Flight Sim

Hello Everybody,

Before I go rather quiet for a few weeks as I deal with the joy of exams, I thought I would try to get one more post out...

Firstly, thank you to everyone who is reading this as the view count on the blog has now reached over 4000 and for the first time ever there are consistent views on a daily basis :)

Secondly, the third round of the Red Bull Air Race is on tomorrow, Hannes Arch dominated qualifying today but I will be sure to post as soon as the catch up stream goes live.

Ok, so the actual reason for the post is that I'm sure my girlfriend is not the only one who wonders what enjoyment I get from Flight Sim. There are a few minor things and a few major reasons why I enjoy it, so here goes.

Some of the things are a simple as relaxing a little and simply not working but at the same time learning quite a lot. Other times there is a lot of work and learning involved (yes, you can learn on Flight Sim) but completing a challenging approach or a good arc is certainly rewarding.

Southend ILS
® Graham Haley

Shining Light
© Graham Haley

Firmly Attatched
© Graham Haley

Another thing is the social aspect of Flight Sim, many of my screenshots have other aircraft in, these are flown by other people who (in general) share a similar interest in aviation. I usually fly with a various group of people 2 or 3 times a week, we talk at the same time as flying, partly to prove that men can multitask but also to share stories, thoughts and experiences, but I think they would agree that we all have some fun. I think a lot of the fun comes from the world of aviation itself where people are respectful and professional, traits which have for the most part migrated to flight sim. Yes, we crash occasionally and our flying is not always brilliant but no one will tell you that you're crap. If you are pretty dire then there is always someone that will try to help, whether that be your flying, navigation, communication or all of it. A lot of the enjoyment comes from the shared experiences, whether that be flying through the Alps or Grand Canyon together, flying round the same navigation course or just cruising over the skies of the UK and Europe.

Rollin'
© Graham Haley

Duelling Helicopters
© Graham Haley

Cleared for Contact
© Graham Haley

Finally, where a lot of the enjoyment comes for me is the screenshots. As you may or may not know, when I have a reasonable camera I enjoy taking pictures, especially of aircraft. Flight Sim offers me the ability to take great air-to-air, air-to-ground and ground-to-air shots and it is something that many of us enjoy sharing with each other after a long evening of flying together. I have put a very small selection of my favourites in this post but I urge you all to go and look at my photobucket album (in full screen) so that you can see what I enjoy. 

Neon Fire
© Graham Haley

Warm and Wonderful
© Graham Haley

Noblemen
© Graham Haley

Again, thank you all for reading, please like subscribe and comment on both the blog and photos. For those with exams like me, good luck and I will be back in a few weeks.

Until then...
Graham Out.

The Bulls Are Back!

For those who live in the dark and haven't heard, the Red Bull Air Race is Back in 2014!!!

Paul Bonhomme's 2010 Aircraft
Copyright Graham Haley

http://www.redbullairrace.com

The UK stop will be at Ascot race course in mid August (Hopefully I'll be there).

That is all, a short post I know but some very exciting news.

My Favourite Aircraft

I've gotten so caught up in starting uni that I had completely forgotten about this post, I had started to write it but it no longer fits the context I was writing in so I'll start again...

A question often asked when you say you're studying Aerospace Engineering or just that you like aircraft is "What is you're favourite plane?" I've had to answer it a couple of times in the last week, my favourite is easy so I'll leave that to the end, but a top 5 would be much more representative of what I like, and also a bit more difficult to work out. Anyway, here goes:

I say here goes, but before I get started with the top 5 I will quickly list a few that didn't quite make the list but I like and on a different day might make the list:

• L39C Albatross
• F-16 Fighting Falcon 
• Eurofighter Typhoon
• Panavia Tornado
• Airbus A380
• Boeing 747-800
• Boeing 787-900
• Airbus A350
• Cessna 337 Skymaster
• Icon A5
• Vickers VC-10
• Airbus A400M
• Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
• Avro Lancaster
• Douglas DC-3 
• Radial Rocket

5: The Boeing Stearman

Breitling Wing-walkers at RIAT 2013

© Graham Haley

I have always loved the Boeing Stearman for the look and sound of it, also, the thought of flying in one with the open cockpit has always been a dream for me. The old bi-plane design with radial engine up front has a sense of nostalgia to it that reminds me of World War 1 aircraft. I also get a reminder of the early days of flying when the pilot had much less instrumentation in the cockpit and each flight was it's own adventure.

