Video: Oshkosh - It Feels Like Coming Home (Must See)

 I got the heads-up on this older video (made by DGL & Asociados Aviacion) from a friend on facebook that knows a thing or two about making great videos about Oshkosh... you might know him by the name slickhutto (check out his AWESOME OSH videos here) - btw, you might have noticed that we haven't seen a 2012 OSH video from slick yet - and unfortunately, we won't. College and the Navy got in the way of a trip to Oshkosh this year for him, so the video work is on hold at least until 2013.

 Given the high quality of slick's video work, it really caught my eye when I saw his fb post of a video by someone else that he thought was the best at showing what makes Oshkosh so special. So, here's that video for you to checkout. It's six minutes long and does the best job I've ever seen at helping us to understand what makes the people that design and build airplanes (including the ones that only get to dream of such things) so unique, and so special.

Video screenshot: homebuilt airplanes are the core of what makes Oshkosh special
 

 I'm grateful to the EAA for bringing Oshkosh to life, but the truth is that it's the people that gather together each year that make Oshkosh such and incredible place to be. There's a line in this video that says: "It doesn't matter if it's your first year or your tenth, it will feel like coming home." That line sums it up for me... I've been experiencing Oshkosh (I never ever say A********e) since I was 9 years old. 2012 was my 35th I think, and it has felt like 'home' to me since the first time I was there.

 If you only know Oshkosh from blasting in for a day and thinking you've seen it all, I'd like to suggest that you find a way to 'live' Oshkosh for many days, or even the whole week. When you get this deep into the OSH experience, it becomes the place you want to call home.

 I've said it before and I'll say it again... Oshkosh is the best place on Earth : )

Video screenshot: at Oshkosh... and he helped HER build that airplane! : )

Video: David Algie's LP1 Making Great Progress Toward First Flight

See also: Algie Composite Aircraft 'LP1' - 385 MPH At FL290 & 14.5 GPH?
                2010 AirPigz 'HOTY' - Algie Composite Aircraft LP1

 David Algie is getting the extremely impressive LP1, his carbon fiber, pressurized, high-altitude 2-seat speedster much closer to the first flight. However, as anyone with experience or knowledge of the prototyping process of a completely new aircraft can tell you, there's just no way to when the first flight will take place. The video above shows the first taxi test that was done recently and the airplane is definitely looking good. With a main landing gear reminiscent of the SX-300, the LP1 looks bold and sounds impressive with its Chevy LS Corvette engine spinning David's homebuilt 4-blade prop.

 Although there had been hopes of getting the airplane in the air in 2011, the combination of several complex systems (retractable gear, cooling system, wiring etc.) along with David's limited resources have pushed the completion back somewhat. However, I don't hold that against David, especially when we see the kind of delays the A380, A400M and the 787 all encountered. Sure, those projects are on a much grander scale, but they also had an unimaginable amount of resources at their disposal. The more you understand what David is accomplishing here on this project, the more impressive his effort is!

Algie Composite Aircraft LP1 on the gear and getting closer to first flight (photo: ACA)
 

 Check out these resources to keep up on the progress of the LP1: the Algie Composite Aircraft website, the Woodward Aerospace facebook page, or WoodwardAerospace.com.

Please Buy Tickets Now To The Reno Air Races (Even If You Can't Go)

Reno Air Races - September 12-16, 2012
(please buy tickets and/or donate - click now)

 I'm posting this sweet video that focuses on Rare Bear back at the 2003 Reno Air Races for two reasons... first because last night on the AirPigz facebook page I posted the link to the CoolPix category of hi-res images here on AirPigz to encourage people to go experience a great collection of over 110 pix that are pure avgeekery. I needed a CoolPix thumbnail to put with the post on fb and chose the one I captured of Rare Bear back in 1995 at the Phoenix 500 race (below) that really showed off the 3-blade prop they used for many years. Then today I stumbled across this 2003 Reno video that really shows off that fabulous prop and the amazing music that the Wright R-3350  makes, especially at start up.

