Central London

OK, so I don't think this is the most particularly flattering portrait.



But I'm posting it 'cause I like it, and here's why:

• The lighting is cool in the background
• You can see a double-decker London bus in the left background
• It evokes a kind of melancholy feeling

So no - this is not high fashion (as if anything I do is) but I'm letting you have it anyway!

Greenwich Tunnel

I don't know what I expected of England, but this was not it. Reminds me more of middle America.

Old Royal Naval College

Since I graduated from UVa, I tend to think of my school as a "kind of a big deal" what with it's history, rankings and general bad-assness.

A visit to the Old Royal Naval College on the banks of the River Thames quickly put me in my place.




While UVa tour guides salivate over our 1819 founding, the ORNC was founded by ROYAL CHARTER in 1694. Score one, ORNC.

UVa is a World Heritage Site. ORNC, ditto.  Draw.

UVa is in central virginia. ORNC is a 10 minute boat ride from downtown London. Do I need to declare a winner?

OK so fine, I'm glad I went to UVa. But walking through the Old Royal Naval College made me take a good, hard look at what I held to be basic truths about my alma mater.

Back on U.S. soil

Seeing as how I landed at Dulles after spending the last 10 days in London, now would be the logical time to do a "I had such a great time" blog post.

But I'm still a little shell shocked, and I don't think I can stomach revisiting last week.

Don't get me wrong - it was great and all - but I'm pretty sure I'll have even better things to say if I let it marinate for a couple days.

Therefore, I will share a picture of PSF Schumacher and myself circa 23(?) years ago:

Collective "awwwwe" everyone.

Now look closer. Take in the demonic cast of PSF Shumacher's eyes. And look at my hands. I must be trying really hard to hold in a pee.

Hey, just keeping it real.

I'm a bad blogger

I've been spending 25 hours a day on FarnBlog, so sorry guys! I'm going to copy/paste FarnBlog below - there are some cool pix, but alot of them are going to get squished because they won't fit in this narrow-width blog. Just click through to see the un-screwed-up versions!

July 20, 2010
Pictures from the Corral

Still on the defense theme, here are a few shots from the U.S. corral tour. AIA staff are responsible for escorting tours through the corral, so it is a great opportunity for me to take some up-close shots of some of the U.S.'s most prized aircraft.

Contact: patrick.carlson[at]aia-aerospace.org

July 20, 2010
Asian Aerospace Expo

By the way, did anyone at the show see the spectacle that the Asian Aerospace Expo 2011 folks made in the halls?
This dragon danced aggressively throughout the halls, followed by a corps of (Korean?) drummers.

I guess it was an effective ploy, since it got me talking about it, but I wonder if this Asian Aerospace Expo will take off? It bills itself as the biggest civil aerospace/aviation exposition in the world, and is held in Hong Kong.
And now - back to our regularly scheduled programming.

July 20, 2010
Skate UAS takes flight at Farnborough

Aurora Flight Sciences introduced the Skate UAS at the Farnborough Airshow this week, part of a first-ever UAS flying display at the show.
The flights are held inside one of the halls, in a netted cage that lend an air of danger to these product demonstrations. The skate is a very light UAS (just 2 pounds!) designed for surveillance in a variety of environments.
I got a chance to go inside the cage to get an up-close look at the new UAS.
For the demonstration, an engineer set the aircraft facing vertically on the ground, and then used fly-by-wires controls to lift off and perform aerobatics around the net. And, because I  know that many of you aren't as fortunate as me, I’m going to share a few pictures with you:

;

More information at www.aurora.aero

July 20, 2010
Today’s Airshow Theme: Defense

In recognition of today's theme, defense, here's some F-22 eyecandy from the flying display:

July 20, 2010
Stitching together global air traffic management

Leaders from ITT, FAA, AIA, IATA, SESAR and Dynamixx convened at the ITT chalet Tuesday morning to offer U.S. and European perspectives on air traffic management. While NextGen and SESAR have similar end-state goals, the two systems have very different infrastructure and equipage milestones.

