Sy Liebergot also said those handles on side of monitor are referred as "security handles" for situations when the controller gets worried when things are going wrong. He can grab on to those handles like a scared child holding onto mommy.
I had fortunate opportunity to have Sy for our featured speaker at an Engineers Week banquet in 1996. Sy said Hollywood built a replicate MOCR because need to remove certain consoles for particular camera angles. But this MOCR replica was made so well, it was spooky. Everything was made to detail including ashtrays full of cigarette butts and all those documents in binders and hanging on clipboards behind the controllers were all reprints [or at least as much as they can get] of Apollo 13 flight plan. Speaking of documentation, much of that was thrown out. Some of the controllers saved material and they knew those flights were historic but there's just so much that can be saved. And everything was re-written for the next mission. Liebergot said Skylab was the worst in terms of paperwork, there was tons of it (maybe too much). He also said Skylab was the most demanding, i.e. rotating shifts. It was during this period when that had highest divorce rate for those working in mission control.
Sy was not alone with his EECOM, he had a few guys in backroom with more extensive displays including stripchart recorders. He had no idea what happened when Apollo CSM O2 tank exploded, his first reaction is it was an instrumentation problem because so many systems went overrange like what you would see if PCM data stream gets corrupted. Obviously shortly later they realized an explosion occurred. After his shift he went back to the EECOM support room and saw the stripchart of O2 tank temperature. Trace is level then begins climbing at switch closure of tank stir, trace slopes up until it drops vertically, then rails to top of chart (or bottom, I forgot which but I made a custom coffee mug with this O2 temperature trace and titled, "It's gotta be instrumentation!"
No smoking is allowed in federal buildings these days. Gene Kranz at a AIAA meeting in 1990s said, "us old guys need to smuggle in some 'victory cigars.'"
Another excellent book as recommended by both Liebergot and Kranz is "Apollo: Race to the Moon" by Charles Murray and Catherine Cox. It describes much detail of the program including "mission control" that consists of MOCR, SPAN, and MER. I was most impressed with Mission Evaluation Room headed by Don "Mad Don" Arabian. This room consisted of design development engineers, tables, documentation, blueprints, and telephones for these guys to call respective contractors i.e. North American, Grumman, etc. whenever problems occurred. Liebergot said MOCR deals with realtime, MER deals with fix-its (i.e. "we have funny readings on this instrument." MER says "we'll look into it and get back with you later on."
Don Arabian said of his room, "We don't need any damn fancy consoles or anything!" He also said, "When something goes wrong those guys in MOCR ain't got the foggiest idea what to do." Another quote of NASA HQ in Washington DC, "Hubcaps, useless ornamentation." Liebergot said of Arabian that yes he was mad and wild, a slash-and-burn type of guy. However, if you want someone for a lively speaker who still remembers much of the details of Apollo systems, that is Don. Sy Liebergot says he is able to remember much details because people keep asking him same questions.
The carrier rather than the orbiter is reported to be decommissioned. Next three years will be to remove nuclear reactor and related items, then the vessel will be chopped and sold for scrap. I'd not be surprised if there is a group leading an effort to preserve this first nuclear aircraft carrier. I can see it now, William Shatner hired to promotions for fundraising, "I was the first commander of this ship!" Yeah, I know he's an actor, not a Navy officer (but some of his fans will say, "Of course he did, he's the damned Captain after all!).
Back to On Topic, Enterprise was more than demonstrating approach and landing tests, a ***major*** test for fly-by-wire control system. Particularly on its last flight where vehicle had pilot induced oscillations (PIO) issues. Many internal systems had to be tested such as APU. Plus cooling systems (flash evaporator I think was demonstrated on these flights) as this baby packs a lot of electrical equipment that simply cannot be air-cooled like other things that go flying. It also had similar weight and aero characteristics to validate 747 transport which was extremely important for future orbiters (gotta get them from Palmdale and Edwards to KSC somehow).
Looking back to what it was 25 years ago, much of what it was no longer exists. There's lots of vacant buildings, don't know why they are building more.
When did the U.S. become a nation that hates people who get paid well for doing a job that takes skill and training?
