Welcoming in 2009

I can't believe it is actually 2009. Twenty years ago I would have been 16, dreaming of joining the Air Force, playing Falcon 2.0 (jet fighter simulator),programming on my 286 Packard Bell and loving my 1965 candy apple red Ford Mustang. I remember thinking at the time, that by 2010 we'll be driving cars that can fly....everyday Joe Plumbers will be going into space...and I could have the power of my 286 computer in the palm of my hand. When you think about it, a lot of those "dreams" of the future have come true...and many more. Private companies are forming that will allow everyday people the chance to go into space. I now program on smartphones that have so much more processing power and capabilities than my old 286, that it isn't even funny. Still not much progress on that flying car. Hunter and I agree that a flying car would be soooo super sweet. (Maybe that will be our next project!)


For Christmas I ended up getting a great shirt from Kari that says, "Got Aviation?" I'm taking that as a big sign that she is behind my desire to fly. (I never doubted that she would be) Brandy got me a cool book on common mistakes that pilots make. (I'm not sure what she is trying to tell me.) I thinkAlso, I used some money I had gotten to purchase Microsoft Century of Flight.



There are some really cool features in this version. Thre are all kinds of historical planes to fly - Wright Flyer, Spirit of St. Louis, and the Boeing 747. The software also comes with a flight school. I completed the first lesson which had me take off, make some manuevers and then land the plane. I'm looking forward to using this as a tool to gain more experience flying...in a super cheap fashion. Once I purchase a yoke and rudder pedals control for the computer I will have the complete experience.



Here is one view of the from with the game...considering this game is a fews old, the graphics are still pretty amazing.

So for now...in this dark and wet days of winter, I plan on staying inside, reading and flying the simulator. I should be in good shape for my first couple of real flights come sprint. Something to look forward to!