Queen of the Skies

The last time I was on a 747, I had this view:


Yay for the local aerospace firm!


Atlantic sunset.


Heathrow.


Frankfurt. These planes are very relevant.


A rare clear day over the UK.




The desserts are always the best.


The elusive Grimsley Island


Greenland's coast.


Greenland.










The Arctic.


Canadian Arctic Islands.






Canadian Rockies.


Above Seattle.

Sit down and shut up!

I'm on flights BA 48/49. As I have previous mentioned, one thing I miss when travelling for business is talking to folks around me. Business/Corporate-type folks never want to do this (unless they're pilots). The Freds usually just raise their privacy screen and go about their business, whatever that may be...


Whatever that may be, usually includes:
- Sitting there quietly.
- Sipping on a drink.
- Reading (acceptable excuse).
- Working (acceptable excuse).
- Sleeping (AKA: Setting themselves up for major jet lag).
- Fiddling with their seat.
- I can't tell because the privacy screen is up...

We all know this is to make themselves look busy, so for this trip, I made a goal to engage the person next to me in conversation, regardless of how awkward it becomes.


Things I hope to figure out:
- Hometown?
- Job?
- Relationship status?
- Kids?
- Dogs or cats?
- Why did you choose meal X over meal Y?
- Favorite in-flight movie?
- Their thoughts of the impact of having Greece leave the Euro-Zone?
- Président Hollande?! Sacrebleu!!!
- What fancy hat they were going to buy in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee???
- Folder or scruncher?


Results of Flight 48:
FAIL.


Results of Flight 49:
I complimented my neighbor's Filson Computer Bag during boarding. Things ended shortly afterward.


Lessons Learned:
Obviously I'm not trying hard enough.


Action Plan:
I get another chance in a month. Time to bring out all the icebreakers I learned as a RA. It'll be fun for everyone!
- Two truths and a lie.
- Let's go around the cabin and say our names, where we're from, and what our favorite food is. As we progress, you must repeat every previous passenger's info!
^These are the only ones I remember... Feel free to suggest more...

Discovering Discovery Park!

I ventured out to Discovery Park for a photoshoot. We kept our eyes open for potential hawk sightings.


The lovely Liz, in a lovely dress.


once upon a time...

Ramblings of an Engineer

NASA just posted this photo:

:-(

The shuttles were officially decomissioned, and NASA began shipping them to museums today... Just two years ago, I was at the cape, watching STS-130 illuminate the sky


Later that year, I visited the Udvar-Hazy Canter


Where OV-101 was still on display.


With other legends of aviation.


...and pieces that belong in museums


Things that piss me off:
1. Seeing the shuttle fleet go with no replacement.
2. Watching our country lose interest in NASA.
3. Watching the US fall way behind in STEM education and programs.
4. Lazy people.
5. Having space travel become "pet projects" of billionaires.
6. Having space becoming a field for profit, and not research and innovation.
7. NASA handing work over to a launch provider that has a 60% failure rate
(no offense to my buddies that work there... I just think NASA should still be in charge)

Well, that's all I'll rant about this time. For now, check out this slick panorama of the space shuttle flight deck. I look forward to another trip to DC to see Discovery, and I'm especially curious on how (or if) the Smithsonian will revamp their exhibit. I'm hoping they go all out to inspire the minds of the future.