I ask the same, it's like some conspiracy to drive people's salaries to poverty wages and a real shame teachers are taking a huge hit on this. Reality check: A 4-year college degree is a minimum to become a teacher, there's more to it than that. Then once hired as a teacher the pay is low when compared to other degreed professions but higher than minimum wage. Then there is large amounts of work to prepare for the next day, many spend a lot of time at home preparing lesson plans. Some do well but probably in a well-to-do part of town and with a spouse that does make a lot of money so don't have to live a long commute away.
For decades we've been grilled govt-is-bad, govt-is-bad, govt-is-bad... and since schools are government they are equated as bad, and since teachers work at schools and schools are government, then they are bad. It's almost same strategy used by the Taliban. For those of you who still think teachers make a lot of money, I think why that is because all other middleclass jobs and industries have collapsed, only left is you either are wildly successful with millions or you are making minimum wage (much larger number). All of sudden those teachers are "making lotsa money." So therefore they attack the teachers, not those of ruling class that instigated this mess.
Interesting comment you wrote here. Particular mentions, "too late to close the barn door because the horse has been stolen already." and "I ran the rat race in India, and won it. And the prize was US Citizenship."
from what I understand, you have to be online and subscribe to tivo (I've never used it), DVD recording (need to first format then later finalize) will crash if there is noise (and shelf life is much less than magnetic tape), hard drive (yes! but these are hard to get, my fav device is a Panasonic HDD deck that looks like the old school VHS/DVD but it has a harddrive. they stopped selling them). I usually don't followup with my posts but recording video is important to me as there is so much history that can be lost. I'd love to record the first Space Shuttle launch and landing when networks devoted hours of non-commercial interruptions. Lots of interesting stuff, first launch was scrubbed because orbiter and ground computers timing couldn't synchronized (at least that's how the guy explained it showning two square waves). Post landing speeches and John Young said, "This is important for the country, defense, and one day we will be going to the stars, and I'm glad to be part of that." (I read someplace later that 'stars' comment irked JSC people who wanted to emphasis the 'business' of the Shuttle, not science). And later when Gov. Brown awarded both Young and Crippen the Order of California medals. Maybe that footage is someplace, I haven't found it. Going back to Ed Sullivan shows, one has where Jack Webb received a special citation from the Marines for his work on a movie about a Marine drill instructor, "DI."
But whatever noise, dribble or whatever, press the record button and it starts capturing immediately. No need to format, etc. if there is a glitch in the transmission or if power goes out, I still have what was taped.
I'm not an authority on such equipment and usually take SF as simply entertainment value, but after watching BSG remake, I always wondered if such computer systems sold to USA has this kind of code inside.
to preserve artistic performances for future generations. Because the Big Four will never release footage of many performances (either because it isn't worth their while, or they are so scared that pirates will record and distribute for free or below cost). Really, such as VHS tapes made from 16mm film transfers of performances such as Jayne Mansfield playing the violin and another of her playing the piano on the Ed Sullivan show (yes, she really could play those instruments). A few people have copies of this (but they keep low profile to avoid attention from the Music And Film Industries Association), not sure if they ever will post on youtube (probably be taken down anyway). I've looked and see if Sullivan estates has this on DVD, apparently not as only sell Elvis, Beatles, Beach Boys. There are many other artists and music but have faded into obscurity, but probably be rediscovered by a 20-something musician rummaging through sheet music saved by some old timer from the 20th century. They will read the notes, thinking this is a brilliant piece of work and make a change in melody and release it as a "new" hit.
The aircraft was not instrumented to prove it at the time, but later it was conclusively shown that the F-86 would go supersonic in dives.
If it ain't documented, it didn't happen. Sorry but those are the breaks. Sometimes it ain't nice (Watson and Crick vs Franklin). Sometimes it who gets to the printer first (Newton vs Leibniz).
Other times it comes to splitting hairs... Kittinger's 1960 jump was not a freefall (he used a drogue) and Gagarin did not make the first human spaceflight (he didn't land in the spacecraft but parachuted from it). Cmon, stop arguing, Joe made the first skydive above 100K and Yuri was the first spaceman.
Lots of old books. Gruenberg on telemetry, the Radiotron Designers Manual, the ITT Radio Engineers manual, Skolnik on radar, the GE transistor manual and anything that shows actual circuits. You can always get modern books on theory but 1960s to 1990s books will give you circuits you can actually build.
