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Showing posts from May 8, 2011

LavaCon 2026 and the future.

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LavaCon is a conference now going on 25 years. Its always fun at conferences where folks collaborate on what the future holds. This year I drove to Charlotte NC from Duluth GA to attend. I used the Tesla in Full Self Drive. I went park-to-park without touching the wheel for over 200 miles. It's crazy. I don't think most people understand how well it works. Lots of nay-sayers still, but it really does work. Be on guard, but enjoy. I spent some of my time "driving" while conversing with Grok as part of my daydreaming. I was discussing with Grok an idea I have of building a West system (cold molded) old style barrel-back runabout maybe 20 feet long- all varnished Mahogony. Of course this boat would have an exotic 12-cylinder engine under a transparent engine hatch between the twin cockpits. We discussed the designs, available actual study plans and pre-lofted design documents for the hull. We also discussed the best engine (perhaps a BMW N73) coupled with a Velvet Dri...
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I put on a presentation yesterday at the EAA chapter 690 monthly meeting for about 50 or 60 people... "Aviation in Antarctica." They recorded the event and now it is the library of the chapter. They are a great organization. One of the attendees was a participant in "Operation Deep Freeze" in the early 60s. I was hoping I could bring back some of his memories. He said I did. That is what is all about. That and making people laugh is paramount. Looking at "You tubes." I find scores of interesting videos from Antarctica that are barely viewed. Definately, the best vids are not published. In June the speaker is an Astronaut from Atlanta. http://www.eaa690.org/ Here is a picture of "Princess." You may see a simple Cessna 172. I see some really awesome adventures in Georgia, Islands, Florida and elsewhere. I look at that plane and I see my blue Schwinn bicycle of many years ago. I will be in NY next week, then it it is off to England (Maiden...