Old silliness

On February 4, 2012February 4, 2012 By The Flying DutchmanIn HumorLeave a comment

I’ve been going to old files and mementos and ran across the following. It’s been floating around in other forms for years but this was our adaptation of it. This is from my days as a test equipment technician at Lockheed Missiles and Space Co, now Lockheed-Martin Missiles and Space. FYI, D5 refers to the Trident II Fleet Ballistic Missile System.

D5 Test Equipment Technician Technical Skills Aptitude Battery

Instructions:

Read each question carefully. Answer all questions. Time limit 4 hours. Begin immediately. Work in numerical order (equipment remaining from question 1 may prove useful with questions 3 and 6.)

Medicine: You have been provided with a razor blade, a piece of gauze, and a bottle of Scotch. Remove your appendix. Do not suture until your work has been inspected. You have 15 minutes.
History: Describe the history of the papacy from its origins to the present day, concentrating especially but not exclusively on its social, political, economic, religious, and philosophical impact on Europe, Asia, America, and Africa. Be brief, concise, and specific.
Public Speaking: Two thousand drug-crazed aborigines are storming the classroom. Calm them. You may use any ancient language except Latin or Greek.
Biology: Create life. Estimate the difference in subsequent human culture if this form of life had been created 500 million years earlier, with special attention to its probable effect on the English Parliamentary System.
Music: Write a piano concerto. Orchestrate and perform it with flute and drum. You will find a piano under your seat.
Engineering: The disassembled parts of a high powered rifle have been placed in a box on your desk. You will also find an instruction manual printed in Swahili. In 10 minutes, a hungry Bengal tiger will be admitted to the room. Take whatever action you feel is appropriate. Be prepared to justify your decision.
Sociology: What sociological problems might accompany the end of the world? Construct an experiment to test your theory.
Management Science: Define management. Define science. How do they relate. Create a generalized algorithm to optimize all managerial decisions. Assuming a 7600 CPU supporting 50 terminals, each terminal to activate your algorithm, design the communications interface and all necessary control functions.
Psychology: Based on your knowledge of their works, evaluate the emotional stability, degree of adjustment, and repressed frustrations of each of the following: Alexander of Aphrodinias, Ramses II, Gregory of Nicea, and Hammurabi. Support your evaluation with quotations from each man’s work. It is not necessary to translate.
Economics: Develop a realistic plan for refinancing the national debt. Trace the possible effects of your plan on these areas: Cubism, the Donatist Controversy, and the Wave Theory of Light.
Epistemology: take a position for or against truth. Prove the validity of your position.
Classical Physics: Explain the nature of matter. Include in your answer an evaluation of the impact on the development of mathematics on science.
Modern Physics: Produce element 107. Determine it’s half-life.
(NOTE: At the time this was made up, there were only 106 known elements. Bohrium is element 107, discovered in 1981.)
Energy Resources: Construct a working fusion reactor.
Philosophy: Sketch the development of human thought. Estimate its significance. Compare with the development of any other kind of thought.
General Knowledge: Describe in detail, briefly.

Extra Credit: Define the universe. Give three examples.

Back at JB Golf

On February 1, 2012February 2, 2012 By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, Rans S-6ES CoyoteLeave a comment

Many years ago I used to fly an Aeronca Champ. I loved landing it off airport. For years I used to fly to a small golf course in Farmington called JB Golf. It was created by a man who loved golf and flying. I was introduced to this strip by Jerry Hansen. He used to fly his 175 and then his Pacer in to this strip. I tagged along in my Champ. Well, time passed and Jerry wasn’t able to fly into JB any more. I built an RV-4 which I never could slow down adequately to land safely at JB. I really missed flying in to JB and that is one of the big reasons I sold my RV-4 and built my new plane; the Coyote. Today I was finally able to find time to clean up my golf clubs fly in to JB.

The owner loves to have airplanes fly in so if you’re a golfer and you have reasonable short/soft field skills you are welcome here. The strip is located just east of Stockton Metro Airport in central California. It is marked on the SFO sectional as J-B. It is listed as private but pilots with appropriate skills are welcome to land.

