Ken Q

Do what the "old fashioned way?". P3D, naturally enough, features Lockheed aircraft, and a few others, so to have other aircraft show up it must be added to the SIM Objects folder. Recently I landed at KVUO (Pearson's Field, Vancouver, WA). Shortly after I landed another PilotEdge pilot landed his C172. But what I saw through the windshield, watching him land, was another Mooney. P3D doesn't include Cessnas a default aircraft so I needed to add it. Although I'm not a " RW" pilot, and never will be, I try to do everything in a RW fashion, including my cockpit, cold start procedures, and of course real ATC, both VFR and IFR. It's a real challenge, but keeps me sharp(er). Ken

I do have a hangar full of freeware aircraft, but here's the strange thing. I never fly them, and never have. So why? Lately (last four or five years) I've been using PilotEdge. To see other PilotEdge traffic accurately, I must have the aircraft in my Sim. Now that I've (finally) moved from FSX to P3D, that means a lot of popular aircraft are not in the SIM by default. For example, C172 shows up as a Mooney. So does a Cirrus 20. So I install freeware and some payware aircraft so PilotEdge can find and display the correct plane. Since I'm still new to P3D, I'm still learning how to get the proper results. Ken

I have several Carenado aircraft including the Mooney M20J, Cessna T210, 172 and 152. For various reasons don't use them much. Stick to the default M20M. I'd like to see what a good payware "Bravo" would be like, but I haven't found one. Other Mooney models are not compatible with the instrumentation in my cockpit Ken

Just a thought, Rodge. Time overlaps, and might be fun to feature an almost unknown aircraft.

Hmmm! Wonder if one of these could have a cameo role in the "Boo" story? Ken

I just looked it up too. Very interesting aircraft. A little like a flying platypus. Too bad about the timing; should have been more successful. Ken

Mooney M20M, "Bravo". Ken

For SimVenture it's the same ATC folks. Trial run for everyone.

PilotEdge and EAA's SimVenture starts tomorrow, 3:00-9:00 PM Pacific Time. This is a great program, and I recommend it to everyone. I know a lot of people have trouble with talking to ATC; flight instructors note that this is one of the most difficult hurdles to get their students through. So, if this is you, and you are uncomfortable with the very thought of talking to ATC, relax. In this program ATC does (almost) all of the talking. They will recognize your aircraft, ask you to "rock your wings" to establish that you know they are talking to you. Very occasionally the controller may ask a question which will, of course, require a response. Or you may have a question for the controller. This happens rarely, and if it does the controller has still initiated the contact. Go to the website (PilotEdge. net) look at the SimVenture link, watch the videos, and join in the fun. I have flown from KHQM to KCHU (on the Minnesota-Wisconsin border) over the last two weeks, with many stops along the way. All of these stops were at Orbx payware or freeware airports. 77 miles to Oshkosh, I'm heading for the Fisk arrival tomorrow. Love to have company from this Orbx community. (I'm also planning on participating Friday evening and Sunday afternoon EDT). Ken

Happy birthday, my friend! Ken

PilotEdge will be running their "dress rehearsal" for EAA's fly-in for the annual "AirVenture" this week. A great opportunity for SIM pilots to get a feel for the fast paced and challenging arrivals to KOSH via the "FISK" or "War Birds" arrivals. Non PilotEdge members can use the free trial that is offered. See the PE website: WWW.PilotEdge.net for more info. I'm on my way! Ken

When in college (Marist College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) we had a group of brothers from a French Canadian teaching order on campus. They attended class and engaged in usual extra curricular clubs and activities on campus. But they lived in their own residence, A little old house dubbed St Mary's Residence. As a French major I was involved with them, befriended them, and spent a lot of time at St. Mary's. Obviously, I got used to the Quebecois, and undoubtedly absorbed much of the dialect myself. In 1967 the French Club and the Brothers arranged a bus trip to Montreal for Expo 67. We stayed at the Brothers' Mother House in Montreal. Very simple, but extremely comfortable accommodations, with a very nice breakfast and dinner provided. I can't recall the cost, except that it was very cheap, even for impecunious undergraduates. And we French majors were living in a French speaking community. The following year during winter break (January) a friend and I hitchhiked to Montreal and stayed with the Brothers. It was COLD!!!!! But while we toured the city a bit, we found the facilities at Le Scolasticat Central wonderful. I especially remember swimming in the wonderful pool. As living in French speaking monastic community was great. Ken

I too studied Biblical Greek, and can work my way through a text with a dictionary and a lot of patience. About the same ability in Hebrew, but the Hebrew I studied is the.modern Israeli kind. Biggest issue is the pronunciation. I've been asked to lead Passover Seders on several occasions by Jewish friends who initially have a little trouble with my Sephardic pronunciation when they are used to the Ashkenazi pronunciation. I also can work my way through Medieval (and Church) Latin without much trouble. I've taken courses in (modern) German and can get the high points of scholarly articles on literary criticism. My specialty is Medieval Germanic language (and literature). Old English (Anglo Saxon) Middle English, and Old High German. Also studied Old Norse, but had philosophical problems with the approach of the professor, so didn't follow through on that. Ken