 The second reason for posting this video is to show a little of the history of the Reno Air Races in an effort to encourage you to go buy tickets right now to the races coming up September 12-16, 2012, even if you can't get out there. The sport of air racing needs our support more than it ever has before... if you see the value that air racing brings to the larger world of aviation, then I encourage you to make an investment in the future. The significant increase in the insurance costs for the races after last year's tragic events mean that financial support is extremely important to the future of the Reno Air Races. Please make an investment in the future of air racing NOW!

The Reno Air Racing Association is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(4) organization.
Contributions to RARA are NOT tax deductible, but are appreciated and much needed!

(click pic to go the original CoolPix post for the awesome hi-res pic of Rare Bear)

The Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) Is Not A Lot Of Hot Air!

(click pic for hi-res)  LEMV on its first flight August 7, 2012  (photo: Northrop Grumman)
 

(with CoolPix and video)
 

 Even with some nagging development delays, Northrop Grumman's Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) still went thru the design/prototype/first flight process in the pretty short time frame of just over 24 months. Working with several partner organizations (most notably Hybrid Air Vehicles in England) and pulling together the latest hybrid airship technology, NoGr has taken a giant step forward in creating the first truly viable military airship concept. Some critics out there see this as just a batch of hot air, but a closer look at the capabilities and operating costs associated with the helium filled LEMV point to this being an impressive project.

 The first flight, over 90 minutes in duration, was conducted on Tuesday August 7, 2012 at Lakehurst, New Jersey (sound familiar?) and it appears it was a great success. The plan at this point is for the LEMV to complete all testing and be deployed to Afghanistan by the U.S. Army in early 2013 as an airborne platform for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). The ability to remain airborne for up to 21 days radically transforms the capability of an ISR platform. And, with the ability to operate with a manned crew, as a UAV, or completely autonomously, the LEMV adds significant versatility to the method in which it operates.

Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) first flight video - August 7, 2012
 

 One of the most valuable capabilities of the 302' long LEMV is the enhanced payload. By using the helium in the advanced envelope to drastically reduce takeoff weight, the LEMV then uses the shape of the envelope (with forward airspeed) to generate 40% it's overall lift and the vectored thrust from four engines with ducted fans to generate about 25% of it. It's still unclear to me if the engines are Thielert 350hp diesel V8 engines, or turboprops, or a combination of the two. For heavy payloads (2,750 pounds), and especially for extremely heavy payloads (15,000 punds - Heavy Lift Configuration) the LEMV requires a takeoff roll to become airborne. It appears tho that the takeoff distance is at or below 1000 feet even at the heaviest weights.

 The hybrid airship can operate as high 20,000 feet and has a loiter speed of 30 kts with a dash speed of 80kts. Airships have always been challenged by the difficulty of landing in strong and gusty winds, but the impressive vectored thrust capabilities on the LEMV, combined with its long endurance would mean that landing frequency would be greatly reduced and also far easier to accomplish. Additionally, landings could be more easily scheduled to occur during more desirable weather conditions. The Zeppelin NT airship has certainly shown how much more versatile a 3-axis vectored thrust airship can be in the takeoff and landing phase.

 Front view of the LEMV on first flight  (photo: US Army Space & Missile Def Command)

 Overall, the LEMV appears to headed toward a successful deployment, despite the past attempts and failures of a variety of heavy lift airship concepts, and the ever challenging world of acquiring defense funds and operational support. The next few months of this program will really tell if the LEMV can live up to its potential.

 Lastly, you should note that the first flight video shows the LEMV flying at a very light weight where a takeoff run isn't required. And, instead of rotating the entire duct and prop, the LEMV appears to use movable vanes behind the ducts to vector the thrust. I also noticed in the hi-res CoolPix image, when looking at the nose of the airship, the right envelope body looks to be a different shape than the left body. When you look at the image just above here that shows a more frontal view, you can see what appears to be a larger radius nose on the right body, and it may actually protrude forward of the left body. I'm not really sure what exactly is going on there, or why, but it does look intentional. There will be lots more interesting details to learn about this very unusual airship in the coming months!

