Geek of The North

March 10th – Today in Aviation History

Mike — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:01:16 +0000

March 10

In 1905… The French lawyer and aspiring aeronaut Ernest Archdeacon sends a letter to the Wright brothers in Dayton, Ohio challenging them to prove the validity of their claims. This marks the beginning of a bitter contest between the Wrights and European aeronauts.

In 1910… The first flight at night is made by Frenchman Emile Aubrun in Argentina on a Bleriot airplane. Aubrun makes two flights in the dark, each about 20 km from Buenos Aires and back again.

In 1925… One of the most outstanding flying boats of its day and a stunning demonstration of the skills of aircraft designer R. J. Michell, the Supermarine Southampton, makes its first flight with Henri Biard at the controls. It remains in service for 12 years, longer than any other flying boat before Sunderland.

1945 – The Army Air Force firebombs Tokyo, and the resulting firestorm kills more than 100,000 people..

In 1948… NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) test pilot Herbert Henry Hoover becomes the first civilian to exceed the speed of sound when he flies the No. 2 Bell XS-1 to a speed of 703 mph (Mach 1.065).

In 1956… The first aircraft to exceed 1,000 mph is an English Fairey Delta 2. Piloted by Lt. Cdr. Peter Twiss, it reaches a speed of 1,132 mph (1,822 km/h).

1977 – Astronomers discover rings around the outer planet Uranus.

2006 – The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter arrived at Mars.

And that’s what happened today March 10th in Aviation history , See you tomorrow!

March 9th – Today in Aviation History

Mike — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:01:45 +0000

March 9
In 1918… The first American air casualty in World War I is Capt. James E. Miller who loses his life in a French Spad while flying a practice patrol across the German lines.
In 1919… U.S. Navy Lt. Comdr. E. O. McDonnell makes the first successful flight from a gun turret platform on a U.S. navy battleship. The USS Texas is anchored in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for the test.
In 1928… The English aviatrix Lady Mary Bailey takes off from Croydon on what becomes the first round-trip flight between London and Cape Town, South Africa flown by a woman. She arrives back in England on May 12.
Today is the Birthday of Yuri Gagarin Born in 1934,He was a Soviet cosmonaut and the first human in space died in 1968
On 12 April 1961, Gagarin became the first man to travel into space, launching to orbit aboard the Vostok 3KA-3 . During his flight, Gagarin famously whistled the tune “The Motherland Hears, The Motherland Knows” The first two lines of the song are: “The Motherland hears, the Motherland knows/Where her son flies in the sky”. This patriotic song was written by Dmitri Shostakovich in 1951
Around the same time, some Western sources claimed that Gagarin, during his space flight, had made the comment, “I don’t see any God up here.” However, no such words appear in the verbatim record of Gagarin’s conversations with the Earth during the spaceflight. In a 2006 interview a close friend of Gagarin, Colonel Valentin Petrov, stated that Gagarin never said such words, and that the phrase originated from Nikita Khrushchev’s speech at the plenum of the Central Committee where the anti-religious propaganda was discussed. In a certain context Khrushchev said, “Gagarin flew into space, but didn’t see any God there”. Colonel Petrov also said that Gagarin had been baptised into the Orthodox Church as a child.
In 1938… A new parachute descent record of 35,450ft. is achieved by the French parachutist James Williams when he jumps from the cockpit of an ANF 113 high-wing monoplane after taking off from the airfield at Chartres. Dropping to a height above the ground of 650 ft. in 2 minutes 50 seconds before opening his parachute, Williams easily achieves a world free-fall record.
1967 – Trans World Airlines Flight 553, a Douglas DC-9-15, crashes in a field in Concord Township, Ohio following a mid-air collision with a Beechcraft Baron, killing 26.

And that’s what happened today March 9th in Aviation history , See you tomorrow!

Subscribe to Geek of the North and Today in Aviation History

Mike — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:08:14 +0000

I’ve updated the sidebar, so you can click (over on the right hand side of the front page) on an icon or link to subscribe in your favorite podcatcher or feed reader.

Stay tuned for more podcasts!

