CoolPix - Airshow: Blue Angels At 2009 Reno Air Races

 (click pic for hi-res)

 This is only the second post in the new AirPigz feature called ‘CoolPix’, with this one coming in under the category ‘Airshow’.  After seeing how nice it was that the first post with the pic of Hangar One at Moffett Field was also viewable in hi-res, I’ve decided that I really need to try to work that element into as many CoolPix as I can.

 So, this one is available in hi-res too simply by clicking the picture.  It’s actually a photo I took of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels at the 2009 Reno Air Races.  The F-18 is one of the most beautiful jet fighters ever built, and when flown with the unbelievably high level of precision demonstrated by the Blue Angels (like as close as 18” apart!), it’s simply a mind-boggling experience.  This diamond formation looks especially nice with the airplanes all in tight, the perfect colored sky and the beautiful clouds in the background.  I hope you enjoy it : )

Caption Contest #25: Aiming For A Winner - Ends Wednesday 1-13-10 At 9PM EST

 I got sidetracked today and I’m running just a little behind (or maybe a lot behind!).  No worries tho as I’m thinking this pic will stir up some pretty good captions fairly quickly.

 Caption Contest #25 is now officially underway.  Here’s another chance to come up with a wacky caption (or 3), and as always, the winner gets the somewhat mythical $20 in AirPigz funny money.  When (if?) I snap out of my own personal financial meltdown, we’ll get around to actually having prizes to buy with that caption cash : )

 So, you’ve got til Wednesday evening at 9pm EST to submit some funny captions, then I’ll pick the 5 best captions and put ’em in a poll for everyone to vote on. 

  The Rules:

1) Max of 3 submissions per person

2) Submissions go in the 'comments' area 

3) Game ends Wednesday at 9pm EST 

4) Keep it clean!

 Voting for the winner will start after the poll goes up around an hour after the 9pm Wednesday submission deadline.

 We'll vote for 24 hours, til 9pm EST on Thursday. Then the winner will be posted  Friday morning 1-15-10.  Thanx for hangin’ in there!

Video History Lesson: DC-3 On Amphibious Floats!

 The Douglas DC-3 is truly one of the most amazing aviation accomplishments of all time, and these videos show another pretty cool accomplishment... EDO putting the airplane on amphibious floats!  The first video is a bit long, but includes a lot of WWII era footage of DC-3's operating off the water - amazing stuff to see for sure.

 The second video is from the late 80's showing a privately owned DC-3 on the floats taxiing in on the water, and then right up onto the land via the wheels.  Again, very cool stuff to see.

 I never get tired of seeing DC-3's in action, which means Oshkosh 2010 is gonna be absolutely incredible (duh!) as there's a celebration planned for the 75th anniversary of the airplane.  There's already a 'mass arrival' of 35 DC-3's in the works, and more than that may be on site during the week.  This DC-3's at Oshkosh link has more info, aw well as TheLastTime.org  - I can hardly wait!

Caption Contest #24 - The Dogfight Has A Winner!

 Lynda from GirlsWithWings (twitter: @girlswithwings) was quick on the draw and submitted the first caption idea shortly after it was posted on Monday morning.  Who knew we coulda stopped right there as her caption emerged from the dogfight victorious.  Great job Lynda!

 She’s not only clever with the words, but she's doing great things inspiring girls with aviation.  Please check out her website, and I encourage you to support her work any way you can.

 Watch for the next Caption Contest to drop Monday morning : ) 

Project VP Hibernation To End Soon - ’Sponsor’ T-Shirts Ready To Ship (Help!)

(5 pix + Video)

 (for details on how to order a 6-color Project VP ‘sponsor’ t-shirt, please send an email to me at mcc@airpigz.com - current sizes available: S, L, XL , XXL)

 I’ve recruited the help of my cute niece Madison to help promote the t-shirt ‘sponsorship’ program for my modified VolksPlane homebuilt airplane called ‘Project VP’.  You may already know I started the airplane just 90 days before Oshkosh 2009 with the serious hope of getting it completed and flying in that short period of time.  Yes, it’s true that I lean pretty far over the ‘crazy’ line, but hey, my feet are always still over there on the sane side!  Anyway, I ran out of time, but mostly I ran out of financial resources, which has pretty much been the story of my life this past 18 months.  More on that in a minute.

 I sold several of these $50 Project VP t-shirts before Oshkosh last year - thank you very much to the awesome people who supported this effort from the start!  And now I’m back to get this project once again on track so we can get it done and in the air.  Obviously the shirt isn’t really worth $50, but the point here is: buying a shirt is all about being a supporter of the effort.  And I think I can give you several reasons why supporting this sweet little updated design of the VolksPlane is something you can feel good about.

