myTransponder

Flight Line Radio on your iPhone

2008-10-25T18:28:13-05:00

Having been inspired by Capt’n Chris of the PlaneMadness Podcast... I started tinkering around and have managed to get Flight Line Internet Radio to stream directly to the iPhone. No jailbreaking required.

Chris used Tuner Internet Radio, which is very fine app. (Tuner costs $4.99 US which I didn't mind) So following the Captain's directions... (Live ATC on your iPhone) I've successfully loaded Air Traffic Control audio streams from around the world, and they stream just fine over 3G. But as turns out the FLR stream won't work with Tuner.

So I gave the FStream a try, which is a free alternative to Tuner. After some hacking about, I figured out how to get FLR's audio to play.

Here's how to do it:

Download and install FStream on your iPhone or iPod Touch.
Tap "Favorites," whcih is the star at the bottom.
Tap "Edit" at the top left of the Favorites screen.
Add Flight Line Radio in the "Name," field
Add mms://win.2.c3.audiovideoweb.com/2c3winlive6516 in the "URL" field
Tap "Save."

That's it, nothing there's else. You can leave the "Format" and "Bitrate" fields blank. Listen, go back to the "Play" screen and tap the play button or the title. Enjoy.

In addition to rescuing the random stranded stuffed Koala bear, (OSH08 story, ask Steve) the guys from Flight Line Radio are good guys doing cool stuff. There is some excellent aviation content on the channel.

You can track down Don Constanza's profile , or connect with other FLR fans in the Flight Line Radio group on myTransponder.

outage

2008-10-15T21:02:23-05:00

"That's not flying, that's just falling with style!"
- Woody, regarding Buzz Lightyear, in Toy Story

Last night we took myTransponder offline for a server migration that we expected to take a couple of hours... tops.

The idea was to bring the server down just after the site backup, this would insure that your data would be safe, and none of your stuff on myTransponder would be lost in the shuffle. That all worked out fine. So to be clear, profiles and data are all safely tucked away.

Unfortunately we've somehow managed to anger the plesk demons.

The site was completely down for most of today. Did you get just a blank page when you tried to login? Yes. We got that too. We were just as bummed about it as you were.

We managed to get the web server restarted this evening, which got rid of the blank page, but leaves us with a broken site for now... we're sorry about that.

We're trying to get the rest of the site working for you again as fast as we possibly can. (We're doing short of sacrificing a chicken, but we're not far from that at this point if you ask me.)

Why in the name of Bernoulli did we do this?

We are glad you asked.

The server migration is an important milestone on our ~~roadmap~~ flightplan to making myTransponder a more robust, more useful application.

The beta so far has been a bit like Project Mercury. What we're moving to next will be more like Project Gemini. So we're making some big changes to how the application is hosted on our server to make that happen.

We'll continue to update you as to our progress here, and on Twitter. (You can follow us @myTransponder.)

We really do appreciate all the the tweets, emails, IMs, SMS messages, posts, comments and phone calls all pretty much asking, "What's up?" We figure that if the site went down, and nobody noticed, that we may be barking up the wrong tree. It turns out to be very much the opposite.

Thanks to everyone in the beta for your patience, and for your ongoing support of making aviation more social.

Finally, if you haven't seen this, we think you may enjoy a little The Website Is Down right about now. Sales Guy vs. Web Dude cracks us up every time.

Simpler, Safer, Sooner?

2008-07-20T23:33:04-05:00

A group of secretive rocket designers have defected from NASA's rocket-building team to spearhead their own forbidden project. They spend their evenings designing Jupiter (pictured), a moon rocket they think will work far better for less money then NASA's current moon rocket, Ares, set to bring some people to the moon in 2020.

i09: The Moon Rocket Project NASA Doesn't Want You to Know About

::The folks advocating for Direct 2.0 say that right out of the gate, their program is already four years ahead of the approved NASA initiative, Ares I. They imagine that they could have us flying Apollo 8 type Moon overflights 2 years before the first manned Constellation flight currently planned.