Here are a few pictures from my trip today.

Another Video

On January 23, 2012January 23, 2012 By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, RV-4, TravelLeave a comment

Here is a video I made of my trip to Oshkosh in 2005. It’s mostly a video log of the airports I visited. But some of it is kind of funny. You get punchy sitting in a cramped cockpit for 10 hours.

Oshkosh 2005–Part 1

Flying Footage

On January 22, 2012January 22, 2012 By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, RV-42 Comments

I was cleaning out my bedroom and ran across a DVD I made years ago. It’s flying footage I took from my RV-4 and set to music. Watch and experience the thrill of flight (and the Edgar Winter Band) from the safety of your computer.

Mercey Hot Springs

On January 14, 2012January 14, 2012 By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, Rans S-6ES Coyote, Travel3 Comments

I’ve been intrigued with Mercey Hot Springs ever since I found out they had a runway so today I decided to fly out there. I didn’t have time to soak because of engagements later in the day but I certainly had time to fly out there and check things out. To get there I flew due south from Oakdale to the Panoche VOR (PXN) and then hung a right. Mercy Hot Springs is probably 3 miles or so due west of the VOR itself. If you’re going to drive there it’s in the northwest part of Fresno county on Little Panoche Road. Here is their website with directions: https://merceyhotsprings.com/

Today was perfect flying weather, a little hazy but not a breeze in the sky. MHS is located in a draw between some hills. The runway looks to be 2000 feet long or so and hard packed dirt so small tire guys can easily handle this runway. It IS narrow though so make sure you can land straight, you’ve only got a few feet either side of your tires to play with. Also, note that there are quite a few gopher holes in the parking area so if you do have small tires, be careful. My 6.00×6’s were fine.

As I approached the strip I was trying to come up with a story as to why I landed in case I wasn’t welcome. As I flew over the strip I could see another plane parked next to the runway so I figured this was a green light. I flew a wide left pattern so I wouldn’t overfly the guests and ruin their peace and quiet. Incidentally this met with the owner’s extreme approval as I later found out. The approaches are mostly clear and not noting any wind I elected to land from south to north. There was a mild breeze on the ground that was from the north so this proved to be a good idea. As I came down short final I noticed that there is a small hill in front of the runway. It isn’t very high but you’ll want to be aware of it. I skimmed over it and landed easily on the hard packed dirt.

I taxied back and parked next to a Murphy Rebel. The pilot and his copilot were there. I asked him if it was okay to land here. He indicated that it probably was but he always calls ahead to ask. I figured it was better to ask forgiveness so I headed into the registration office after pushing my plane back into the parking area.

I walked over to the office and was warmly greated by a man a woman sitting in the office. I asked them if was okay to fly in. He said it was fine but legally he had to tell me the runway was closed. He asked if I saw the X’s. I told him I did and had parked next to one of them. He said that was fine, it’s just that the county wants the X’s visible from the air. He said, “Here’s the deal, if you’re flying by and you hear a funny noise or you want to check an aileron or something, feel free to land and check your plane out. If everything seems fine and you’d like to camp or soak, you’re welcome to do that.” Then he handed me a brochure and explained the various facilities. Very sociable and friendly guy as was his wife.

The registration office is the Spanish architecture building on the left.

The pool is kept at 85 degrees!

Tent camping area. There is also a place for full RV hookups. You can rent a cabin if you really want to travel light.

I’ll definitely be back when I have time to soak.

Lilyana is cool

On January 1, 2012 By The Flying DutchmanIn OpinionLeave a comment

She just is.

Merry Christmas

On December 27, 2011December 27, 2011 By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, Rans S-6ES CoyoteLeave a comment

Got a really neat Christmas present for my plane this year. An ice chest! How is that really neat? The fact that it fits perfectly into the cockpit baggage compartment of my plane. I’m ready for some flying picnicking and camping this year!

Friday Flight

On November 6, 2011November 6, 2011 By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, Rans S-6ES CoyoteLeave a comment

I had a vacation day scheduled for this past Friday. I needed to decompress after a stressful week so guess what I did? That’s right!

