Fly Away

    For better or worse, probably worse, the act of flying itself has never ignited great emotion out of me. I have flown enough times where flying generally feels the same, only the destinations and passengers around change. I have my routine and am rarely caught admiring the art of flying, although sunsets or thunderstorms from the air are pretty rad. I also have never had anxiety or unusual happenings on a plane, so fear has never crept in. However, the one flying experience I remember vividly was in a helicopter when I was 11 years old. The mystique of the smaller carrier, coupled with the nonchalant persona of my pilot, a family friend, led to an unforgettable experience for such a naïve pre-teen like myself. The helicopter ride was roughly an hour long, but there were no doors (sides) on the carrier so the flight felt like 5 min. The experience was unique because of the personal/intimate feeling of being in such a small aircraft compared to the large commercial planes which are so standardized.

Via www.shakatourshawaii.com

    The helicopter experience was running through my mind when flight instructor David Werntz spoke about the practicality and science behind becoming flight certified. I was always skeptical of how my family friend got a flying license as he was a middle-aged lawyer who looked to have no extensive flying background whatsoever. However, through David’s description of the process, and accessibility of a license the possibility of flying in the future looks much less daunting. All I need is more time, and even more money.

Via www.traveloutthere.com

    I learned a ton from David, but one of the most interesting points I took away from his presentation was his explanation of ailerons, and how significant that invention was to modern flying as we know it. I looked deeper into the history of the aileron and there were some intriguing legal battles around the device in the early days. The invention is often credited to French experimenter Robert Esnault-Pelterie in 1904, but looking for an alternative, American Alexander Graham Bell conceived of a device similar to the French aileron in 1911. However, the Wright Brother’s argued there patent on wing warping vaguely covered any form of lateral control, including ailerons. The Wright’s sued, won and began initiating royalty demands of 20% for any airplane built with similar lateral control. This quickly ended when World War I intervened and the US Government got involved, the patent demands were dropped but the true inventor of the aileron is still up for debate (Crouch).

Via www.grc.nasa.gov

Works Cited: 

Crouch, Tom. "Oldies and Oddities: Where Do Ailerons Come From?" Air & Space Magazine. N.p.,               Sept. 2008. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.

http://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/oldies-and-oddities-where-do-ailerons-come-from-40077712/?no-ist

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/history/q0103.shtml

Change of Heart

Until very recently, I was terrified of flying. I guess I still am, but a terrific sort of mystery and wonderment has now accompanied that fear. I boarded my first plane mere months after 9/11. It was definitely a terrifying experience; I was only 6 years old, and everything to me was a potential disaster or attack waiting to happen. I remember seeing a Sikh man wearing a turban and, not knowing the difference at the time, assumed he was Muslim. I pulled on my father’s sleeve and asked him if everything was going to be all right, and his reply calmed me a bit. He told me that plane crashes are some of the most rare occurrences on the planet, in terms of injury attributed to vehicular crashes. He said that airplanes are incredibly safe, and that most plane crashes are attributed to pilot error. That last part didn’t make me feel too much better.

[http://gbaa.org]

Our latest guest, however, eased some of fears. Strangely enough, understanding the intricacies and technological nuances that go into the physical, mechanical makeup of the plane itself actually changed my mind about flying, and perhaps even getting a pilot’s license. At $10,000, it’s a stretch, and a ways down the line, but it’s still a thought I’m entertaining.

[http://static4.businessinsider.com]

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During the course of his wonderful lecture, I began to think about the sustainability of manned, powered flight. Perhaps in the future, planes will be powered by solar energy, or even the wind energy that causes drag on the body. In the future, hopefully, the bulk of energy needs will be met with renewable energies, especially fossil-fuel-intensive vehicles like airplanes and cargo ships. Renewable sources have been a topic of incredible discussion in the past ten years, and it’s wonderful to see the battle of ideas play itself out in the ideological marketplace.

A Greater Purpose

Ever since I was young, the concept of up has fascinated me. Whether it was simply being on my dad’s shoulders, seeing the world from a more  “up” perspective, or building model airplanes with my cousins. I have enjoyed testing my mental and physical limits, suited in an “up” connotation as well, whether it be trying to fly off my neighbor’s top bunk or having countless lemonade stands to save money for a trampoline.

David Werntz’s talk reminded me of this young fascination which I have somehow suppressed as I have been socialized into a society which doesn’t advocate for such creative experiments in pertinence to a dangerous topic. Yet, his visit awoke in me my drive to try new things and push limits that I pose on myself, but also those which society intangibly shoves my way. Recently, I have been gearing my studies towards subjects which will help increase my chances of getting into high clearance level jobs such as the FBI or CIA. In researching this extensively, I have found that military experience is highly recommended in order to compete in such a high profile, much wanted career path.

Taking my life long love for martial arts, I decided I would investigate joining the military, keeping in mind that I wanted to possibly precede down the safest route. I narrowed my options down to the Navy, Air Force, and Marines (for sure not safe, but it would be one of the most challenging).

Going back to David Werntz’s talk, I remembered back to when I was young and enamored with planes. My dad told me about when he was in his twenties and began trying to obtain his pilot’s license, yet his dream ended as his parents persuaded him to do something much “safer”. He told me that if I ever got the opportunity to learn to fly, I should take it with no questions asked. So, as David was talking, I couldn’t help but remember my dad saying this and felt a burning desire to fly ignite in me.

