Air France 477 – assembled time line

I was not able to find a lot of information on the aircraft communications time line past the first couple of days of the search. Of the information I was able to obtain, this is the short time line I was able to put together.

Following each, the ‘[#]’ links to the reference article where information was obtained.

0200 GMT – pilot sent a manual signal local time saying he was flying through an area of “CBs” — black, electrically charged cumulonimbus clouds that come with violent winds and lightning. [1]
0200 GMT – pilot reports turbulence [2]

0210 GMT – Autopilot had disengaged [1] [2] [3]
0210 GMT – Key computer system had switched to alternative power [1]
0210 GMT – Controls needed to keep the plane stable had been damaged [1]
0210 GMT – Alarm sounded indicating the deterioration of flight systems. [1]

0213 GMT – Failure of systems to monitor air speed [1]
0213 GMT – Failure of systems to monitor altitude [1]
0213 GMT – Failure of systems to monitor [1]
0213 GMT – Control of the main flight computer failed [1] [2]
0213 GMT – Control of spoilers failed [1]

0214 GMT – Loss of cabin pressure [1]
0214 GMT – Complete electrical failure [1]
0214 GMT – Cabin in Vertical Speed [2] [3]

The latest information on the wreckage and remains recovery:

A French nuclear submarine has arrived at the scene of the Air France crash in the ocean off Brazil to start searching for the flight’s data recorders.

The “black boxes”, which emit a locator signal for about 30 days, could be up to 6,100m (20,000ft) deep, on the bed of the Atlantic.

They could provide vital clues as to why the Airbus A330 crashed on 1 June.

Brazilian air and sea searches have now recovered 41 bodies from the plane, which had 228 people on board.

The submarine, and Brazilian naval and air forces, have a large and remote area of ocean to search.

Debris from the plane, which was flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, has been found some 1,000km (600 miles) north-east of the Fernando de Noronha islands. The islands are about 320km off the north-eastern coast of Brazil.

‘Very complicated’

French military spokesman Captain Christophe Prazuck said the submarine – the Emeraude – should be able to cover an area of 26 sq km each day. It has advanced sonar equipment on board.

“There are big uncertainties about the accident site, the ocean floor is rugged… so it’s going to be very difficult,” he told French radio.

“It’s going to be very complicated and we’re going to need a lot of luck” to find the plane’s data recorders.

A recovered section of the Air France jet, attached to a Brazilian navy vessel, 9 June (image from Brazilian air force website)

The US is also joining the search, sending two sophisticated listening devices, which will be deployed on two large vessels hired by France. They will be towed in a grid pattern across the search area.

If the aircraft’s two black boxes are located, a mini-submarine called the Nautile will be sent down to retrieve them. The vessel, which has a crew of three and is about 8m long, is the same one which explored the wreck of the Titanic.

FULL ARTICLE:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8092715.stm

8 hours to departure.

Then then there were three (less). One person out with flu, another had a technical issue with their bike and a third simply decided to pass.

Myself, I’m going. Tank bag arrived today. Smaller than I expected. HOWEVER, it seems well constructed and for a day bag.. I think it will be perfect. The SW-Motec mounting system is SLICK! I’m going to order a second larger bag for touring, and maybe I’ll upgrade to the 12v powered plate too.

A review on my new gear, new tank bag and the prospect of a weekend of riding with only a small tail pack and a smaller tank bag will work out.

The tragedy of Air France 447

Since the disappearance of Air France 447, an Airbus A330-200, (the exact same model of aircraft flown by Northwest Airlines, that I took to Amsterdam last month), 800px-nwa_a330-300_n805nw_arpI have been following the news reports pretty closely.  A lot of speculation surrounds, what the call the doomed flight, but until they get the ‘black boxes’ this is mostly speculation.   However there are some unique bits of data that the aircraft’s monitoring systems sent to AirBus (or maybe Air France, it’s not clear to me where the messages were sent) that the events leading up to the crash occurred over a 10-15 minute time period.  Plenty of time for pilots to issue a ‘Mayday’ message if they’d had any indication of an impending problem.

