surrey-dad

OTT or what ! Now we know why the US has so many UFO sightings

Close encounters of the PPG kind....

Andy

awcward bugger

I think Alan might have been taking the mick Cobra, as the answer was on the second page of the thread - which contains all event details from Outkast including a neat Google map - check link here

But if you just need the postcode it is : NN13 5QD (Spring Farm)

Andy

Congratulations to all three of you !

Wonderful account of your trip Whitters, and especially liked the poignant link between your Grandfather and RAF Binbrook.

Thanks for sharing - one of the best posts I have read. And that is saying something on this forum

Andy

That's great news !

What with this and the great new training location - things are really looking rosey for PMC and PPG members !

You have done a fantastic job on both fronts Simon - and all credit to you for all your efforts (and those helping you behind the scenes).

Cheers,

Andy

Thanks for more great pictures of the lovely part of the world near where you live Alan.

Your 'tandem cat' certainly looks very content

Anyway hope the rain doesn't last long over there and you are soon back up in the skies again...

If it's any consolation it is peeing it down over here this morning

Cheers,

Andy

Lucky me, who's contract just ran out.

I also forgot to mention that the new iPhone also has a gyroscope (rather than the accelerometer in the 3GS) - so all sorts of navigational software possibilities

Andy

*** Updated below with WWDC2010 Keynote Video Link (iPhone4) & UK announcement ***

So Steve Jobs has just finished his WWDC2010 keynote speech, and for those of you that have been following things Apple of late - his main focus has been to confirm the worlds worst kept secret, with the official launch of the new iPhone4 !

The predictions were obviously bang on the money, after the prototype (left in a bar) had been passed to Gizmodo, dissasembled and details published.

The good news is that Apple have indicated that it is also to be released in the UK at the end of this month!

Although UK prices are still to be confirmed, US$ prices are as follows (Colour choice : Black or White):

Here are some useful (initial) links:

Apple official iPhone4 info here

Apple video clip: iPhone 4

Main specs also here: Gizmodo: iPhone 4 Definitive Guide

NEW LINK here: iPhone 4 confirms June 24 date with O2, Orange and Vodafone in UK

QUESTIONS:

Q1) So how many of you are expecting to upgrade from your current iPhone for; the better phone reception, faster cpu, much higher res screen, 5MP camera, HD movie (720p) capability, better battery life, picture in picture video conferencing etc. etc. ?

or

Q2) With the previous 8GB iPhone 3GS now to be reduced to US$99 in the US, would you switch to the iPhone if there were an equivalent UK deal ?

Resistance is futile....?

Folks - with the higher res screen, more powerful cpu and iMovie for iPhone - you can post your flight movies even before you land....

I'll post the iPhone keynote video link as soon as it gets published...

[ See link here ] Apple WWDC2010 keynote video - iPhone 4

Andy

Hi Benjamin - glad to see that the project is going well and you are still living the dream !

Love the amazing scenery around Hope and Manning Park !

Thanks for sharing another great video, and do keep updating us on your epic journey.

Cheers,

Andy

That's great news Pete !

is where you belong...

Andy

...Anyone can go for this, but all must be PRE FIRST FLIGHT to join the course.

If you are interested in being one of the trainee pilots please get in touch ASAP.

Hi Simon - I would definitely be interested in this

And great news on the new training location by the way ! Blimey things are moving along at a pace

Andy

Great video Phil - and inspirational to see how far one can come in such a short time.

Particularly like the Severn Bore section - one in a million chance of perfect weather and water conditions like that. Awesome !

Cheers,

Andy

[youtubevideo]

[/youtubevideo]

Great video, good cause and some spectacular scenery to fly over in that part of the world.

Thanks for sharing, and look forward to seeing part 2 and beyond etc...

Andy

I went for the Fuji F100fd, dual stabilisation, 5x zoom and some built in sunset settings were the good parts, it's a bit small when you have gloves on which is a negative when flying but it does slip into a breast pocket very easily. I find my ratio of good to bad photos has tripled since getting this camera, the only blurry ones are when I press the shutter before it has got focus. It's useable left handed too

A somewhat belated post - but cracking picture Dan.

Good choice of camera to

Andy

Check out the video

http://www.atlantic-paramoteur.com/

Cheers,

Alan

Hi Alan - thanks for the link.

Those tandem trikes sure look a lot of fun !

Nice video - but has taken someone a fair bit of work, putting together all those cuts.