Again pairing this with my career path, I decided I wanted to join the Air Force and try to become a pilot. Aware that this is a lofty goal, I have made it my mission to learn to fly while also serving my country and helping increase my chances of getting a job which greatly interests me.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the information Werntz shared, especially when he did the demonstration on drag and lift and explained the physics of flying, his talk served me a greater purpose than simply informing me. Don’t get me wrong, I was very intrigued by the mechanics of flying and the freedoms awarded to pilots such as doing SOLOs before even having your license, but rather the talk awoke in me my passion to try new things and test my limits in a way which would prepare me for my future (and not be as expensive). 

Flying 101: You Can Do it Too

The presentation on aviation and learning about the components of flight with David Werntz was an eye opening experience in regards to the practicality of flight. As I read about flight in “Into the Blue,” I could feel a sense of romanticism, especially during the era of the Wright Brothers and Amelia Earhart. It seemed as if it was a feat capable only achieved by the select few. This thought was further solidified by space travel, as only a few astronauts were selected to venture into space. However, as David Werntz reiterated today, flying, at least in the Earth’s atmosphere, is within our abilities: it is something that could be done with just a little bit of practice, dedication, and money.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the technical aspect of flight was the aileron. Although it is small in its size, it does so much in terms of contribution to the flight. The analogy in class was by putting the hand out of a moving car. If we angle our hand flat, parallel to the car, there is no lift nor is there drag. However, if we lift our hand perpendicular to the car, its all drag and no lift because the wind is directly toppling on to the surface of the hand. To find a compromise, it is important to find an angle (17º) at which there is the greatest amount of lift, and a minimal amount of drag. This is applied to the aileron: I’m amazed as how the small piece of metal is capable creating such a difference in the functions of flight. Furthermore, it also surprised me that David was able to land anywhere he wanted. As seen in movies, it always took a lot of preplanning with the flight tower to coordinate a safe descent; however, he made it seem very simple as to where he wanted to go and how he wanted to land.

Its interesting to note that one generally associates going up on a plane with losing all power since you have no control. However, Werntz proves that he actually feels more in power and more carefree. He reads his maps, takes naps, and only has to focus when he’s landing. The lack of traffic gives him a sense of limitless that is taken away when he’s driving a car on moving on land.

Up North

Up North

       For my final project I want to explore the concept of salvation through a work of fiction. I am going to be writing a short story about the Second Coming of Jesus. 

When you die, provided you’ve done the right things and avoided the wrong ones, you go to heaven, up in the clouds with God, your soul ascends. However. there is an even greater kind of salvation. One that comes to the followers of God during the End the Times: When Jesus Returns. It is likely you have heard some mention of the “Second Coming” also known as “Jesus 2: The Reckoning”.

 In essence, Jesus returns to save the good peoples of this world and to punish the sinners and defeat the Devil in a glorious war for humanity and the Universe. Although human civilization does burn, Jesus ultimately wins and all is well. For a thousand years or so before the Devil returns for another bout of destruction…it’s kind of his thing.

 You would think the “End of the World” would frighten most people. But Christians have nothing to fear, for they believe that when the world comes to an end they will be saved through the rapture, a biblical event in which God takes his people into Heaven to avoid all the nasty apocalypse business. Jesus’ return is, more often than not, seen as a wonderful event, one to be looked forward to instead of feared. When Jesus comes, the good people of the world are ultimately freed of the pain and trials of life and are brought up to heaven where they are given eternal peace and happiness. 

With “Up, North” I want to explore what happens to the United States when Jesus comes back. The celebration and the panic. I want to show how the people who have spent their whole lives anticipating this event react and to show nonbelievers questioning everything. I also want to tackle the different ideas of what salvation means and perhaps even explore why there are some people who might not even want salvation when it comes; people that might go in the opposite direction. A Brief Synopsis: 

With the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, everyone is going to Juno, New Mexico to be saved. But I’m going in the opposite direction. I’m going through a sea of religious insanity. I’m going Up North, to see her again. 

In Up North young college student Felix Follows finds himself traveling across the country as everyone goes to be saved, but he’s going to find his younger sister, the one person he ever got along with. She ran away from home years ago and they haven’t spoken since. And to find her he must travel in the opposite direction, away from Jesus, away from the promise of eternal salvation. Felix finds himself up against against crazed parties, righteous militias, terrified nonbelievers, and the greatest migration in American history. He also faces a crisis of faith as he wonders if Jesus really has returned and if going Up North is really the right thing to do. 

I really want to tackle this event from the perspective of someone that is not a part of it, someone who is actually fighting against it and illustrate what that might be like. I will likely be taking some creative license but given the figurative nature of the good old Book of Revelations I think it will be okay. There is a good deal of this story I have yet to figure out but I am very excited to explore these subjects and relate them to up and hope that this goes well

https://www.pinterest.com/AltenInk/rain/

https://www.worldslastchance.com/biblical-christian-beliefs/the-second-coming-part-1-triumphant-reunion.html

http://blackmanwithagun.com/386-survive-riot-happens

http://www.nuwaycarcenter.com/blog/stay-safe-on-the-roads-this-fall-with-these-driving-tips/

http://projects.aljazeera.com/2014/arizona-border-militia/