I'm hearing this theme it seems more frequently unless it is just my perception, i.e. older ARRL handbooks on building antennas. Maybe it's a trend since USA stopped manufacturing things in 1990s or stuff made nowadays require a large industrial plant? Perhaps it is because Jim Williams, Bob Pease and others like them have died?
Papers by Paul Moller (none are what I first read of his comments on Avrocar):
Base Drag of a Thick Annular Jet
Paul S. Moller, University of California, Davis, Calif.
Richard L. Ellioit
The Boeing Company, Renton, Wash.
Journal of Aircraft, VOL. 9, NO. 7, July 1972
Griffith, Mike and Paul Moller Rotary Engine Powered Ducted Fan for Aircraft Applications. ESA Paper 90037
AIAA 985533 Airborne Personalized Travel Using "Powered Lift Aircraft"
Paul S. Moller, Moller International
Stanley Vidmar cabinets can be ordered in all shapes, sizes, configurations. First a workbench with nice wooden desk, large drawers on left for bulky tools, small drawers on right for small tools and parts. Then add cabinets for cables, connectors, shrink tube, whatever. These cabinets are not cheap but they will outlast you and your grandchildren. It may take some time to come up with configuration that best meets your needs and wants. Yes I know I'm promoting their stuff but dang, when compared to stuff you buy at OSH or elsewhere.... Now if money is still not an issue for you, then get Snap-On tools, they do make small size for electronics lab, screwdrivers just seem to feel better than other brands (note that Snap-On tools are like TSO aviation parts, if you have to ask the price then you cannot afford it) http://www.stanleyvidmar.com/products/cabinets
But whether you are stinking rich or a simple minimal cost hobbyist, one item that is a ***must*** is a temperature controlled soldering station, i.e. Weller. Don't bother to find one used (you will not find any except from someone that just died at an estate sale). Go ahead and spend the money on a good Weller, think of it as good investment.
>As a teenager, I found it difficult to fit in, since I didn't have TV to insert fashion trends and pop cultural phenomena into my consciousness.
You sound like this guy I met from Ukraine. He said growing up he didn't fit in because he had no interest in drinking and partying, so he worked his way through school with goal of moving away which he now lives in Silicon Valley.
when I was a young child, we had only one tv set. It was in the living room and only received about two stations I think. It was mainly tuned to boring shows, the kind that parents like to watch. So I had to spend my time building things i.e. Erector Sets, which later I began tinkering around with electrical stuff including making the mistake of cutting a lamp cord while it was still plugged in ("bang!"). Grew up to become an engineer.
from his movie "The Day The Earth Stood Still" and it seems to me this was the first big film with a flying saucer and ever since then alien spacecraft were all lampshade design with pulse warble engines (that go "woo woo woo..." sound when traveling through the vacuum of space). OK maybe splitting hairs, Wise was the director so maybe not technically "his movie." Brilliant film, I still enjoy watching it. And to think Robert Wise directed a completely different film about 12 years later, The Sound of Music.
Going back to the USAF flying saucer, I didn't RTFA, reminded me of the Avrocar was designed for VTOL handling and highspeed and high altitude flight. However, designers learned the hard way of aerodynamics (they accidently developed hovercraft technology which is very useful for other vehicle applications). Paul Moller of Moller International and the controversial Moller Skycar he has been working for decades (currently his website http://www.moller.com/ vectors to http://4domfay.mrslove.com/), some years ago he published a paper on fan diameter vs. power. I found this AIAA (I think) in 1980s where he showed mathematical equations describing engine power to liftfan diameter and why the Avrocar was doomed from the start. His equations showed most efficient diameter for vertical flying is helicopter but helicopters require complex control mechanics. Moller's equations also showed Avrocar did not have enough liftfan diameter so no matter how much power they applied, the Avrocar would never get out of ground effect. Disclaimer: I'm regurgitating memories from the 20th century.
I also remember when he had his Skycar mockup on display for an airshow of sorts at Yolo County airport (also of Skydance Skydiving which I was making some jumps same day). I looked closely at the chips of some of the electronics and noticed they were 74xxx series and not milspec 54xxx, I asked Moller why consumer grade. His reply was for the mockup there is no need and reason why his skycar will sell for only $100,000 and not $100 million is Lockheed has only one customer, the government, which has no interest in maintaining costs. However, this was late 1980s, we're still waiting for the skycar.
