Artificial Intelligence in Aviation

Delve into the diverse applications of artificial intelligence (AI) within the aviation sector, emphasizing its influence on flight operations, safety, air traffic management, pilot training, passenger experiences, environmental sustainability, and the advancement of unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The discussion includes an analysis of AI's specific applications, such as predictive maintenance, real-time diagnostics, flight path optimization, and automated traffic control, underscoring AI's role in revolutionizing numerous facets of aviation by enhancing safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

 Podcast

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The Kids Bought Us A Boat!

The babies, Ernest and Sophie, surprised Beth and I by getting a pontoon boat for us.  Could you imagine the excitement on their little faces when we discovered that we were boat owners and that they, too, would be able to go playing on the water!

The Kids: Sophie & Ernest

 I got home from work and Ernest was acting a bit strange; kind of like he wanted me to take him somewhere in the truck, with a trailer hitch, and the checkbook.  Who was I to question him, so we jumped in the truck and up the road we went.  He had apparently worked it all out with Greg, the fellow whom he was purchasing the boat from.  We met up in Quakertown to transfer the title and registration, which included a trailer as well.  Good negotiating skills Ernest!  We were even able to get a slip at the lake nearby to keep it in during the open seasons (April - October).

SHUGAH

We were so excited to get up to have a look at it. It’s so purty!  We’ve never had a boat before and a couple of months back, when we spent a week over yonder in Kentucky, we had rented a pontoon boat for a couple of days and everyone really enjoyed it.  We didn’t realize it, but Ernest and Sophie must have heard us talking about it and began working on operation “Get Mama A Boat”.  Well, they succeeded for sure!  There is a lot of room on it and we’ve had it out a couple of times already.  Sophie got used to it quickly, while Ernest seems to want to launch off the front of it and fly like Under Dog!  They both have and always wear life jackets so they’ll be safe.  The boat is presently powered by a 20 hp, four-stroke outboard motor.  We have plans of taking it down to The Chesapeake Bay, so we’ll be looking for a bigger motor, atleast 60 hp. 

Captain Beth driving SHUGAH

We’ve added a couple of things to it so far to better equip it for fishing for me. The first addition was a depth finder, as I was a little nervous getting too close to the shoreline and dragging the motor or having a prop strike.  Beth wants to be able to take the babies off the boat to let them stretch their legs when we are out for a few hours.  Next, I found a Garmin Striker 7cv fish finder with clear view (cv) technology and also a depth finder too.  The picture below is so clear, you can distinctly make out tires and trees and fish and structures under water.  Very Cool!

It is worth noting that since Beth has become a boat owner, I’ve hardly been allowed to drive it!  I really do think she like it!    I’ll add a few pics of SHUGAH, which is the boats given name.  Aunt Shoy (Beth’s Sister Joy) suggested SHUGAH for a name and it fits perfectly!  I’ll have to get some of those big letters to put along the back so ‘erbody knows who’s floating by.  Hope you like the pics!

Chillin’ Like A Villan

Beth and The Babies.

Lake Nockamixon Marina 

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Spring Wing 2019

Beth, the babies, and I went down to Campbell Field Airport in Weirwood Virginia for a fun week of powered paragliding, sight seeing, and camping.  What a great time we had!

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Beth got me a Jeep for Christmas! WooHoo...

 More to follow later!

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Spring Wing 2017 (May 17-21, 2017)

SPRING WING 2017 - May 17-21, 2017

Ya'll come and join us for the most exciting and awesome flying opportunities on the Eastern Shore.  Each Spring, we get together for an amazing time.  Bring your campers, tents, book a hotel, or a cardboard box.  Just get here cause you'll have loads of fun.
Plenty of open flying space and a huge field to launch and land from.  No worries about crowding each other or a train-wreck waiting to happen.   The Ocean shoreline is 2 miles to the East and the Bay shoreline is 2 miles to the West.   If water is not your thing, we have 100s of square miles of land flying too.  Just come on down.


Campbell Field (9VG), Weirwood Va

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Returning To Base

Gliding Home

Nuclear John was following me back to base after my silencer came loose at one end and quickly ate my prop tips like there were candy canes.  Sunuva!  We were conversing on Sena intercoms, so when the initial event happened - thankfully, he was able to quickly tell me what was happening before I bailed out.  No, I wasn't actually going to bail out, but my behind did eat my seat rather quickly. 

Van Sant, We Have A Problem

Crowded Airspace

Touch Down Dead Stick

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Had a real fun flight in Germansville.

Low Approach by the LZ #theta360 - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA

 This is just a really short post to see if the 360 degree camera works with the website.  I'll have a few videos later from earlier flights (need to catch up).

Peace!

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Spring Wing 2016 PPG/PPC Fly-In Camp-In May 18-22, 2016

Spring Wing 2016!  May 18-22, 2016

Ya'll get ready for an amazing week of shore flying and airborne site seeing.  Historic Campbell Field Airport sits on the Eastern shore just 2 miles from the Ocean and 2 miles from the Bay.   So many awesome sites await you.

Bring your camper, RV, bus, tent, lawn chair, or perhaps even book a room in the nearby towns.  This event has continued to grow every year and gets better and better.  The week will be full of cookouts, campfires, there-I-was story-telling, a couple of beverages, bean-bag drops, spot landings, and time spent with a bunch of amazing people.  Typically, everyone contributes to the meals but you can certainly do your own if you'd prefer.  It's up to you.

The fee for the fly in:   Zero
Ratings required:  Zero

Note***  There is an airport 10 miles North but historically, they have NOT allowed us to buy fuel.  There is/was ethonol free fuel at a gas station 1/2 mile away from Campbell Field.

Just come and have a wonderful time.

