Sunday, August 31, 2008
Virtual Aviation Week in Review August 24 - 30
Now on to the most recent SL Aviation links....
This weekends scheduled EDF and RCAF Air Combat on Saturday 30 August at 9:00 AM SL time, then another dogfight on Sun 31 August at 9 AM SL time. Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia
The Late Show with Angelico Babii - Interviews include RL pilot and SL builder Bancos Milestone....
Terra Aeronautics - Virtual vehicles for the metaverse: "Server update breaks skydiving pods"
The Piper J-3 Cub in Second Life®
Aviation photo of the week
Extropia Defense Force on flickr
Royal Caledon Air Force on flickr
Next weekends scheduled EDF and RCAF Air Combat on Saturday the 6th of September at 9:00 AM SL time, followed by another dogfight on Sunday the 7th of September at 9 AM SL time. Location: Skies of Tomorrow in Extropia
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Dogfight in a Battlestar Galactica game mod
Also this from hikaricore
BSG Arcade Game for PC
It's a fun little diversion when Second Life or my Internet connectivity is down ;)
Here's another look from AdiJager....
Friday, August 29, 2008
The Late Show with Angelico Babii - including an interview with RL pilot and SL aircraft builder Bancos Milestone
Guests Chrome Underwood, Bancos Milestone and Slim Warrior.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Girls with Guns - 28 August 2008
Virtual Girls with Guns on Ning.com
Virtual world women in Second Life®, their friends, loved ones and vast arsenals.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
RCAF Air Combat for Weekend of August 30th and 31st
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
The Piper J-3 Cub in Second Life®
From the Wiki: "The Piper J-3 Cub is a small, simple, light aircraft that was built between 1937 and 1947 by Piper Aircraft. With tandem (fore and aft) seating, it was intended for flight training but became one of the most popular and best-known light aircraft of all time. The Cub's simplicity, affordability and popularity invokes comparisons to the Ford Model T automobile. Its standard yellow paint has come to be known as “Cub Yellow” or "Lock Haven Yellow...."
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Virtual Aviation Week in Review August 17 - 23
I've gathered a few links to aviation related blog posts, videos, and photographs from the past week August 17 - 23, 2008. This is a new blog post series, so some links may fall outside my stated calendar week.
Scheduled EDF and RCAF Air Combat on Saturday 23 August at 9:00 AM SL time, with another dogfight on Sun 24 August at 9 AM SL time.
Josh Noonan released his SL version of the Sukhoi SU-26 and SU-29 on August 22nd.
Annabelle Fanshaw's experience at Balsa Airport and Aviation Community in Aveousa.
My video of Josh Noonan's Lockheed Electra 10E
In-cockpit video of the EDF-RCAF Air Combat on August 16th.
For vehicle builders there's "How to Texture in SL Like a Pro: Part 1"
From Hamlet Au's New World Notes blog: *Galactica* Roleplaying In Second Life With Physics-Enabled Dogfights And Planetary Combat.
Extropia Defense Force flickr group
Royal Caledon Air Force flickr group
SL Aviation photograph of the week from Eladrienne Laval.
If you have SL aviation links for next weeks Virtual Aviation Week in Review, please let me know via email [zoeconnolly (at) gmail (dot) com. Clear skies all!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Montgomery Scott In The 24th Century
Virtual Aviation Week in Review
Aviation links may be blog posts, photographs, videos, etc....Just about anything related to SL Aviation.
Clear skies all!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Pilot Magazine - Women In Aviation
By Gates L. Scott
".... As a commercial helicopter pilot, I get my fair share of hangar flying. I meet some interesting characters who eagerly take time away from whatever they are doing to tell me about the hours they have logged in their Otter or the intricacies of their engine overhaul. I mean, I thought that women liked to talk incessantly, but these men have the gift of gab on the tarmac. Not until I became a pilot myself, did I understand that men are from Mars and women are still grounded on this very Earth.
Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to interview and visit with a number of female aviators who, quite honestly, I was glad to chat with for an hour. After speaking with this group of women, who range from a student pilot to an F-16 pilot and Major in the Air Force, I must say that they are nothing of a minority. They are the elite. They love what they do. They are passionate, and I absolutely respect the careers that each has developed in a challenging industry. They are, simply put, the cream of the crop in our small aviation world. Now, the more time I spend with fellow male pilots talking turbo-chargers and crosswind landings, the less interested in their stories I become.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, of the almost 700,000 active pilots in the United States, less than 6 percent are women. Slightly more than 2 percent are ATP rated. Furthermore, women account for only 2.13 percent of the more than 540,000 non-pilot aviation jobs in the country. There is no denying, by these numbers, that we work in a male-dominated industry.
