While defence programs come on the chopping block the MQ8 Fire Scout continues to demonstrate its effectiveness as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. Follow this link for more on the subject:
The Defense Advanced ResearchProjects Agency (DARPA) is developing a seaborne strategic and tactical aircraft. Is this project feasible or another government boondoggle? Follow this link for an interesting video: Liberty Lifter
In a move that’s bound to tank some flying jobs, the Marine Corps is going “gung-ho” for drones.
For those old enough to remember, July 20, 1969 marked a tremendous achievement not just for America, but also for the entire world.
On July 16th the Apollo 11 rocket—with astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins on board—blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. On July 20th their capsule circled the Moon as Armstrong and Aldrin deployed to the lunar surface aboard a separate craft, while Collins remained in orbit aboard the “mother ship.” After spending over twenty hours on the Moon, the pair rendezvoused with Collins and began their flight back to earth. They splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24th.
Scores of books, films, and first-hand accounts have documented Apollo 11 and the five other manned lunar missions that followed. Ironically, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, doubters and conspiracy buffs have concocted wild tales that the entire project was staged by the government in a movie studio and never really happened! Go figure…
Where was I on July 20, 1969? I was a 17 year-old Plebe Midshipman, three weeks into summer training at the Naval Academy. While our company crowded around a tiny black-and-white TV set in the Academy’s bowling alley, we watched Neil Armstrong step onto the Moon’s surface and declare, “That’s one small step for man. One giant leap for mankind.”
Will there be a time when pilots are no longer needed? The notion may sound farfetched, but think about it for a moment.
Remotely controlled aircraft have been with us for many years, and as one might expect, the military has led the way. The Air Force’s MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper have proven their worth as lethal weapons platforms in the Middle East and Afghanistan. Likewise, the Navy now deploys its own autonomous vehicles—the MQ-8 Fire Scout helicopter and the MQ-4C Triton fixed-wing drone. Most recently, there’s news that the Army has shown interest in using a dual-rotor drone, the DP-14, for casualty evacuation. There’ve been some failures (note the MQ-4C crash in September 2018), but overall, these pilot-free machines continue to show amazing capabilities.
On the civilian side, I predict that we’ll see pilotless cargo jets flying within a decade—first on oceanic routes, and then domestically as well. As for fully autonomous passenger planes…maybe that’s a stretch. I can’t help thinking, however, that more than a few airline executives have mulled over the cost savings of eliminating pilots.
Looking for a nice daytrip while in San Diego? Take the scenic 45-minute drive to the “Classic Rotors” aviation museum in Ramona. You won’t be disappointed.
Located on Montecito Road on the north side of Ramona Airport, you’ll find a huge collection of fascinating military and civilian rotary aircraft. Admission is free, but after viewing the museum’s impressive collection you will probably want to make a donation.
Visit their website at www.rotors.org. Be sure to note days and hours when the museum is open to the public.
On a personal note: While in Ramona check out the “Marinade on Main” restaurant. Connie and I have eaten there several times and have always enjoyed the food.
The U.S. Navy trained me to fly both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. Had I not been granted the privilege of attending the Naval Academy and subsequently become an aviator, I would have likely been an education major in college, taught social studies and coached high school football. Teaching and coaching are certainly noble professions, yet my life would have been totally different had I not been a naval officer and professional pilot.
Over the years some folks have asked me what type aircraft is the hardest to fly: fixed-wing or rotary? I always qualify my answer by establishing that I’ve never flown in combat, and never had the opportunity to land a plane aboard ship—though I’ve accomplished that task scores of times in a helicopter. As for what aviators call the “stick and rudder” skills needed to operate a flying machine, I’d have to say that piloting a helicopter is more of a challenge, and definitely harder to master as a novice pilot. Unlike fixed-wing, helicopters are inherently unstable, and manually hovering a helicopter is comparable to balancing one’s self on a bowling ball while juggling. With that in mind, landing a helo on the rolling, pitching deck of a small ship during a storm at night is guaranteed to raise any pilot’s heart rate!
But flying an airplane presents its own unique set of demands, particularly when operating in high altitude, transoceanic, or all-weather environments. Pre-flight planning becomes more critical when considering jet stream winds, forecast turbulence, icing and thunderstorms. Normally, a helicopter crew can plan their mission to avoid such factors.
In conclusion, I’ll say that both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft have undergone huge technical advancements since the era when I learned to fly. Computers, digital instrumentation, and more reliable turbine engines have made aviation a much safer endeavor. As I observe the newest aircraft being developed, I’m envious of the young men and women who will fly them.
Blue skies!
It’s been said that good fiction should be believable, otherwise the story will come across as just fantasy.