Shane

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Had a great flight and dinner party after flying yesterday at historic Van Sant Airport in Upper Bucks County.  We have a thin overcast, but enough to limit thermal activity and allow smooth(er) early flights.  What a great time.   I also got to try out my Ricoh Theta S 360 degree video camera.  Below, I have embedded a video, hopefully it works  :-)

I'm not sure I had enough light (brightness) to do the video justice, but I'm learning.  :-)

Drop me a line and let me know if you had success in panning around the video.

Thanks,

Shane

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Snow Mobile Noob (360 Video)

Keri, Rob, and I headed out snowmobiling today and it was my first time.  Yep,  a noob.  I managed to stay on the thing 98% of the time, but you can bet I did fall off.  Twice.  The first time, pictured left, was out of self-preservation (I  thought).  I was climbing a cliff and I thought the thing was going to fall back on top of me so I let go and rolled off to the right - with the grace of a moose doing ballet.  I was surprised at how fast these things go. I got mine (actually Amanda's; she let me borrow it without knowing in advance) up to about 65 mph, while Keri and Rob went at least 90.  Every time I started flooring the throttle, I'd hit a bump and spend the next quarter of a mile trying to get my balance back and back on course.  What a blast I had.  Can't wait for the next opportunity.  I've already told Beth that we're getting one, a two-seater.  She's nervous.

Enjoy the vid!  It's a 360 degree video, so you should be able to rotate the screen around for 360 views.  Give it a try!

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Germansville Groove

Rob and I went flying up at his place this evening.  What a great flight we had.  The ride was as smooth as I ever remember it being and we shared the sky with Chinook helicopters, ultralights, powered-parachutes, and of course each others PPGs.  We had a ball!

We plan on flying again next Wednesday and hopefully this next flight will be as memorable.

Hope you enjoy the video!

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Soar The Shore 2015

 We had an amazing time at Campbell Field for Soar the Shore 2015.  The weather gave us plenty of flying opportunities, along with time to site see, shop, eat, and tell tall tales.  It's always a great time at Campbell Field.  Stop by our Facebook Site (Airborne Distress) and join up (FREE) to get info on our next fly-in / camp-in.  Spring Wing 2016 will occur in May of next year.  Details to follow.   

Scroll down to watch the video from this week.  Hope you enjoy it and see you soon.

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Kentmorr Airpark - Crab Cake HQ

Beth & I flew down to Kentmorr Airpark for lunch today.  Kentmorr is located just South of Bay Bridge Airport and across the bay from Annapolis.  Their is a marina (I call it a Yacht Club cuz it sounds mo better) and restaurant a quarter mile down from the runway that truly serves some of the best crab cakes we've ever eaten.  I do suggest going there.  You can drive there too although it appears to be an island as there is a bridge that leads to it.  Here is the menu: http://www.kentmorr.com/menu/.  

Hope you enjoy the video; it has a new perspective this flight.  Plus, I lost a dollar on a bet.

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Cherry Ridge Breakfast Buffet

Beth and I flew up to Cherry Ridge (N30) for their famous breakfast buffet. Very Delicious Indeed! We had a great flight, both VFR and an enroute IFR pickup to get through the weather. Super smooth ride both ways and awesome sites!
Cherry Ridge offers a very scenic view from inside their country restaurant, along with opportunities for helicopter rides and biplanes rides.  Its a really nice country airport.  Don't fly up there in the winter though without checking first; I overflew it last year and it was 12 inches under snow!  Yikes

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Blairstown For Breakfast

Beth and I flew to Blairstown for Breakfast on Sunday Morning.  The cafe there is DELISH!  I was also using an NFlight GoPro Prop Filter and audio patch cable.  Worked Great!

Blairstown is a little sport airport with lots of Glider activity!  LOTS OF GLIDER activity.  If you watch to have an enjoyable time, fly in for breakfast or lunch to watch them.  Listen close on the radio as there will be gliders everywhere as quickly as the thermals start.    The food here, as I said, is outstanding!

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Massey Field Fly-In, June 2015

We got together for an impromptu camp-in / fly-in and had a great time!  Massey Field is always a great time!
It's located just down the road in Maryland and has an old DC3 and P51 on site.  Beautiful flying area and tons of fun.  Great folks here and not only are they great pilots, but great chefs too.

Delish Food!

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Airborne Over Van Sant

Had a nice get together at Van Sant tonight, May 9, 2015. We had 7-8 wings in the air and a nice sized audience on the ground. Plus, we brought our spouses and coolers and had a fun time afterwards too. 

Really looking forward to the next outing with this gang.  Great People!

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By Dawns Early Light

First time back PPG flying since I injured my arm. All went amazingly smooth and I enjoyed an hour long silky smooth flight Sunday Morning. John came out and flew with me and we met Emiel from New York who was kiting and soon to be flying with us.

If ya'll have ever thought about PPG flying, you should try it.  It's amazingly fun and safe!

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Pine Tree Drone War - Drone Lost

Still learning to fly my Drone. Less crashes and I'm getting better with spot videos. I'll be using this when paragliding next month.  The camera views that this thing puts out is awesome!  I'm trying to get smooth with the transition from horizontal flight to vertical flight whilst adjusting the camera angle to stay on the same subject.  So far, I either crash into the subject (me), go flying past the subject and nearly hitting the house, or rocketing to a climb and missing everything - including the shot!  

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OtisDrone - First Flight

After 4 months of my DJI Phantom 2 Drone sitting in the closet, I finally decided to take it ouit for a test spin.  I'll be using it for my paragliding videos in the Spring so I figured I should learn how to fly it.

Ernest almost got a hold of it but just missed biting the skids.  Thank goodness he missed because there are 4 carbon fiber blades spinning ridiculously fast. I have a lot to learn flying these drones but it's really cool and provides great camera footage.

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