Now I'm no rocket scientist. (Despite the hours I spent playing around with a Space Station construction simulation on the PCjr of my youth.) But the story this maverick group of rocket jocks has to tell seems pretty compelling.

Their plan includes the reuse of about 95% of the existing Space Shuttle (STS) hardware and infrastructure, vs. what they say is the NASA plan to pitch all but 5% of what we have today.

These engineers make the point that back in the 70's, NASA went for years demolishing infrastructure and not flying... which was disastrous. They want us to avoid the same mistakes this time around.

They believe that in addition to being significantly cheaper, and safer than the 2 vehicle plan NASA is working on... that their plan means no 3 and a half year workforce gap would be necessary. (Imagining aerospace engineers working as a the world's smartest baristas between programs.) These folks are pretty motivated.

Dig deeper for yourself by watching their presentation, and the video does a good job of illustrating the plan too.

NASA's response to the buzz around Direct 2.0 seems to be, "we're committed, moving on."

Gosh... It feels like we've heard that before.

And So the Adventure Begins...

2008-07-18T22:07:15-05:00

41° 59'N 87° 40'W

The irony is I'm more concerned about writing than I am about flying. However, my dear friend Rod Rakic has asked me to blog about my pending adventure, and I am humbled to oblige. For him, I will set my concerns aside and focus on the mission: take you on this adventure with me.

My name is Mandy Irwin. I have seven and a half hours logged on a Cessna 172, and I'm co-piloting a Beechcraft 1900B from the United States to South Africa beginning Monday.

It'll be the second time I take the trip in a 1900, but the first time not in a passenger seat. (Okay, I did get to hold heading and altitude for a brief while between the Canary Islands and Mali last time but I was so over-stimulated it still doesn't seem real.)

I do realize how fortunate I am. This is an amazing opportunity… and for those who may be a little jealous, you'll probably hate me when you learn that that's just the front half of the trip. Once we get to South Africa, we'll be exchanging the 1900 for a PAC 750. Via several countries, we'll make our way to Guam.

Yes, from an aviation perspective, life is very good to me.

Mandy Irwin is a student pilot, writer, and travel nerd based in Chicago. (MDW)

To give you a bit of background on who I am, and how this adventure came to fruition, we'll start with my big dream. No, my aviation friends, I must be candid and admit my big dream was not to be a pilot. My big dream is to own an island and run a bed-and-breakfast on it. (I have a birthmark on the inside of my right leg. It's in the shape of a jalapeño. I'm convinced it's a map to my island. I believe it to be in the Adriatic, but I could be wrong. I simply haven't found it yet.) Anyway, while working the 9-5 in Chicago, I started researching the next and proper steps to buying an island. While I quickly learned I wasn't in a position to make those steps, I reasoned that I must do SOMETHING to move my dream forward. So, I reckoned that if I had an island, I'd need a plane, and if I had a plane, I would need a pilot's license. And with that, I scheduled my first flight lesson.

Despite my semester at the prestigious Illinois Math & Science Academy, my first lesson left me with a feeling I had never experienced. Piloting did not come natural. It was, and continues to be, a mental and physical challenge for me. And, I love it.

While I officially have less than eight hours in my logbook, I have had the opportunity to experience flight from the left-seat in many great locations: 4.3 hours in and out of MDW (Chicago, IL, USA), 1.6 hours around VNY (Van Nuys, CA, USA) and 1.6 hours around FALA (Lanseria/Johannesburg, South Africa). And quite fortunately, I've had the opportunity to sit right-seat for five-times that amount of hours, in great planes like the Diamond Star and a Russian YAK. And every time I get into the cockpit (regardless of the side), I'm overwhelmed and thrilled.

