The past two days have been some of the most challenging that I have navigated in my career. Fortunately I had my trusty Grandson Chandler with me to fill in the gaps. He was amazing, really took a lot of initiative and captured some tremendous stills and video while I scrambled to get my stuff. Both days were 18 hour sorties, combined with the stress of not knowing what was happening next, or if anything was going to happen at all. In fact, we were told that we should pack up yesterday around noon because the crew was certain the maiden flight was not happening that day. We decided to hang and shoot details. A couple of hours later I got an urgent call from the marketing director on the west coast alerting me that it was, indeed, going to fly and the board of directors were on a jet to watch......................Fortunately, we were standing 10' from the plane and ever vigilant. FAA/DAR was enroute to inspect the aircraft and sign the flight authorization, pressure was mounting. The light, of course, while clearing, was getting worse for us every minute. Oh well, there comes a point where you do the best that you can do and deal with it. The test pilots arrived, seasoned guys with the gray hair one likes to see in the seats up front, nice guys. More drama, more delays, mounting tension across the board, and then....................the image heard around the world in the commercial aviation world. Press releases were all written , just waiting for this image. This was aviation history, never before has this kind of prototype been created and it means that the 71 Boeing 777 ER's that are in line for conversion, can proceed. Billions of dollars were at stake and largely hinged upon this aircraft completing a successful test flight....Show more →
It is must be very rewarding Jim to have grandchildren that embody a great work ethic and seamlessly navigate life's challenges! Something I see very lacking in some of today's youth. Now "youth" is anyone younger than my 78 years!
His blood line is rich and pure!!!! I know you and Shelia are proud!
Say "Heh" to my buddy!
Dan
Chandler just called to check in on me, hilarious. He is very into fitness and diet currently and he got this very expensive watch that analyzes all manner of fitness information, way beyond heart rate, etc. Apparently it measures rest, stress, exercise and recommends behavioral modifications based upon what it observes. Chandler said that his watch told him that whatever he did yesterday...................try not to do that anymore.............. The program recorded extremely high levels of stress throughout the day. I laughed and told him, "welcome to my world!"
Thanks Dan, and yes, we are very proud of him. He enrolled in Liberty University a few years ago and will graduate in a year or so. He decided, among other things to take a number of Biblical history courses. I asked him why he chose those courses and he explained that he wanted to have more knowledge of teh basis for his faith, and to have a stronger base to witness from. That is the kind of young man Chandler is.
The past two days have been some of the most challenging that I have navigated in my career. Fortunately I had my trusty Grandson Chandler with me to fill in the gaps. He was amazing, really took a lot of initiative and captured some tremendous stills and video while I scrambled to get my stuff. Both days were 18 hour sorties, combined with the stress of not knowing what was happening next, or if anything was going to happen at all. In fact, we were told that we should pack up yesterday around noon because the crew was certain the maiden flight was not happening that day. We decided to hang and shoot details. A couple of hours later I got an urgent call from the marketing director on the west coast alerting me that it was, indeed, going to fly and the board of directors were on a jet to watch......................Fortunately, we were standing 10' from the plane and ever vigilant. FAA/DAR was enroute to inspect the aircraft and sign the flight authorization, pressure was mounting. The light, of course, while clearing, was getting worse for us every minute. Oh well, there comes a point where you do the best that you can do and deal with it. The test pilots arrived, seasoned guys with the gray hair one likes to see in the seats up front, nice guys. More drama, more delays, mounting tension across the board, and then....................the image heard around the world in the commercial aviation world. Press releases were all written , just waiting for this image. This was aviation history, never before has this kind of prototype been created and it means that the 71 Boeing 777 ER's that are in line for conversion, can proceed. Billions of dollars were at stake and largely hinged upon this aircraft completing a successful test flight....Show more →
JWilsonphoto wrote:
Chandler just called to check in on me, hilarious. He is very into fitness and diet currently and he got this very expensive watch that analyzes all manner of fitness information, way beyond heart rate, etc. Apparently it measures rest, stress, exercise and recommends behavioral modifications based upon what it observes. Chandler said that his watch told him that whatever he did yesterday...................try not to do that anymore.............. The program recorded extremely high levels of stress throughout the day. I laughed and told him, "welcome to my world!"
