl/s320/ScreenShot_038.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344825685959431090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rounds on target</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">. Spent shells falling on innocent bystanders.</span><br /></div><br />The mounting is also more stable than a chin turret, increasing accuracy. You can select between high explosive and armor-piercing rounds with the flick of a switch. For instance, you can engage a couple of Stryker AFVs with your AP rounds. Then you can switch to HE to kill soft targets like soldiers and trucks.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvP083842kJlWTa0Cfl14bojJfE3GrAYSIFy0os2FXUKcVRuKUNtjFIEyt1fmJW5_JgfzSRPMgWcTb8k5hRrnW7ZTtAX2eiLVaoNpsI7HylupyWettjag9ZRruNPK5-wyuiX_/s1600-h/ScreenShot_081.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvP083842kJlWTa0Cfl14bojJfE3GrAYSIFy0os2FXUKcVRuKUNtjFIEyt1fmJW5_JgfzSRPMgWcTb8k5hRrnW7ZTtAX2eiLVaoNpsI7HylupyWettjag9ZRruNPK5-wyuiX_/s320/ScreenShot_081.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344832127218256578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">All in a day's work</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Multiplayer and Communication</span></span><br /><br />In this world, you don't fly alone. You're usually accompanied by at least one wingman on each mission. Now, the game's communication menu has all of the usual combat flight sim commands. "Engage my target", "Return to base", and such are all represented.<br /><br />However, what's unique to this sim is the Datalink feature. It's a computerized system that allows each aircraft within a flight to exchange targeting data with its wingmen silently. It's terrific for maintaining situational awareness and delegating tasks for your wingmen.<br /><br />Here's how it works:<br /><ol><li>Each flight member is assigned a number from 1-4 at the start of the mission. You just dial in the number on a control panel knob. </li><li>As you fly to your mission area, you can view each of your wingmen's position on the moving map display. It'll literally show a #2 for your first wingman, #3 for your next wingman, etc.<br /></li><li>You acquire a target and use the Shkval and laser to lock target.<br /></li><li>Using the control panel on the top left of the windscreen (green and yellow buttons) you can save the target's type and location into your helicopter's memory. </li><li>Using that same panel, you can then transmit that target's location to your wingmen (note the 1-4 and Send All buttons)</li><li>You can then delegate responsibility for those targets to your wingmen.<br /></li></ol><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMun3q0AA8GTmHumaxV6AOJQRkZq8x47lAP-fu5Rj860zptVeQ7OFdWLZ_nsgcupvuq-3GWI7Pd_Ck53KLwLs6NdqwyCw1wHXkdWJjm03AZ17rGWckS_F2RkPmMQNF0J9KaLM3/s1600-h/ScreenShot_020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMun3q0AA8GTmHumaxV6AOJQRkZq8x47lAP-fu5Rj860zptVeQ7OFdWLZ_nsgcupvuq-3GWI7Pd_Ck53KLwLs6NdqwyCw1wHXkdWJjm03AZ17rGWckS_F2RkPmMQNF0J9KaLM3/s320/ScreenShot_020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344824899920809122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Datalink Panel - top left, with the three rows of green and yellow buttons</span><br /></div><br />Let's say our mission is to destroy a platoon of tanks, protected by a pair of antiaircraft artillery guns. I can lock up the AAA guns and save each of their positions to memory. Then I can transmit their locations to my wingmen - AAA battery #1 to Wingman #1, and AAA battery #2 to Wingman #2. Once they've received it, I can then order each of them to "Engage Datalink Target" and they'll head off on their own to do my bidding. I can then lock up the tanks and send them to them as well. Once they've taken care of the AAA, I can order them to help me take out the tanks.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3AHkNTLfK-tCKpUnONeM4M9Ryxlk-lFXggSWqB7XB0gmGXHnxk5xsZ_0vPsrdeWraaWsliHzKdkectG6kkTFZ3GDRxnpOm1pyykqDua4Pe1iVn3-2Pi07LtDTzeP3IXmRIrC/s1600-h/ScreenShot_061.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3AHkNTLfK-tCKpUnONeM4M9Ryxlk-lFXggSWqB7XB0gmGXHnxk5xsZ_0vPsrdeWraaWsliHzKdkectG6kkTFZ3GDRxnpOm1pyykqDua4Pe1iVn3-2Pi07LtDTzeP3IXmRIrC/s320/ScreenShot_061.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344831832205560402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">On the hunt</span><br /></div><br />Online Multiplayer works nicely, although there is no voice chat. However, most reputable servers have an associated Teamspeak or Ventrillo channel. The server browser is easy to use and there are a variety of custom missions out there thanks to a growing community of Black Shark players. The datalink feature works online as well. It adds a lot to the sense of teamwork.