It was when I was logging my hours in South Africa, after a Habitat for Humanity trip and a subsequent safari, that I met the person who would change the trajectory of my life forever. A native South African, whom I mistakenly called David for the first few hours of knowing him, was staying at the same B&B as me. He'd been stuck there for nearly a month, as he waited for his plane to be repaired so he could take it back to Pemba, Mozambique, where we was a pilot for the Quilalea Resort. DeWet (pronounced not like David, but like Duh Vet through the eyes and lips of an American) and I became fast friends.

Nearly two months later, DeWet came to the States to log hours on the 1900 by meeting up with a ferry pilot named Denny, who was flying from Rockford, Illinois to Johannesburg, South Africa. DeWet was scheduled to arrive in Chicago on Friday, and depart Monday. What we thought would be a quick three day visit turned into nearly three weeks, as the flight plan changed on a daily basis.

What will be a story for another day, results in me quitting my job in an industry which I'd worked for over eleven years, and boarding the plane with Denny and DeWet for South Africa.

Why I made that decision, and what I planned on doing with my life when I got there is also another fascinating story, but has little to do with aviation, so I'll save it. However, what is important to know is that I end up back in the States two months later. And, today, seven months after my return from my adventures around Africa, I am eagerly anticipating my opportunity to go back – and most of that excitement has SO MUCH to do with me being able to fly it with Denny from the cockpits of those planes.

I was suppose to leave two weeks ago, but those plans were changed several times, and as it stands today, I will be leaving on Monday, July 21, 2008 for this grand adventure with Denny.

From what I understand, here are some of the countries in which we'll be refueling (of course, you must embrace the fact that nothing is ever according to plan on these adventures): Canada, the Azores, the Canary Islands, Mali, Sao Tome & Principe, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique, the Seychelles, the Maldives, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and potentially Australia.

And that's what I know for now.

Shiny New Logo

2008-07-10T23:49:59-05:00

Tah-dah!

Here's the new myTransponder logo.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to look at the various iterations of the logo. There were tons of good directions... but eventually, you've gotta pick one execution and move on.

I'm pretty happy with how the final logo worked out.

To help get from the initial design that I had cooked up, to what you see here... took some work. (and talent that I didn't have!)

So I decided to crowdsource the work... using crowdSPRING, I posted the project and got submissions from all around the world. Who knew it would be so easy to tap talent from around the planet? Designers from Italy, India, Canada, and the Philippines all contributed. Ultimately it was grapesoda from Scotland in the UK who won the project.

"Ace," hasn't said anything to me about it, but my guess is that he's either a long lost cousin to, or maybe even a just a drinking buddy of, "The Stiq."

I bet that he's under the impression that chicks dig the mysterious type... so I haven't pressed him on it.

You can always drop Ace a line via email at ace@myTransponder.com, or follow him on Twitter. He'll keep you up to date on all the goings on here at myTransponder.

Rod Rakic is a private pilot and geek based in Chicago. (MDW)

Podcaster Rides with the Thunderbirds

2008-07-06T21:33:15-05:00

I got the Thunderbirds ride! Unbelievable! Didn’t want to get too excited because anything can happen from a schedule change to a malfunction at the hold-short line. But it happened!

And get this . . . I have 1.0 hours dual received in the logbook! In the F-16D. If it gets any better than this, I’m not sure I can handle it.

Airspeed Podcast: Thunderbirds Flight - The Ride and Thoughts from the Ramp

:: Mild mannered lawyer by day, CAP Officer when called, and aviation podcaster Steve Tupper got the ride of a lifetime on July 4th.

Tupper hosts the excellent Airspeed podcast, where he talks to all sorts of folks from around aviation, and takes his recorder along so the rest of us can virtually ride along in the cockpit.

This is the first time that an military demo team has chosen to fly a podcaster in their media ride program. It's a neat validation for podcasting as a medium. Great to see the Thunderbirds connecting with new media.

In addition to blogging, Tupper tweeted his way though the experience. You can follow him on Twitter @StephenForce.

Turning the tables, Steve asked me to get on the phone and debrief the experience together in what ended up being a 90 minute hanger flying session. What a fun way to spend a summer evening.