From the various reports I’ve read, I’m going to start to assemble some timelines, and references to the article sources as possible.   It will likely take me a day or so to get this collected.  Once I have managed to do so, a follow-up message will be posted.

My prayers go out to the families affected, and especially the passengers on the fated flight.  From what I have read so far, it would appear the aircraft broke up at altitude.  I can’t image what that might have been like.

UPDATE: Timline Published.

New Summer riding gear – time to update

I’ve been riding for years in my trusty First Gear leather. I actually bought it at Laguna Seca during a round of the World Superbikes in 2003. Wow.. that means the gear is in it’s 6th season (just realized that now).

The jacket has seen an easy 100,000 miles of use, and I think it shows. It’s been a good jacket, and it’s not even close to the end of it’s service life. It’s just dirty and it does not fit me at my ‘new weight’ (something I’m working hard on now.. so it will fit again soon). But I love to ride and the fact the jacket makes me feel like I’m stuffed in a sausage skin.. I either ride without, or not at all and neither are acceptable to me.

So today, I picked up a jacket I plan to use for the summer, and likely sell (or not sell, I still have my first textile jacket circa 1994 and my first leather jacket circa 1995 in my closet — neither fit me).

So here is my summer replacement. Shift mesh jacket, with armored crash points and a zip-in windproof liner for when it’s no longer in the 90’s here (sadly that will be here soon).  Price at local bike shop:  $150.

jacket

I’ve also started to have trouble with my trusty  WWII  ‘Air Force II’ helmet’s visor.  On it’s 3rd season, it’s no longer staying open.   The helmet still fits and works fine in all other categories.   Now, when I rolled into the bike shop I had not intended to buy a new helmet, but it was also not totally out of my mind.     First thing I noticed were some new KBC’s (same brand as the one I’m having an issue with..  but really after 3 years for the price, it’s mostly a NON-ISSUE).   Over the years I’ve thought I might buy a helmet to ‘match’ my bike.  But hardly anyone carries yellow helmets.   This shop had 3.  2 in the new ‘Nuclear Accident’ style (for lack of better term), and they looked great with a big yellow ‘Nuclear’ symbol on the sides.

After spending about 1 hour with a very cute girl, helping me find a good fitting textile mesh style jacket, I was back at the helmets.  Then I noticed one at the bottom, also in yellow, with a kick-ass skull on the side.  LOL.    So.. that was added to my shopping cart.     It’s SNELL and DOT approved.  Why not..  I don’t know that I’d use if for track days (my Shoei will likely remain in service there) but for street use where SNELL is a more relevant rating.. why not?   SNELL, unlike DOT is not a self-certifying authority, so I feel confident it’s safe for my head. Price at local bike shop:  $140.

helmet

So, starting of the new ‘season’ with some updated gear.  I still need to get my leather riding pants repaired…  but I’ll get to that on a rainy day.

Luggage shipped! – Canada Trip on schedule!!

Woot! Tankpack is supposed to arrive in time!!!!

If the bag arrives as scheduled and I don’t run into an installation issues, I’ll be headed for Kamloops B.C. very early Saturday morning.

Two day ride up to Kamloops, BC from Federal Way area and back. Stay the night in Kamloops and ride back with a few stops along the way. Approx. 11 hours each day.

When: June 6 & 7
Pace: Moderate, depending upon leg lead
Comments:
Experienced alternating leads to keep everyone engaged. Specific legs TBD.
Passport or Enhanced Driver’s license required, we’re going to Canada eh?

General Route – 300+ miles. Group is planning 11 hours travel time each direction.

View Larger Map

I received the order and shipping confirmation today.

Ordered: 1 Shipped: 1 BCK.TR6021 Bags-Connection “Vina” Quick-Lock Tankbag for SW-MOTECH Gascap Mounting System $134.99
Ordered: 1 Shipped: 1 TRT.00.475.110 SW-MOTECH Gascap Bottom Ring for Quick-Lock Tankbags & Camera Mount (Yamaha/Ducati/Triumph/Victory 5 $27.50

Number of Packages 1
UPS Service: 2ND DAY AIR
Weight: 4.7 LBS
Scheduled Delivery: 05-June-2009

Brand Loyalty – would I re-purchase?