<br /><br />Most of the online missions are co-op, with all the players on one side working towards a single goal. However, there are a few servers with red vs. blue missions. It's immensely satisfying to go head-to-head with someone and blow them out of the sky before they even know you're there. :)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Final Words</span></span><br /><br />If you like your simulators challenging and deep, this sim is for you. It will take practice and effort to get familiarized, but once you've nailed the systems it's a lot of fun. Unlike MS FSX, where "anyone" can fly a Boeing 777 right out of the gate, there's a definite learning curve. It can be downright hard at times.<br /><br />It's all about the little rewards. When you make that first landing without blowing your tires or crashing, it's an accomplishment. When you achieve your first hover without Auto-Hover, it's an accomplishment. When you watch your first missile launch strike home, it's an accomplishment. And the first time you aviate, navigate, target, fight, and communicate your way through a mission, it's a hell of an accomplishment.Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-35805459883460101132009-06-04T05:35:00.004-04:002009-06-04T07:44:55.971-04:00A Note for T-34 DriversI know several of the Whiting NAS pilots read this blog. If you could, please pass this on to your squadron mates. Call it a "heads up".<br /><br />Yesterday, we had a VFR T-34 orbiting over Whiting NAS at 9500 feet. He was there for what must have an hour and a half, cutting holes in the sky, not talking to us at all. We know he was a T-34 because he had never squawked 1200 when the Whiting departure sector terminated his radar services and was therefore on his departure squawk code. I was actually able to locate a strip on him.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Note: Just a word on the T-34 flight plans. Many Whiting T-34s will file VFR departure flight plans with a route similar to this: <span style="font-weight: bold;">NSE..TROJN..VFR..1R8</span>. NSE is Whiting NAS, the TROJN fix is a local fix and 1R8 is an uncontrolled airport about forty miles west of here in Mobile's airspace. However, the "VFR" in the route terminates the flight plan's routing and doesn't let us handoff to Mobile. Essentially, what that flight plan means is that the T-34 wants to 1) depart Whiting, 2) terminate radar services locally once they're clear of Class C, 3) play around locally VFR, and then 4) eventually head over to Bay Minette on their own. </span><br /><br />Here's the problem. All of our high altitude northeast jet departures have to go out over Whiting, <span style="font-weight: bold;">climbing to 10,000 feet</span>. Due to an Eglin AFB restricted area to our east, we have <span style="font-weight: bold;">a very narrow corridor of about a 360-030</span> heading off Pensacola. At the same time, all of our high altitude jet arrivals from the northeast are <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">descending </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">to 11,000</span>, coming in through the <span style="font-weight: bold;">same corridor</span>. <br /><br />Once Jacksonville takes the handoff on our 10,000 foot departures, they are permitted to climb them up to 15,000 feet. So, that usually works out nicely, as we step the 11,000 arrivals down and they climb the departures up and out.<br /><br />It looks like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvU1lBUmG3nj_TMowwo7ikUJBg6-uATRFUW3-4vFilLzsAnAtLYq8G9yt5Xyi6g_k9M6glXwlmv3f7r98aRUaKKcKzIb7ABkRk5wgWvnmY7v1e30pf1dOjI_w82bQyO3hDs5x/s1600-h/BadT34_01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 322px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvU1lBUmG3nj_TMowwo7ikUJBg6-uATRFUW3-4vFilLzsAnAtLYq8G9yt5Xyi6g_k9M6glXwlmv3f7r98aRUaKKcKzIb7ABkRk5wgWvnmY7v1e30pf1dOjI_w82bQyO3hDs5x/s400/BadT34_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343410438371564786" border="0" /></a><br />However, this is what that T-34 was doing.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-PcvNqsnTWnJ0KJ2MmQ1u0ajF-wJ57qP09BkYMeI_DGrnkLIRgeWEcxHNuYbD9wEUeYvCVh_244Ma_NC6tdJsvlKLOdz0j1BmU76qCmReiToekPnQNt6pswT_ZzeoEtkbhCj/s1600-h/BadT34_02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 322px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-PcvNqsnTWnJ0KJ2MmQ1u0ajF-wJ57qP09BkYMeI_DGrnkLIRgeWEcxHNuYbD9wEUeYvCVh_244Ma_NC6tdJsvlKLOdz0j1BmU76qCmReiToekPnQNt6pswT_ZzeoEtkbhCj/s400/BadT34_02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343410443218193410" border="0" /></a><br />Perfectly legal? Yes. He was clear of Class C. He had his transponder's Mode C squawking over the Class C. He had followed his flight plan to letter. Depart Whiting. Climb clear of Class C. Go play VFR.