Reggie Paulk

Ridge Running in a Glider

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:15:00 +0000

It's not often that I see a flying video that keeps my interest until the very end, but this one is pretty cool. There are a couple of spots where the glider gets awfully close to the terrain, and I'd say he's cutting his margins too close, but it's fun to watch nonetheless.

BlackBerry Storm 2 Screen Capture

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:02:00 +0000

BlackBerry has a neat little application which allows you to upload photos directly from your phone to Flickr. This is pretty cool in itself, but there's another app which allows you to take a screenshot and then upload that to Flickr if you so desire.

All you have to do to get the Capture It app is visit: http://m.techmogul.com from your BlackBerry Storm 2, Tour or other device. Download and install the application, and it adds a Capture It option to the menu screen.

Storm 2 Screen Capture [Flickr]

luv2sor — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:17:23 PST

luv2sor posted a photo:

Blackberry Storm2 Video Quality

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:47:00 +0000

This is a quick video taken with my BlackBerry Storm 2 showing the quality of video and audio from the device. Notice how it handles the transition through the different lighting.

Here's the YouTube version for full-quality...

Perry peak [Flickr]

luv2sor — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:45:44 PST

luv2sor posted a photo:

image [Flickr]

luv2sor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:39:35 PST

luv2sor posted a photo:

Driving over Berthoud [Flickr]

luv2sor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:07:07 PST

luv2sor posted a photo:

BlackBerry Storm2 | JVM Error 523

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:27:00 +0000

Today, my Storm2 came up with a white screen and small lettering in the middle that said: "JVM error 523"

What the??? I was totally confused. I couldn't shut the phone off, clicking the screen did nothing and I was at a loss. I removed the battery, SIM card and media chip to no avail. I looked on the Internet, but there was nothing specific to the Storm2.

Underneath the error message was a very small phrase that said 'click here.' I finally clicked it multiple times, and the phone re-booted. Everything came back up, and things returned to normal. I hope that helps.

Review | BlackBerry Tour vs BlackBerry Storm2 | Which One Should I Buy?

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:44:00 +0000

"If you like gadgets, get the Storm2... If you need to get down to business, get the tour."

After scouring the Internet looking for the answer to the question above and not finding anything decisive, I decided to write an opinion of my own.

I purchased the BlackBerry Tour 9630 from Verizon Wireless on October 15th, about two weeks prior to the release of the BlackBerry Storm2 9550, so the Storm2 wasn't a consideration at first.

Three weeks into my journey with the Tour, I started hearing funny noises coming from the speaker on the side of the phone. It was popping and crackling even when everything was turned off, so I decided to exchange it for another Tour. When I went into the store, I noticed the newly released Storm2 and mentioned it to the salesperson. She promptly told me that I could get it for the price difference between the two phones. Boy did that get me thinking!

I deliberated the Storm2 for a few minutes while I waited for my new Tour to be brought on line, but the store was about 10 minutes from closing, and the demo model had a large zip tie that prevented me from being able to interact with the phone. After that, and not knowing what to expect, I decided to stay with the Tour.

The minute I got my second Tour, I was frustrated by a sticky menu button that had an annoying loud click when pushed. After spending nearly half a grand on a phone, I was at a point where those little annoyances weren't going to be acceptable, so I began researching the Storm2 in earnest that evening.

You may be thinking that the Tour isn't even worth it, but I want to back up a bit and talk about the phone's nuances. I'm not the only one in my household with a Tour, because my wife purchased her Tour right before I did.

Because the Tour was my first BlackBerry, I was impressed with its capabilities. Not only could I stay up on my e-mail, but I was always within reach of most of the Internet. Getting use to the trackball really didn't take long at all, and the phone is easily customizable.

Using the keypad takes a little getting use to, but it's not difficult for any veteran text pro. BlackBerry messages only require you to press the enter key to send, but text and e-mail messages require a couple clicks of the trackball in order to get them on their way. E-mails are the same: click the trackball when you're ready to send, and then click "Send."

Overall, the user experience is quite enjoyable. The only thing you end up wanting is a larger screen. The camera takes shots decent enough to use as desktop backgrounds for your computer, and the phone itself has good sound quality in both handset and speaker modes. Pair it up with a BlueTooth handsfree device, and you've got a winning combination. The voice recognition technology on board the phone does a great job of figuring out who it is you're trying to call so long as you ask for the name exactly as it appears in your address book. So why didn't I keep the Tour you ask? Call it somewhat of a leap of faith.

