Not skydiving related, but at least it's a turbine

[billvon 3,176]

I just spent a week in a hangar, installing a satellite communications system in a Challenger 604 business jet. This system is going to give us 100-120Kbps data rates and up to 16 voice channels over one small patch antenna, about 4" by 6". I designed this system about nine months ago, and it's finally flying. It was pretty tense during the test flight - we had to change the aircraft designation to experimental to test it at all, and all my efforts over the past 9 months were riding on a one-hour test flight. But it worked, despite some minor software problems that we have to fix (but then again, there are _always_ software problems.) The test flight included some unusual attitudes, attitudes that I bet have never been seen before in this jet. Mike was looking pretty green, while I was hoping we would actually get some zero-G. (We didn't but we came close.)
The place we did the installation was really a trip - huge jets everywhere, from Challengers (big business jets) to Global Expresses (MD-80 sized things that carry 13 people.) There was a King Air B200 in the corner, and it looked downright tiny in comparison to all the monsters clustered around it. It's amazing how much money people spend on these things - there are interiors alone that cost millions, never mind the jet itself.
We're flying back to San Diego right now, testing as we go. This jet is so nice it almost makes me not want to walk on the carpet - there's gold and teakwood everywhere. A picture is attached, taken from my PC and sent over the satellite link (of course.) I feel a little like I did after the AFF JCC - going from incredible pressure to none at all in an hour.
-bill von

[freeflir29 0]

Congrats! Here I was just sitting at my desk monitoring one of the nations largest WANs.....I'd rather be in the plane! Hasn't the military had stuff like that for several years? From companies like Honeywell and Rockwell? I can't remember all the performance specs but the PRC-119 is a pretty nice piece of equipment for it's size and there are some new sets out that do way more than that. It's getting the damn space on the sattelite that's usually the tough part. Sounds like fun work though! Did ya have any hot Stews on there with ya?
"Bacardi and Coke please."
"The sky resembles a back lit canopy...with holes punched through it"- Incubus
Clay

[Zennie 0]

Quote

but then again, there are _always_ software problems

Nah. It's the hardware guys that always screw things up.
My code compiles and runs perfectly the first time every time.
Seriously though, congrats o your work!
"Wear the grudge like a crown. Desperate to control. Unable to forgive. And we're sinking deeper."

[mouth 0]

Congrats Bill. It is always so nice when things work out like they are supposed to.

[wingnut 0]

so how long does it take that plane to get to jump altitude??? and if the door would come off would it be jumpable, or would ya impact the long flat thingy that sticks out the fusalage?? now that would be a ride...check your e-mail on the way to altitude......

"up my noooossseee"- wingnut, at first euro dz.com boogie

[Whiskeychick 0]

Kick ass! I'm especially glad to hear the project wasn't cancelled at the last minute. I'll buy you a congratulatory dount next time I see you.