-Mike

March 8th – Today in Aviation History

Mike — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:15:10 +0000

March 8
In 1910… Elise Deroche, the colorful self-styled Baroness Raymonde de Laroche, becomes the first woman in the world to receive a pilot’s license in Paris.
Also in 1910… Claude Moore-Brabazon receives the Royal Aero Club’s first aviator’s certificate in London. Charles Rolls receives the second.
German airship pioneer Count von Zeppelin died today in 1917
In 1949… The Nonstop flight of 56 hours and 2 minutes has put captain William Odom in the record books. Leaving Honolulu, Hawaii, he covers a distance of 4,957.25 miles before landing at Teterboro, New Jersey to gain the world record in a Class C-1-c light aircraft.
1972: A bomb exploded aboard a Trans World Airlines Boeing 707 at Las Vegas airport. No-one was injured in the blast which destroyed the cockpit of the aircraft as it stood empty on the tarmac. The explosion happened hours after an anonymous phone caller threatened TWA with a series of bomb attacks unless $2 million was handed over. The caller instructed airport officials at Kennedy Airport in New York to go to a locker where they found a note, which said there would be explosions at six hour intervals on four of the company’s aircraft. Sniffer dogs found a bomb, which consisted of 3lb (1.36kg) of plastic explosives and a timing device, aboard a TWA aircraft at the airport in New York, 12 minutes before it was timed to explode. It was found in a case labeled “crew” in the cockpit. A few hours later police boarded a second TWA jet at the airport but nothing was found. The aircraft which exploded in Las Vegas was thoroughly searched and left New York after the first bomb was discovered. It flew to Las Vegas with only 10 passengers and was searched again once it landed. The aircraft was then put under armed guard before the plane exploded seven hours later. Debris was blown more than 100 feet away but two security guards escaped uninjured. One of them said: “It sounded like dynamite. I could see pieces of the plane flying through the air.” The security department at the International Air Transport Association suspects that five people, who each hold Middle Eastern passports, may have been involved in the plot. TWA ordered worldwide checks on all 240 of its aircraft following the initial bomb threat. US President Richard Nixon said that the government would mobilize all resources “until the current threat is crushed.”

In 1974… Charles de Gaulle Airport France is officially opened. The new international airport is located 15.5 miles (25 km) from the center of Paris.

And that is what happened TODAY March 8th , in Aviation History. See you Tomorrow!

March 7 – Today in Aviation History

Mike — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:01:35 +0000

March 7

In 1956… Dan Perkins, engineer at Britain’s Royal Aircraft Establishment, makes his first flight in an inflatable airplane in Bedfordshire, England. It takes 25 minutes to inflate it, using a large domestic vacuum cleaner.
In 1961… The # 2 North America X-15 becomes the fist manned aircraft to exceed Mach 4 when pilot Capt. Robert M. White reaches a speed of 2,905 mph which, at the altitude of 77,450 ft., is Mach 4.43.
The North American X-15 rocket-powered aircraft was part of the X-series of experimental aircraft that were made for the USAF, NASA, and the USN. The X-15 set speed and altitude records in the early 1960s, reaching the edge of outer space and returning with valuable data used in aircraft and spacecraft design.
It currently holds the official world record for the fastest speed ever reached by a manned aircraft.
During the X-15 program, 13 of the flights (by eight pilots) met the USAF spaceflight criteria by exceeding the altitude of 50 miles or 264,000 ft, thus qualifying the pilots for astronaut status. The USAF pilots qualified for USAF astronaut wings, while the civilian pilots were later awarded NASA astronaut wings.
Of all the X-15 missions, two flights (by the same pilot) qualified as space flights per the international definition of a spaceflight by exceeding a 100 kilometer or 328,084 ft altitude.
The 3 x-15’s and the 2 B-52 “motherships” flew a total of 199 test flights. The 200th flight was scheduled for 21 November 1968 but was canceled due to several weather and technical delays. The last B-52 mother ship was operational at the flight test center until 2004. It retired as the oldest aircraft in the USAF Inventory at 52 years of service.

And that is what happened TODAY in Aviation History. See you Tomorrow!