Interacting with touchscreen devices brings about a pretty swift love/hate relationship, and it's just this parity that makes the Tour a good phone for some users and the Storm2 a good phone for others. Take my wife for example. She had some jealous pangs when she first saw my shiny new Storm2, but those quickly faded after she tried it. She's a smart girl: her position within her company puts her in front of a computer for about 10 hours or more a day, so she's constantly having to battle computer glitches and issues. Computers and phones are devices used in the course of doing work, and she doesn't seek out technology for anything other than simple entertainment. The equipment itself is a means to an end; not an end in itself. After fumbling around with my phone for about 10 minutes, she was pretty much over the touchscreen experience. As she said, "If it's not easy for me to use the first time, then I'm done."

For me, gadgets are a way of life. When the iPhone first came out, I just about wet myself with excitement. Its features and capabilities were so outside the realm of normal experience that any true tech lover had to be beside themselves with butterflies at the thought. Unfortunately, Apple and AT&T made the device captive to one network, which put it off limits to me. All of my family members are on Verizon, so the iPhone sat at the outer edges of possibility for me. I did own one briefly for a couple of months, but had to let it go after seeing that first bill.

Fast forward a couple of years, and the iPhone isn't the only touchscreen on the market. BlackBerry's first version of the Storm was not a complete success, and it had the look of something rushed to market before its time. I've heard the new OS on the Storm addresses a lot of issues many users had with the phone, so it wasn't a complete failure. I have to say that the Storm2 is a completely different animal.

I'm a magazine editor, so I spend a large amount of time dealing with e-mails that have attachments. I get Word docs, PDF's and photos almost every day, and being able to interact with those documents on my phone is a real improvement over being tied to a laptop computer for those tasks. On the Tour, I had access to all of my documents, but I have to say that the Storm2 just makes it all that much better.

I got my Storm2 two days ago... I already think it's far better than the Tour in the way I interact with it. Typing, navigating and using its touch interfaces makes tedious trackball tasks a thing of the past.

"Interacting with touchscreen devices brings about a pretty swift love/hate relationship..."

The Storm2 has three different keyboards to choose from; a full qwerty keyboard with the familiar layout; a multi-tap keyboard like those on most phone pads, and a SureType keyboard which has a qwerty layout with two letters per button instead of one. Even though it freaked me out at first, I've really fallen for the SureType keyboard because I can type like a fool! As long as you trust the phone to understand the correct word, you'll have very few problems. Small nuances (annoyances) of the keyboard come out as you type weird letter combinations it doesn't recognize. But if you take the time, the phone learns these words as you type and gives them to you next time around. Almost all normal words come out clean the first time. After about a day of playing with my Storm2, I was typing two or three times faster than with the physical keyboard of my Tour, and this was after almost a month of using it.

One of my favorite features of the touchscreen is that you can access almost anything you see just by touching it. On the Tour, if you'd like to manage connections such as BlueTooth or Network settings, you have to press the Menu key in order to access the home folder. After that, you have to click on the Manage Connections icon before you can begin playing with settings. On the Storm2, those features can be clicked from the Home screen. Just press on the icons and the Manage Connections screen pops up. The touchscreen eliminates multiple navigational requirements of the physical keyboard/trackball.

Unlike the iPhone, the screen of the Storm2 actually clicks as you press it. Some people think it's annoying, but I have to say that the split second between selecting a screen element and clicking to choose has prevented me from making many mistakes. You can confidently select anything on the screen without choosing it so long as you don't press the screen all the way. Because it uses electric switches in each of the four corners to give feedback, the click pressure is potentially programmable. I personally think the screen requires too much pressure to click while typing, but I'm confident a future software update will allow for adjustment. This is not a deal breaker however, just something to look forward to.

So should you buy a BlackBerry Storm2 or Tour? It comes down to how you use your gadgets. If you just want something to work the way you expect it to without having to learn the little nuances of the device, then the Tour is for you. On the other hand, if you like to spend time with your gadgets, and are willing to take the time necessary to learn its nuances, you will be richly rewarded with a user experience par excellence.

