My colleagues from NASA Langley and myself went to the Pongo (Virginia Beach, VA) World War 1 Airshow. This airshow is exciting because we can walk right up and around the planes while they are not in flight. The airshow is connected with a museum. The entire museum consists of multiple hangers with many planes from before the Great War through the 1950’s. Most of the aircraft are in working order. There are also actors. Between flights of the aircraft, RC pilots take the stage and perform dog fights. There was one unfortunate accident and thankfully nobody was hurt. There are also limited vintage cars and engines. Usually on the evening of the first day (this is an annual event) there is a steak dinner. This airshow is one of the best because the crowds are relatively smaller. At the end of the show multiple F-18 aircraft flew over on their routine flights. That was a nice coincidental end – by transitioning from early aircraft to relatively modern. My highlight was the Curtis Flyer replica. Finally, the weather was beautiful. The best part of the trip is the company of my wonderful friends!
Virgin and Child – Walled Gardens
This is the beginning of a series of posts to illustrate the theme of walled gardens, unicorns, hunters, and the ivory tower. This painting contains many symbols. The walled garden is symbolic of Mary’s chastity. She sits on the ground dressed in robes with verse, this shows her humility and encourages the viewer to pray. The castle in the back left is symbolic of the ivory tower. To the right, hunters look for the child. The child is sometimes depicted as a unicorn.
Five Years at NASA Langley Research Center
I was recently awarded (officially on Sept. 14th 2014) my certificate and pin for five years at NASA Langley Research Center. I’m most thankful for the great friends I’ve made within the NASA family.
The Glass Menagerie
Today I viewed the play, `The Glass Menagerie,’ by Tennessee Williams at the Regent University. It is the first play of their 2014-2015 season and is part of their MFA program. The cost was seventeen dollars and my seat was furthest right (frame stage). Actors used the entire space and were often feet from the audience (from my viewpoint). I read the play a few years ago after picking it up at a used book sale. The set construction was elaborate for the size of the production, and the audience size was also small. Like many of Tennessee Williams works, the ending is more realistic to life than the endings we find in popular media. I thoroughly enjoyed the execution.
New NASA Langley Integrated Engineering Services Building
NASA Langley is opening up its new Integrated Engineering Services Building this month. It makes the center feel more like a campus. It contains the new Pearl Young Theatre, Reid Centre replacement, new cafeteria, new Afterburners, a new cafe that has drinks and food throughout the day, the Nav Center, training office, and the directorate offices (research, engineering, science). I’m excited to eat in our new cafeteria, that has an extensive patio on the north side. The Reid Centre has configurable rooms and will be more welcoming than the previous version (that was converted from a basketball court). There is an interesting bridge on the south side of the building that is surrounded by natural plants. Now only if my office was there, though I’m happy I’m with a research group.
Wildflower Garden at Sandy Bottom Nature Park
Today I noticed that there is a wildflower garden at the Sandy Bottom Nature Park, in Hampton, VA. An after lunch walk around the small lake ended with the photo below. The garden is actively tended, watered, and has many bird houses and ornaments!
The Feynman Lectures on Physics Online and Free
I noticed that the Professor Feynman Lectures on Physics are available online and free courtesy of Caltech Physics. Read online at The Feynman Lectures on Physics. It looks like I have something fun to do this Labor day weekend!
National Aviation Day – August 19th
Every August 19th is National Aviation Day. NASA has a nice page with excellent photos from her contribution to aviation through her tenure.
http://www.nasa.gov/aero/national-aviation-day.html
My Colleague Dr. Thomas F. Brooks Awarded NASA Distinguished Service Medal
I was incredibly fortunate to attend (remotely) the award ceremony for my colleague Dr. Thomas Brooks. I am very proud to call him colleague. Certainly, he has upheld an outstanding tradition at NASA in the most difficult area of experimental fluid dynamics and aeroacoustics. The following is a picture from the program. Please see NASA document NSREF-3000-0358 for more details.