However, since Harriet Quimby became the first female to earn her private license in 1911, women have had a significant impact on the history and development of aviation. Dating back to 1910, when Blanche Scott commandeered a plane that unexpectedly took flight while taxiing, women have cemented their participation in the discipline. In November 1929, at Curtis Field on Long Island, 117 American female pilots gathered to mutually support advancement in aviation. During that gathering, the 99’s were born. Today, with more than 5,500 female members from 35-plus countries, the 99’s are one of the most influential organizations of licensed pilots. Due to their efforts, and other organizations like Aviation for Women, even the U.S. Air Force now boasts that 20 percent of its pilots and staff are women...."
Pilot Magazine - Women In AviationThursday, August 21, 2008
Tumansky Heavy Industries Blog: How to Texture in SL Like a Pro: Part 1
Tumansky Heavy Industries Blog: How to Texture in SL Like a Pro: Part 1
Karl wrote: "Well in truth you can't, because professional 3D tools allow you to edit UV maps, and assign texture coordinates to individual frames.. However that issue aside, you can come to a professional level if you approach your link sets as a single object, and the maps in a consistent layers based method. First build the object as you see fit.
This is an example of a 3 view plan. This one was found on the web, not only is it useful for building, but it's also useful for placing details on the textures after you build the object in prims.
I would suggest highly that you build to a plan, Even if it's a fictional draw the front side and top views of the item to keep control of the project. There are plenty of sites that have quality blueprints of cars, tanks, aircraft, and buildings that you could use for your project. But sometimes it's fun to roll your own. Just make sure the design is solid and consistent between the front side and top views, or you will go crazy. once the prims are arraigned.
Collecting reference is necessary for a successful historical replica. (This is "Blue Peter" , from the battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the "model for this project.) For a fictional or fantasy project, making or collecting a lot of concept art serves the same function.
If you are building a historical object its very important to find as much reference as you can and duplicate the look from the reference without copying it exactly. Exact coying is considered plagiarism, and is frowned on, as well as being a reason for having the item deleted and your SL account locked. The quality Aircraft makers on SL make their own textures...."
Click the link to view the entire post....
Tumansky Heavy Industries Blog: How to Texture in SL Like a Pro: Part 1
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
BSG47 - VICE Combat Training
This video was created from an IN-CHARACTER standpoint to rationalize and explain the changes, and teach old and new pilots alike how to adjust...."
Thanks to Hamlet Au for the tip on this video.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The Classic "Powers of Ten"
Powers of Ten - Wikipedia
Charles and Ray Eames - Wikipedia
Powers of Ten
Powers Of Ten - "Galaxy Song" (a mashup of "Powers of Ten" and Monty Python)
EDF-RCAF Air Combat on August 16th
This gives you an idea of what it's like to fly and fight in Second Life....
Monday, August 18, 2008
Amelia Earhart's airplane in Second Life® (Part 2 with Video)
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Since I'm in a Space 1999 mood today....
aylmer666 wrote: "Joke open for a Local News station in Fairbanks, Alaska, which unfortunately never aired. I felt Local news needed a sense of humor, but what do I know?...."
Space:1899
Produced by us (Ill-Conceived Productions) for a Space:1999 convention in 2000, and later included as a bonus feature on the excellent DVD "Space:1999 and UFO - The Documentaries" by Fanderson, the official Gerry Anderson Appreciation Society...."
Bonus Video from hinesriley who wrote: "A LightWave 3D Rendering of Eagle One lifting off of Moonbase Alpha. I created Alpha Moonbase (Still under construction) from scratch. Eagle Model courtesy of James Murphy."
Saturday, August 16, 2008
VNV Nation - Illusion
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Amelia Earhart's airplane in Second Life
Luckily for those of us in SL, our air disasters are not nearly as serious as Amelia's 1937 World Flight disappearance. We'll always be able to relog and re-rez another Electra.
For decades, controversy rages over whether Amelia was as good a pilot as the media portrayed her to be. One thing is certain. She was one of many women who opened the door to aviation for women in her time and in years to come. She has inspired men and women of all ages, and may also be history's favorite missing persons case.