Tupper will be impossible to live with at Oshkosh I'm sure.

Well done Captain.

Rod Rakic is a private pilot and geek based in Chicago. (MDW)

"The-Jet" by Cirrus Flies

2008-07-03T09:12:00-05:00

Cirrus Design Corporation announced that the most highly anticipated aircraft in the company’s history, currently called ‘The-Jet’, made its first flight at approximately 10 AM CDT today, July 3rd, 2008. The 45-minute flight was conducted from company worldwide headquarters at the Duluth International Airport, Duluth, MN and the aircraft performed flawlessly.

The-Jet is an all new personal aircraft that blends the best of both the high performance single-engine class and the very light jet (VLJ) category. Unsurpassed interior space, single engine fuel efficiency, flexible seating options for a family of up to seven, state-of-the-art advanced avionics and flight systems and the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) are each hallmarks of the new design.

- Cirrus Design Press Release

:: The folks at Cirrus Design promise that they will eventually give "The-Jet" a name.

I'm happy to call it anything, because whatever the nice folks in Duluth come up with, I suggest it should roll off the tongue when prefixed with words like, "cool," and "awesome."

Go watch the video here.

...it looks beautiful.

Rod Rakic is a private pilot and geek based in Chicago. (MDW)

Inside the ISS

2008-07-02T08:46:00-05:00

:: Watching this video of life on orbit aboard the International Space Station (ISS), was just some fun. Sure, I know that rocketry, human space flight, and all things aerospace in general is supposed to be serious business...

...but this makes me appreciate just how cool living in space is.

Remember folks, we wouldn't be here, if the dinosaurs had had a space program.

Rod Rakic is a private pilot and geek based in Chicago. (MDW)

R.I.P. AOPA Project Pilot...

2008-07-01T17:56:00-05:00

Dear Members:

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) today launched its new learn-to-fly initiative, LetsGoFlying.com. This replaces ProjectPilot.org. The new program’s Web site, www.letsgoflying.com, now offers visitors even more useful information about learning to fly, including:

• Everything you need to get started, including a database of over 3,500 flight schools nationwide

• A FREE Let’s Go Flying DVD

• Expert flight training advice from a pilot

• Unique destinations and local events for pilots

• Stories of and experiences had by other pilots, as well as the opportunity to share your own story on the Web site.

- via AOPA Project Pilot on Facebook

:: Having participated as a mentor as part of Project Pilot, one of the first things that I noticed about the new site was that the mentorship function has been dropped from the new microsite. While you can still search for flight schools, order a DVD, and even follow along on a flight training blog, the ability to find, connect with and manage mentorship is gone. There was no mention of this in Phil Boyer's column in this month's AOPA Pilot magazine announcing the new site.

AOPA has long advocated that prospective and student pilots that have a mentor are far more likely to complete flight training. I liked the feeling of support that I got from the AOPA program... as silly as this sounds...having a way to document progress online was motivational.

Overall, I like to the new site. It uses video to good effect, it's good looking, and it gets the lead capture job done.

But as AOPA seems to have found religion when it comes to social networking, (on Facebook, on MySpace) it's a bit disappointing to see the experience less social, not more.

I guess we'll see what we can do about that around here.

Rod Rakic is a private pilot and geek based in Chicago. (MDW)

Off to the Races

2008-05-31T14:23:36-05:00

Today I'm fortunate to be back in my hometown of Detroit, experiencing the Red Bull Air Races here on the downtown river front.

I'm here with my good friend Steve from Airspeed. (an excellent podcast, which I hope you listen to!) He asked me along to help out with podcasting duties this weekend, which of course I was happy to oblige.

Winds and turbulence have the racers calling this, "The Toughest Course Ever." Today's qualifier runs were canceled due to the winds gusting to 34 knots, yielding very turbulent conditions over the riverfront. (something you don't want when you're flying a knife edge, 30 feet above the water!)

Rod Rakic is a private pilot and geek based in Chicago. (MDW)