Getting Warmer

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

Mark hovers his helicopter just above the sand.

Mark hovers his helicopter just above the sand.


Mark Indiveri writes:

If you like the beach AND you like to fly helis, I highly recommend a combination of the two. This was a really great flying day, my best so far. Flyin’ ’er over the ocean is a total rush. Plenty of spectators. Some even got fly-overs (against AMA regs!). Watch out for loose dogs! Check out my nose-in hover (last pic).

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Snow Melts Back East

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

Norman’s helicopters pose on a checkered tablecloth.

Norman’s helicopters pose on a checkered tablecloth.


It’s raining today so I’m cowering indoors, but Norman McKinstry, our East Coast Correspondent, checked in recently to remind me that we’re sissies when we complain about California weather.

Regular readers will remember Norman, an inveterate flyer who who recently celebrated his 85th birthday in Amherst, New Hampshire.

Here’s his breezy email:

Hello friend. Today is first time this year: NO SNOW ON GROUND around here. Been a rough, long, cold, snowy one! I bought 3 indoor helicopters as outdoor flying was impossible.

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You Don’t Need a Weatherman…

Thursday, April 2nd, 2009

An iPhone application turns the phone into a wind meter.

An iPhone application turns the phone into a wind meter.


A few weeks ago, I got an email from Rob Diller, who asked, “I was wondering if you have heard of model plane enthusiasts using that Wind Meter Application that iTunes is selling for the iPhone?”

“How could the iPhone detect wind speed?” I wondered, and set off to the iTunes Store to find out more.

In a few moments, I found Wind Meter, a 99-cent application that uses the iPhone microphone to estimate wind speed.

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Flying in the Rain

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

Minsiu gets his yellow Slow Stick ready for a wet flight.

Minsiu gets his yellow Slow Stick ready for a wet flight.


This morning, I pulled up to Baylands just as the rain got serious.

The gathering clouds blotted out the sun and started spitting as I exited Highway 101 at Lawrence Expressway.

Driving the half mile to the park, I advanced the windshield wiper setting from intermittent to a slow steady pace.

When I arrived, Dave North was sitting in his black Honda Civic del Sol, waiting for the showers to clear.

He joined me in the front seat of my Prius and we watched as water splatted amoeba patterns on the windshield.

Amazingly, someone was flying a Stryker on the Great Meadow, ignoring the rain.

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Slishity Slosh

Monday, March 2nd, 2009
A view through my windshield wipers.

A view through my windshield wipers.

I opened my eyes
And looked up at the rain,
And it dripped in my head
And flowed into my brain,
And all that I hear as I lie in my bed
Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head.

I step very softly,
I walk very slow,
I can’t do a handstand—
I might overflow,
So pardon the wild crazy thing I just said—
I’m just not the same since there’s rain in my head.
— Shel Silverstein