The Right Stuff

This has really struck a nerve with me. I first heard about it shortly after it happened back on the 29th.
Even before the video, eye-witness descriptions pointed to a load shift.
Then the video came out.
And reportedly, air traffic control communications reporting the pilot said he had a load shift.

These pilots do some fantastic flying. All the way to the ground. They never quit. You can actually see it...

Part of what bothers/ed me is the critical importance of doing even the 'small jobs'. And attention to detail.
The pilots are highly trained, a crew of seven... loads of experience... but, it likely came down to whether or not someone used the correct type of chain/strap or tightened it down correctly on the vehicles in the cargo deck.
The very moment the plane started to climb, it was doomed, because the cargo shifted, rolled backwards, thrust the plane onto its tail making it nigh impossible to control.

And yet, the best part, is that the pilots didn't QUIT. They may have known they were doomed, but they kept trying. A book I love uses the quote, "I've tried A, I've tried B, I've tried C!" showing how you don't give up all the way down.

And for a beast of a plane loaded with cargo, way outside of its design limits, they ALMOST do it. To the untrained/unfamiliar eye, the plane looks like it's falling from the sky, as controlled as an autumn leaf. But these pilots, and they ARE piloting that whale, do the amazing following steps:
Recognize the Stall
Overcome ALL human instinct in a stall situation close to the ground and begin to aim the plane AT the ground to recover (a very key point of training - had they done differently, the video would have been much shorter).
The left wing wobbles, dips as the stall begins. They recover the left wing stall rolling into a right wing stall.
It begins. But, with the wings now both stalled, and then recovered, a spin starts. They kick the rudder hard, turn her... and get wings level and ready to begin accelerating to recover flight.
Nose down a bit to start accelerating right when the precious margin between aircraft and ground ran out. The maxim 'Altitude is Life' is as timeless as aviation itself. With altitude, you have time... you can make it happen.... but, they just ran out.
With all of their incredible aviating, and IF ONLY for a couple thousand more feet... they might have made it. Or at least, to start solving the next part of the problem.... getting the crippled bird back onto the ground in one piece. But, somewhere... one person shortcutted. (Truth be told: in aviation, there's never ONE cause, there's a chain, but universally, if you can break that chain anywhere, then you can avoid it... so, there may be many causes, but any one could have stopped it.)
These civilians don't get the military honors. They don't get the "Thank you for your service." They don't get any of the glory or anything that our uniformed brethren get. Yet, without their support and their efforts, we couldn't do it. And they are volunteers as much as we are.
There's not likely going to be a Missing Man Formation of 747s (wouldn't that be a sight?), nor any ceremonies. The families will deal with this privately.
But to you Aviators, what to the vast majority of the viewing world seems like sixty seconds of sheer terror was likely sixty seconds of amazing professionalism and solid performance. I'm in admiration.

Four Left

There are only four left...

The next shuttle launch, of Discovery, is scheduled for no earlier than 05 April.  I SO want to go, but don't know how I'll swing it.

Sigh.

Pink Glove Dance

A friend sent this to me... and I'm touched.

I also just ordered a box of pink gloves for me to use at work! Oh, that should definitely get the conversation going... LOL!

I don't see a military hospital ever doing this - which is a shame... sometimes we're so busy maintaining our "military bearing" that we lose ourselves in it.

For All Mankind

Forty years ago, mankind as represented by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon.

And nothing has been the same.

Human history is traditionally divided into BC and AD (or BCE/CE), yet it could just as legitimately be divided into BA/AA - Before Apollo and After Apollo. Before Apollo, we were a culture that had never journeyed beyond our home. And After Apollo, we were a mankind that could look up at the moon at night and know that there were twelve sets of footprints up there.

This is the main thrust of history as it's taught to us. Yet, as time passes, does this truth continue?

The story of Apollo contains not only one of mankind's greatest triumphs, landing and walking on the Moon, but also an enormous and growing tragedy - our failure to return. And this failure can be traced to the time immediately following the historical first steps and the beginning seeds of the television generation.

Apollo 11 was covered by the three networks at the time with constant and unceasing coverage. All moon, all the time. And even though Armstrong's first steps were taking place at a late time in the evening, Americans (and easily the whole world) were glued to their tv. Every possible moment was watched and absorbed like a sponge that could not be filled.

Until, it was over. President Kennedy's goal had been achieved, and the country's attention span turned. Not unsurprisingly, there was a letdown... a feeling of "been there, done that". And while Apollo 13 restored some drama, it was due to not going to the Moon.

In fact, by Apollo 13, the budget cuts had already begun, Apollo 20 had already been canceled, and Apollo 18 and 19 would soon be axed as well.

Americans were losing interest, and with that loss, NASA lost funding.

NASA refocused on the Space Shuttle and Americans turned their attention elsewhere. And with two notable exceptions, NASA has further cemented spaceflight as "routine". Their success at effectively turning the shuttle into something like an airline (all sorts of 'regular' people got to fly) became a downfall as the lustre of Apollo became a distant memory.

Now, the Shuttle is facing imminent retirement after nearly three decades of service. In orbit, there's a Space Station which is finally nearing completion, nearly twenty-five years after being first proposed. And while built with a large amount of American effort and American funding, soon there will be no American spacecraft to reach it.