Cheers,

Andy

[youtubevideo]

[/youtubevideo]

Would be interested to hear some more details: planning considerations, where you crossed, total distance over sea, if you had any sea support etc.

Great video - thanks for sharing.

Andy

Cheers Andy i have not bought one yet partly because my hands freeze when i take my gloves off to use the one i have but it gives me more time to research.

I am definitely interested in a hd go pro Simon so let me know when you are ordering next month would suit me cheers Alan

Meanwhile I need a decent compact camera with HD video capability. So I am going down the Lumix route, and should have my hands on a Lumix ZS7 (= UK TZ10) in a couple of weeks.

So will let you know how well some of the new functions (GPS, manual modes, enhanced HD engine, improved OIS etc.) work.

Andy

Keep an eye on TZ-7 prices, as they are likely to drop soon - following Panasonics launch of a slew of new Lumix cameras at last weeks CES in Las Vegas.

Andy

Cheers Andy handy to know and thanks Tom for your comments i will probably go for the lumix and also a go pro hd i had been looking at the contour hd head cam has any one got one of these cheers Alan.

Due out next month - it has some interesting enhancements, including the built-in GPS function.

A cheaper alternative would be one of the new Lumix 'F' models - which all support 720p, and look aggressively priced:

F3 (12.1MP, 720p): $130

FP1 (12MP): $150, FP3 (14.1MP, 720p): $230

FH1 (12MP, 720p): $160, FH3 (14.1MP, 720p): $180

FH20 (14.1MP, 720p): $200.

Andy

Pretty please.... click the link and then the triangle on the right, job done.

Andy

NB: These are not my own video clips. They are just some of my favourites found whilst doing my newbie research into PPG.

Great to see some sun today after this mornings fresh dusting of snow.

But for some warmer sunshine here is some video from the lovely Cayman Islands.

Clip is of a Red Bull Air Force pilot at the islands Pirate's Week festival.

Tough job I suppose, but somebody has to do it. Includes:

* the prettiest PPG ground crew I have seen to date

* a beach launch and release of a skydiver (2m20s)

* but not sure whether he meant to get caught by that wave (4m10s)...

(As always right click on video to view YouTube in larger wide format & HQ)

[youtubevideo]

Andy

WoW !

Haze's close encounter with a Surrey Police Helicopter sounded scary enough, but I cannot imagine what it would feel like to get in close proximity to one of those drones - knowing that it is unmanned, with no human able to spot you out the window. Spooky !

Andy

Did anyone else see the Beebs use of a PPG trike in its current 'How Earth Made Us' series?

Especially the amazing footage of the presenter (Prof. Iain Stewart) being flown over a waterfall.

If not check out the following link to BBC iPlayer: Episode 2 - Water.

It is a fascinating series, but the relevant PPG part is from ~9m to 13m.

More good publicity for the sport...

Andy

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross."...

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbor" and "Lose"...

Thanks Dave - ruddy hilarious. Nearly choked on my pizza a few times...!

Andy

Back of the house it is then

SW

Just finished 28 days straight at work, so need to get out for some fresh air - even if only to watch you folks take to the skies

Cheers,

Andy

Check out Danny Westons cool GoPro HD video, someone remind him of the 500ft rule.

[youtubevideo]

[/youtubevideo]

Excellent hi-res footage of some interesting coastline. What was even more impressive was the way it handled the contrast under challenging lighting conditions.

Was that a shoal of fish at 2m45s, or birds in shallow water ? - awesome site

They certainly had a lot of confidence in their motors to fly out over open water that low.

Andy

Thanks Tom. I can play the video now but it jumps a few frames each second. Can I get round that too. Nice clear picture though

Dave

Your problem is likely due to one of the following (or combination of): graphics driver, cpu utilisation, H.264 decoder efficiency.

Graphics Driver: We will skip this - as it sounds like you have checked online for the latest version of graphics driver for your PC.

CPU: Can you check the cpu utilisation when you play back a typical clip.

Does it typically max out for most of the playback? If so, there are a number of ways to possibly reduce the cpu usage.

What PC do you have; CPU, GPU and RAM ?

Have you noticed much difference in the frame skipping when you reduce the video window size ?

Decoder: An alternate option is to use a more efficient decoder (if one exists). For H.264 video there are a number of free and open-source fast decoders available.

But before going down this route please let me know more about your PC

Cheers,

Andy