March 6 – Today in Aviation History

Mike — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:01:59 +0000

March 6

In 1935… U.S secretary of commerce signs a special air traffic regulation that prohibits air flights over parts of Washington, D.C. The first of the No-Fly Zones
In 1965… The first nonstop transcontinental helicopter flight across the United States – flown off the deck of the carrier USS Hornet at San Diego, California to the deck of the carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt off Jacksonville, Florida – is completed successfully. A U. S. Navy Sikorsky SH-3A Sea King flies 2,116 miles.
The SH-3 is a variant of the Sikorsky S-61.
In September 1957, Sikorsky won a United States Navy development contract for an amphibious anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter capable of detecting and attacking submarines.The XHSS-2 Sea King prototype flew on 11 March 1959. Production deliveries of the HSS-2 (later designated SH-3A) began in September 1961, with the initial production aircraft being powered by two 1250hp General Electric T58-GE-8B turboshafts.
Sikorsky was quick to develop a commercial model of the Sea King. The S-61L first flew on 2 November 1961, and was 4 ft 3in (1.27m) longer than the HSS-2 in order to carry a substantial payload of freight or passengers. Initial production S-61Ls were powered by two 1350shp (1005 kW) GE CT58-140 turboshafts, the civil version of the T58. The S-61L features a modified landing gear without float stabilisers.
Other Variants of the SH-3 operated by the US Military are the
CH-3C – Long-range military transport helicopter for the US Air Force.
CH-3E – Long-range military transport helicopter for the US Air Force.
HH-3E Jolly Green Giant – Long-range search and rescue helicopter for the US Air Force, 10 built and converted from CH-3E.
MH-3E – Special Operations version for the US Air Force.
VH-3E – US Air Force VIP transport helicopter.
HH-3F “Pelican” – Long-range search and rescue helicopter for the US Coast Guard,.
In 1986… Japan Air Lines embarks the world’s heaviest man, an 880-lb Austrian flying from Frankfurt, Germany, as a passenger; 16 seats are removed from the cabin to make room for him.
And that is what happened TODAY in Aviation History. See you Tomorrow!

March 5 – Today in Aviation History

Mike — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:01:46 +0000

March 5

In 1912… Bob Fowler flies from Los Angeles to Jacksonville, Florida. The west to east coast-to-coast journey has taken four months to complete.
In 1923… The great aeronautical pioneer Igor Sikorsky sets up the Sikorsky Aero Engineering Corp. in the United States with the financial help of several important leading figures, including Sergey Rachmaninoff. Sikorsky left Russia in 1917 when revolution threatened his work and his life.

1943 – First flight of Gloster Meteor jet aircraft in the United Kingdom. The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies’ first operational jet. Meteors saw action with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in the Korean War and remained in service with numerous air forces until the 1970s.
Two Meteors, WL419 and WA638, remain in service with the Martin-Baker company as ejection seat testbeds. Who would want to try that?

1958 – The Explorer 2 spacecraft launches and fails to reach Earth orbit.

In 1962… A Convair B-58 (serial no. 59-2458) of the Forty-third Bombardment Wing breaks three records during a round trip between New York and Los Angeles in 4 hours 41 minutes 14.98 seconds. The fastest trans-continental crossing between Los Angeles and New York is accomplished in 2 hours 58.71 seconds at an average speed of 1,214.65 mph. The third record notches the fastest time between New York and Los Angeles.

1976 – The last flight of the second Concorde prototype aircraft to the Fleet Air Arm Museum at the Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton,England.

And that is what happened TODAY in Aviation History. See you Tomorrow!

Flying with Arthur Godfrey 1953 – Eastern Airlines

Mike — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:33:00 +0000

Check out this 1953 film with Arthur Godfrey

GOTN – Geek of the North #8 – 7 Year old air traffic controller?

Mike — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:20:26 +0000

Thank you for listening to Geek of the North!

Topics talked about today:

Intro – www.mikedell.com

Evernote – I found a use for it!

Plurk, FriendFeed, Myspace, Identi.ca and other dying social networks.

iPad / Apple fanboys getting excited!

7 year old Air Traffic Controller at JFK Airport !!!