I have always had a soft spot for the sound of a radial engine and if you haven't hear one I suggest listening to this link on the Radial Rocket site. I can remember walking home from school one sunny afternoon around a year ago, I looked up when I heard an unusual sound. Sure enough there was a bright yellow Boeing Stearman flying at around 1,500ft. The sight of an aircraft like this that you don't see flying everyday combined with the wonderful engine note really did make my day.

© Graham Haley

4: Supermarine Spitfire/Hawker Hurricane

Hawker Hurricane (Left), 2 Supermarine Spitfire's (Right) @ RIAT 2010
© Graham Haley

I have never been able to choose my favourite of these two iconic WWII fighters, the noise made by the Rolls Royce Merlin and Griffon engines used in them seems to have an effect on everyone. Although the sleek metal design of the spitfire is enough to win over most, you have to admire the wood and canvas rear half of the Hurricane as well as it's status as the unsung hero of the Battle of Britain.

Although I can't decide on a favourite, they are both great aircraft and British icons. If anyone was to ever offer me a ride in one I definitely wouldn't say no.

3:  SIAI Marchetti SF.260 

Image from http://www.pilotfriend.com

Aside from the fact that I would love to own one of these aircraft in the future and tremendously enjoy flying the one I have for flight sim, there is one reason why I really like them...

Wing-tip pods (fuel tanks)!!! 

Image from http://www.pilotfriend.com

Almost all aircraft can be made to look better by the addition of wing tip fuel tanks, fact. The Marchetti is a wonderful airframe that is fully capable of aerobatics as well as being a superb cruising aircraft for general aviation due to it's high speed. They are flown but a number of air-forces as trainer aircraft and by some as fighters, most notably they are flown by 'Air Combat USA' who featured on one of the 'Top Gear' American specials.
2: Avro Vulcan 

Another British icon to add to the list, the cold war delta wing is recognised by many. I have been privileged enough to sit in the pilot's seat of one of these aircraft as well as standing under at least 3 that I can remember. One of those 3 was XH558 at RIAT this year when we were allowed to cross a live taxiway in one of the best hours of my life (that however was to do with a multitude of aircraft passing including the Red Arrows and an Airbus A400M).

XH558 'Raising the Gear' after take-off on Saturday 20th July @ RIAT 2013
© Graham Haley

The number of systems visible in the bomb-bay of a Vulcan is incredible. In XH558 there is also the plaque's of supporters names on the bomb-bay doors. For those that don't know Vulcan XH558 is the only Vulcan still flying and is privately owned by the Vulcan to the Sky Trust. Currently they are looking to do some major works to the aircraft in order to extend flying life by another 2 years but the aircraft will be grounded in 2015. If you do ever go to see XH558 then look for my name on the final plaque in the bomb-bay.

One of the main reasons that the Vulcan is so famous is it's part in the first Operation 'Black Buck' where XM607 flew from Ascension island to the Falklands and back with the help of Victor tankers. I have been fortunate enough to meet the pilot of the first mission, Martin Withers DFC, which at the time was the longest bombing mission in history. 

XH558 taking off from runway 09 on Saturday 20th July @RIAT 2013
© Graham Haley

Not only do I love the Vulcan for it's history and the amazing story of it's successes, but like man others I love the sight of the huge delta wing flying through the sky. Finally, anyone who has ever heard the sound from the 4 Rolls Royce Olympus engines will understand my love for this amazing aircraft.

1: De Havilland Sea Vixen 

The only flying Sea Vixen at RNAS Yeovilton Airday 2009
© Graham Haley

 For my explanation of why I like the Sea Vixen so much I shall just tell you the story of first seeing one. RNAS Yeovilton Air Day was the first airshow that I went to (I'm not aware of going to any others that I may have been to earlier in life), I was in one of the hangars having a look around at the stands when I heard some awesome jet engine sounds. Not the roar you get from a Typhoon or F-16 using reheat, but a bassy, thunderous sound. Upon poking my head outside the hangar I saw what I thought was a superb aircraft, clearly old, but the twin tail booms and swept wing design with the fuel tanks on top of the wing was simply the best thing I had ever seen. A cliche I know, but it really was love at first sight.

The only flying Sea Vixen at RNAS Yeovilton Airday 2009
© Graham Haley

After the Sea Vixen had landed and the Rolls Royce Avon engines whined whilst she taxied, (I say she as the aircraft is known as 'Foxy Lady') I went over the have a look. The details on the Sea Vixen were something else, the triangular jet intakes in the wings, the slightly offset cockpit and the general look of the aircraft was superb. Unfortunately the camera and my use of it were much poorer than they are now so I don't have any superb photo's of it, but one day i hope to go down south and at least see one flying again.