With the above in mind, I’ve sometimes found it challenging to script characters and scenes that are convincing, yet not overly influenced by actual persons or events. It’s a different matter when referring to historical persons or happenings by name. Most readers easily understand that these are real people and occurrences, and not the author’s imagination. Provided the references are accurate, these “doses” of non-fiction can add depth and granularity to a story. James Michener mastered this style of writing by injecting historical facts and mentioning actual persons in his books. Good examples of Michener’s technique can be found in novels like Texas and Centennial.
But fiction has the potential of rubbing against the truth, and that may provoke unintended reactions or even offend. I discovered this with my first novel, A Golden Weekend, which like many authors’ initial efforts, was somewhat autobiographical. More than a few folks confronted me and said in effect, “You can’t fool me; I know who so-and-so actually is in the story!” I received similar feedback with Rotorboys—an action adventure based loosely on my experiences flying helicopters in the Western Pacific. Some Navy friends were sure that I’d formed characters in the image of familiar people, and modeled scenes on real events.
So how can an author write believable fiction without crossing the line, or worse yet, offending someone? My only guidance is to tread lightly when reflecting on real people or actual events while developing a story. In the end though, perception is reality for some readers and you can’t please everyone. Just saying…
Naval Helicopter Association magazine recently reviewed my novel.
Over the past two months nearly two hundred readers have purchased a paperback copy of "Verbal Orders" or downloaded the Kindle version; my sincere thanks to all. If you can spare a few moments, I'd appreciate hearing your comments in the form of an Amazon review. Thanks again and happy holidays! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076B8JSX5/
Still in the testing stage, but just a matter of time until they're put into use. Also on the threshold of practicality are pilotless cargo jets!
https://www.theengineer.co.uk/dubai-begins-autonomous-air-taxi-trials/
Just follow this link for a free download of Verbal Orders. Offer expires midnight Nov. 11th.
I will be offering a free Kindle download of Verbal Orders for three days, Nov. 9-11. No strings attached. Just go to: www.amazon.com/dp/B076B8JSX5/
Pleased to announce that my latest novel, "Verbal Orders," is scheduled for release this fall. Written as a sequel to "Rotorboys," it's the story of two former Navy pilots as they track down an American oil heiress held captive in the Muslim dominated southern Philippines. Plenty of aviation action and other assorted thrills!
Read MorePhilippine President Rodrigo Duterte recently invoked martial law in an effort to stem the threat of Islamic militancy on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. While the world turns its attention toward atrocities committed by ISIS in the Middle East and Europe, the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf (meaning "bearer of the sword") has conducted a string of kidnappings and beheadings in the Marawi region of Mindanao.
Duterte's warning that he may declare martial law throughout the entire country harkens back to the 70s and 80s when then-President Ferdinand Marcos instituted a nation-wide form of martial law in response to the violence led by an armed wing of the Philippine Communist Party, the New Peoples Army.
"Those who fail to learn from history are domed to repeat it."
Final flight...
After 31 years, over 20,000 flight hours and thousands of hotel rooms, time to quit. Final flight at Delta was on July 25th - Seattle/Tacoma to Detroit - with my favorite copilot on board.
Read MoreWow, what a place! Two giant hangars house this massive display of aircraft. In my opinion equally enjoyable as the Center's older cousin, the Air and Space Museum in nearby D.C. Personal favorites: the diverse rotary wing display; Enola Gay (B-29 bomber); Space Shuttle; restored WWII German aircraft. Click the below link for more on the UHC:
Marine CH-46. Nice machine but I prefer it in navy haze grey
Occasionally, some folks will ask me serious questions about writing: topics such as how to develop characters; storyline arcs; plots and subplots, etc. My answer is always the same: I’m the wrong guy to ask, find someone more knowledgeable! During the ten years that I’ve been trying to write believable fiction, the most important lesson I’ve learned is how little I really know about the subject. The late, great Elmore Leonard once opined that it wasn’t until he’d penned about one million words that he felt he’d found his voice as a writer. My two novels (A Golden Weekend and Rotorboys) total barely one hundred fifty thousand words, so by Mr. Leonard’s standards I’ve just scratched the surface.
Nonetheless, here are my own top three rules when attempting to communicate via the written word:
1. Write about what you know. Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, if your topic is something you understand and are passionate about, the words will probably flow much easier.
Closing thought: Some of my friends choose a designated spot and time of day to do their writing. As an airline pilot, I’ve never had a predictable schedule or set location that I could count on, so I’ve squeezed my writing in whenever/wherever possible. My two novels – and their respective sequels - have been composed at all hours and at locations strung out between Paris and Tokyo. Bottom line is to find a routine that works best for you.
In the coming months I plan to share more thoughts on writing, and also to post excerpts from my next novel, Verbal Orders.
Hillsdale College, in Hillsdale, Michigan, offers many outstanding free (yes, I love that word) online courses. Considering that it's a presidential election year, you might want to check out their latest offering, "Public Policy from a Constitutional View Point." I've found it to be a breath of fresh air in our current world of political blather.
Site of Larry Carello, author of military fiction, including blog and biography.
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