I watched the 2003 Step Into Liquid surfing movie today. It’s a very good introduction to the world of big wave surfing. What surfers like Laird John Hamilton manage to do on the water is amazing. Rides on surfboards equiped with hydrofoils are mesmerizing. Another very good movie on the subject is Riding Giants. Hugues, I promise, I’ll try kite surfing one of these days.
Today, following the advice of Antoine and Cyril, a group of friends and I went to visit the Vision for Space Exploration Experience traveling exhibit organized by NASA. The exhibit itself was quite disappointing, and a good interactive DVD on the subject of space exploration would be a better way to spend your time on a Sunday afternoon. Nevertheless, one thing made the short trip to Moffett Field well worth it: being able to touch a real Moon rock that was harvested during one of the Apollo missions. According to this article, the rock might be worth $5M, so I must believe that there are not very many places where you can see one, even less touch it. Many thanks to Antoine and Cyril for taking me there.
I just finished watching La historia official, a 1985 movie from Luis Puenzo. It tells the story of a high school history professor who discovers that her adopted daughter might have been the stolen child of a woman imprisoned, tortured, and killed after the 1976 military takeover in Argentina. Very moving. Once again, I am reminded this fundamental element of truth: la fin ne justifie pas les moyens.
No plane was available today, so we spent some time on the ground going through various IFR scenarios. When flying IFR, the pilot has to deal with a lot more things, a lot faster. As a result, it becomes even more critical for the pilot to develop a very good knowledge of the proper procedure for every emergency situation that could happen while in flight, especially during an approch in actual Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). Also, mastery of the various instruments — first and foremost the GPS — is a must have. Having to fiddle with dials and buttons during an emergency situation is not really a good idea. Time for some Garmin GNS 430 simulator!
Canon just announced the XH A1 high definition camcorder, a prosumer version of the superb XL H1 May and I fist saw in Japan last Winter. The XH A1 is equipped with the Canon 20x HD zoom lens with Professional L Series Fluorite, but contrary to the XL H1, the lens cannot be replaced with another one. Both support tapeless recording with the FireStore FS-4 Portable DTE Recorder.
Yesterday, May attended her final exam for one of the classes she has to take in order to get her Masters of Science in Mathematics from Santa Clara University. Now that she is working full time again, we decided to postpone her next class so that we could rest a little bit. No more evenings spent with textbooks, at least for a couple of months. Bliss…
Sony just released the HDR-SR1 camcorder, the first to record high-definition video directly to a hard disk drive. The built-in 30GB drive can record 4 hours with maximum resolution. Do I need a camcorder? You bet I do! Geek envy…
Time for GPS approaches. We practiced the VOR DME or GPS-A approach to Watsonville Municipal Airport (KWVI), which I had problems with last month because of the DME arc. Things went a lot better today. As usual now, my Primary Flight Display and autopilot failed on the way back to San Carlos (KSQL), and I’m getting used to this routine. Let’s just make sure that I do not become complacent about it. Complacency is bad for a pilot, really bad. We logged three approaches, and 1.6 hours.
Fifteen years ago, my friend Gweltas made me discover some fantastic lieder from Schubert sung by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and played by Gerald Moore at the piano. This superb collection produced by Deutsche Grammophon includes Die schöne Müllerin, Winterreise and Schwanengesang. I got a copy last week and cannot listen to anything else when I’m at home. Pure bliss! Thank you Gweltas. Thank you so much.
Garmin just released the successor to the hugely successful GPSMAP 396, the GPSMAP 496. Among other things, it includes detailed taxiway diagrams and position information for over 650 U.S. airports, detailed listings of over 7,400 U.S. airports, preloaded automotive street mapping for all of North America, enhanced terrain and aviation databases (including private airports), and faster 5Hz GPS updating of map data and “panel page”, giving a smoother, nearly real-time presentation of turn coordinator and HSI. I want one!
Three more VOR approaches today, with landing in Salinas (KSNS) and 1.8 hours logged. On the way back, we simulated a failure of the Primary Flight Display and autopilot. I had to fly the RNAV (GPS) RWY 30 approach into San Carlos (KSQL), which is interesting, to say the least. Very demanding in terms of concentration and coordination. It’s good training though.
Dave, Hugo, Jacques-Alexandre and I went to a Thievery Corporation concert in San Francisco tonight. They performed with a fantastic crew of singers that would switch for every other tune. I was glad to finally put faces behind names, especially for Lu Lu, a French singer featured in The Mirror Conspiracy. Groovy!
If you’re looking for good restaurants in the Bay Area, make sure to check a new blog produced by Tom Cole, venture capitalist and refined gourmet. One of his recent picks is Coupa Café, which is my favorite place for a week-end breakfast in downtown Palo Alto. There, you might want to try the ham and cheese crèpe, which actually is a galette. It’s delicious!
Lately, I have been listening to the original soundtrack for Forrest Gump, the 1994 movie starring Tom Hanks. This collection of 34 American classics is remarkable, especially the second CD, which offers great tunes from the 70s. Nassim, you would love them.
The very best pair of shoes I ever bought was from Camper, and I wore them so much that after two years, they had to be replaced. I got a pair of Urban Basic, and I hope they’ll last as long as the previous one. Comfy!
First IFR stage three lesson today, focused on VOR approaches. Everything goes really fast, and I get overwhelmed by the amount of work required to carry the approach through. More planning will be required next time. We logged 1.4 hours and one approach into Salinas (KSNS). I need some rest now.
I did not fly for three weeks, and it feels like I have forgotten everything I have learned so far. Today, I had the last lesson for the second stage (out of five) in my IFR training. The lesson was dedicated to the holding pattern, a flight path which can be repeated until the aircraft has been granted clearance for landing. We practiced over Half Moon Bay (KHAF), during a 1.9 hours flight. I am now ready for the stage check and will start stage three tomorrow.
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