The day started out perfect. No wind, no bumps and outstanding visibility. A beautiful fall day in the valley.

I decided to head over to San Francisco Bay via Suisun and then San Pablo Bay. As I flew past Lake Byron I could see that there were clouds starting to build up.

The clouds started getting thicker near Suisun Bay and it started getting pretty bumpy. Even though San Pablo bay in the distance is clear it was getting very bumpy and I could see SF Bay was clouded in.

It was too nice a day to fight the bumps so I turned eastward to look for breakfast.

Oh look! Here’s a place to park and it’s right next one of my favorite breakfast destinations.

Yes! The Lodi Café at the Lodi Airport. You can see that the previously clear valley was starting to be dotted by low clouds. The bumps had followed me from the bay area to the valley. I decided to call it a day after two hours of flying. I flew back to Oakdale and by the time I had the hangar shut it was getting pretty cloudy and the wind had starting kicking up. I think I made a good call.

My plane is on Google Earth

On October 6, 2011February 8, 2016 By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, Rans S-6ES Coyote, TravelLeave a comment

Just found out that Google’s eye in the sky took a photo at Oshkosh while I was there. Here is a picture of my plane and also the plane of a friend, Mike Terpstra. If you zoom into the airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, you will find my plane! Here is a photo. My plane is the red one, Mike’s is the silver one…

Airplane Camping with Scotty

On October 2, 2011 By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, Rans S-6ES Coyote, Travel1 Comment

I wanted to take one more camping trip this year before it got too cold. After all in the plane so this seemed like the best time to go. I put out the word on another forum I belong to and asked if there were any takers in my neck of the woods for a camping trip to Gravelly Valley (1Q5). A friend of mine from EAA Chapter 90,Mike, and also a friend from the other forum, Joey, decided they wanted to go too.

Gravelly Valley Airport (1Q5)

Columbia Airport (O22)

So we decided to head up there this past Saturday. The plan was to meet up enroute to Gravelly Valley over Clear Lake. However, a thick marine layer was covering the hills we needed to get to. Joey and I decided to head for our alternate of Columbia (O22). I tried to get hold of Mike but he had already departed. I hung out at my airport for a few hours while getting text updates from Joey that it was looking more and more like we would head to our alternate. Finally I got a phone call from Mike who had flown all the way up to Gravelly and confirmed that it was socked in. Since Mike and his son had their heart set on fishing they headed south toward Lake Isabella. Joey, my son Scotty and I, headed up to Columbia.

Columbia has two runways, a paved runway and a grass runway. The campground is located next to the grass runway. I got up there about an hour before Joey arrived so I set my camp up. Since I had forgotten my tiedowns I had to park closer toward the paved runway. I hung out along the runway and watched landings until Joey arrived.

After Joey had set up camp we took a walk into town. Columbia is an old preserved mining town and a state park. Actors in period costume stroll the streets, you can ride a stagecoach, pan for gold, or like the three of us, eat. Most of the restaurants in the park are a little spendy so we walked one block out of the park and ate at El Jardin, one of my favorite Mexican restaurants.

After dinner we hiked back to the airport along the nature trail that runs between town and the airport. Joey went out for a quick 30 minute sunset flight. I stayed in my chair along the runway and smoked my pipe. Joey landed and after admiring the sunset we went and talked to our neighbors, a FA-18 pilot on leave. He’s normally flying off the USS Ronald Reagan. Nice guy. By then the sky was black, full of stars, and all of us were sleepy.

The next morning we packed up and took off on the grass runway, and then dove over the ridge into the ravine that leads to New Melones Resevoir. After Joey found me we circled round, flew through the "star wars trench", a huge spillway that protects the New Melones Dam. Then Joey took some air to air shots of my plane as we flew down river toward Oakdale. The plan was for my to offload my gear and then continue on with him to a fly-in at Rio Vista. However, my son, who is a special needs guy, had enough. He was ready to head home. So as Joey headed skyward again, Scotty and I drove on in to town and to the local IHOP.