Ares I Ground Test

On Thursday September 10th, ATK performed a ground test of the Ares I booster at their facility near Promontory Utah. The test was originally scheduled for August 27th and was scrubbed with 20 seconds to go in the countdown. I was very disappointed to say the least because I went out of my way to get there.

I was now even more committed to make it to this event and hoped I would not make the long trip again to be denied!

I was not disappointed. The light from the plume was about as intense as looking at the sun.

During the test an extreme amount of energy was released by this bad boy..... The booster was about 1.3 miles away from the public observing area. The booster is producing about 3.6 Million pounds of thrust for over two minutes.

You can read more about the booster from the ATK press release found at this link:

http://atk.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=118&item=956

My test firing video:

Airshow at Hill AFB

One of the events our family looks forward to every other year is the airshow at Hill Air Force Base. The Thunderbird Air Demonstration Team is the highlight of the trip. Braving the crowd of nearly 100,000 is a test of nerves. This year we were lucky enough to have some nice weather with mild temperatures. I think I took about 500 pictures at the show (I have a hard time containing myself at these events).

Highlight of the trip is always meeting one of the pilots. This year it was Major Sean Gustafson (#4 slot). Major Gustafson is the first Air Force Reserve pilot to be chosen for the Thunderbird Air Demonstration Team since its inception in 1953

Precise in all they do!

Diamond formation with Mt. Ogden in the background

Diamond formation performing a loop

Reflection Pass! Note the inverted #5 which makes it right side up when the plane is upside down??

Slow Pass

Delta Formation

The 9G turn. Note the vapor off the wings!

Calypso Pass with the familiar Francis Peak in the background

Calypso Pass

Girls having a good time?



OTHER AIRSHOW HIGHLIGHTS

Heritage Flight with F-15, P-51 and F-4

F-4 high speed pass. One of the sexiest planes around!

P-51 Mustang. This plane purrs like a kitten. It gives me chills every time I see this plane fly.

Oracle Acrobatic Team. Just watching these guys tumble around makes me get sick.

Oracle plane in a hammer head maneuver

C-17 taking off. This is one cool airplane!

C-17 demonstrating some of its capabilities. They demonstrated a short field landing that was very impressive.

Cirrus Acrobatic Team

Cirrus getting a little sideways!

F-22 Raptor. They did not fly an F-22 this year, but if you ever get a chance to see one fly, take advantage. This aircraft kicks butt! It would be neat to see the F-22 in Thunderbird colors.

F-16 from the local Hill Fighter Squadron.

455th Bombardment Group Memorial at Arlington Cemetrey

During the American Heritage Tour I took with Raegan, we had the opportunity to visit Arlington Cemetery. Almost by small miracle, I stumbled onto a monument dedicated to my dad’s bomb group. The “Vulgar Vultures” of the 455th Bomb Group Heavy (743rd Squadron).

While walking back to the bus, I just happened to look off to the side of the path and saw an image of a B-24 which caught my eye. Naturally, I stopped for a closer look only to find that it was a monument to the 455th. A Pin Oak has been planted as part of the monument.

Here is a link with a list of monuments at Arlington:

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/Visitor_information/monuments.html

The Vulgar Vultures

It's a wonder I saw it!

American Heratige Tour.

Our local schools provide an opportunity for our 8th grade students to go on an American Heritage Tour. Stops in DC, Gettysburg, NY, Sturbridge, and Boston highlight the trip..

This year, Raegan and I took the tour together. We had a great time........

March 21st. SLC to NYC (leave 12:05 AM and arrive 6:40 AM)

Early morning arrival at JFK

First stop, Baltimore and Fort McHenry

Fort McHenry,Birthplace of the National Anthem
http://www.nps.gov/fomc/

Quick stop at the Smithsonian National Zooilogical Park to see the Panda

Panda

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/default.cfm

More to Come....

2009 Mountain West Conference Basketball Tournament

Another MCW Basketball Tournament is in the books. This was the 13th year going to Las Vegas to enjoy basketball, buffets and the company of good friends.