Don't they realize that all "US" electronics are made in China?
[snip]
The Russians need to get with the program and copy what the Chinese are already doing. They should be spending more money on PACs, and stop wasting effort on smuggling.
Yes, that is what I'm thinking whenever there is "high tech export" which is becoming a bankrupt statement. What the Russians and Americans should learn from Chinese is how to build things. OK so I'm getting factious.
There's enough Star Trek, Star Wars, etc. And no more remake of movies from 20th century. And whatever movie that will be made, increase writer's budget by 500% and cut special effects budget by 80%. Yes, it's a bitch to produce a movie with a compelling story that engages the audience. If CGI is used, remember a good story and nobody will notice the CGI (sounds weird but it's true, like reading a good book you become so drawn into the story you don't notice if fonts sans serif corrupted).
Forgive my ignorance here but don't we already have this? What's wrong with using a volcano?
I'm asking the same question but then someone will not earn a billion dollars if we use a volcano. However, I didn't RTFA nor am I a geologist. I think an interesting drilling is to one of those "cones" way down there to get fresh diamonds. Some years ago I read an article that diamonds formed very deep and are size of watermelons, and after zillion years or so they make their way to the surface but have been broken up into small pieces. Imagine a diamond of watermelon size and probably very heavy.
going OT, someone said reason why so many Part 15 unlicensed devices on 2.4GHz (i.e. wifi, baby monitors) is way back when various services were carving up the spectrum (TV, music, amateur, marine, business, police, military, aeronautical, etc.) but there were certain frequencies FCC designated as ISM (industrial, scientific, and medical) where companies want to use RF for materials process, cook food, or certain medical applications. These are chunks of spectrum that has no modulation and/or callsign ID. So everyone's happy until all these innovators in Silicon Valley come along and develop various wireless systems of all kinds of stuff but spectrum is full. "Whaddaya mean we're late for the party and there ain't no spectrum left?" So they put all there stuff on 2.4GHz.
it doesn't exist. OK so a bad tagline but I've encountered so many devices, systems, etc. with no documentation. Now I can understand if someone throws together a contraption late at night, then have a few hours sleep, next morning they move on to their next gadget. However, I have little tolerance of people bragging of how great their thing is, everyone else's systems are inferior, etc, etc, etc but they have no paperwork. Or else they have tons and tons (but in PDF format to not cut down a huge forest) which basically is same as none existance because you will be dead of old age by the time you get through all that material. If they don't have much documentation then be honest about it. There are a lot of smart people that design and build neat stuff, their strengths are not in well written documents. That's when you bring in applications engineers and tech writers.
"technology companies are running into huge shortages of workers"
I've heard this shortage of workers again and again so much it is a bankrupted statement. I've heard back in 1980s about shortage of engineers, only to have engineers laid off in early 1990s. then again shortage of engineers in 1990s, only to have layoffs in early 2000s.
Perhaps there is a shortage of people with good skill mix of hardware and software skills. But from what I see, this has been discouraged. Going into engineering is fine with most people as long as you transition into management two or three years later, otherwise you are perceived as a loser. If you are not a millionaire by the time you are 30, you are perceived as a loser. Many engineers got interests in taking apart stuff (usually not much luck putting them back together) when they were children. Or the youngster hacking into computers or do phone phreaking (now regarded as terrorist activities). And young people experiment with chemistry kits (you old timers from 20th century remember they use to have these available). Many hands-on shop classes have been eliminated. Plus anything techie that is being built is done outside USA (i.e. iPhone, and I'm not sure if you can hack this thing either). Then having do all this plus considerable time with tech courses to what, getting employed in a diminishing industry? Of course if you are a super star then you will always have it great. But if it is like you either have to be really good or you will be scraping by (no in between i.e. middle class), then most people are going to do something else.
Slashdot Mirror
Sy Liebergot also said those handles on side of monitor are referred as "security handles" for situations when the controller gets worried when things are going wrong. He can grab on to those handles like a scared child holding onto mommy.
