Whats your day job?

[Doc J]

They tend to keep a low profile. I even have to wear a badge so that I don't forget who I am - you know the kind of organization...

I'm not so actively involved now that those super-smart young engineers are swarming all over the place, but I can tell you those buggers learn fast and well. Me? I love them! Good thing is now I have the chance to use some of the (less sensitive) good R&D stuff I did on more important projects - like model gliders! Happily there are some parallels between model gliders and UAV's.

Now I'm working on setting up my own research centre here to develop new manufacturing methods as well as prototypes.

Don't you find that development is addictive? For me it seems to apply to pretty much everything I do - even mundane tasks.

Cheers,

Doc.

Just an update - Its working!

My "Research Centre" - got to give it a fancy name, but its a dedicated small shop in my house - is going strong and over the last year a lot of construction and materials improvements have been developed and are now incorporated into my models. Its great to have an idea and then have a place to mess about with it as you wish until it either works or is discarded:

I can honestly say that as far as I know, construction wise, my stuff is at the very sharp end.

I have also been spending some time on compiling new aerodynamics for new designs which will break some boundaries - if they work!

More to come!

Doc.

 

[rcsoar4fun]

> If you ever make it to Big Island Hawaii let me know and I'll take you to some great places for naked eye and telescope astronomy.

Thank you for that offer. It's a huge plus to get away from the city lights and have clear atmosphere for night sky observation.

Funny, dark skies are one of those things I forget about because it is so dark where I live. One of 2 dark sky reserves in the US is about an hour from me. Spent some time there this year camping. I usually end up about 30 days a year camping, I always remind myself to not take it for granted.

Central Idaho

The Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve is a region of 3,668 square kilometers (1,416 square miles) of remote and largely rugged lands in the Sawtooth Mountains of central Idaho, U.S.. The reserve has as…

darksky.org

 

[Hawaii Sloper]

Funny, dark skies are one of those things I forget about because it is so dark where I live. One of 2 dark sky reserves in the US is about an hour from me. Spent some time there this year camping. I usually end up about 30 days a year camping, I always remind myself to not take it for granted.

Central Idaho

The Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve is a region of 3,668 square kilometers (1,416 square miles) of remote and largely rugged lands in the Sawtooth Mountains of central Idaho, U.S.. The reserve has as…

darksky.org

That's pretty awesome to be so close to a place like that. I have been doing amateur stuff for about 5 years now. I have really wanted to pull the trigger on a full astro photography rig for a while now though. My yard is a Bortel 2-3 so it doesn't get much darker than that. I also live about an hours drive from Mauna Kea where they have the observatories. pretty great viewing from the observation stations on the way to the top of the mountain.

 

[timrowledge]

{waves from the cheap seats}
Hi. I'm tim and I'm a flightaholic.

Started flying at 13, 50 years ago, eek. One of my school teachers was That Mike Blandford.

Mechanical engineer, Industrial Designer, Software Engineer, intelligence analyst for [redacted], built motorcycles (for money!), model planes, complex software systems, much furniture, a house or two. I have a couple of Raspberry Pi on the ISS, and did a lot of work for them to make the educational Scratch stuff work properly.

Currently treasurer for the Parksville District and Qualicum Flyers - PDQ Flyers - on Vancouver Island. I really will finish rebuilding my 3m RF-4 one day.

 

[Sam]

Firefighter. Love the job. But it comes with risks, like getting cancer from the AFFF. Yep, that's possible.
That's why I'm prepared, already found this law firm to represent me, just in case.

 

[Shoelace]

Firefighter. Love the job.

Where do you work?

 

[GeoC]

Very interesting sort we are!

Jobs I have had age 9.....
Paperboy
Tobacco farm laborer
Dishwasher
Stock clerk
Mechanic
Framing carpenter
Roofer
Ice-cream mobile vendor
Age 19
Electronics maintainer ground aviation navigation, weather, radar and communication electronics
Age 23
Navy SEAL
-Mini-sub pilot /navigator
-Open close circuit diving apparatus maintainer
-Special operations, intelligence collections specialist
-Mini sub trainer instructor
-High risk instructor
-High risk training curriculum developer
-Fitness coach
-SCARS combat trainer
-Dive master, Jump master, Rope master, Weapons /Demo Range master
-Weapons tactics instructor
-Manpack tactical communications instructor
Age 42
Volunteer firefighter EMT
Fire arms instructor
Navy ship board security team instructor
Gun fight instructor
VBSS instructor
Age 48
UAV sensor testing and development
UAV sensor operator
Manned aircraft intelligence systems testing
Intelligence systems ground station development delivery assembly testing
Sensor systems /operations trainer
Intelligence Geospecialist
Intelligence exploitation dissemination

Still working 3 months annually at age 65.

Why rc aircraft?
1970 Age 10 - 1st aircraft model Cox P40 .049 control line. RTF. 3 flights. 6 circles in all.
1965 witnessed model rc flying and was completely obsessed but $$+time was the obstacle.

2nd model- Me109 60" built up fuse and wing. 1 year build time. 1 attempted control line flight. Crashed on launch. Complete failure. Lost the dream.


Age 49 - decided to try again. RTF 1.9m Predator drone replica . 2 flights. Complete failure.


Age 49 - Decided... that to get adrenaline safely it would require avoiding dangerous activities.
Witnessed an F3F 3m pumping at Torrey Pines and I was completely hooked. Done . All in . No need for brave dangerous/ injurous hobbies for my adrenaline addiction.

But that piloting high speed gliders at/by myself would suffice.

Age 50 - learned to drive a Traxas car then started loosing and wrecking aircraft at a record pace.

Age 52 - 15 planes later I bought Realflight and discovered that I still could not fly. Or repair anything significantly well.

At 65 I now build and fly with some of the most amazing Socal guys.

The above photo is courtesy of howsthewind.

Here is Joe C with his 2m custom Racer prototype and myself with the Big Mig 61" doing some pumps at Torrey Pines.
Still living the dream.
Don't stop believing, (you can do it)
George

 

[JMcRae]

Project/Program Manager at a small flying field on the west coast (LAX)

Met Wayne when we were both into 4WD, long, long time ago!

 

[Wayne]

Great to see this thread pop up again!

 

[Jim-e]

conclusion to friday day job at my mill - nicest log (swamp maple) so far from out back. may 4 finished sawing to two 5 x 7 top rails from a center cut and extra boards for side rails, all 18' long.

 

[Doc James Hammond]

conclusion to friday day job at my mill - nicest log (swamp maple) so far from out back.

Dayum - that's really great. Logs r us!

Doc.

 

[GeoC]

Yea, I would like to meet all of you guys.

Cajon Pass for PSS. Memorial day weekend. That's next for me.
I will fly Crestline and Little mtn a day or so before.

All of you guys are awesome.

All the best.
George

 

[RafaelAvila]

Im actually running a small airplane/3d printing manufacturer to a local hobby shop.
I do cleaning
I do walk a lot ( between the buildings)
I do not talk much to people
I extrude a lot plastic
Burn a lot balsa
And so some assembling for kits.
Sometimes cnc box cutting.
Sometimes shipping
Cad design
Maintenance on the machines
People call me "severino" ( do everything)

 

[Wayne]

Hey you - get back to work!