Videos: The Pure Flying Perfection That Is The Piper Cub

 Here are two short-but-sweet videos that give a little peek into the Piper Cub invasion of Oshkosh 2012 that celebrated 75 years of Piper's iconic little airplane. The Cubs had gathered at the Hartford Wisconsin airport (40 miles south of OSH) on Friday and Saturday July 20th and 21st and then made the relatively short trip up to OSH early Sunday morning July 22nd, the day before the world's greatest aviation event began. Both of these videos start at Hartford and end at Oshkosh.

 You might also enjoy seeing my post about the Cubs at Hartford from that Friday: Lots Of Cub Yellow At Hartford Wisconsin For 'Cubs 2 OSH'.

 I still believe that the old, original Piper Cub has more potential to save General Aviation in America than any other aircraft. Having 200 or more rebuilt original Cubs scattered around the nation in an organized effort to make flying both affordable and exciting isn't a new idea to me... I originally posted details of the idea two years ago:  Add 'Cub Training Centers' To Save GA In America (CoolPix & Video) - and I believe in this idea all the more after experiencing the Cub celebration at Oshkosh this year.

 The well-established Cub flight training and rental that's been going on at Hartford for years factors heavily into all this too. I hope to expand on this concept in the next month or two with some great insight into the Hartford airport and how Cub flying there is alive and well. Stay tuned. But for now, enjoy these two EAA videos that show why Cub yellow is just as relevant today as it was in the 1940's : )

CoolPix: OSH12 - Duggy! (The Little Yellow Aluminum Overcast : )

(click pic for hi-res)  Duggy, 'the smile in the sky' DC-3 going almost directly overhead

 I'm getting closer to getting things back under control at AirPigz after the failure of my primary computer during OSH12. I'm still taking the easy way out today with just a CoolPix and a couple complimentary images... but very soon I should be able to get back on track with some detailed posts of some cool things from OSH12. The new computer is working great and I should have the all the files restored in the next 36 hours.

 It's hard not to notice Duggy at Oshkosh. A beautiful all yellow DC-3 with a smile on the nose that also doubles as a workhorse for the airshow skydivers. I just happened to be in a good spot one day as the airshow was preparing to begin and had this view of Duggy almost directly overhead. (I'm all about the details: note the tailwheel, it's not on the centerline... a clear sign that the airplane isn't actually 'directly' overhead)

 So if you've ever wondered what the bottom of a DC-3 really looks like, here's your chance. Click the pic to open up the hi-res and have yourself a look. If you're like me, you'll scout around the bottom of the airplane looking for something interesting. The small 'tm' trademark after 'Duggy' was the only thing I specifically noticed, other than the bottom looked pretty clean to me. That's a lot of wing area to keep clean!

A rare look at Duggy without a crowd around the happiest DC-3 in the world at OSH12

The rather small front office of the smiliest Douglas DC-3 during taxi - Duggy.com

CoolPix: OSH12 Seaplane Base And A Beautiful Cessna 195 On Floats

(click pic for hi-res)  Polished Cessna 195 on floats at the Seaplane Base at OSH12

 I'm still taking the easy way out by posting a single CoolPix from OSH12 instead of putting together an extensive post... I've got a new computer to replace the one that stopped working after getting caught in a surprise rainstorm (with massive winds driving the rain horizontally in thru an opened window), but I'm still getting it formatted properly to make my work here get back on track. Hopefully by tomorrow night I'll be back to 'normal'.

 On Friday, near the end of Oshkosh 2012, I finally made a trip over to the Seaplane Base that's located a couple miles southeast of Wittman Field on the western shore of Lake Winnebago. If you've ever been over there, you already know how tranquil and beautiful that place can be. It always makes me feel so good spending time in the presence of airplanes that float, and the people who love them. This picture of a polished Cessna 195 on floats is a perfect way to share the essence of the experience at the base.