After using my Storm2 for two days, I picked up my wife's Tour. In just a few seconds, I found myself pressing on the screen in order to select the browser. I set it down and grabbed my Storm2. I'd never go back to the physical keyboard. When I don't need it, the keyboard disappears so I have more real estate to play with. The screen is not just a simple output device as it is on the Tour. For me, the Storm2 blows the Tour out of the water in both performance, features and productivity. If you like gadgets, get the Storm2. If you like to get down to business, get the Tour.

Video: F-35 VTOL Flip Is Another Fake

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:12:00 +0000

There's been a video circulating recently showing a Lockheed F-35 VTOL airplane lifting off from the deck of an aircraft carrier, performing a forward flip, and then flying off into the distance. There are numerous reasons it's a fake, a few of which have to do with the fact that there should be more doors open above and below the aircraft while performing the lift off. Here's a video of the real thing from YouTube:

Now, watch this video and notice that the rear exhaust nozzle isn't pointing down when the airplane lifts off, the door above and behind the cockpit isn't there either. And, last I checked, the F-35 didn't have a rocket able to cause a roll like what you see:

Here's another fake takeoff video mixed with real footage of the airplane in flight:

Cg USMC F-35-B - Celebrity bloopers here

Noting the lack of any type of name attached to the video, and the fact that the same music plays in all of the videos on the internet, I'd guess that the video was produced by Lockheed Martin or the U.S. Marines as a viral marketing stunt to show how cool their new replacement for the AV-8B Harrier is.

Best Aviator Sunglasses | VedaloHD | Review

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Sat, 16 May 2009 21:16:00 +0000

(Top Photo: VedaloHD Azzurro2 Aviator

Bottom Photo: World Advanced Aerobatic Champion Rob Holland is sponsored by and wears VedaloHD's... Used with permission)

While wandering around Sun n Fun this year, one of my colleagues introduced me to Rob Holland and Chris Pederson, marketing director for VedaloHD sunglasses. Chris asked if I'd be interested in an interview with Holland to see how he likes the sunglasses. He also mentioned that other pilots like Sean Tucker and Reno racer Kevin Eldredge wear Vedalo's.

Holland seemed quite impressed with his glasses, but I couldn't help but think, "Of course you're going to say great things about them in front of your sponsor!"

Pederson then lead me to his booth and allowed me to try on a few pairs of glasses to see which ones fit best. I chose a pair of Azzuro2's, and he said to try them out and let him know what I thought. I asked when I should bring them back, and he said, "They're yours." Whoa! All I could think was, "Man I hope I don't hate them!"

Well, I put the glasses on, and the first thing I noticed was that the reds, greens and blues were highly enhanced. It was like they became fluorescent, and at first, I wasn't sure I was going to like it. You grow use to it quickly, and the value of the color enhancement really comes into its own once airborne. In order to avoid interference with some flat panel displays in aircraft, VedaloHD aviator sunglasses are not polarized. I thought this would be a disadvantage, but I was in for a surprise.

Flying in the hazy air of Florida, your ability to see traffic is diminished, and polarized glasses can cut the glare. The first day I went up, I was wearing no sunglasses, and it was quite difficult to make out traffic while we were flying out to the Gulf Coast. The next time I went up, I was in the front seat of a Pitts S-2C wearing the Azzuro's, and from the moment we lifted off, I knew there was something different. In the busy airspace surrounding Lakeland, Florida, I was able to easily locate every target in the vicinity. It was an uncanny feeling, because the glasses literally make the haze disappear and traffic sticks out like a sore thumb.

Leaving Tampa on a commercial flight, I was in a window seat on the Airbus A-319. As we flew out over the Gulf of Mexico at 30,000 feet, I was enjoying all of the underwater features, including a channel that had been dredged from the shore so boats could make it to deeper water. It was then I realized I was wearing my glasses, and decided to take them off. I was shocked! The underwater features completely disappeared, and all I could see was the green water. I put them back on, and it was like I had X-ray vision. They were that good.

I've been flying for over 17 years. In all of that time, I've seen just about every gimmick and gizmo there is claiming to enhance vision while flying an airplane. The VedaloHD sunglasses are the first ones I've ever tried that actually made me say, "Wow!"

I can honestly say that I think these glasses can help enhance your ability to see-and-avoid, and therefore should be a serious consideration for daytime flight safety.

Visit VedaloHD to find your pair...