Official Amelia Earhart Web site
Bancos Milestone's de Havilland Mosquito
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
New Aviation Sims in Second Life®
If you're familiar with Bancos Milestone's aircraft, you've probably visited BALSA at http://slurl.com/secondlife/BALSA%20INC%20AVEOUSA/177/160/29
For a long time it was one sim and and not the greatest location for long term flying.
That's all changed! BALSA INC AVEOUSA has partnered with developer Cindy Bolero. The area is now 7 sims worth of aviation-friendly heaven including BALSA INC AVEOUSA, Kittyhawk, Road Trip, Dangerous Curves, Hang Ten, Miranda Meadows, and Horses. I flew over the area last night and it *was* a little rough and laggy in spots. But I'm sure this will change as all the bugs are worked out.
Also....the plan is to expand in phases. This being phase one.
I'm a happy aviatrix today ;)
Where do you Rez?
Monday, August 11, 2008
EDF/RCAF Dogfight photographs from Saturday 09 August
Note the WW2 Aircraft in flames
Now take a look at Cornelius Fanshaw's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang flying car
He was shotdown the least within our group of dogfighters
I managed to stay in the air longer than usual, concentrating on defensive maneuvers rather than attacks, when Cornelius flying his "Fine Four-Fendered Friend" took several shots at me and down I went, almost landing on Vidal Tripsa. Conveniently, I was 2 meters from the Tiki-Bar and decided to stay.
Girls with Guns 10 August 2008
Test Shot with Gun Pose
Sunday, August 10, 2008
The EDF & RCAF on August the 9th '08
I filmed this starting from take-off, some cockpit footage that kept rolling until I was shot down, then some ground footage as I sought refuge on the island resort of Blood & Thunder, at Sen'Jin."
Friday, August 8, 2008
Air Combat this Saturday the 9th and Sunday the 10th
We'll meet at Skies of Tomorrow 9:00 AM SL Time. I'll lead on Saturday, ACM Sin Trenton leads us on Sunday.
Sin and I have discussed new rules for our organized dogfights. These rules are approved by Marshal Zoe Connolly.
Dogfights will be restricted to airplane flight only (no hovering craft) with a TCS max of 10HP. If the Ju-87 has 15, that is acceptable. Read more and feel free to comment at the RCAF Ning page: http://rcafhq.ning.com/
For those who love to hover...
Worry-not pilots! Your dogfights are the following weekend of Saturday the 16th and Sunday the 17th. More details on the RCAF Ning and group notices next week.
~ Phineas Messmer, Air Chief Marshal RCAF and Commander EDF
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
A Tribute to "The Prisoner" 1967-1968
And the original...
THE PRISONER Original Uncut Opening Sequence
(1967-68)
The Prisoner (Free Man Mix) Feat MC Number 6 Power Themes
The Prisoner Remix
The Prisoner documentary part 1
The Prisoner documentary part 2
The Prisoner documentary part 3
The Prisoner documentary part 4
The Prisoner documentary part 5
THE PRISONER, PATRICK MCGOOHAN SPEAKS Part one.
THE PRISONER, PATRICK MCGOOHAN SPEAKS Part two.
THE PRISONER, Opening intro.
THE PRISONER, Well-come the start.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Dogfight Furball
"...In 1983, a U.S. Air Force English dictionary defined fur ball as "a confused dogfight full of swarming airplanes." The expression combines the fighting-animal image of flying fur with the eventful, sometimes charitable, occasionally frenetic, nature of a ball..."
- William Safire of the New York Times
With Z on vacation (with Michael Moore and Madonna) and the weekend looming with 14 hours of RL telecommuting work from home I decided to setup a Saturday Air Battle for pilots from the Extropia Defense Force and the Royal Caledon Air Force.
And since I couldn't put much thought into it I took the lazy man's way out and just said, "Yeah yeah fly whatever you want and shoot everyone." No teams or themes. Ugh, I really need to get going and organize that EDF/RCAF Air Combat Tournament.
I have a few more photos I'll post as soon as possible.
Below is a snapshot of your intrepid pipe-smoking reporter, faithfully taking photographs of the battle swarm from a safe distance.
-- Phineas Messmer, ACM RCAF, Commander EDF, and lousy photographer
Friday, August 1, 2008
Dogfights in Extropia
We'll have air combat for approximately 45 minutes.
Our theme is : "Fly Your Favorite"
As always, one-on-one dogfights are welcome in Extropia and select void-sim duchies in Caledon.
-- Phineas Messmer (filling-in for the vacationing Zoe Connolly)