I had fortunate opportunity to have Sy for our featured speaker at an Engineers Week banquet in 1996. Sy said Hollywood built a replicate MOCR because need to remove certain consoles for particular camera angles. But this MOCR replica was made so well, it was spooky. Everything was made to detail including ashtrays full of cigarette butts and all those documents in binders and hanging on clipboards behind the controllers were all reprints [or at least as much as they can get] of Apollo 13 flight plan. Speaking of documentation, much of that was thrown out. Some of the controllers saved material and they knew those flights were historic but there's just so much that can be saved. And everything was re-written for the next mission. Liebergot said Skylab was the worst in terms of paperwork, there was tons of it (maybe too much). He also said Skylab was the most demanding, i.e. rotating shifts. It was during this period when that had highest divorce rate for those working in mission control.
Sy was not alone with his EECOM, he had a few guys in backroom with more extensive displays including stripchart recorders. He had no idea what happened when Apollo CSM O2 tank exploded, his first reaction is it was an instrumentation problem because so many systems went overrange like what you would see if PCM data stream gets corrupted. Obviously shortly later they realized an explosion occurred. After his shift he went back to the EECOM support room and saw the stripchart of O2 tank temperature. Trace is level then begins climbing at switch closure of tank stir, trace slopes up until it drops vertically, then rails to top of chart (or bottom, I forgot which but I made a custom coffee mug with this O2 temperature trace and titled, "It's gotta be instrumentation!"
No smoking is allowed in federal buildings these days. Gene Kranz at a AIAA meeting in 1990s said, "us old guys need to smuggle in some 'victory cigars.'"
Another excellent book as recommended by both Liebergot and Kranz is "Apollo: Race to the Moon" by Charles Murray and Catherine Cox. It describes much detail of the program including "mission control" that consists of MOCR, SPAN, and MER. I was most impressed with Mission Evaluation Room headed by Don "Mad Don" Arabian. This room consisted of design development engineers, tables, documentation, blueprints, and telephones for these guys to call respective contractors i.e. North American, Grumman, etc. whenever problems occurred. Liebergot said MOCR deals with realtime, MER deals with fix-its (i.e. "we have funny readings on this instrument." MER says "we'll look into it and get back with you later on." Don Arabian said of his room, "We don't need any damn fancy consoles or anything!" He also said, "When something goes wrong those guys in MOCR ain't got the foggiest idea what to do." Another quote of NASA HQ in Washington DC, "Hubcaps, useless ornamentation." Liebergot said of Arabian that yes he was mad and wild, a slash-and-burn type of guy. However, if you want someone for a lively speaker who still remembers much of the details of Apollo systems, that is Don. Sy Liebergot says he is able to remember much details because people keep asking him same questions.
The carrier rather than the orbiter is reported to be decommissioned. Next three years will be to remove nuclear reactor and related items, then the vessel will be chopped and sold for scrap. I'd not be surprised if there is a group leading an effort to preserve this first nuclear aircraft carrier. I can see it now, William Shatner hired to promotions for fundraising, "I was the first commander of this ship!" Yeah, I know he's an actor, not a Navy officer (but some of his fans will say, "Of course he did, he's the damned Captain after all!).
Back to On Topic, Enterprise was more than demonstrating approach and landing tests, a ***major*** test for fly-by-wire control system. Particularly on its last flight where vehicle had pilot induced oscillations (PIO) issues. Many internal systems had to be tested such as APU. Plus cooling systems (flash evaporator I think was demonstrated on these flights) as this baby packs a lot of electrical equipment that simply cannot be air-cooled like other things that go flying. It also had similar weight and aero characteristics to validate 747 transport which was extremely important for future orbiters (gotta get them from Palmdale and Edwards to KSC somehow).
Looking back to what it was 25 years ago, much of what it was no longer exists. There's lots of vacant buildings, don't know why they are building more.
When did the U.S. become a nation that hates people who get paid well for doing a job that takes skill and training?
I ask the same, it's like some conspiracy to drive people's salaries to poverty wages and a real shame teachers are taking a huge hit on this. Reality check: A 4-year college degree is a minimum to become a teacher, there's more to it than that. Then once hired as a teacher the pay is low when compared to other degreed professions but higher than minimum wage. Then there is large amounts of work to prepare for the next day, many spend a lot of time at home preparing lesson plans. Some do well but probably in a well-to-do part of town and with a spouse that does make a lot of money so don't have to live a long commute away.
