boxcar

. In interests of keeping this going... Real Name: David From: Born & raised in central Indiana. Before that: I don't remember. Had to be from somewhere. Origin Of nickname: Fairchild C-119 Boxcar was a favorite aircraft of mine while growing up in central Indiana. Flight Sim: Starting over 30 years ago with the Timex Sinclair & it's teeny flight simulator. About me: Born in Beech Grove, Indiana on Indianapolis' south side. All primary school years spent in Greenfield before joining the USAF in '72, becoming a hypobaric chamber technician (alitutude chamber) giving pilots & flight crews training in simulated high altitude conditions, hypoxia, egress, etc., subsequently transfering to Beale AFB with the Lockheed SR-71 program as a pressure suit technician. Honorably discharged in '76, my wife at the time & I riding my Honda 550 all of the way back to Indiana. Had first worked for my home town's Park & Recreation Department as Program Supervisor, then driving for Greyhound Lines from '80 until '87 when the company was sold. Though no college, had begun to paint as an artist & 2 years later was awarded a national 1st place & Silver Medal in the late Arts For The Parks international competition & tour for my painting, "On The Edge Of Time", a work depicting the south rim of Grand Canyon looking east from Hopi Point (pic below). It was my first art competition. Built my career until experiencing my "calamity" in '96 of a massive strep infection that got into my brain & very nearly killed me, coming 3 to 4 hours from the point of no return. Wound up in a state veterans home for over 4 years while recovering much of my health, making over 250,000 crepe paper poppies for the American Legion as well as teaching other vets how to make them. Had discharged myself from the veterans home in '01 just weeks after the 9-11 demolitions, accepting an opportunity in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Lived in the Nebraska panhandle for nearly a decade until relocating to Oregon in September of '10, presently living near the junction of Oregon, Idaho & Washington within range of the biggest trench of the lower 48 (about 300 meters deeper than Grand Canyon). One son from my first marriage, no children from my second, being single again for 3 years now. They say the 3rd time is the charm. Flight Simulators are my hobby & therapy as well as receiving instruction through interactive simulations. Backpacking is also a favorite activity. . Am the one the left. Photo captured in Portland, Oregon about a year ago. Many here will no doubt recognize the artistic fellow beside me. . . "On The Edge Of Time", 18" x 24", acrylics on panel . * Hey, Ryan Mason *- How do you communicate with all those Hoosiers with a downunder accent? Heh! .