Chazd's (Charles Dowdell's) News Burps

We had dinner with my friend Dennis last night as he was in Atlanta for a couple of days. We didn't seem to get a picture though. On the drive home we saw a very large fire very close to where a plane went down 1.5 years ago. My blog post from last year. The official NTSB report was just completed a few weeks ago. NTSB report. The take away I got was to maintain your aircraft and have a mechanic you trust. Your life depends on it. The fire on the highway this time was JUST a semi truck burning up.

I was in Florida and Kansas in the last few days. I got to meet my dream engine for my dream yacht. Although the yacht requires two of these babies. I do like the idea of an engine room with tools and spares for emergencies, as well as cameras you can see from the helm or stateroom.

I am enjoying a few days off. Working with Europeans with lots of vacation time, It is tough not to enjoy the vacation and holidays I do get. The following is a simple project, practicing with the drone and editing software.

I have been flying the drone. Here is a pic of the Duluth City Hall.

Its a start. I am Mr. Cautious. I don't want crash the thing nor get arrested, learning the boundaries.

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.

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.