Posts

LavaCon 2026 and the future.

-
Image
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...
Post a Comment
Read more
-
Image
Its a start. I am Mr. Cautious. I don't want crash the thing nor get arrested, learning the boundaries.
Post a Comment
Read more
-
Image
I worked in the heat today to get my irrigation lawn/garden system going, finally. I rebuilt a used 2 hp pump I bought 2nd hand and pieced together a lot of other broken stuff. Now at least, I have water coming out of the ground. Now I an trying to figure the underground piping system out. My first drone picture and the second. The video is absolutely amazing. I am really looking forward to what this thing uncovers. Unbelievable. Much more to follow.
Post a Comment
Read more
-
Image
Things have been pretty calm these days for the most part. Work is super busy, I took a lot on this year, but I haven't been traveling much. We have been working around the house and doing hobby type stuff. It is summer and hot most days. It takes a bit of patience and stealth to get a photo like this of the hummingbird. We really do have some great birding right out the back door. I bought a camera drone. I ended up getting a DJI Phantom 4. It was time. I will get it in a week or so. Since I am a licensed pilot I can use the drone where others cannot. Makes sense.
Post a Comment
Read more
-
Image
We have been taking the boat out for rides in the evening. It is fun and relaxing.
Post a Comment
Read more
-
Image
We are back from Alaska. We drove 1181 miles in Alaska. We went on a glacier cruise, rented a plane for a PIC (Pilot In Command) glacier flight from Anchorage (PAMR) and took my first bush pilot/float plane instruction in Moose Pass. We stayed at Chena Hot Springs and bathed in the hot mineral bath. The place gave me a lot to daydream about. This was the most north I have been on the planet (so far) at 65.03 degrees North. http://www.chenahotsprings.com My expectations were set very high for the bush pilot training. I was not disappointed. My instructor was a military pilot with well over 300 carrier landings. Very good exposure to precision flying and becoming part of the wind. Landing on a glass smooth lake is impossible by visual reference. After the point of last visual reference on a glass smooth lake --it is all feel and VSI. You can trust the water is flat and level, after all. You can't see the "runway" at all. The refection is just too strong. You can only feel ...
Post a Comment
Read more
-
Image
We have been on the road for a while. I had a business trip that took me through Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota.
Post a Comment
Read more
-
Image
Summer is definitely here. Flying in the afternoons is bumpy. It is good practice. I feel good about a tough crosswind landing today at KLZU. A cold front dropped in the area which makes the flying a true multi-dimensional experience. One minute you are climbing, the next descending the next getting pushed to the left or right. And of course your airspeed and ground speed are benefactors. Breakfast in South Carolina, work on the boat in the afternoon. We will launch the little boat with its annual repairs complete. Gracie the cat actually likes being carried like a log. Weird.
Post a Comment
Read more