Video | Falling Out of The Sky | Mooney Acclaim

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Tue, 12 May 2009 01:51:00 +0000

This is an emergency descent in a Mooney Acclaim from 25,000 feet to 15,000 feet. At 4600 feet per minute, we were falling the equivalent of 52 miles per hour straight down! Our forward speed was 222 Knots True Airspeed. Not a true emergency, but fun to rehearse, nonetheless.

Taken With my Cellphone [Flickr]

luv2sor — Tue, 05 May 2009 17:32:08 PDT

luv2sor posted a photo:

Air-to-air At Sun n Fun 2009

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:41:00 +0000

What do you get when you fly a Pitts and a Husky together? A boatload of fun, that's what! When I was at Sun n Fun last week, I convinced Bill Finagin of Dent Air Ltd. and Aviat Aircraft President Stu Horn to take a Pitts S-2C and a Husky A-1C up for an air-to-air photo shoot over the Gulf of Mexico. The resulting photos are the product of the right light, setting, aircraft and, most importantly, people. I was fortunate enough to be sitting in the front cockpit of the Pitts with Bill Finagin as we rolled and hammered over the coast. Beautiful! Thanks Stu and Bill.

Sun n Fun 2009 Air-to-Air Photo Shoot

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 02:36:00 +0000

Flying in a Cessna 210 with Jim Koepnick and Bruce Moore, I got to experience first hand what it's like to take off into a beautiful sunset and photograph an airplane over the Gulf of Mexico. I'll be writing an article about the experience for Sport Aerobatics Magazine's June issue, so keep an eye out for it.

Video Review: My Yamaha C3 is Too Much Fun! A.k.a: Vox, Giggle

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 06:20:00 +0000

Today was a gorgeous day for shooting some HD scooting action! I love riding my little scooter, and it gets 115 miles to the gallon!

Trike Flying is One of My Favorite Forms of Aviating

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:13:00 +0000

This was my Top Dog trike, which is no longer built. It had a 15 meter Northwing topless (strutted) wing and a Rotax 582 liquid-cooled two stroke engine with 65 horsepower. It only weighed a little over 300 pounds empty, and climbed like a homesick angel. I really miss that machine.

Flying With The United States Air Force Academy Glider Program

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:08:00 +0000

Come along on a flight with Captain Erich Kunrath and myself as we fly in a Blanik L-23 sailplane from the Air Force Academy in Colorado.

YouTube Now Shows My Videos In True HD (High Definition)

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:00:00 +0000

I was just lurking around YouTube tonight and noticed that they've taken a couple of clips I shot in HD and allowed them to be shown in full 720P video. You can now watch them full-screen and they look freaking amazing! Click on the embedded videos below twice to be taken to YouTube, where you may choose the HD option on the lower right of the viewer.

Rocketman Breaks Jetpack Record by Flying Over Royal Gorge In Death-Defying Stunt

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:57:00 +0000

The Royal Gorge is a deep gash in the earth. It's sheer rock walls fall almost vertically over 1000 feet to the river below. Spanning the chasm is the Royal Gorge Bridge. Built in the 1920's this suspension bridge is the world's highest suspension bridge. Believe me, no matter how unafraid of heights you are, peering through the wooden slats to the river far below gives you the heeby jeebies. Jet-pack pilot Eric Scott of GoFast Energy Drinks flew 1500 feet across the canyon today to break the record for longest flight with a jet pack. To put it into perspective, the flight took him 24 seconds to complete--He had less than six seconds of fuel remaining when he touched down on the other side. Here's a video I made of the adventure:

Video: Air Hogs Havoc Stinger

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:19:00 +0000

The Air Hogs Stinger helicopter is a tiny little contraption that seems rather delicate out of the box, but it's quite robust. My seven year old and my three year old both fly it, and it's held up rather well. The main and tail rotor blades are powered by separate motors--the tail rotor being powered by the tiniest of motors. Even though there's a channel to control steering, the helicopter is best left to it's own in that department. The main rotor blade is balanced with a gyroscopic mechanism that keeps the helicopter level while flying, and does a remarkable job of keeping it from hitting walls. Here's a video I made with my kids while we played with the little chopper:

Video | Red Bull Through Vision Research's High Speed Eyes

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:03:00 +0000

Watching Red Bull Air Races is exciting, but when seen through the eyes of a camera shooting upwards of 1000 frames per second, it is downright mesmerizing. Click on the photo above to see what I mean. See more high speed video action at Vision Research

PilotMag Launches Pilot Lounge User Forum...

