Mention computer clubs and images come to mind of stuffy cerebral nerds sitting around discussing languages which seem like they come from another planet. On the contrary, this is not the case with our local computer club. I never cease to be amazed at our diverse club membership. Our club membership includes individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences.

Our local Tampa Bay Computer Society (TBCS) club president, Dave Dockery, explains they have numerous options available for different computer interests. There is a place for everybody whether someone has the skills of a novice, an intermediate user, or an expert. As a result of all our member’s different interests, qualifications, and backgrounds, volumes can be learned about computers and the Internet through Special Interest Groups (SIG’s) and classes. Currently, my favorite class is marketing guru, June Hollister’s Largo Workshop class. By attending this, I have met numerous successful on-line individuals.

The different interests people in our class have astonish me. Consequently, I was surprised to meet risk taker Kenneth Fietz, who has expert knowledge of gyroplanes. At first, I really didn’t even completely understand what he was talking about. As he explained, I realized he is into what I know as whirlybirds, or an aircraft without wings obtaining its lift from the rotation of overhead blades. I had always wondered what type of person would be into these crafts and the last place I expected to actually meet such a person was at a TBCS meeting. Nevertheless, I found Ken to be friendly, spirited, and very upbeat. His website has over 30 topics and contains over 200 pages. Ken welcomes all rotorheads, a nickname for rotary-wing enthusiasts, to his web site where visitors will find a completely free site containing rich information content. Ken enthusiastically describes whether you are looking for gyroplane information for selecting, building, funding, shipping, government agencies, or autogyro complete step-by-step information all can be obtained at his site.

Ken Fietz is grateful for the ease of setting up his Web site Gyro Plane Passion and the valuable knowledge he acquired from Site Build It! When Site Build It! is compared to other Web hosting companies, there is simply no other comparison to building a functional Web site. Even though his site has been up less than a half of a year, his web site receives around 30-70 visits per day. When searching Google for gyroplane government agencies, Ken’s Web site comes up well positioned on their advantageous first page out of 263,000 sites. When gyroplane government regulation is searched, Ken’s Gyro Plane Passion Web site comes up #1 under a Yahoo search and #2 on Google’s first page out of 217,000 other sites. Potential income available for his Web site includes Google AdSense, a shopping cart for direct sales of other merchandise, and entertaining other affiliate offers.

This year, it has been very interesting and rewarding learning and networking with this computer group. As a result of being involved with TBCS, I have a much greater practical working knowledge and understanding of computers and the Internet. In conclusion, by attending the Largo Workshop class, I now understand by applying the correct procedures anyone can convert their expert knowledge into a productive Web site.

Debby Bolen –

Focus On Success!

Focus on Success! Blog

Rotorheads check out Ken’s site at Gyro Plane Passion.

Local tourism has been on the up with the introduction of more budget airlines over the past few years, and these days it is easier than ever to work national flights into your holiday budget. So, while airfare to South Africa may have been on the rise recently, budget airlines in South Africa are making sure that travel in South Africa is affordable to airline users.

There are a couple of airlines competing to offer the cheapest flights to Johannesburg, and it is now possible to find cheap flights to Durban, cheap flights to JHB and cheap flights to Cape Town from one of the budget airlines in South Africa.

Mango Airways, Kulula Airline and Nationwide are probably the three cheapest options when flying in South Africa, although it may be worthwhile checking 1Time, SAA and British Airways to see if there are specials available.

Each airline has its own quirks and benefits, so make sure of the services provided and what is included in your ticket price. You may need to buy lunch on the flight, or it may be included. If you think you will need to eat on the flight you may want to make sure of this detail.

Whichever airline you choose to fly with when traveling in South Africa, make sure to get to the airport in time, double check your boarding time and when you should check in your luggage. There are a variety of car rental agents available at each of the major South African airports, but you may find it easier to call the rental agency in advance if you are planning to rent a car in your destination city.

Cheap flights in South Africa are widley available.

If you are an aviation enthusiast and you find yourself in Oregon you must check out The Capitan Michael King Smith Evergreen Aviation Educational Institute and Museum. From the time you approach the location until you leave, is a jammed packed experience in aviation history - there is an F-15 Eagle Air Force fighter plane out front on a pedestal.

There is also a Cold War Era F-102 Delta Dagger like our President Flew and a T-38 Talon Trainer. There is also a Russian Mig-15 as well. Of course, their history goes all the way back to post World War I days with an authentic Curtiss Falcon. World War II vintage aircraft are also well represented with both sides of the war covered with a Messerschmitt ME-109 and a Great Brittan Spitfire.

There is also a flyable Douglas C-47 Cargo Plane as well as a nostalgic Yellow J-3 Cub. You will also love the DH-100 Vampire. There are lots of displays and information and some great interactive exhibits inside. This is one of the best aviation museums I have ever been to in all my travels and definitely the best aviation museum in Oregon.

Since my retirement I have been to over 200 aviation museums in the United States and Canada, it is wonderful to see the hard work in restoration that these dedicated volunteers have put in to preserve the history of aviation, each individual should be given an award, for they provide a glimpse into the humankind’s advances in flight.

Learn more about The Capitan Michael King Smith Evergreen Aviation Educational Institute and Museum: www.SpruceGoose.org.

L. Winslow is an Economic, Political and Technology Advisor to the Online Think Tank, a Futurist and retired entrepreneur http://www.worldthinktank.net Currently Mr. Winslow is planning a bicycle ride from Canada to Mexico and in Spring across the US from San Diego to Virginia Beach to raise money for charity. Previously he was a track star athlete, private pilot, involved in politics, community volunteerism and a Franchising Founder. Mr. Winslow has chosen 100 titles of Books he wishes to write and has completed ten thus far. The subjects include; Community Planning, Future Tech, Franchising, Small Business, and Third World Issues.