Moderated by AIA Chief (and former FAA Administrator) Marion Blakey, the discussion underlined the importance of working together early to avoid multiple standards.
The U.S. and Europe are not alone in adopting new air traffic management systems; other contenders include Australia, Japan, Canada, China and India.
Contact: patrick.carlson[at]aia-aerospace.org

July 19, 2010
Today’s Airshow Theme: Civil

The Farnborough organizers are promoting themed days for the duration of the trade show, including civil, defense, space, security and STEM. My plan is to follow along with their theme and bring you what I see as the most exciting news that matches the theme.

Keeping with that idea, today's theme is civil. (The U.K. blokes are calling this AeroSpace, which seemed a little vague to me.) Even though airshows like Farnborough are traditionally a venue for military aircraft to strut their stuff in dare-devil aerial displays, civil aerospace may be equally breathtaking this year:

• The 787 took breaths away as it came in for its first international landing yesterday morning, and enthusiasts are queuing up for a glimpse of the partially-outfitted interior.
• Emirates, already the world's largest 777 operator, announced an order for 30 more.
• GECAS (the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of General Electric) announced an order for 40 Next-Generation 737-800s.

Keep in mind the first day of the show hasn't even ended while I collect my thoughts, but it is clear that the next few days will be breathtaking. The orders announced today are worth billions of dollars, but despite the spectical of it all, Boeing's take is that competing for airshow order announcements is largely irrelevant when it comes to the bottom line. (Read Randy Tinseth's interesting blog post on this.)

July 19, 2010
Commerce lunch brings together industry and administration officials

Commerce lunch at AIA chalet

In what has become a tradition in recent years, AIA hosted a forum for member companies to engage with officials from the Commerce Department.
Joining our members today were the acting Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services, Nicole Lamb-Hale, and Fred Hochberg, chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
After initial introductions of the participants, the conversation opened with a series of Q&As for the officials. Of major interest to participants were the export control modernization efforts and the nuances of aircraft financing.

Fred Hochberg addresses the crowd

Contact: patrick.carlson[at]aia-aerospace.org

July 19, 2010
AIA and Kallman Worldwide open U.S. Pavilion

The U.S. Pavilion officially opened at the Farnborough Airshow this morning with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The tone of the opening was remarkably more optimistic than last year’s ceremony in Paris. Despite a still-fragile global economy, there are strong indications of recovery for the aerospace and aviation industries.

Cutting the ribon

Marion C. Blakey noted that, while AIA’s tagline is “Aerospace and Defense: The Strength to Lift America,” the level of American participation in Farnborough lent itself to a new slogan: “Aerospace and Defense: The Strength to Lift the Globe.”
Another higlight: Buzz Aldrin, of Moon landing/Dancing with the Stars fame, was presented with a special token of appreciation marking the third show he has attended.

Buzz Aldrin takes the mic

Contact: patrick.carlson[at]aia-aerospace.org

July 19, 2010
NASA Administrator Bolden pays morning visit to AIA chalet

NASA chief Charles Bolden participated in a space industry breakfast this morning just before the official opening of the Farnborough Airshow Monday morning.
The meeting, organized on the heels of the newly released National Space Policy, was designed to improve dialogue between industry and administration officials. AIA largely saw the new policy as helping advance U.S. global leadership in space and ensure continued competitiveness and innovation.
Bolden reemphasized the importance of international cooperation, saying that ISS-like models for space partnerships are essential.

Space industry dialogue

Contact: patrick.carlson[at]aia-aerospace.org

July 19, 2010
Beautiful start to the show

July 18, 2010
AIA hosts star-studded VIP reception

The stars of the aerospace industry shone brightly tonight at AIA’s annual VIP reception and dinner.
Fresh off the heels of the SJAC reception, AIA brought together a multitude of distinguished visitors to network and renew acquaintances before the show starts Monday morning. The dinner is a traditional gathering of senior executives of AIA’s member companies, and this year our membership was represented in full force.
In addition to industry attendees, many government VIPs were guests at the reception and dinner, including: Major General Charles Bolden, Administrator of NASA; Fred Hochberg, President & Chairman of the Export-Import Bank; and Nicole Lamb-Hale, Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services, US Department of Commerce; Liam Fox, U.K. Secretary of State for Defense; Ash Carter, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics.
The CoDel was also present for the reception, with Sen. Inhofe giving a dinner invocation.
Major themes of the evenings discussion included ratification of the US-U.K. treaty and export control modernization.
Check out a slideshow from the evening below:

Contact: patrick.carlson[at]aia-aerospace.org

July 18, 2010
U.S. and Japanese aerospace companies unite at AIA-SJAC reception

Tonight members of AIA and the Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies (SJAC) reaffirmed the long-standing relationship between the U.S. and Japanese aerospace industries at a reception in London.