Last years pictures: http://splat-shot.blogspot.com/2008/03/mwc-basketball-tournement.html

This year we all turned in a list of "Top Moments" from the past 13 years. Some of the events may only be funny if "you were there", but it was amazing that the five of us (Lance, Tim, John, Rich and myself) came up with almost identical lists.

Here are a few:

1997 tournament: Keith VanHorn buzzer beater against New Mexico. Lance getting "into it with Lobo Fans" as we departed the Thomas & Mack.

1997 Tournament: Keith VanHorn buzzer beater tip in against SMU. Utah should have lost the game.

Rich, "The Luckiest man alive" steps on something at the Tropicana. Turns out to be a $100 chip.

We all eat a $0.99 "Ho Dog" at the Westward Ho (we actually stayed there!). Rod pays dearly with acid reflex later that night. You can get that foot long dog with chili for an extra $0.49!

UNLV upsets Utah in 1998 Quarterfinals (Utah goes to NCAA finals that year). UNLV Fan turns to Rich and asks, "Where #1 right?". Idiots! UNLV fans just come to drink and chant "Rebels, Rebels, Rebels...."

First year at the tournament, we think we should be eating $.99 meals! Spend an hour searching for the cheap meal. We finally found what we are looking for at the Silver City. Everyone then gets sick! Shouldn't have got the gravy on the eggs at midnight! From that point on, we never look for that "cheap" meal.

The first few years we would drive to the tournament. We stayed at John and Rich's homes in Joseph, Utah. I almost freeze to death at John's house. All I could do was turn myself to get warmth from the mattress. The next morning I tell John how cold it was. He walks over to the window pulls back the curtain and shuts the window. (his mom opened the night before to "air" out the room). I thought the birds were chirping loud that morning.

New Mexico (old lady) fan walks up to person in an Ohio State shirt at the RIO and says: "the only thing Buckeye's are good for is making little Buckeye's (That's for you Brett and Jami)

Hungry? Should Have Ate! (A little saying that has developed over the years with the buffet)

Mike traveled from Wenatchee via Phoenix to attend the tournament this year. You will have to go to Mike's blog to get the "travel log" on how he did that.

"The Crew"

Lance, Rod, Rich, John
Tim(Back Row)

L

Mike was a little upset when BYU missed some crucial free-throws in a semifinal loss to SDSU.

Come to think of it, I think I have seen this expression before!!!!

The photo is from Tevor and Megan's blog "smile or else".....

I think Mom and Mike may have the same tendencies when BYU gives a game away.

Get the rest of the Lincoln's story on "Smile or Else" by following the link: http://thegilsons.blogspot.com/

Wii Mania

My brothers and sister decided to get my parents (85 years young) a Wii for Christmas. My Mom loves to watch Dad bowl. With one hand on the walker and the other on the Wii Dad is going for that perfect 300.....

CLASSIC!

Venus Conjunction

On Friday, February 27th Venus and the Moon treated us to another nice conjunction. It had been cloudy all week and I didn't think the sky would be clear for this conjunction. On Friday I was pleasantly surprised to have an nice crisp clear night to view the conjunction. What a beautiful site it was. The pictures do not do justice.

A few interesting facts about this conjunction.The Moon conjuncts Venus nearly every month, but NASA reports that this encounter is somewhat unique:

(1) Venus is at maximum brightness: magnitude -4.6. The planet is twenty times brighter than Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. It is so luminous that it can actually shine through thin clouds and cast subtle shadows on the ground.

(2) As seen from North America, the Moon-Venus separation is only a little more than 1o. Stick up your thumb and hold it out at arm's length. Venus and the Moon will fit comfortably behind the thumb-tip. Tight conjunctions like this are the most beautiful of all.

(3) Not only is the Moon a crescent, but so is Venus. A small telescope pointed at the glittering planet will reveal a slender 20%-illuminated disk.

Venus and the Moon do a dance over Pocatello

A 2.5 second exposure. Notice the "Earthshine". You can see this with the naked eye in a dark setting.

About 6X magnification.

I was able to locate a really nice picture which was taken with a little more "magnification" than I was set up for. It shows the cresent of Venus matching the Moon which is really cool.

I found this picture on the "Astronomy Picture of the Day". The photo was taken by Drew Sullivan.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html

Click on the photo to see the 20% cresent on Venus