Majored in French in college, and became fairly fluent. But haven't used it in years. I find I can still read it, and understand fairly well if the speaker goes slowly and enunciates. At work I've occasionally had a bilingual conversation. I'd speak English slowly and clearly, while my French speaking visitor would speak French. Both sides understood the other well enough. When stationed in Naples for Desert Shield I took a class in Italian. I learned enough to ask the questions, but not enough to understand the answers. Ken

+1. Happy birthday Jack. Haven't heard from you in a while - hope all is well. Ken

We parted amicably. We had been together for about six years; we met when I was on leave in the Navy and visiting some friends at my alma mater. After release from active duty (I remained in the Reserves for a total of21 years) I went on to graduate school. Quite simply we outgrew each other. The trip to San Antonio was the last attempt to make it work, and although we had a great time together, the spark had gone out. Some years later she had married, and she and her husband visited us and joined us for dinner. It was a pleasant afternoon and evening, and we parted as friends. I've not heard from her in years. Ken

Doug's (W2DR) reminiscence got me thinking of an Independence Day many years ago. Back in 1977 I was in grad school, and had a friend named Karen. Karen was driving an old Buick, and her dad agreed it was time to upgrade. Now Karen (and I) were in New York, and dad was in Minnesota. Karen was to drive the old car back "home," dad would buy her a new one, and she'd drive the new(er) one back to Long Island. Well, it was summer. My USNR training wasn't for several weeks, and I didn't have anything else to do. Besides, I'd never been to Minnesota. Moreover, my girlfriend Deb was in training at the Army base in San Antonio TX, so I figured I could visit her, too. So I offered to keep Karen company and share the driving on the 1300 mile trip to St.Cloud, MN. My offer was enthusiastically accepted. The day of our departure was set for July 5. On July 4 I went to a holiday barbecue at my Aunt and Uncle's, then went to Karen's apartment to be ready for an early start. Not a quiet night! The fireworks (illegal in this state) kept up for hours, and someone had poured an accelerant on the road and set it on fire. The trip west was a challenge. An incredible heat spell gripped much of the country. But we safely arrived in St. Cloud. I met her parents, shopped for a newer car with her dad, and went to a parade in Sauk Center (Main St. in Sinclair Lewis' novel). Karen's dad was a Shriner, and drove in with precision go-cart team in the parade. Then I flew down to San Antonio. The plane had a stop in Des Moines, where the runway had buckled from the heat. I loved the visit to San Antonio. The Alamo, the Governor's house, the River Walk. While in San Antonio the northeast US had a massive power outage which put the region in the dark for hours. I flew back to Minnesota, and Karen and I drove back to NY in her new, 1975 AMC Hornet. The hot spell continued, and cars were overheating and breaking down. Took us hours to cross the George Washington Bridge, fighting with a balky, unfamiliar car with a tendency to vapor lock. But we made it. Karen and I just celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary. Ken

I echo Rodge on this one, Doug. A great story, and makes me nostalgic about a "4th" years ago. But that's another story. Ken

Thanks Karl! Wayne, I'll drink to that! Reenacted Independence Day, 1863, at work this weekend. A deeply troubled time, in the middle of the Civil War. Anxiously awaiting the news from Gettysburg. Brass band, patriotic music, suitable prayers, reading of the Declaration of Independence (my part) and a stirring oration. Was a moving remembrance of a 19th century 4th, and most appropriate for our times too. Ken (AKA Councilman and Hatter Lewis Ritch).

Nice shot Wayne. I just recently got P3D 5, and really love the True Earth scenery with it. And I love the Central Valley part of CA. Your shot captures this beautifully. (My only wish: KFAT airport for P3D). Ken

All of the above, though #5 still needs more work. Ken

If we can make it work, Landon, it would be great! But I'm a realist, too. But let's try. BTW, anyone else who ventures to the NY area, and has some tims, PM me, and we can see what we can do. (Open invite). Ken

So glad you had a great time, Landon. My only wishes are: 1. You had more time here in the "Far East". 2. I'd known you were planning the trip earlier. Why? I would have loved to try to meet up in person, if possible, and,of course, if you wanted to. Ken

Now at Glacier Park Int. (KGPI) in Montana. I recently bought this airport during a recent Orbx sale, and this is the first time I've seen it. I'm headed to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the PilotEdge "dress rehearsal" for the real world EAA air venture fly in which handles some 10,000 planes over a few days. This is the third year that this SIM event has been run, and it is a great experience, even (or especially) if you are never likely to do it in real life. See PilotEdge.net for details. For non PilotEdge members they offer a free trial which is enough to participate in this program. I'd love to have some Orbx buddies along for this. BTW, I'm a great believer in flying from place to place, and very, very rarely use the "Change Location" function in my SIM. I've flown coast to coast several times. Ken

A few hours early, but best wishes for a happy birthday! You've had a rough time, I hope that the next year is better. Ken