In remarks to the crowd, Marion C. Blakey, AIA President and CEO, said, “The partnership between the Japanese and U.S. aerospace industry remains a solid foundation to build on, and serves as an excellent launching pad for products like the 787 that we are all excited to see at the Farnborough Air Show.”

AIA Chairman Scott Donnelley speaks at AIA-SJAC reception

AIA Chairman and Textron President and CEO Scott Donnelly went even further, saying “I am confident that we have not yet seen the full potential of Japan-US cooperation in the civil, space, and defense aerospace sectors.”

SJAC Chairman Kazuo Tsukuda at the reception

Now more than ever, Japanese and U.S. companies operate internationally and interdependently. For instance, SJAC Chairman Kazuo Tsukuda said that 35% of the Boeing 787 structure and equipment is manufactured in Japan. Boeing outsourced wing manufacturing for the first time, to a Japanese company.

July 18, 2010
CoDel tours Dreamliner, DoD corral

Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner made its first international appearance this morning, touching down at Farnborough shortly after 9am. Amid the many enthusiasts and media eager to get a glimpse of the aircraft, the U.S. Congressional Delegation (CoDel) were the first guests taken to tour the interior.

CoDel tour of 787 interior

Sens. Cochran, Dodd, Graham, Inhofe and Graham participated in the visit, which took them through the partial interior and cockpit. Boeing engineers and staff were on hand to explain and demonstrate many of the technological advancements in the super-efficient aircraft.

The Dreamliner's cockpit

Marion C. Blakey, AIA, takes the pilot's seat with Chief 787 Test Pilot Mike Carriker.

The trademark flexible carbon-fiber wings on the 787

The CoDel then visited the DoD corral, fanning out among the aircraft on display to get up close and personal with the U.S. military fleet. The senators had the chance to speak with each aircraft's flight crew, and in many instances went into  and learning about the U.S. fleet.

Senator Inhofe with the crew of the UH-Y1 Super Huey

Following the tours, the CoDel returned to the AIA chalet for lunch with the aircrew. Paying tribute to U.S. military aircraft and their aircrews are among the top reasons for the CoDel visit to Farnborough It was a special treat that the CoDel could meet with the crews before the show officially opens tomorrow.

Contact: patrick.carlson[at]aia-aerospace.org

July 18, 2010
Hello Beautiful

Boeings 787 Dreamliner just touched down at the Farnborough Airshow, its first international landing. The plane is heralded as one of the real highlights of this year's show, and I personally can't wait to get a look inside!

You can learn about the 787 preparing for the airshow on Boeing's Farnbrough site.

This post sponsored by: Jet Lag

OK so after waking up at 3:30 this morning, I've wasted 90 minutes trying to fall asleep. So rather than count sheep, I decided to look through a couple pictures I took on the way to and after the charity lunch yesterday.

Westminster Palace


This place was beautiful, and so rich in history. Even though I got to tour the bowels of the palace, this picture still reminds me of the National Cathedral in DC> Ho hum.

London Eye


The sky was amazing over London yesterday, bright blue with big, bold clouds. I took this shot from the Members' (of Parliament) terrace at Westminster Palace.

AIA sponsors charity luncheon at House of Commons

I'm going to translate my FarnBlog post from business talk to fun talk! (Real post at FarnBlog)

Within 3 hours of landing in London (first time in the UK!) I was be-suited and decked out with my camera for a charity lunch at Westminster Palace. Sponsored by my company, the lunch was officially hosted by a Member of Parliament, Nigel Evans, who is the Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons.

Oversized checks were presented to charities, and nasty aubergine-stacks and halibut/crab risotto was served. (OK, I'm sure the halibut was delicious, but I am instinctually averse to seafood.)

I was yelled at by security in the Palace for taking pictures in one of the rooms, but by the end of the lunch the Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons knew me by name and was cool enough to let me do all kinds of forbidden-to-the-public things!