New Sport Pilot rules are out. Check out www.beasportpilot.com

Catch you next week!

========

March 4 – Today in Aviation History

Mike — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 04:01:30 +0000

March 4

In 1909… President William Howard Taft approves Congressional Gold Medals for the Wright brothers.
In 1936… The last great passenger-carrying airship, a veritable behemoth in its day, takes to the air for the first time. The German dirigible LZ 129, the Hindenburg, is powered by four 1,320-hp Daimler-Benz DB 602 diesel engines. The Hindenburg makes its first Atlantic crossing in the record time of 64 hours 53 minutes on May 6.
In 1948… The first American civilian to fly at supersonic speeds is Herbert Henry Hoover in Bell X-1 in Muroc, California.
1994 – Space shuttle Columbia launches into orbit for STS-62 . The primary mission of it’s two week flight was microgravity experiments. The mission also featured a number of biomedical experiments focusing on the effects of long duration spaceflight.

Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to travel through the asteroid belt
It’s main mission was to make direct observations of Jupiter, which it passed by on December 3, 1973. It was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Launch Complex 36A on March 3, 1972 (as we talked about yesterday)
Pioneer 10 is heading in the direction of Aldebaran, located in Taurus. By some definitions, Pioneer 10 has become the first artificial object to leave the solar system. It is the first human-built object to have been set upon a trajectory leading out of the solar system. However, it still has not passed the Oort cloud.
Its objectives were to study the interplanetary and planetary magnetic fields, solar wind parameters, cosmic rays, transition region of the heliosphere, neutral hydrogen abundance, distribution, size, mass, flux, and velocity of dust particles, Jovian radio waves, atmosphere of Jupiter and some of its satellites (particularly Io), and to photograph Jupiter and its satellites.
There is no longer communication with the probe; the last contact was in 2003 and a final attempt at contact failed Today in 2006.

And that is what happened TODAY in Aviation History. See you Tomorrow!

March 3 – Today in Aviation History

Mike — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:01:12 +0000

March 3
In 1911… With Capt. Benjamin D. Foulois navigating a course and Phillip Parmelee at the controls, the Wright Type B on loan from Robert F. Collier sets an official U.S. cross-country record from Laredo to Eagle Pass, Texas. It flies the 106 miles in 2 hours 10 minutes.
In 1919… Airplane builder William E. Boeing and Eddie Hubbard of Hubbard Air Service make the first international airmail flight from Seattle, Washington to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
In 1950… Quantas Airways limited inaugurates a passenger service from Sydney to Tokyo.
Quantas is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport. It is Australia’s largest airline and is the world’s second oldest airline.
Quantas was founded in 1920 as “Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services” and had a fleet of 7 de Havilland aircraft by 1926.
Today, Quantas operates 247 aircraft world wide with 79 more aircraft on order.

In 1960… The longest nonstop flight ever made by a Royal Air Force aircraft is completed when a Vickers Valiant B.Mk.1 piloted by Sqdn. Ldr. J. H. Garstin flies around the British Isles for a total distance of 8,500 miles aided by two inflight refuelings.
1972 – Mohawk Airlines Flight 405 crashes as a result of a control malfunction and insufficient training in emergency procedures.
In 1974… In the world’s worst air disaster, a DC-10-10 of Turkish Airlines loses an aft cargo door after taking off from Paris en route to London, resulting in a complete loss of control. The aircraft crashes, killing 346 passengers and crew. This is the second time a cargo bay door has been lost from aircraft of this type. As a result, a latch modification becomes mandatory.
2005 – Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly an airplane non-stop around the world solo without refueling.

And that is what happened TODAY in Aviation History. See you Tomorrow!