<br /><br />Complete headache for us? Absolutely! Of all places and altitudes to go goof around, he had to choose those. It couldn't be worse. It seemed like everywhere we had an arriving or departing airliner, he was right in its face. Seriously,<span style="font-style: italic;"> every time</span>. It's like he had some kind of "Sixth Spidey Ninja Sense" or something.<br /><br />On top of diverting our attention to make sure our IFR traffic was clean, we actually had to do a good amount of coordination with Jacksonville Center to get higher with the airliners to top the guy. <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Crestview low, Pensacola East, ApReq one five thousand, Delta 1282."</span> And with our corridor we don't have a lot of room to maneuver. Quite frankly, it was dangerous. We were lucky not to get a TCAS Resolution Advisory.<br /><br />Normally the T-34s that play over Whiting do so at 5500 to 7500 feet. It's unusual to see them go higher. Those altitudes aren't a problem at all and give us plenty of room to maneuver. We can step our arrivals down to 8000 or 9000, which clears both the departures climbing over them to 10,000 and the VFR traffic maneuvering below them.<br /><br />But 9500? And not talking to us? Bad altitude. Like I said, what that guy was doing was legal. But here, legal and safe don't necessarily jive.<br /><br />In contrast, earlier in the day, I worked another T-34 departing Whiting. He specifically requested a VFR block above Whiting up to 10,000 feet and told me exactly what he was doing (basic instrument maneuvers). He knew he was going to be in the way and he wanted to get traffic advisories.<br /><br />In short: If you're a T-34 pilot and want to be <span style="font-weight: bold;">directly over Whiting at <span style="font-style: italic;">higher </span>than 8500 for extended periods of time (especially 9500!) please call approach for Flight Following</span>. That way we can give you traffic calls, know what you're doing, and advise the airliners if you have them in sight. Otherwise, if you want to remain anonymous and at higher altitudes, please work more towards Brewton airport. It's a much quieter area and out of harm's way.Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-7263261144836548622009-06-03T11:45:00.003-04:002009-06-03T13:03:47.283-04:00Warm Fuzzy FeelingI was training on our East sector, running the runway 26 final into Pensacola Regional. The West side was taking care of our departures. We had some decent traffic going (file under "Moderate" on the OJTI form).<br /><br />Suddenly, the West side gets an emergency call. A Beechcraft Baron about 15 miles NW of the field is in serious trouble. He's lost oil pressure in both engines. For you non-pilots out there, oil does the same thing in airplanes as it does in cars: it lubricates and assists with cooling the engine. Unlike a car, you can't just pull over on the side of the road and call AAA for a tow. The pilot's looking at imminent engine seizure here.<br /><br />On top of that, the airplane's electrical system is going to pot. Maybe his generators are dying. Maybe his battery's shot. I don't know. He apparently was able to communicate his issues at first, but his transmitters soon died. All he had left was his transponder. He could only acknowledge ATC instructions with a transponder IDENT flash.<br /><br />The controller working the West coordinated with the tower and passed on the information. Due to the radio issues, they decided to leave the aircraft on the approach frequency. The approach controller told the pilot, "Cleared to land." IDENT flash. In he goes to the field.<br /><br />In the meantime, I had multiple inbounds to the field from my side. A Lear, Skylane, and an air carrier Beech 1900. As each checked on, I told them to expect a delay due to an emergency in progress and immediately reduced the Lear and Beech 1900 to 190 knots. No use in getting them to the field more quickly if the runway is fouled. I vectored the Lear and Skylane around for some spacing. My instructor advised me to keep the Beech 1900 inbound to the field.<br /><br />The Baron comes in and - thankfully - lands without incident. I call up the tower, ensure the runway is clear, and start landing my inbounds. The Beech 1900 lands, then the Lear, then the Skylane. I especially thanked the Skylane for his help, as I really had to vector the heck out of him.<br /><br />All of this took probably ten minutes from start to finish, if that.<br /><br />Everyone worked so well together. The West controller's steady voice, guiding the shaken pilot towards the field using what tools he had at his disposal. The tower guys giving us their airport. The patience and understanding of the other inbound pilots. It's just a good feeling watching everyone work so hard to ensure that pilot made it safely onto the ground. Truly humbling.Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-89078406894039242132009-05-28T07:37:00.002-04:002009-05-28T07:51:24.506-04:00Training TimesWe're getting shorter here with lots of retirements and people moving on to staff positions. Developmentals are getting used more and more for staffing coverage. That cuts back on our training times of course. Whenever I do get to train, it seems to be smack dab in the middle of our slow times. It's very frustrating.<br /><br />I don't know about you guys, but I broaden my capabilities when it's busy, not when it's slow.<br /><br />Yesterday, for example, I was training on the Pensacola bank. I had two training sessions where I literally talked to three airplanes in the space of each hour. I even remember what they were on the first one: a JetLink regional jet landing here, a Seneca overflight, and a T-34 transitioning from NAS Whiting to NAS Pensacola for practice approaches. The rest of the time, my airspace was devoid of any traffic. The second session was more of the same.<br /><br />Later on, I was assigned to work Flight Data. My instructor was assigned to work the Pensacola East bank. He ended up having an extremely busy, complicated session with all kinds of strange requests and general funky stuff. And there I was, running strips while my instructor was handling the best traffic we've seen all day by himself. That's the kind of traffic I need to experience, and I was annoyed that I wasn't working it.<br /><br />On a good note, he says he's recommended me for checkout on the bank. However, I'd like to see a few more crazy sessions before the checkride to help boost my confidence level. I'm comfortable on the West sector. It's the East sector that still chews me up some.Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-41850497942944907662009-05-23T09:20:00.004-04:002009-05-23T10:57:51.128-04:00It's RefreshingJust an observation: it's rather interesting to note that many people appointed for various safety-critical positions in the new administration have actual prior experience in their fields. They have been selected for their experience and applicability to the role, not their party affiliation. What a concept!<br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ex-Astronaut to become head of NASA<br /></span><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30896443/">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30896443/<br /><br /></a></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Former Firefighter/Current Emergency Team Leader to become head of FEMA</span><br /><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/04/obama-picks-fema-head-vows-avoid-failures/">http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/04/obama-picks-fema-head-vows-avoid-failures/<br /><br /></a></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Randy Babbitt confirmed as head of FAA</span><br />I've read about Mr. Babbitt's perspective on controllers during his involvement with the ALPA, but let's see what happens.<br /><a href="http://www.natca.org/mediacenter/press-release-detail.aspx?id=610">http://www.natca.org/mediacenter/press-release-detail.aspx?id=610</a><br /></li></ul><br />I don't know about you guys, but I can't wait for the next two or three weeks to be up so we can finally see just what the heck is coming out of the FAA/NATCA talks. I don't talk about that stuff much here on the blog, but change has been a long time coming. However, I won't believe any rumors until I've seen something in writing.<br /><br />Maybe at some point in the near future, I won't have to ride my $25 "Garage sale special" home from work two or three times a week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmQk5UH4UOZwVzxi1lGBnMyZdFRQa7jr83F_0-NmlAYwzyn6c_CNrE0ky1UL3EWG9uxWR4xBNOfrriqTeFfRPZZd309dkdWOZZPrMrpB1XPxyRTWRsIp2YsHqcPq0Qbt5GyJE/s1600-h/Bike.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmQk5UH4UOZwVzxi1lGBnMyZdFRQa7jr83F_0-NmlAYwzyn6c_CNrE0ky1UL3EWG9uxWR4xBNOfrriqTeFfRPZZd309dkdWOZZPrMrpB1XPxyRTWRsIp2YsHqcPq0Qbt5GyJE/s320/Bike.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339031989610542210" border="0" /></a>Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35762982.post-60506877846054106882009-05-15T00:09:00.007-04:002009-05-15T02:25:29.080-04:00Writing, Music, and Loud JetsI'm back from vacation. Good times, lots of relaxation, and lots of writing got done - just not on the blog unfortunately. I've got a few blog post outlines nailed down but I've had a lot on my plate.<br /><br />I just finished two stories, both of them steampunk fiction pieces. One 6000 word piece has already been picked up by a publisher (details forthcoming). The other's a 15,000 word piece that I'm tweaking just a little bit before I send it out to publishers.