While driving home today, I caught up to wonderful white horse (and my horse I mean sports car).  It was a very seldom seen 997 based Porsche GT2.  It was an amazing looking machine.   Seeing it, and thinking about the Porsche’s I’d owned..  would I re-purchase (yes.. a 996TT is on my active TO-DO list).   Then I started to think about the cars I’ve owned, and which, if any models I’d bought more than once, as well as which brands I seem to purchase most.    So.. here is the what the mental exercise that occupied my commute home, netted:

6 Mercedes-Benz
5 Ford
3 Dodge
2 Porsche
1 Jeep
1 Toyota
1 Mazda
1 Cadillac

I’ve probably forgotten 1 or two in there, somewhere.   So..  I was a little shocked at how many Fords I’ve owned over the years.  And that soon had me thinking about of all those vehicles, were any a re-purchase, replacing a vehicle with same or similar, or even buying the same basic model some years down the road.  A pattern there was pretty clear.

At the top of the chart is Mercedes-Benz.  Of those they consist of 3 different models, so there were clear cases of re-purchase.  The interesting part (to me) was that in those cases years often elapsed between a ‘return’ to the model in question.

The largest of the pool is the classic W124 E-Class sedans  (’88-’94).   Of that body, I first bought a 260E, the base model E-class available in that year.   I kept it until it was replaced with an ML320 SUV.  A few years later another W124 was purchased a 300E.  They are just great driving cars.   A couple of years after that, I caught a break!  The chance to purchase the flagship W124.  The uber-sedan. The fastest production car that year.  The 300HP 500E (also a W124 body that was highly modified by, of all companies, Porsche).  Sadly the 500’s had a serious wiring issue in the engine compartment, and I decided to sell it off.   I was without a Benz for the first time in over 10 years.

I started to dabble in Porsches next, buying a pair of wonderful 911 varient (964 and 993).  Great cars, but commuting in one seemed like work far benieth the cast of a Porsche.  So it was traded (+ cash in my pocket) for a Mercedes CLK430 (#5).  As fast as the Porsches but a more ‘civilized’ unit for daily commuting.    Eventually, as the economy started to turn, I unloaded the 2nd Porsche, before the values totally tanked, trading it for another Mercedes, this time, another V8, but of the ML variety, an ML430 (MBZ #6).

In the end, I’d re-purchased the W124 twice, and clearly went on the hunt for an ML that I wanted (V8 for towing, I’d become a big fan of the 24 valve little V8 from my time in the CLK) and finally located one north of Seattle.

500E and Miata parked in Seattles Wallingford district.
500E and Miata parked in Seattle's Wallingford district.
First of the MLs  (ML320)
First of the ML's (ML320)
W124 #2 - 300E  (at my home in Illahee)
W124 #2 - 300E (at my home in Illahee)
500E and 911  at temporary housing in Bremerton
500E and 911 at temporary housing in Bremerton
ML430 (MBZ #6)
ML430 (MBZ #6)
CLK430 (MBZ #5)
CLK430 (MBZ #5)
I cant post all these photos of my past and present cars without this one!
I can't post all these photos of my past and present cars without this one!

Digital Sky (Russian company connected with fraud) 200 million into Facebook

OK.. so that does it. Closing my Facebook account today. The same people with investments in mail.ru (a common location for phishing and other fraud sites) are now heavily invested in Facebook.

*MORE TO FOLLOW*

I did complete the delete process of my account.  A number of friends contacted me not long after inquiring about my sudden dissappearance.  I guess I should have let  them know before just doing dark in FB.    I have this outlet, and here I do not need to work about posted IP (photography mainly) issues.  The FB  EULA basically said that contrary to other IP law, then owned *EVERYTHING* uploaded to FB.  Following a press backlash they said they would not enforce it but I don’t think they changed it either.   Well, it’s no longer an issue. 🙂

Getting our ride on – PNWR trip to Elma

It was the perfect day for a ride.  Only the 5th nice Memorial Day in 20 years here, and the first in full Memorial Day weekend of good weather since….   yes, this is true..  1969!     Can’t squander such opportunity.