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CoolPix - Vintage Military: US Navy Airship In Hangar One At Moffett Field

(click pic for hi-res)

 CoolPix is a new regular feature that’s starting right now.  Intriguing pictures (hopefully!) from all over the world of aviation.  From the past and the present,  broken down into at least 12 categories, like ’Vintage Military’, that will follow the word ‘CoolPix’ in the title so they can easily searched.  I also plan to have pre-sort links set up after the database builds up so you’ll be able to quickly experience some fab pix that are meant to inspire and educate.  I hope you’ll take the few extra moments these pix deserve to really take in what is going on.  You can just glance at them, but I promise you’ll be missing a lot if that’s all you do : )

 So, the very first CoolPix is an awesome view of a U.S. Navy airship in Hangar One at Moffett Field.  These type of hangars are awe-inspiring to say the least.  The hangar measures 1,133’ long, 308’ wide, and 198’ tall!  Airships, like the USS Macon and USS Akron were 785’ long, so it obviously took a super-sized hangar to house them.  Hangar One was built in the 1930’s.

 Most CoolPix won’t be available in hi-res (click the pic) but this one is, which is especially cool as it pulls you in close so you can see more of the structure details… but the best part for me is to look really close and notice the people inside.  They are so small!  It’s then that you really get the sense of how crazy huge both the hangar and the airship are.

 Lastly, this is an interesting pic because there have been efforts to possibly tear down, or at least remove all the skin from the still-standing Hangar One landmark.  There have been several ’rescue’ thoughts and attempts, but it appears at the moment that a final decision still hasn’t been made.  Anyone with more info on the status please share them in the comments - thanx!

TV Guy Evan Farmer Builds A ‘Sportsman 2+2’ In Two Weeks!

 In fact, pretty much anybody can build a Glasair Aviation ‘Sportsman 2+2’ that quick if you go thru their ‘Two Weeks To Taxi’ program.  It’s pretty innovative, and this video from late 2008 with TV personality Evan Farmer really helps to show the process.  It also helps you believe that it’s really possible to build the entire airplane that quickly. 

 The Sportsman 2+2 is an extremely versatile airplane with lots of configurational options and strong overall performance on either the 180hp or the 210hp option.  I think it really helps bridge the gap between a ‘normal’ factory airplane and the sometimes very compromise oriented homebuilts.  This airplane is full of genuine utility.

 I did a really nice interview with one of the factory guys from Glasair Aviation up at Oshkosh that I should have ready to go as a podcast here before long.  It was during that interview that I went from kinda knowing what the airplane was, to thinking wow, this is a really great flying machine!

Caption Contest #24 - Is 2010 Already Going to The Dogs?

 So here it is, your first chance of the new year to fashion a fancy caption for a funny pic.  And dog gone it now, it’s gonna be fun.  Otherwise I’m sending you all to the doghouse!  Ok, you get the idea...  I’m really looking forward to see what y’all come up with this time around.

 You’ve got til Wednesday evening at 9pm EST to submit captions, then I’ll pick the 5 best captions and put ’em in a poll for everyone to vote on. 

 The Rules:

1) Max of 3 submissions per person

2) Submissions go in the 'comments' area 

3) Game ends Wednesday at 9pm EST 

4) Keep it clean!

 Then, anyone who wants to can cast their vote in the poll that’ll go up around an hour after the 9pm Wednesday submission deadline.

 We'll vote for 24 hours, til 9pm EST on Thursday, and then the winner will be posted  Friday morning 1-8-10.  Have fun - wooof!

Water Skiing T-6's - Do Not Try This At Home!

 This video isn't new, it's from 2006, but it's definitely worth seeing.  Even if you've seen it before I'm sure you'll be amazed again... and if you haven't seen it, you might not even believe what you're seeing!  The Flying Lions Aerobatic Team from South Africa put this together to call attention to their excellent flying skills.  It's pretty impressive to say the least.

 Many years back I knew a one-arm pilot who had done this in a Cub and had pictures taken, so I knew it was doable, but I'm thinking the margins for error are pretty stinkin' small.  I strongly recommend you don't try this at home!  Enjoy : )

Start 2010 With Some Awesome 'SpeedBirds' Dreamin'

(3 pix)

 SpeedBirds.blogspot.com is one of those rare internet destinations that reaches way down deep inside of you and stirs things up… well, at least it does if you’re fascinated with great aviation designs rendered in the coolest of artistic styles.  To try to explain it kinda misses the point.  SpeedBirds is simply meant to be experienced visually (and, in the ‘dreamer’ part of your brain that probably hasn’t been very busy lately)

 It appears the drawings are the work of a Frenchman who works in the automotive design world and goes by the moniker: Speed Merchant.  The website takes a little time to figure out how to navigate it, but once you do, there are so many amazing drawings to soak up.  They really feel bigger than life, and at least for me, they inspire me to think of aviation as something way bigger than just flying. 

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