And that dam watch dishes out advice without having to reap any consequences or diet manipulations Chandler has to go through..both physically and mentally!
Good for him! I can positively tell him diet and exercise became a daily routine and it works!
Dan
JWilsonphoto wrote:
Thanks Dan, and yes, we are very proud of him. He enrolled in Liberty University a few years ago and will graduate in a year or so. He decided, among other things to take a number of Biblical history courses. I asked him why he chose those courses and he explained that he wanted to have more knowledge of teh basis for his faith, and to have a stronger base to witness from. That is the kind of young man Chandler is.
One of my neighbor's was/is a minister. His son attended Liberty U many years ago and is a pastor near Richmond. Faith should be an integral part of one's life.
Dan
Liberty U is not that far from me. He needs some R&R...let me know! He is welcome here!
Will he be taking a camera He had better! That area of Virginia is fantastic in the Fall, Spring and Winter!! He is surrounded by history of all names!!!
A few from the Thunderbird's arrival at SJAFB yesterday afternoon. First airshow in 4 years, and boy, was I out of practice!!! Even with the best gear in the world, my swivel hips were not keeping up!! These are some of the best. Keeper rate was not that good. Tomorrow is the show, so I hope I can improve!!! Jim, one more question if you don't mind. What shutter speed to you use for low level high speed passes?
Very nice job Jim, and having your grandson there to help and be a part of that is like making history and I'm sure you're very proud.
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Dan, love that Royal Crown shack...
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Chas, those are looking pretty god for your first go round with your new gear...Keep shooting.
It's 8:17 and just now loading up files from drone and camera.
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Aside from normal Air Force jets with Kingsley and Luke...F-15 and F-35...
Got to hang out personally with the Army, Army & Air Force.
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The first Army Reserve plane was a gray, Hawker Beechcraft C-12V-1 Huron from JFTB – Los Alamitos, California. They were actually just stopping by on the way back home and refueling...Pixs to Follow.
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The second Army plane was another light gray Hawker Beechcraft C-12V-1 Huron, they were picking up a 2 star General and taking him to Fort Lewis, Washington.
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The third plane was an Air Force C-21A Bombardier Learjet 35 from Scott Field, Scott Air Force Base headed to Texas with a 3 star General.
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Got a few dash pixs of the Lear Jet.
Got killer pictures, they all got some challenge coins I made and some of my photography metal cards with my name, number and web site.
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The F-15's & F-35's made one more round in the afternoon and I stayed out long enough to get nice and crispy...Gonna do it all again tomorrow as well.
If your subject happens to be jets, crank it up to 1000 and see if you like the results. Sometimes I just switch to Auto ISO and bump the shutter speed up to 2000 just to see what I can capture. Let me know how you do today and we can tweak from there.
Im going through my annual mental gymnastics re: storage scenarios. Currently the cost to store 150TB's of data online is $1800 a month. That number always brings me back to continuing on with my OWC storage program. Looks like two more Thunderbay 8's are in my future. Two months of online storage buys an 8 bay filled with 24TB drives.
The challenge is, with today's gear, I am shooting between .5 and 1TB on every assignment.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
Im going through my annual mental gymnastics re: storage scenarios. Currently the cost to store 150TB's of data online is $1800 a month. That number always brings me back to continuing on with my OWC storage program. Looks like two more Thunder Bay 8's are in my future. Two months of online storage buys an 8 bay filled with 24TB drives.
The challenge is, with today's gear, I am shooting between .5 and 1TB on every assignment. ...Show more →
Jim question as you shoot between .5 and 1TB on assignment, how many cards do you have with you and do you have a preferred brand and size card.
I have standardized all my cards to 1TB CF Express, about half are Lexar and the other half are Angelbird. Both seem to be serving me well. Oh, and I have a card case that has 8 1TB cards in it , plus the cards in my three bodies. The C400 has a 1TB card and four more in reserve in that rolling case.
The program recorded extremely high levels of stress throughout the day. I laughed and told him, "welcome to my world!"
He had better! That area of Virginia is fantastic in the Fall, Spring and Winter!! He is surrounded by history of all names!!!