OK my internal clock is totally destroyed. It is about 4am right now in London, so I'm going to sign off and see if I have a chance of getting a bit more sleep before 6:30 wakeup!

En Route to London

I recognized my seat mate on the trip over the pond as Jon Ostrower from FlightBlogger. Had a fun time discussing aerospace, social media and DC living.

FarnBlog Invasion

Over the next 10 days I'll be in London for the Farnborough Airshow, covering the events as a blogger/photographer extraordinaire. To make the blog special, we mashed up Farnborough + Blog = FarnBlog.

See what we did there? Eh? Clever, right?


OK yeah, I agree. It reminds me of the AFLAC duck.

I'll probably end up straight copy/pasting from FarnBlog to TheCarlsonChronicles. I just took a look at some of the pictures I took at last year's Paris Air Show.



A couple shots from the Paris flying demonstration:





I'm hoping my pictures this year are a bit more inspired! Stay tuned and see the mayhem/awesomeness that the next 10 days will bring!

Another Before/After shot

Mouse over the picture below for more before/after fun.




I shot this from the veranda at a Meeting I had Wednesday afternoon. I didn't realize how badly overexposed the pictures were (I was shooting at high noon) until I got back to my laptop, but thankfully I was able to recover the picture because I shot in RAW.

Why I love shooting in RAW

After owning my camera for several months, I finally figured out how to shoot in RAW. Using this format captures significantly more light information, vs. a JPEG where what you see is what you get.

Although shooting in RAW takes up triple or quadruple the memory, it can let you salvage a picture otherwise ruined by over- or under-exposure.

Just by way of example, see this picture I shot of the 'Wings of Liberty' statue in my work's lobby.



Awful, right?

But because I shot in RAW, and have Photoshop, I was able to do some kick-ass things to it.



Besides getting rid of the beam behind arm, I captured so much light information that now we can see facial detail that was completely missing from the original shot.

For your mousing pleasure, here is the same image. Mouse over the image to see the original. Hehe this gets me good.



And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I love shooting in RAW.

Reception: King Family Vineyard

The Pièce de résistance of last weekend was without a doubt the reception hosted at the bucolic King Family Vineyards outside of Charlottesville. The vineyard itself is a beautiful piece of property set amid the lush rolling hills of central Virginia, a perfect backdrop to the evening's celebration.

And, they had horses. I'm sure this was number one on Sarah and Mike's checklist when looking for the perfect venue.



Jump-starting the party was a cocktail hour on the covered brick veranda of the carriage house, with tasty treats including bacon-wrapped dates and pesto-crab filled mushroom caps. Open bars served up the King Family Vinyards' signature wines including my favorite, their Chardonnay.

I did not take any pictures of this deliciousness and thirst-quenchingess,because I was feeling greedy and managed to eat and drink anything before my camera could even get a chance.

KL stays classy during the cocktail hour...



Sarah and Mike had to walk 18 miles to get to their reception, but it was well worth it.


The best couple - please don't leave me for Arizona!



Even more dramatic than the landscape was the cloudscape.


Mr. and Mrs. Bruce!


Mr. and Mrs. Lunsford - thank you for throwing such an amazing weekend!


Made it through the wedding, now getting to enjoy their party!


Blinking LED rings were all the rage at the reception


Meghan and Bryce during the cocktail hour. She's Art History. He's FBI.



Bridesmaid and Bride - no they aren't topless. I just couldn't frame the shot for the life of me!



Ah gross guys! Get a room!


The first dance - don't they look so happy!?!


The head table. Home to one of the funnest dinners in memory!


Lovely wedding cake



Delicious salad before the meal. Best enjoyed with Chardonnay.


Cutting the cake. True story - since the groom did not rub cake in his bride's face, I allegedly did the job for him. Allegedly.


Editor's note: In what was probably an excellent idea to preserve both my camera and dignity, I did not take a single picture on the dance floor. Some things are best left as memories. Plus enough of you little monsters had your cameras out there that I should probably be hanging my head in shame...

The party limo delivers the wedding party from the vineyard to the hotel


All in all, a beautiful, fun-filled, tiring, hilarious, amazing weekend. I really wish I could start this over from the beginning, but instead I'll have to wait for the next couple to tie the knot!