The Embraer aircraft corporation of Sao Paola, Brazil has made a name for itself in recent years by designing and manufacturing regional jets. The first of these jets, the Embraer 145 made its first flight in 1995. The ERJ-145 is a 50 passenger jet powered by two rear mounted Rolls Royce turbo fan engines. It has a wing sweep of approximately 22 degrees and has a T-tail configuration.

The operational success of the ERJ-145 and its similar competitors such as the Canadair Regional Jet and the airlines’ desires for a larger model brought about the “E” series of jets from Embraer.

The Embraer 170 is the base model “E” jet. It’s a narrow body airliner powered by two General Electric CF-34 turbofan engines. Each engine is FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) equipped. The first flight of the Embraer 170 took place in March 2004 and the aircraft passed FAA certification in September of 2005.

The EMB -170 features a fully digital flight deck. The Honeywell Primus Flight Information Display provides pilots with increased situational awareness, increased information retrieval and better flexibility. The system consists of a total of 5 cathode ray screens and allows pilots to present flight, aircraft performance, terrain, weather and air traffic on the various displays.

The EMB- 170 cockpit is roomy which is a departure from the E-145. The base aircraft configuration holds 70 passengers in a 2+2 configuration with lavatories forward and aft.

The EMB-170 is operated with a crew of four. Two pilots and two flight attendants. It has a range of 2100 miles and a maximum speed of 481kt (mach .86). It’s maximum service ceiling is 41,000 ft.

Currently Republic Airlines, Shuttle America Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Egypt Air, Air Canada and Compass Air operate the EMB 170.

At Airplane Pilot Careers we provide pilots with information to help them land their dream jobs. Come visit us and get a free e-logbook and free resume tips.

“Piper Aircraft” was “New Piper Aircraft” in the year in 1995.This air craft manufacturing company, originally started in 1927 by Clarence Gilbert Taylor and Gordon A Taylor in Rochester, New York, has over the years, undergone a metamorphosis in terms of its name and fame and now stands as one of the most reputed icons of the aviation industry. One of its latest offerings, the “Piper Jet” is a wonder babe in the skies and promises to out do all aircraft in its class.

Flights of Fancy

This wonder bird of the skies is a high performance jet that cruises at speeds of 360 knots, has a mission range of 1300 nautical miles and a full-fuel payload of 800 lbs. This legendary luxury class jet, incorporating cutting edge technology and the latest safety technoly features certifies it for altitudes that take you above the weather. The Piper jet’s clean sheet design and strong, smooth all- metal body enhances its angelic appearance.

The major design features of this Piper Jet are:-

Design for safety in case of an engine rotor bust
Piper Automatic Trim System (PATS).
Single engine operations.

Luxury and Comfort

The Piper jet sports Dynamic Seats for maximum comfort and beauty and is certified to conform to the highest safety standards.
The Advanced Cockpit is designed to incorporate the next generation avionics and control systems available.
The oversized 36-inch door provides ease of entry for passengers and cargo.
The Wing Spar is situated below the cabin floor to create more cabin space and increase passenger comfort.
The Luxury Club Seating provides a larger seating area that provides more legroom and increased personal space.
Incorporates built in flexibility to accommodate either an additional Seventh seat, or a lavatory or storage space.

Add-on

Piper Aircraft also has on offer (as an optional add-on) for its aircraft the Piper Inadvertent Icing Protection System (PIIPS) that allows you to remove icing from the propeller, wings and horizontal stabilizer. This advanced “weeping Wing Technology” provides peace of mind and confidence that icy conditions can be handled with ease.

High speeds, supple contours, Stellar avionics and safety features are the Key Selling Propositions of this legend of the skies that assures you “Freedom of Flight” .Add to this the impeccable flight safety standards of the company and luxuries on offer and you have some reason to take to the skies.

Buying and owning a piper aircraft can be the ultimate aviation experience. To find out why Piper Aircraft are superior to other makes and models, visit http://www.buy-piper-aircraft.com

Often, new entrepreneur entrants into the aircraft washing business, have bigger eyes than their stomachs. They decide to go into business and the first thing that they want to do is go bid on washing contracts for the Airlines. You cannot blame an entrepreneur for dreaming big but, they also need to understand their place and the reality of such a new business.

If you are considering starting an aircraft washing business - before you go bidding on Airliner accounts you really need to cut your teeth on corporate jets, charter planes, cargo stuff first. Then advance as you have more expertise. You will be much more successful if you do it this way.

You local airport, will ask you to fill out a “Commercial Activity Permit” and do a background check, etc on you and your employees, you will need liability insurance most likely 5 million, this stuff is not cheap. You will need equipment and you will have to comply with the airport’s NPDES permits (environmental stuff). Also, you must check their local “aircraft washing rules” and if you are the least bit flakey well, you can forget it. Know that upfront.

No airline, FBO or anyone is going to talk to you until you have a permit to do business, they are not going to waste their time, if you were in the same shoes you would feel the same. Airports must remain secure, you must have proper ID and be able to sell yourself otherwise they will easily find a way to deny your permit.

First, you need the permit, then you can think about bidding and there is nothing wrong with underbidding, if you have the labor and ability, efficiency and right equipment. If you do not have that, you can forget it anyway. Do not expect a big airline account right away. You have to know your stuff first, you get one chance, if you do not know what you are talking about, well in aviation Bullshet walks faster than anything. No games and no BS, aviation is a different animal. Know that.

L. Winslow is an Economic Advisor to the Online Think Tank, a Futurist and retired entrepreneur http://www.worldthinktank.net .