America is working towards a new space system, called Constellation. Yet, it too is in doubt. Will NASA and the nation commit to its continued funding? Will we decide to stay in Low Earth Orbit, where our Shuttles have endlessly circled for thirty years? Will we embark to return to the Moon? Or will we commit to strike out for eventual journeys to Mars?

The answer to these questions will say as much about our budget priorities as it will say about us - as a nation and as a people.

"We came out of the cave, and we looked over the hill, and we saw fire. And we crossed the ocean, and we pioneered the West, and we took to the sky. The history of man is hung on a timeline of exploration, and this is what's next... We're meant to be explorers." - Aaron Sorkin, 2000

President Kennedy also famously summed it up in his speech at Rice University. A year after setting America on course for the Moon, when the country's sum total of space travel experience was fifteen minutes and not even the first orbit of the Earth, he reminded us why we must embark on this journey. These words are as true now as they were then (start around :

"We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too." - President Kennedy, 1962

Too often these days, we shy away from risk. Whenever things are hard and difficult, we often retreat to that which is more comfortable and sheltered. But reward is not without risk, and risk is out there. We need to explore. We need to embrace the risk... and conquer it. Nothing easy makes us stronger, as facing challenges does. And even failing makes us better.

Space travel, like aviation and many things before it, has its lessons written in the blood of those who've gone before. Fear of shedding the blood should not prevent us from writing the next chapter.

Let us end the tragedy of Project Apollo and restore the legacy of human exploration. It's time to leave home, again. The benefits are not for us alone, but for those around the world, and for those who come after us... in short, for all Mankind.

Air Travel

To go South, one must go North...
To go East, one must go West...

Good thing I love to fly!

Cruel and Unusual

I've had a lot of thoughts in my head of late (here, here, and here), spurred by the recent passing of Punk Rock Mommy.

And as I was chatting with my dear friend, I drew a connection.

I first was thinking back to one of my favorite Star Trek quotes, "How we face Death is at least as important as how we face Life."

And that's true, because for many, Death comes unexpectedly. Unplanned. Unanticipated.

Yet, there are those who know that Death is coming.

They've been told they are going to die. Not exactly when, but... It WILL happen.

Then, they get told that Death is soon approaching. Probably within a month, but no other details.

And finally, you know... Today is your last day.

It's Death Row.

Except, these people are not criminals. They've committed no horrific atrocity.


So, I ask... If we as a society complain about the cruel and unusual nature of executions on Death Row... Executions of our society's most heinous members..

Why are we not more vocal and active in our complaints against the executions of our more innocent members? The children who die from cancer.. The mothers... Wives... Fathers... Sons... Husbands... Daughters... And those indistinguishable people who are mere faces in the crowd that no one even notices is missing...

Priorities.

An Eagle Swims

I am a huge fan of Eagles.

No, not the band (though, some of the music IS great).

The bird. A majestic creature, and one that often demonstrates the very qualities that we mere humas often strive for.

For example, persistence. Never quitting. Finishing the job.

Having a BLAST!

I just passed twenty hours of flight time.

"Huh?"

I've been taking flying lessons lately, trying to finally finish this dream of getting my "ticket", or Private Pilot's License.

It's not easy, but wow, it sure is exciting.

Hard work, too!

Feel very... drained when I land. Flying is no easy thing, as you're always busy watching several different parts of the aircraft, dividing your attention, lest you become too focused and start to get into trouble.

Annnnywho, twenty hours of flight time logged... and a whole bunch of landings.

I am excited. Will I get to finish before I start my next big event? Who knows. It's not easy trying to juggle all the demands on what VERY little time I have... but, it's worth the effort.

Alone In a Crowd

As we surf the web, we often come across places which capture our interests. Perhaps it's a particularly interesting MySpace page, or maybe a witty political blog.

Maybe even it's an amusing place with the latest viral video.

And then there are the heartfelt, touching sites. I remember well the comments that would pour into this site as people from all over the world visited.

And sometimes, you feel like you're the people IN the accident on the side of the road that everyone else is slowing down to rubberneck.

Yet, when you share your life on the web, there are unexpected benefits. For one, you know you're not alone. And when you have that shared experience, no matter what you're facing, even the ultimate reality of pending death, you don't feel like you're alone in a crowd, but that the crowd is WITH you.

And so, I heartily recommend taking a moment to slow down, rubberneck (if you will), and read Punk Rock Mommy.

It won't be easy.

I can vouch for that. For me, it's like watching a movie I've already seen.

For me, also, it's a reminder - like the Avon Breast Cancer Walk was - that Ellicia was not the only one.

Far from it.

PRM is facing the same thing... and the results are likely predictable. Yet, the strength and courage she's demonstrating, and her family, are resolute and inspiring.

Stop by.

Look.

Read.

And remember... These things (cancer, death, tragedy, etc.) that always happen to "someone else" --- "someone else" always has a name and a story... and someone has to BE that someone else.

My thoughts are with PMR and her family... I wish the road they're on truly WAS less traveled...