For decades we've been grilled govt-is-bad, govt-is-bad, govt-is-bad... and since schools are government they are equated as bad, and since teachers work at schools and schools are government, then they are bad. It's almost same strategy used by the Taliban. For those of you who still think teachers make a lot of money, I think why that is because all other middleclass jobs and industries have collapsed, only left is you either are wildly successful with millions or you are making minimum wage (much larger number). All of sudden those teachers are "making lotsa money." So therefore they attack the teachers, not those of ruling class that instigated this mess.
Interesting comment you wrote here. Particular mentions, "too late to close the barn door because the horse has been stolen already." and "I ran the rat race in India, and won it. And the prize was US Citizenship."
from what I understand, you have to be online and subscribe to tivo (I've never used it), DVD recording (need to first format then later finalize) will crash if there is noise (and shelf life is much less than magnetic tape), hard drive (yes! but these are hard to get, my fav device is a Panasonic HDD deck that looks like the old school VHS/DVD but it has a harddrive. they stopped selling them). I usually don't followup with my posts but recording video is important to me as there is so much history that can be lost. I'd love to record the first Space Shuttle launch and landing when networks devoted hours of non-commercial interruptions. Lots of interesting stuff, first launch was scrubbed because orbiter and ground computers timing couldn't synchronized (at least that's how the guy explained it showning two square waves). Post landing speeches and John Young said, "This is important for the country, defense, and one day we will be going to the stars, and I'm glad to be part of that." (I read someplace later that 'stars' comment irked JSC people who wanted to emphasis the 'business' of the Shuttle, not science). And later when Gov. Brown awarded both Young and Crippen the Order of California medals. Maybe that footage is someplace, I haven't found it. Going back to Ed Sullivan shows, one has where Jack Webb received a special citation from the Marines for his work on a movie about a Marine drill instructor, "DI."
>VCR? Eww, low quality. :(
But whatever noise, dribble or whatever, press the record button and it starts capturing immediately. No need to format, etc. if there is a glitch in the transmission or if power goes out, I still have what was taped.
I'm not an authority on such equipment and usually take SF as simply entertainment value, but after watching BSG remake, I always wondered if such computer systems sold to USA has this kind of code inside.
to preserve artistic performances for future generations. Because the Big Four will never release footage of many performances (either because it isn't worth their while, or they are so scared that pirates will record and distribute for free or below cost). Really, such as VHS tapes made from 16mm film transfers of performances such as Jayne Mansfield playing the violin and another of her playing the piano on the Ed Sullivan show (yes, she really could play those instruments). A few people have copies of this (but they keep low profile to avoid attention from the Music And Film Industries Association), not sure if they ever will post on youtube (probably be taken down anyway). I've looked and see if Sullivan estates has this on DVD, apparently not as only sell Elvis, Beatles, Beach Boys. There are many other artists and music but have faded into obscurity, but probably be rediscovered by a 20-something musician rummaging through sheet music saved by some old timer from the 20th century. They will read the notes, thinking this is a brilliant piece of work and make a change in melody and release it as a "new" hit.
Prior to that, we had the league of women voters hosting the debates and yes, included a number of 3rd party candidates.
and that's when debates were interesting to watch.
The aircraft was not instrumented to prove it at the time, but later it was conclusively shown that the F-86 would go supersonic in dives.
If it ain't documented, it didn't happen. Sorry but those are the breaks. Sometimes it ain't nice (Watson and Crick vs Franklin). Sometimes it who gets to the printer first (Newton vs Leibniz).
Other times it comes to splitting hairs... Kittinger's 1960 jump was not a freefall (he used a drogue) and Gagarin did not make the first human spaceflight (he didn't land in the spacecraft but parachuted from it). Cmon, stop arguing, Joe made the first skydive above 100K and Yuri was the first spaceman.
Lots of old books. Gruenberg on telemetry, the Radiotron Designers Manual, the ITT Radio Engineers manual, Skolnik on radar, the GE transistor manual and anything that shows actual circuits. You can always get modern books on theory but 1960s to 1990s books will give you circuits you can actually build.