<br /><br />I've also got a <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">Top Secret</span> project in the works. It's ATC related, but that's all I can divulge at this point. It may or may not see the light of day, but I hope it comes through. It'll be quite cool if it does. More on that when the time comes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tunes for Sale</span><br /><br />Amongst other things, I enjoy creating music. I've just released my first album, a collection of songs I've been working on for a while under the name Escape the Clouds.<br /><br />It's been a true labor of love for me. I wrote all the songs and played all of the instruments. This is actually the first time I've put my music out there for sale, in all the years I've been writing songs.<br /><br />You can listen to a few tracks here: <a href="http://www.myspace.com/iescapetheclouds">www.myspace.com/iescapetheclouds</a>. A quick description:<br /><br /><blockquote>Escape the Clouds' debut album Bring the Rain includes 11 instrumental tracks that blend equal parts hard rock, industrial, and world music. Sample the tracks at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/iescapetheclouds">www.myspace.com/iescapetheclouds</a>! An additional bonus track is included for those needing a pop/punk fix!</blockquote><blockquote><span class="text-main"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote>If you like what you hear, here's a <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://store.payloadz.com/str-asp-i.239415-n.Escape_the_Clouds_-_Bring_the_Rain_Music_Industrial-end-detail.html">link to purchase it</a>. I posted it for $7. The tracks are in 192k MP3 format, so they'll work on pretty much every type of iPod or other MP3 player.<br /><br />For those of you who decide to buy it, consider it a donation to the blog. I'll definitely appreciate it.<br /><br />Cover art (can you guess the aircraft type and what happened to it?):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_RLaSAVMMQrbG-c86SY7UJWWGWf37AohV52xXKoZ5mnJqejpJpRWooT5aPrLP0w_osuooNabEoKmP2K7n7Y3OcBs7h7sDT9Uh3fPoxT-H9XfKtjCFMbUOemuUeOgQahY5AUO/s1600-h/n1165530715_383707_5693052.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_RLaSAVMMQrbG-c86SY7UJWWGWf37AohV52xXKoZ5mnJqejpJpRWooT5aPrLP0w_osuooNabEoKmP2K7n7Y3OcBs7h7sDT9Uh3fPoxT-H9XfKtjCFMbUOemuUeOgQahY5AUO/s320/n1165530715_383707_5693052.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319050035097360354" border="0" /><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyM_O_Gml9-AJ_jw15VPjKRpVgd6amRmZo9lcW_zwGbwyz6CiKbGAUffnuJ5ql7UptgyhQ01joUTRAdkzhV508qbj_OH4659SXiuVDrepMh4UEa-MzcIS6auT8AJS9vr5wd2MM/s1600-h/n1165530715_383708_952616.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyM_O_Gml9-AJ_jw15VPjKRpVgd6amRmZo9lcW_zwGbwyz6CiKbGAUffnuJ5ql7UptgyhQ01joUTRAdkzhV508qbj_OH4659SXiuVDrepMh4UEa-MzcIS6auT8AJS9vr5wd2MM/s320/n1165530715_383708_952616.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319050054552379666" border="0" /></a><br />Since the late 90's, I've dabbled in music, starting originally with bass guitar and then the electric guitar. Later on, I began learning synthesizer, drum, and sampler programming. In a past life, I played in a couple of bands that had gigs throughout Miami and Miami Beach. More recently, I've been exploring a lot of "world music" sounds. My many influences include Nine Inch Nails, Stabbing Westward, Rachid Taha, Asian Dub Foundation, and Cirque du Soleil soundtracks.<br /><br />I hope you guys and girls like the songs. I'd love to hear any feedback you have on it, whether or not you bought it. Please feel free to friend me up on MySpace as well.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Live Target</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">What? </span>You thought I'd leave the post without anything ATC related?<br /><br />I'd just like to add that I really do like working on an airport. That's not just because I like airplanes, but because it's kind of cool to be a radar controller and still be able to see the aircraft you're working. It's a good reminder that they're real airplanes and real people, not just targets on a scope.<br /><br />Like this morning, I worked a bunch of itinerant Navy T-45 Goshawks who landed here at Pensacola Regional. Later in the afternoon I was standing out on the TRACON's outside staircase when one of them headed for home. Loud little bastards, but man, would I kill for a ride in one of those!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HawhfVdtX_s&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HawhfVdtX_s&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Mark Rossmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357616311224328501noreply@blogger.com2