Eyes Open

For a post that’s going to be about feeling a moment it hasn’t started well if we consider that ECG was a month ago and it’s been nearly two weeks since I went out with the camera. Anyway, I shall press on regardless...

This post starts with the picture below that I noticed on Facebook the other day.

Now that’s not entirely relevant to what I wanted to say, but it reminded me of a thought that I had one of the days at ECG back in the Easter holiday. I’m guessing very few people reading this know what ECG is. So, in short, ECG stands for Equipping, Calling, Going. It is a Christian conference that has been held in ‘Sunny’ (and it was this year, though the sea was still rather chilly) Scarborough for the last couple of years and Llandudno before that.

The thought that I had was along the lines of “How can a God love something so small?” By something, I mean me... A warning at this point, if you have low self esteem you may want to skip this bit. ...What I was pondering at the time was why would a God care about me, I’m a comparatively tiny spec on a comparatively tiny planet, next to a tiny star which is one of billions in a galaxy that is unimaginably small when you attempt to think about the size of the universe.

I’m not going to pretend to have an answer at this point, but I do have a suggestion. Sit back and relax for a minute, think of all the good things that have happened in the last few days, weeks or months. Now think of the series of different circumstances that led up to that. If you’re struggling then take a simple task like making a cup of coffee, first off you’re probably in a house, there’s a readily available water supply when you turn on the tap, you have a wonderful invention for heating water which does amazing things when you flick a switch, it uses electricity that’s created a number of miles away and then you mix the water it heats with coffee created half the world away. When you start to think about making a cup of coffee like that then it starts to put some things into perspective.

I took the camera to school with me a couple of weeks ago, thinking that I would take advantage of the bit of sunshine that we had. I discovered something on the way home and I thought it was fairly intriguing, with one eye shut I could see more than with both eyes open. I’ve put some of the photos below and you will probably notice that most of them are taken quite close to the subjects. Looking closely at things smaller than I am really opened up my mind, and seeing the colours of spring filled me with joy. I only mention the photos because without staring into the viewfinder on the camera then I wouldn’t have seen anywhere near as much as I did that day, I would have just walked home looking mainly at my feet. 

So there we go, one eye closed means two eyes opened.

If you wish to ask me about anything then please feel free to leave a comment.

What's this all about?

Seen as this is my first blog post I'll explain what on earth I'm posting it for.

Seen as I am going to university (hopefully) in September, having a blog seems like the best way to keep anyone that wants to know in the loop about what's going on in my life. If you don't want to know then don't feel obliged to read it, but hopefully you will enjoy it and if it turns out how I hope it will then it may well serve as a useful guide for anyone going to university.

As it says in the little description that I have put at the side, I will be talking about my experiences at uni as well as some parts of what is going on in my life spiritually (as above if you're put off then feel free to ignore any posts along those lines, but hopefully everyone is open minded enough to have a quick glance anyway). Also anything interesting that I learn or see in the news may get a post, especially if its aviation or computer related. This is after writing my extended project earlier in the year which was titled: "How to increase the efficiency of aircraft". This left me with loads of ideas and an insight into so many new discoveries and inventions that are out there and I feel that some of them are too good or just too weird not to be shared.

Okay, now you have a vague idea why I'm writing, I'll explain the name and background of the blog as well as a bit about me.

The above (and background) photo is a picture of me flying a Grob 109 (Vigilant) back on 11/03/2012, a week before I flew the same aircraft solo (ZH129) around 632 VGS (Volunteer Gliding Squadron) at RAF Ternhill. I don't have a Private Pilot's Licence (PPL) yet but I intend to have one in the future and may well be doing a bit of flying whilst at uni.

As for the name of the blog, 80,000ft and climbing seemed like a fitting title for something about a journey including aircraft and spirituality. For anyone that doesn't understand the quote the SR-71 "Blackbird" is a high altitude reconnaissance aircraft capable of speeds 3 times faster than the speed of sound, so generally the pilots don't have to worry about being hit by things very much.

Screenshot from the Tom Clancy game "HAWX"

Finally a bit about me, and don't worry, my posts won't usually be anywhere near this long.

I am currently studying Maths, Physics and Chemistry at A-Level and should be going to The University of Sheffield in September to study Aerospace Engineering. Since 14 I have been in the Royal Air Force Air Cadets which is an organisation that has provided me with tons of information about aircraft as well as some amazing opportunities such as my gliding scholarship above. 

 I'm sure if you continue to read then you will learn plenty about me as I go along and I hope anyone that reads this gets something from it. Please feel free to comment or contact me privately.