I'm hearing this theme it seems more frequently unless it is just my perception, i.e. older ARRL handbooks on building antennas. Maybe it's a trend since USA stopped manufacturing things in 1990s or stuff made nowadays require a large industrial plant? Perhaps it is because Jim Williams, Bob Pease and others like them have died?
Papers by Paul Moller (none are what I first read of his comments on Avrocar):
Base Drag of a Thick Annular Jet
Paul S. Moller, University of California, Davis, Calif.
Richard L. Ellioit
The Boeing Company, Renton, Wash.
Journal of Aircraft, VOL. 9, NO. 7, July 1972
Griffith, Mike and Paul Moller Rotary Engine Powered Ducted Fan for Aircraft Applications. ESA Paper 90037
AIAA 985533 Airborne Personalized Travel Using "Powered Lift Aircraft"
Paul S. Moller, Moller International
Stanley Vidmar cabinets can be ordered in all shapes, sizes, configurations. First a workbench with nice wooden desk, large drawers on left for bulky tools, small drawers on right for small tools and parts. Then add cabinets for cables, connectors, shrink tube, whatever. These cabinets are not cheap but they will outlast you and your grandchildren. It may take some time to come up with configuration that best meets your needs and wants. Yes I know I'm promoting their stuff but dang, when compared to stuff you buy at OSH or elsewhere.... Now if money is still not an issue for you, then get Snap-On tools, they do make small size for electronics lab, screwdrivers just seem to feel better than other brands (note that Snap-On tools are like TSO aviation parts, if you have to ask the price then you cannot afford it)
http://www.stanleyvidmar.com/products/cabinets
But whether you are stinking rich or a simple minimal cost hobbyist, one item that is a ***must*** is a temperature controlled soldering station, i.e. Weller. Don't bother to find one used (you will not find any except from someone that just died at an estate sale). Go ahead and spend the money on a good Weller, think of it as good investment.
>As a teenager, I found it difficult to fit in, since I didn't have TV to insert fashion trends and pop cultural phenomena into my consciousness.
You sound like this guy I met from Ukraine. He said growing up he didn't fit in because he had no interest in drinking and partying, so he worked his way through school with goal of moving away which he now lives in Silicon Valley.
when I was a young child, we had only one tv set. It was in the living room and only received about two stations I think. It was mainly tuned to boring shows, the kind that parents like to watch. So I had to spend my time building things i.e. Erector Sets, which later I began tinkering around with electrical stuff including making the mistake of cutting a lamp cord while it was still plugged in ("bang!"). Grew up to become an engineer.
oh crap, sorry guys. I saw nothing on my system, in fact it simply came up a blank page. I'll better use my brain next time.
from his movie "The Day The Earth Stood Still" and it seems to me this was the first big film with a flying saucer and ever since then alien spacecraft were all lampshade design with pulse warble engines (that go "woo woo woo..." sound when traveling through the vacuum of space). OK maybe splitting hairs, Wise was the director so maybe not technically "his movie." Brilliant film, I still enjoy watching it. And to think Robert Wise directed a completely different film about 12 years later, The Sound of Music.
Going back to the USAF flying saucer, I didn't RTFA, reminded me of the Avrocar was designed for VTOL handling and highspeed and high altitude flight. However, designers learned the hard way of aerodynamics (they accidently developed hovercraft technology which is very useful for other vehicle applications). Paul Moller of Moller International and the controversial Moller Skycar he has been working for decades (currently his website http://www.moller.com/ vectors to http://4domfay.mrslove.com/), some years ago he published a paper on fan diameter vs. power. I found this AIAA (I think) in 1980s where he showed mathematical equations describing engine power to liftfan diameter and why the Avrocar was doomed from the start. His equations showed most efficient diameter for vertical flying is helicopter but helicopters require complex control mechanics. Moller's equations also showed Avrocar did not have enough liftfan diameter so no matter how much power they applied, the Avrocar would never get out of ground effect. Disclaimer: I'm regurgitating memories from the 20th century.