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer - 2009

I have registered to participate in the 2009 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Washington, DC!

This time, I'm setting my fundraising goal for $5,000. I know that with the help of everyone out there, we can easily blow past that goal.

This year's walk was such an inspiring experience, and one I'm not soon to forget... I already look forward to the opportunity to walk in 2009.

The 2009 walk will be significant, to me, as it falls on 02 May - Ellicia's birthdate.

And I look forward to having another picture like this one:



Please visit my Walk website to learn more, and to be able to donate. Thank you!!!!

Guess What I've Been Doing?

I have finally restarted my lessons towards my Private Pilot's License (PPL). I've been wanting to do this for so long, and there have always been things "in the way".

Well, no longer... as I keep being reminded, and remind myself, if you're going to do something... DO IT.

And so, I am. This weekend so far, I've notched 3.4 hours towards the license and have felt amazing joy being back behind the stick.

It's not much, yet, but - it is a beginning.

I've tried both a Symphony 160 and a Diamond DA-20.

I find the Symphony much more to my liking, and will seek to finish my training in it. Hopefully, I will solo before I go to school...

See you in the skies!

Thought at the National Archives

The building was FULL of school groups. No complaints there. I'm actually THRILLED that chaperones would even think of taking children to our national shrine.

What saddens me, however, was that there was no one to put things into perspective for them, to show them what they were looking at. Sadder, many of the children didn't know or recognize what they saw. They knew it might be something important, but which is which, or WHY these documents are enshrined... Nope, not taught.

Sigh.

National Archives - Live

It's heartwarming to see a long line to the National Archives.... Time was, no one cared. Maybe it was "National Treasure" that changed it...

Live! From Washington, DC

Greetings from DC! We're up here as part of reenlistment weekend...

So far, we've enjoyed the luxury of "sleeping in" (anytime past 0500 is sleeping in) and breakfast in bed.

We're heading off to the National Archives (as far as I'm concerned, our National Shrine and a REQUISITE visit in DC) and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. We're going to go see mammoths and dinos for D! Should be lots of fun...

So, more later...

Excitedly Ready to Walk

Here we are... it's TIME.

I'm writing from Washington, DC. It was an amazing rush to check into the Avon Registration center. There were SO many people! To know that each walker had raised at least a minimum of $1,800... the math gets impressive quickly.

I want to thank everyone who helped me get here. We've raised $2,300 in honor of Ellicia!! $2,300 to help fight this disease. $2,300 more to reduce the spread of this horror.

Tomorrow, the walk...

Birthdays Lost...

... But not forgotten.

Today is 02 May. Ellicia would have been 41 today.

It's notable to me now how I've managed to move from this being a Day of Celebration to a Day of Grief... To a Day of Remembrance and Honor.

I think it's no small cosmic coincidence that the closest Avon Walk for Breast Cancer to me is in Washington, D.C. On the weekend of Ellicia's birthday, no less. I register/check-in tonight, on her birthday.

It is a truth of this disease (and so many others) that it's "below the radar" for many until it touches them personally; and then, when it's over, it fades from view again. The hectic routine of "Daily Life" reasserts its firm grasp on our attention span - as it should.

I am honored and humbled by the support that has poured forth for this walk

Cancer Walk for Ellicia

I'd like to announce that I've decided to partake in the Avon - Walk for Breast Cancer.

The walk will be 26.2 miles long, or more recognizable as the length of a marathon. I think that's significant as battling cancer is often best thought in terms of a marathon - it's a long race.

I'll be walking in Washington, DC - where Ellicia found special memories on our last trip. And significantly, it's the weekend of her birthday - she would have been 41.

Avon's foundation requires a commitment to ensure the successful goal of the walkers. Each walker must make a commitment of a minimum of $1800 in contributions.

I am asking for YOUR help. I'd like to blow past that goal, personally. Breast cancer, like so many cancers, is a horrible disease. We need to keep funding the research to DEFEAT this disease - before it claims too many more of our mothers, wives, daughters, sisters... and little known fact, the men in our society, too.

Please, go to my Avon website where you can donate directly.

If that doesn't work, then you can also click the button below, and those donations will go 100% to the walk.

Thank you for your support. It'll be a long, hard walk... but, as Ellicia taught me, anything is possible.

A special thank you to the following blogs for highlighting our cause:

• Tanker Brothers
• Blackfive
• Love, Mom (Notes from the Fridge)
• Here, There, and Back Again
• Most Certainly Not!
• SpouseBUZZ

A Rare Experience!

Langley AFB is hosting its AirPower Over Hampton Roads airshow on 21 and 22 June.

Disappointingly, the Thunderbirds will not be performing due to a scheduling conflict.

So, there will be a stand-in.

A Team that hasn't performed in America in 15 years…

The Royal Air Force Red Arrows are coming to perform.  This will be a rare, and special treat.  I cannot WAIT!!!!

Read more here...

A Nice Big Jump!

A recent $100 donation from Paul H. has pushed us to 87% with only $230 left to go!

Getting Much Closer!

Twelve days until I walk...

Current tally is at 82%!

Only $330 more needed to reach the fund raising goal/minimum before the deadline. We can do it...