5 of us met in Silverdale to nail down the specifics of the ride.

View Larger Map
After a short discussion, and admission by myself that I’d neglected to check the fuel load on the Duc before arriving.. I was elected ‘leader’ to Belfair where we’d fuel up at the Shell Station.

Waiting until 11:30, and seeing no others appear, I lift off the beast and directed the crew out to SR3.  It’s sometimes tough to gauge what level of hooliganism one can expect to have supported, when riding with a group of people, 75% of you’ve never met before.   So, that in mind, and the fact the Police were out *everwhere* I kept it pretty sedate.

Reaching the wonderul town of Gorst, Washington:


View Larger Map From Gorst I directed the group Southwest along the Old Belfair Highway.   Original intent was to follow this bypass around the ‘freeway’ (clogged by weekend RV’s) directly to Belfair.   Along the way I decided a quick detour up the hill and back down was in order, so we made a hard right, just outsite Belfair past the Gas Station / Espresso Stand and General Store near Bear Creek.

Up the hill was looking very good, until.. we encountered some weekend borrior hauling a massive trailer up the hill.   I made short work of it, but a couple of people could not make it around.   Once up the hill, we headed back down onto NE North Shore Road, through the ORV park (the paved part of the park) and into…   TRAFFIC!   Oh not, all that is unholy was before us.  An endless stream of people clogging up our return to the original route.   After what seemed like a loooong time in stop/go traffic, we reached Belfair, only to find that the Shell Gas station had closed down (for good by the look of it).  Not all was lost, since the Safeway there also serves a healthy hearty helping of fuel:

View Larger Map

At this point I turned the reins over to DatCat for the rest of the day. She directed us south along 106 to Highway 101, finally arriving to the headwaters of the ‘Good Stuff’. Which, ironically starts just past the Washington State Patrol Academy and a state prison. Not far past that, there is a little district (it’s not really a town) of Dayton. Those that know the area, know the roads we used. Those that don’t, can come ride with me next time.

NC05600CBR and I stretched the legs on our bikes and really worked out some of the day-to-day stresses of a workaday life. Arriving some time ahead of the remainder of the group, we pulled off the road just a tad northeast of Elma, had a few laughs and waited.elamride1


View Larger Map
Once regrouped and refueled, we headed back out towards home. After getting back out of town (I didn’t remember where we went) the lead was again turned over to myself and we headed out. Some miles down the road, I had a major wardrobe malfunction. Sadly nothing as interesting as the famous Super Bowl event, but luckily it did not cost me as much either. A few minutes later the other bikes started to come into view, zipping past me and trying to figure out WTF I was doing! I really don’t want to get into the details of what happened, but I will say it was… less than ideal. After some humor at my expense, I was able to re-assemble my gear, get everything stowed and back on the road.

Perhaps it as a good thing, as it slowed me a down a bit, and not too far up the road I encountered one of the largest deer I’ve every seen. It was massive! And it appeared without warning from the forest on the left edge of the road, narrowly avoiding destruction of an SUV (it might have caused some serious injuries had they collided), and giving me great pause. One of the biggest dangers to those of us whom ride in this area, deer can end a day, or even a life, without warning. After that encounter I ratcheted it back a couple of notches and the rest of the group gathered behind me.

It was a great day of riding, with a fun group of people. Nobody pushed it beyond their abilities, nobody did anything stupid and most important, everyone arrived home unharmed.

Thanks again to the PNWR riders I spent the day with. GOOD TIMES!!!

Back in the USofA

It has been a full week since returning from Europe, and I think I’m just about fully re-adjusted to the Pacific Timezone. 🙂

I had the pleasure of sitting next to an aspiring writer, whom has done a lot of research on pitching travel articles (something I’ve always wanted to do).  So I’m going to get the info she has, read up and put together a pitch package and shop it to a number of publications.   I naturally have a lot of suitable photographs to support the article.

Another project recently came up, that I’m started to put together.  The other partner in the project is an MBA, so I’m sure that he can help put my concept into a proper business plan.  We’ll see where this goes.  Tentative launch time is October 2009.

Racing, Photography, Software and Politics.