March 2 – Today in Aviation History

Mike — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:01:19 +0000

March 2
In 1918… Lloyd Andrews Hamilton becomes the first American to receive a commission in the British Royal Flying Corps when he is assigned as lieutenant with No. 3 squadron in France.
In 1932… The 20-month old son of aviator Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped from the family’s home in Hopewell, New Jersey.
In 1949… Commanded by Capt. James G. Gallagher, the crew of 14 aboard the Strategic Air Command B-50 Superfortress, named the Lucky Lady II, of the Forty-third Bombardment Group, USAF, completes the first nonstop round-the-world flight of 94 hours 1 minute. Flying a distance of 23,452 miles the B-50A is refueled four times by KB-29 tankers before landing back at Carswell AFB, Texas.
In 1969… After a lengthy succession of taxi and runway tests, the first prototype Concorde 001 (F-WTSS) makes its first flight, with Andre Turcat at the controls. The flight lasts 29 minutes.
The Concorde aircraft is a turbojet-powered supersonic passenger airliner which flew from 1969 to 2003. It was a product of an Anglo-French government treaty, combining the manufacturing efforts of Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation. (The French word concorde translates to the English concord as agreement, harmony, or union.) Concorde entered service with Air France and British Airways in 1976.
1972 – The Pioneer 10 space probe is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida with a mission to explore the outer planets. (more about this tomorrow)
1998 – Data sent from the Galileo spacecraft indicates that Jupiter’s moon Europa has a liquid ocean under a thick crust of ice.

And that is what happened TODAY in Aviation History.

March 1 – Today in Aviation History

Mike — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:01:56 +0000

March 1

1912… Capt. Albert Berry makes the first parachute descent from a powered airplane in America when he jumps from a Benoist aircraft that is being flown by the company pilot, Anthony Jannus. The aircraft flew t a height of 1,500 ft. over Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri, and Berry uses a static line parachute.

1925… Ryan Airlines begins the first regularly scheduled passenger airline service flown within the mainland United States. The service runs between Los Angeles and San Diego.

1928… An airmail route between France and Chile is opened with a fast sea link between Dakar, Senegal and Natal, Brazil.

1933… U.S. Air Commerce Regulations are amended to increase the flying time required for a pilot’s license from 10 hours to 50 hours.
1956– The International Air Transport Association finalizes a draft of the Radiotelephony spelling alphabet for the International Civil Aviation Organization.

1962– American Airlines Flight 1 crashes on take off in New York.
The aircraft was a Boeing 707-123B, U.S. Registry N 7506A. It was delivered to American Airlines on 12 February 1959, and that same day. At the time of the crash, it had accumulated 8,147 hours of air time during the course of 3 years. Its last periodic inspection had occurred on 18 January 1962 at 7,922 hours of air time.
The aircraft received instructions to taxi to Idlewild’s Runway 31L at 09:54 AM EST, and clearance to proceed to Los Angeles non-stop under instrument flight rules. Flight 1 became airborne at 10:07 AM EST. Following American Airlines procedures and Departure Control instructions, the aircraft initiated a left turn. In the course of the turn, the Boeing banked too far, flipped 90 degrees, and began an upside-down, nose-first descent in a nearly vertical dive.
Flight 1 crashed into Pumpkin Patch Channel, Jamaica Bay, at 10:08am

Some notable victims of the crash were:
W. Alton Jones, multi-millionaire former president of Cities Service Company (now CITGO) and close personal friend of Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Admiral Richard Lansing Conolly, USN ret., president of Long Island University and two-time Deputy Chief of Naval Operations.
Arnold Kirkeby, millionaire realtor and former head of the Kirkeby chain of luxury hotels.
Louise Lindner Eastman, whose daughter Linda Eastman would later marry the Beatle Paul McCartney.

1962… Los Angeles Airways sets up the world’s first commercial service using turbine-powered, multi-engine helicopters, the Sikorsky S-621L, which could accommodate up to 28 passengers.
1966 – Venera 3 Soviet space probe crashes on Venus becoming the first spacecraft to land on another planet’s surface.

And that is what happened TODAY in Aviation History.

GOTN – Geek of the North #7 – Disconnected Ramblings

Mike — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:02:35 +0000

This podcast brought to you by FlightRadio.com – Your source for Air Traffic and aircraft frequencies for your Radio scanner

Today I talk about a use for Google Reader that wasn’t available a week ago.

I talk about Google Listen for Android. I’m about to retire my iPod for Podcast Listening. My Droid does it all!

