Eeek – that is just too much of an adventure Lady Jo. Glad all is well. With the benefit of hindsight, an insulating cover over the battery terminal might be good, as fitted on all the modern cars I’ve seen. Just between we two – next time you fancy a beer and chocolate – you have my full permission to go right ahead. No need for any supporting act - just go for the headline event.
YEOW. more of an adventure that planned for sure. Glad you landed safe and no damage from the fire. Fast thinking and fast feet!
futurshox wrote:
Just a reminder to folks that anything and everything can happen when flying... so on Friday I was chugging along in the right hand seat of my friend's RV-6, we were minding our own business at about 2300ft when, BAM! A whopping big bump sent our heads to the canopy. I tightened my straps and two minutes later, another WHAM! And then, fire. We think the first bump broke the battery retaining strap. The second bump turned the battery pack 90 degrees, which caused it to short out on bits of metal it shouldn't be touching, and set the rubber mat on fire under my feet. Lots of smoke. I stamped out the flames and my buddy killed the power to the panel, so now we're were flying blind, but the immediate danger was gone and we were still flying. Some unorthodox navigation ensued to an airport with a nice long runway, and a fast, flapless landing later, we were safe on the ground. Got the heart rate going there for a while. And I don't mind telling you that some alcohol and comfort food was enjoyed that evening...
The plane is now fixed, we flew home yesterday; all is well. Just be careful out there....Show more →
futurshox wrote:
Just a reminder to folks that anything and everything can happen when flying... so on Friday I was chugging along in the right hand seat of my friend's RV-6, we were minding our own business at about 2300ft when, BAM! A whopping big bump sent our heads to the canopy. I tightened my straps and two minutes later, another WHAM! And then, fire. We think the first bump broke the battery retaining strap. The second bump turned the battery pack 90 degrees, which caused it to short out on bits of metal it shouldn't be touching, and set the rubber mat on fire under my feet. Lots of smoke. I stamped out the flames and my buddy killed the power to the panel, so now we're were flying blind, but the immediate danger was gone and we were still flying. Some unorthodox navigation ensued to an airport with a nice long runway, and a fast, flapless landing later, we were safe on the ground. Got the heart rate going there for a while. And I don't mind telling you that some alcohol and comfort food was enjoyed that evening...
The plane is now fixed, we flew home yesterday; all is well. Just be careful out there....Show more →
futurshox wrote:
Just a reminder to folks that anything and everything can happen when flying... so on Friday I was chugging along in the right hand seat of my friend's RV-6, we were minding our own business at about 2300ft when, BAM! A whopping big bump sent our heads to the canopy. I tightened my straps and two minutes later, another WHAM! And then, fire. We think the first bump broke the battery retaining strap. The second bump turned the battery pack 90 degrees, which caused it to short out on bits of metal it shouldn't be touching, and set the rubber mat on fire under my feet. Lots of smoke. I stamped out the flames and my buddy killed the power to the panel, so now we're were flying blind, but the immediate danger was gone and we were still flying. Some unorthodox navigation ensued to an airport with a nice long runway, and a fast, flapless landing later, we were safe on the ground. Got the heart rate going there for a while. And I don't mind telling you that some alcohol and comfort food was enjoyed that evening...
The plane is now fixed, we flew home yesterday; all is well. Just be careful out there....Show more →
Dear Lady Jo,
Very thankful things ended up the way they did! Normally that beginning doesn't have nearly as happy an ending. You are right though, savor every day, but especially the ones where you can stamp out the fire!
Glad the only fix you needed was good food and a custom brew. You are way too valuable to have had it go any other way.
India mystery solved, turns out it was an Airbus 319. 10 hours and it was documented and on it's way to my triple archives, pretty nice ride. Turned down a luxury trip to Mumbai tomorrow, partly because my schedule wouldn't allow it, but mostly because it's the one of the last places on earth I'd care to go unless there was a pile of cash involved.
The images are exquisite, one of the coolest big jets I've had the pleasure to shoot.
Nope, got a mini marathon going right now but things should calm down in a week or so. Probably won't stay that way though because, among other things, I had a meeting last week with a new premium international airline service and they have asked me to do all of their still and cinematic work. Oh to be 40 again!
futurshox wrote:
Just a reminder to folks that anything and everything can happen when flying... so on Friday I was chugging along in the right hand seat of my friend's RV-6, we were minding our own business at about 2300ft when, BAM! A whopping big bump sent our heads to the canopy. I tightened my straps and two minutes later, another WHAM! And then, fire. We think the first bump broke the battery retaining strap. The second bump turned the battery pack 90 degrees, which caused it to short out on bits of metal it shouldn't be touching, and set the rubber mat on fire under my feet. Lots of smoke. I stamped out the flames and my buddy killed the power to the panel, so now we're were flying blind, but the immediate danger was gone and we were still flying. Some unorthodox navigation ensued to an airport with a nice long runway, and a fast, flapless landing later, we were safe on the ground. Got the heart rate going there for a while. And I don't mind telling you that some alcohol and comfort food was enjoyed that evening...
The plane is now fixed, we flew home yesterday; all is well. Just be careful out there....Show more →
Wow, glad you're OK! I'd say the occasion called for more than one quality craft beer!
JWilsonphoto wrote:
Thanks Steve! The AE Rig does a very good job. Glenn built a refined version of it that works great, and I'm designing and building v3.0 with some friends who ran the robotics division at TI. This new one is aimed at cameras the size of the FS/7 and the F55, utilizing dual 8x8's mounted vertically. Should be operational in a month or so.
Cool, there's a number of times you can see how much he's throwing that yoke around. Do you video the joins/rejoins with the military guys? There's something special about seeing someone smoothly close in along the ideal line and stop at just the right place.
Here is one interior shot of the G-450 that I photographed last week. A rather unusual interior layout, with the galley area up front, instead of being located in the rear of the aircraft.
Last year at Wanaka I had the good fortune to be assigned an air-to-air photo mission with Bill Reid's immaculately restored Avro Anson Mk 1 as the subject. It's the only flying Anson Mk 1 in the world. This year I met up with Bill and the Anson again at Omaka; there I gave him a presentation print of one of my photos from the air-to-air mission, and he invited me to take the right seat as he taxied from the hangar to the display line, on practice day at the Classic Fighters air show.
I printed this one on aluminum at 16x24 and presented it to Bill; he loved it.