 I plan to put up several more pix from my short stay at the base on that Friday, but for now I sure hope you enjoy seeing this gorgeous 195 on floats : )

Video: Head First Zombies Invade Earth! (New Vertical Skydive World Record)

 Ok, so it's not an invasion of zombies from the sky after all, it's really a shattering of the previous record for vertical skydiving formations from 108 skydivers in 2009 to a whopping 138 just yesterday in Ottawa Illinois, southwest of Chicago. We tend to think of all skydiving as 'vertical', but when the guys and gals in the sport ran out of ideas for normal skydiving, they decided to stand on their head and go truly vertical in freefall... and now they've progressed well into the idea of building formations while in this mode of flight.

 I haven't made a skydive in about 20 years, but it sure would seem that the combination of having your head down low and the extra speed would make building formations like the one in this video very difficult to achieve. The time available is shortened greatly due to the extra speed, tho they do leave the aircraft at much higher altitudes to help overcome this. Reports indicate they were leaving the aircraft at 18,500 and it took 15 tries to build the 138 person record-setting snowflake. Pretty amazing stuff!

Zombies, I mean skydivers going head first into a world record vertical formation!

CoolPix: OSH12 - Big Prop P-51 In The Morning Sun!

(click pic for hi-res)  The back side of a massive P-51 prop in the morning sun at OSH12

 My inop computer problem from a surprise OSH12 rain won't be under control until Tuesday, so I'm still limping along on under-powered resources... so once again I'm taking the easy way out by posting another OSH12 CoolPix.

 I left CampBacon with a few friends early Friday morning (5am) at Oshkosh for another 'dawn patrol' photo shoot in the warbird area. It was last year on a similar adventure that I captured that amazing image of the B-25 Lady Luck with the rising sun behind it. The effort on Friday wasn't nearly as successful since the clouds way off to the east were in the way for part of the sunrise and there weren't the stunning clouds overhead like the B-25 image had. I now realize just how awesome that pic of Lady Luck really is! Anyway, I got some nice pictures, but one of the best was taken after the sun was well above the horizon, but still casting its light more horizontally on the airplanes. I was just finished with breakfast in the warbird area, standing at the edge of the tent ready to get back to walking, when I saw this P-51 in the distance that had just fired up. I've been working on using a much slower shutter speed to improve the spinning prop results in my pictures and this looked like a great chance to experiment a little more... and this one paid off pretty well!

 With that morning sun lighting up the back of the prop, that big spinning disc really came alive here. Plus, the low sun was really making the all the warbirds in the pic look vibrant with so much light on them. So I thought the combination of the big prop and the layering of two additional P-51's and a P-40 made for a pretty interesting image. And while jets are really cool, I just don't think you can beat a massive prop to sit behind!

 After I get my computer issues remedied, I may come back and make this CoolPix available as a desktop pic in a variety of sizes. For now tho, I hope you'll just enjoy seeing my slow shutter speed experiment of a P-51 in the morning sun at Oshkosh 2012.

CoolPix: OSH12 - Super Corsair Pointed At The World's Busiest Tower

(click pic for hi-res) A great pic of a great airplane at a great place! Super Corsair at OSH12

 
 AirPigz is still running in 'safe mode' after my primary computer (laptop) got rained on at Oshkosh last Thursday. It's still currently reduced to being not much more than a really big paperweight. I thought I had it worked out for a new one to be here today, but I hit another snag... hopefully by Monday I'll have a solution.

 To make my work easier today (because I'm also buried in 'everyday' work this week) I decided I'd put up a CoolPix from OSH12 instead of the string of pix I wanted to get up from Thursday there. I think this pic of a Super Corsair racer pointed toward the 'world's busiest control tower' makes a pretty nice substitute! Be sure to click the pic for the hi-res version.

 I was just walking by when I looked over and saw this view of the Oshkosh control tower and the Super Corsair in the relatively early morning sun. The combo of having this amazing airplane, the interesting angle, the great sunlight and the tower in the background makes a great Oshkosh image to enjoy. When time and energy allow I'll try to format this pic for desktop use... but for now you'll just have to enjoy it as a basic CoolPix : )