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:16:00 +0000

PilotMag has launched a social networking website aimed at aviation enthusiasts, adventurers and anyone else interested in all things flying. Users can blog, upload photos and videos, create and join forums and groups and generally do everything a full-featured forum can do. One thing that sets Pilot Lounge apart is that the entire back end has been created from scratch. There are no proprietary software obstacles, so if you want it, ask for it and it shall be done. Try getting that kind of functionality out of another site! Check it out at www.pilotlounge.com.

KillaThrill Generates Huge Buzzkill With Viral Airplane Crash Video

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:33:00 +0000

(Why is the "pilot" on the wrong side of the security barrier?)

Well, the guys at KillaThrill are actually trying to keep the subterfuge going with a new website that shows their "pilot" in an interview right after his so-called flight. James Andersson is supposedly a pilot in the Red Bull Air Race, but if you notice the photos, you never actually see the Red Bull logo. Of course, a quick check with Red Bull themselves will show you he doesn't exist. Here's their roster in case you're curious:
Source(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Red_Bull_Air_Race_World_Series_season)

Here's the video that's been circulating widely on the internet as fact, when in fact it is a complete fiction. At first blush, the aircraft looks real and the wing separation seems authentic. If you listen closely, you'll hear that the engine sounds are not properly synchronized, the radio chatter seems out of place and the people are definitely over-acting. But for its intended purpose, KillaThrill got a great viral advertising campaign. Congratulations! Here's another video done in a very similar fashion:

And this video seals the deal:

For authentic flying, check out these videos, or go to PilotMag:

Video: Crop Duster Low Fly By

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:00:00 +0000

Crop dusting aircraft are a whole different breed of airplanes designed to withstand the vagaries of nap-of-the-earth flying, obstacles, chemicals and a whole host of other things most pilots never hope to encounter. This is just a teaser video that I made for PilotMag, so keep your eyes out for the November/December issue of the magazine for some amazing shots. Stay tuned for a longer, video with some really cool air-to-air and ground-to-air shots. Visit Scott Aviation to learn more about Kyle Scott's aviation services, including his FBO at the Ft. Morgan Municipal Airport.

Video: Flying the PilotMag Gobosh LSA | Airplane Sweepstakes

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 04:19:00 +0000

If you've ever dreamed of flying but thought it was out of reach, stop dreaming and start flying. If you wear coke bottle glasses and have a driver's license, chances are you meet the health requirements to fly this light sport airplane. After watching the video, ponder this: It only takes 20-30 hours of flight training to get certified in this airplane and then you can take a friend with you. You can enter for a chance to win a red Gobosh just like this one in the PilotMag sweepstakes drawing next year. If you're in the Denver area, visit Skyraider Aviation to rent and fly this airplane.

Be sure to watch the video in high quality.

Air-To-Air: Gobosh 700 Light Sport Airplane

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:31:00 +0000

Christopher Dillis, owner of Skyraider Aviation, stands with his beautiful new Gobosh 700 light sport airplane at the Erie Municipal Airport north of Denver, Colorado. The airplane is available for rental and flight instruction, but I wouldn't suggest flying it; you'll get addicted. I took my HD video camera along for the air-to-air and flight, so hit play to see what it was like.

Airplane Sweepstakes | Gobosh 700 Sport Plane

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:53:00 +0000

What could be better than owning an airplane? Owning one you only have to pay the taxes on, that's what! PilotMag is giving away a brand new Gobosh 700 sportplane at AirVenture '09, and it's easy to enter. Just follow this link. PilotMag is a pretty neat new aviation publication, so be sure to check it out.

PilotMag | The Magazine For Aviation Adventure

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:44:00 +0000

If you are looking for an aviation publication that goes outside the tradition pilot report/industry insider point of view, you should check out PilotMag... It's a bimonthly publication that's focusing on the part of aviation that's traditionally absent: people. I'll hopefully be working with the good people there, so take a look and subscribe. It's going to be interesting.

Inspirational Flying Music: Viva La Vida | Coldplay

reggie.paulk@gmail.com (Reggie Paulk) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 01:37:00 +0000

I always listen for music that I think would enhance the flight experience if it was piped into my headset. Everyone's taste is different, but this latest song by Cold Play really hits the spot for me. I can imagine soaring over green fields and rolling hills while playing this number.

Here's a video I made using this song:

You may view the original music video here: