Pretty cool site, and simpe to use. Just click on the location you are planning to visit to see a comprehensive list of Aviation museums. Includes details of exhibits, aircraft on display, and user reviews. Photographs on the front page would be nice, but overall a decent resource.
LINK
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Got some vacation time? How about visiting some aviation museums?
Air Show Collison Video
Two pilots were killed performing aerial acrobatics at an air show in Poland when their aircraft collided head-on above thousands of spectators. From Planenews.com
Not a helicopter, not a trike, it's the Airscooter II
The latest in my "Not a Trike" flying machine series... this cute little critter is like a combination of helicopter and hovercraft. It has no tail rotor, no collective control, and redundant engine and control functions. They promise a price below $50,000 as well. Sign me up!
Check out the details from their site:
By eliminating the need and complexity of swashplates, collective and cyclic control through a coaxial rotor design a number of benefits beyond conventional helicopter designs are immediately realized. First; enhanced, intuitive flight controls are achieved by simple motorcycle-style handlebars and the absence of a tail rotor. To gain altitude, simply throttle up like you would on a motorcycle, turn left or right on the handlebars for craft rotation and move the handlebar assembly as a joystick for directional control (including reverse). No pedal controls are necessary, which means someone without the use of their legs can just as easily fly the AirScooter. Handlebar controls represent the most distinguishable feature of the AirScooter. AirScooter's patented design also provides an amazing level of stability while in the air and during flight.
LINK
Monday, September 03, 2007
I simply cannot understand this Website? Canyonland Flyers LLC
Ok, so I'm about to do my "website of the day" and I find a new trike website that has very professional graphics, a logical layout, detailed information, and all the elements of a "winner!"
So, as I'm browsing the site, looking for some form of contact info... ANY form of contact info... I find the STRANGEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN ONLINE! A complete and total OXYMORON. The site has the following on their "Contact" page (click below to enlarge):
"Currently we are not taking any requests from the web. Thank you."
In other words... thanks for visiting this really great website, with tons of great info on how we can help you to train, visit us, sightsee, give us your money, etc.... but "oh, by the way" PLEASE DON'T CONTACT US IN ANY WAY!WTF?
Can someone please contact ME to explain what is going on here because this is so absurd that it is making my head hurt! Who is running Canyonland Flyers and "why" are they missing the boat in such an obvious way here?
Thank you for your patience... my rant is over now ;)
If you haven't seen this, you have not SEEN flying!
I always thought that trikes were pretty "maneuverable"... man how wrong I was! One night last week I fell asleep in front of the television. When I woke up, there was the craziest sh*t onscreen that I had ever seen!! These guys were flying a closed-course of gigantic inflatable cones with small overpowered aerobatic airplanes at speeds over 200mph! Unbelievable!!
You have GOT to check this video, it's called the "Red Bull Air Races" and they have "legs" held in different countries. This video is from Porto Gaia in Portugal.
Maybe I'm old fashioned? More Paper Airplane fun!
LINK
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Google Earth has a hidden Flight Simulator Feature!
It seems that you can actually find a pretty decent flight simulator built right into the free Google Earth! It requires a couple simple steps to find this "Easter Egg", but once you find it, a menu items appears for future use.
Full Details can be seen at Marco's Blog HERE
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Website of the Day - Microlights in India!
From a few of our new members I have discovered that there is a thriving microlight community in India. Wow, we are finding trikes all over the planet! (still waiting to hear from our friends in Russia....?) Check out our membership map, with 3400+ visitors from 55 Countries!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Website (story) of the Day - ShowTime at Sun 'N Fun!
From the LearnToFlyTrikes.com website:
A great little "I learned about flying from that" story about wet grass, brakes, and paying attention!
LINK
Do it yourself Videography Gear (mounts, brackets, and cranes)
Found this very interesting site today that gave me some inspiration for creating new trike mounts to hold my camcorders, bullet cams, and digital cameras. 
Most of the equipment can be made from off-the-shelf aluminum and pvc, with minimal machining. Perhaps this might spark a bit of an idea in one of you as well?
LINK
Fear of Trike Flying? They can help!
Do you or your spouse have a "fear" of trike flying? Have you found cobwebs growing on your brand-new Quik912 because of lack of use? Well, maybe they have an answer for you HERE
From their website:
Many people develop fears as they mature and life seems more precious, while others may have experienced a bad flight. You may have a strong imagination, recently began a family, or feel a need to be in control. Young mothers often feel protective and nervous flying with their kids or babies. Regardless of how fears develop, those who suffer can experience sleepless nights, elevated anxiety, and fear of panic attacks. Friends and family often don't understand the problems caused by a fear of flying.
Concerns may include weather, turbulence, take offs, flying over water, claustrophobia, crowds, losing control (panic attacks), terrorists, hijackings, fear of falling, and fear of heights. Many times these worries are caused by a lack of understanding about what to expect during a flight. Most fearful flyers just need a little help in the form of education, reassurance, and guidance.
Wow! Trikepilot Social turns 100 (and then some...)
I must have put something into the water because you guys are amazing! We went from 70+ members to over 100 members in one day... Incredible! There's no doubt we are on to something here, as the number of visitors, contributions, photos and video postings is growing exponentially.
Look at our stats. We had been averaging between 100 to 150 visitors per day until yesterday and then the number shot up to 326!
Likewise, our monthly statistics below show that we are up to more than 3300 visitors a month with over 27,000 unique page views! Amazing.... considering that our Trikepilot.com "classic" site was averaging 1/10th those numbers. Clearly you guys are enjoying your daily visits back to the new site. I'm a proud pappa ;)
I want to thank everyone who has helped to make this social experiment a success and urge everyone to tell all their friends to climb on board. Put up a badge on your website or even use it as a signature in your emails. The more the merrier!
Cheers!
spence
Thursday, August 30, 2007
2007 Cushing Field Bivouac Fun Fly Results are In!
This just in from Mike Hudetz. Gene Dean is the flying machine!!
(Check out Dave Wallis' Photos of the event HERE)
Below are the event results – sorry for some missing last names.
Balloon Drop:
3rd Place Pete Loepert with a total of (sum of 3 drops) 47 feet from target
2nd Place Shane Duncan with a total of 41 feet
1st Place Gene Dean with a total of 34 feet
Spot Landing
3rd Place Mike Hudetz and Spencer Forman/Rob Caya (912 Quick) with a total of 200 points
2nd Place Jesse with Aqua/ Black 912 Clipper with a total of 250 points
1st Place Gene Dean and Shane Duncan with a total of 300 points
Take Off and Landing Race Against the Clock
3rd Place Jesse with Aqua/ Black 912 Clipper with 131.51 seconds
2nd Place Gene Dean with 128.35 seconds
1st Place Scott Johnson with 124.60 seconds
It should be mentioned that John Kieth, flying a 912 Quick would have won this event with 121.01 seconds, but he failed to keep all 3 wheels on the ground for at least ½ second on his first landing. “Ricochet” landings are not allowed in this event. It has to be a complete touch and go with all 3 wheels on the ground for at least ½ second.
Mike
Aerial Photography Tips and Tricks
A great tutorial summary on how to take great shots from the air
LINK
Website of the Day - Operation Migration
Operation Migration was founded in 1994 as a
non- profit charitable organization by Bill Lishman and Joe Duff. That was five years after Bill became the first human to fly with birds, and one year after the two artists, turned biologists, used ultralight aircraft to lead a small flock of Canada geese from Ontario, Canada to Virginia, USA. The unassisted return migration of these geese the following spring garnered world-wide attention that led to the making of the hit movie Fly Away Home with Columbia Pictures.
Quoted from their website:
Our Canada Geese Story
Our
entire story begins with the Canada geese. Without these majestic creatures that proved birds can learn a migration route, we wouldn't have a story.
Since childhood, co-founder Bill Lishman dreamed of flying with birds. He got closer to his dream as a grown-up, when he became an avid ultralight aviator. Then, one fateful night he and his family traveled to Toronto to see the IMAX film, "Skyward." As Lishman watched the geese in the film follow a boat, he wondered if they would also follow an airplane?
The film's animal trainer, William Carrick, had the answer Lishman wanted. With Carrick's help, Lishman began working with the geese since, as non-endangered species, they posed fewer technical and environmental risks.
And the rest, literally, was history. In 1988, Lishman lead 12 geese on local flights. Then, in 1994, he and partner Joseph
Duff helped 18 geese migrate from Ontario to Virginia.
Reaching his childhood dream gave Lishman a new focus. He and Duff formed Operation Migration for another dream: to save endangered species by introducing safe migratory routes.
LINK
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