This post is quite late in coming, but I wanted to show off the final product.  This is the first time I've ever covered a foam model, but I really like the result, even if it did double my build time.

Somehow I managed to make the right wingtip chord about an inch longer than the left, so I ended up with a wing that produces different amounts of lift on the right side vs. the left side.  To make things worse, the difference in lift is related to airspeed so the plane almost always flies like it isn't trimmed correctly.  Even with that wackiness it's a lot of fun to fly!  With the power setup I have in this model I get unlimited vertical.  Because this little plane goes so fast it gets small in a hurry.  I really do need to make a bigger model someday...

Specs:

Motor:  Mega 16-15-4

ESC: CC Phoenix 25

Battery: 2100 mAh lipo

Prop: APC 6x4

All-up weight: 16 oz

Static current: ~24 A

Input Power: >200 W

As many of you know, I used to work on a GIS software package named MapWindow.  About 5 years ago I decided to move to the job I'm in now.  Well, a year or two after I stopped working on the MapWindow project it went open source.  Since then I've been meaning to get back into development on it, but it was always such a low priority that I'd just let it slip.  

On memorial day I had a conversation with the project lead for the MapWindow team and, to make a long story short, he's hiring me to do some consulting work to help bring up the new version of MapWindow.  I'm excited to get my hands dirty and help make MapWindow 6 the best version ever!  I just feel somewhat guilty that it took pecuniary motivation to get me back into it.

And there was much rejoicing!

I decided to look back at some of my earlier blog entries.  I didn't realize it was over four years ago that I started this blog.  The sad part is that I've only done about 16 posts all together, or an average of one every 3-4 months.  That's pretty sad.  The good thing is that it made me smile to read some of my earlier posts.  Sometimes I think I get so wrapped up in the present that I forget how much fun I've had in the past.  I am definitely going to start posting more to my blog.  I strongly doubt that anyone else cares, so I'll do it for purely selfish reasons. :)

In my last post I mentioned that I had just registered for the 2008 MS-150 bike tour.  The second time was actually more fun for me than the first, but I did chicken out at just 40 miles.  I was able to ride with my sister-in-law and some co-workers.  I hadn't really trained at all for it so even the 40 miles left me pretty tired, but I took it a bit slower and had a great time.  It was fun crossing the finish line and having my family there to congratulate me.  I definitely hope to continue participating in the MS-150 because it is so much fun, and I hope to be helping at least a little bit in the fight against MS.