I also remember when he had his Skycar mockup on display for an airshow of sorts at Yolo County airport (also of Skydance Skydiving which I was making some jumps same day). I looked closely at the chips of some of the electronics and noticed they were 74xxx series and not milspec 54xxx, I asked Moller why consumer grade. His reply was for the mockup there is no need and reason why his skycar will sell for only $100,000 and not $100 million is Lockheed has only one customer, the government, which has no interest in maintaining costs. However, this was late 1980s, we're still waiting for the skycar.
not a chance. "Computer people" (not techies) nowadays only know of spectrum above 2.4GHz. 400 MHz is about as unknown as HF.
Don't they realize that all "US" electronics are made in China?
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The Russians need to get with the program and copy what the Chinese are already doing. They should be spending more money on PACs, and stop wasting effort on smuggling.
Yes, that is what I'm thinking whenever there is "high tech export" which is becoming a bankrupt statement. What the Russians and Americans should learn from Chinese is how to build things. OK so I'm getting factious.
Anyway, Happy Sputnik Day everyone.
There's enough Star Trek, Star Wars, etc. And no more remake of movies from 20th century. And whatever movie that will be made, increase writer's budget by 500% and cut special effects budget by 80%. Yes, it's a bitch to produce a movie with a compelling story that engages the audience. If CGI is used, remember a good story and nobody will notice the CGI (sounds weird but it's true, like reading a good book you become so drawn into the story you don't notice if fonts sans serif corrupted).
Forgive my ignorance here but don't we already have this? What's wrong with using a volcano?
I'm asking the same question but then someone will not earn a billion dollars if we use a volcano. However, I didn't RTFA nor am I a geologist. I think an interesting drilling is to one of those "cones" way down there to get fresh diamonds. Some years ago I read an article that diamonds formed very deep and are size of watermelons, and after zillion years or so they make their way to the surface but have been broken up into small pieces. Imagine a diamond of watermelon size and probably very heavy.
going OT, someone said reason why so many Part 15 unlicensed devices on 2.4GHz (i.e. wifi, baby monitors) is way back when various services were carving up the spectrum (TV, music, amateur, marine, business, police, military, aeronautical, etc.) but there were certain frequencies FCC designated as ISM (industrial, scientific, and medical) where companies want to use RF for materials process, cook food, or certain medical applications. These are chunks of spectrum that has no modulation and/or callsign ID. So everyone's happy until all these innovators in Silicon Valley come along and develop various wireless systems of all kinds of stuff but spectrum is full. "Whaddaya mean we're late for the party and there ain't no spectrum left?" So they put all there stuff on 2.4GHz.
it doesn't exist. OK so a bad tagline but I've encountered so many devices, systems, etc. with no documentation. Now I can understand if someone throws together a contraption late at night, then have a few hours sleep, next morning they move on to their next gadget. However, I have little tolerance of people bragging of how great their thing is, everyone else's systems are inferior, etc, etc, etc but they have no paperwork. Or else they have tons and tons (but in PDF format to not cut down a huge forest) which basically is same as none existance because you will be dead of old age by the time you get through all that material. If they don't have much documentation then be honest about it. There are a lot of smart people that design and build neat stuff, their strengths are not in well written documents. That's when you bring in applications engineers and tech writers.
"technology companies are running into huge shortages of workers"
I've heard this shortage of workers again and again so much it is a bankrupted statement. I've heard back in 1980s about shortage of engineers, only to have engineers laid off in early 1990s. then again shortage of engineers in 1990s, only to have layoffs in early 2000s.
Perhaps there is a shortage of people with good skill mix of hardware and software skills. But from what I see, this has been discouraged. Going into engineering is fine with most people as long as you transition into management two or three years later, otherwise you are perceived as a loser. If you are not a millionaire by the time you are 30, you are perceived as a loser. Many engineers got interests in taking apart stuff (usually not much luck putting them back together) when they were children. Or the youngster hacking into computers or do phone phreaking (now regarded as terrorist activities). And young people experiment with chemistry kits (you old timers from 20th century remember they use to have these available). Many hands-on shop classes have been eliminated. Plus anything techie that is being built is done outside USA (i.e. iPhone, and I'm not sure if you can hack this thing either). Then having do all this plus considerable time with tech courses to what, getting employed in a diminishing industry? Of course if you are a super star then you will always have it great. But if it is like you either have to be really good or you will be scraping by (no in between i.e. middle class), then most people are going to do something else.
That's my Gripe Of The Month.