Kites

A long time ago I worked with an engineer from the part of India that had this super competitive kite flying event.  Actually I had forgot completely about it, until I saw these guys..

Huge shark, just gliding along...

Enormous... probably 40 feet long.  These giant kites could be seen for miles!

Then I understood what Jayesh was talking about all those years ago...

These two were flown in perfect synchronicity as the two operators moved through a choreographed show set to music 

This set of five kites were operated by

These five guys, and they did incredible maneuvers again set to Memorial Day musical scores.

I had never seen anything like this before.  These kites were more than just an amusement, they could do amazing moves and moved together in incredible synchronicity.

Hope you liked the kites!

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Lee

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Entrance is just a short hop from the Dulles runway

A really nice day to visit the Udvar-Hazy Center.  This is an extension of the Smithsonian collection and originated from their storage facility.

SR - 71 Awesome

Ok here's one of those trivia questions about this legendary airplane or rather the gentleman who ran the Lockheed Skunkworks and the technical genius behind this thing.  What was his name and where did he grow up?  Answer at bottom of post.

As a kid, I thought the bent wing corsair was the coolest airplane ever made!This war machine has the nickname 'Whistling Death"

More of my past here... UH teeter rotor with cable cutters..

The Discovery Orbiter.  A picture just doesn't convey the feeling you get when you look up at this craft.  The rocket motors, thrusters, heat tiles, and more... 

Apollo 11... I had just turned 9 years old when Neil Armstrong (first foot prints on the moon) Mike Collins and Buz Aldrin, splashed down in the Apollo 11 capsule.  I watched it on the news and dreamed of being an astronaut.

The real deal

The unmistakable B-29

The last time I saw this bird I was 22 years old and working at Bell Helicopter in Ft Worth

A Goodyear Blimp gondola

Remember this?

That's all for now,

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Kelly Johnson, born and raised in Ishpeming, Michigan a fellow yooper!

Project Trillium

Just an experiment... hope you like it!

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Does anybody like Swing Bands like the ones of the 1930's?

I discovered Divina and the Vagabonds...  I really like the 1930's era and last weekend I popped into a venue with this crazy cool band.  Porkchop sideburns, flower-in-her-hat Diva and some great period music.  Just back from the UK, I first saw them on PBS - they were pretty amazing in person.

I heartily recommend a trip to iTunes to add a few of tracks...  Meanwhile, turn up the speakers, and enjoy some great music!

Have a great day!

Lee

Gratiot Lake and another spring concert...

A very nice trek to Gratiot Lake in Michigan's beautiful UP

This is winter snow melt working its way towards Gratiot Lake

There is a trail that winds it's way up to a look out that over views Lake Superior and Gratiot Lake

Wider view of this beautiful falls...

I'm sitting in a hollowed out pine that is around 400 years old...

Yup, hollowed out...

This tree is around 600 years old...

Last winters snow fall... we get a lot of snow...

A beautiful pond along the hike.

And the spring time band concert!

And the spring Choir Concert!

The Choir sang a particularly poignant selection this year,  I really enjoyed the show.  These kids are so talented - a real treat to hear them.

 If this video doesn't bring a tear to your eyes, you're not human...  Thanks Zach for touching us all so brilliantly. 

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