I played a song called “google” from Tom Smith over at Musicalley.com

Starting March 1st there will be a new podcast from GOTN called “Today in Aviation History” . See the post below this for information on how to get that.

Like to say thank you to Mike from Perth, NSW, Australia and Jim From Ohio for joining me on ustream.tv for the live recording. It was great chatting with you guys after the show!

Thanks for Listening!

Catch you Next week!

If you like Geek Of The North, you will likely enjoy Jeffery Powers podcasts which can be found over at www.geekazine.com

Geek of the North is a proud member of the The Tech Podcast Network – If it’s Tech, it’s here!

Today in Aviation History – Podcast starts March 1st

Mike — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:37:43 +0000

The second show here on Geek of the North will begin as a daily (7 days a week) podcast talking about all the things that happened on this day in history of aviation. As you know, I am an aviation geek and I’m also a History geek. So why not combine my passions and create a short (5 min. or so) daily podcast? Well, I’m going to do it.

I will have more information here on Geek of the North in a week or so.

**Update – The new podcast RSS feed is – http://geekofthenorth.com/feed/tiah/ – Just cut an paste this into your favorite podcatcher – It should be listed in the itunes store soon. **

Tune in Thursday to a podcatcher near you for the regular weekly Geek of the North Podcast.

-Mike

GOTN – Geek Of The North #6 – More Google and FlightSim topics

Mike — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:30:09 +0000

This podcast brought to you by FlightRadio.com – Your source for Air Traffic and aircraft frequencies for your Radio scanner

Today I talk more about Google stuff along with a couple of listener voice mails.

Google Chrome for Mac WITH EXTENTIONS – I’m using chrome almost exclusively now that I can have it on my Macbook with Adblock and Bookmark Sync. It’s good.

I also talk about the Virtual Air Traffic Simulation Network (www.vatsim.net) – VATSIM is a worldwide network of Aviation enthusiasts that have live Air Traffic Control for your flight simulator software. Read more about them at their website – www.vatsim.net and on their Wikipedia page.

Thanks for Listening!

Catch you Next week!

If you like Geek Of The North, you will likely enjoy Jeffery Powers podcasts which can be found over at www.geekazine.com

Geek of the North is a proud member of the The Tech Podcast Network – If it’s Tech, it’s here!

GOTN – Geek of the North #5 – Google and Cessna

Mike — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:12:06 +0000

This podcast brought to you by Flightradio.com – Your source of air traffic and aircraft communications frequencies and information on the net.

Today I talk about Google Services such as Gmail, Wave, Buzz, IG, Android, Chrome and search.

I also talk about the Light Sport Aircraft license and the Cessna 162 SkyCatcher Aircraft.

Thank you for taking time out of your week to listen to Geek Of The North!

Catch you next week!

-Mike

GOTN – Geek of the North #4

Mike — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:16:54 +0000

Re-launch #3 ( 3 times is a charm )

This podcast is sponsored by FlightRadio.com – Your Source for Air Traffic Control and aircraft communications frequencies for your radio scanner.
And, by Rubber Duck Land – the internet’s biggest selection of synthetic waterfowl and other novelties at www.rubberduckland.com

Subjects covered:

iPad by Apple – Just a big iPod touch (which isn’t a bad thing)
I want an Android Pad. Is one coming?
Windows 7 vs. XP vs. Vista – Windows Vista isn’t that bad is it? – I am going to upgrade to Windows 7 this weekend – Wish me luck!
iAPRS – iPhone App for Automatic Position Reporting System by John Martin, KF8KK www.kf8kk.com/iaprs/
Switching to Chrome for a week. Will it stack up to Firefox? We will see.. Report at 11!
and, HTML5 trial by Youtube. www.youtube.com/html5/

Thank you for taking time out of your busy week to listen to me! Check back next week for another episode of Geek Of The North.

Website update

Mike — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:16:58 +0000

As you can see, I’ve been tweaking and tweaking the look of this website. Partly because I could never get it “just right” and partly because I’m having a ball learning more and more about Wordpress.

As you also know, I’ve had a couple of false starts on launching the podcast. Part of that is I was trying to do a show that isn’t my style. Much like Strange Today. That was a great podcast, but it wasn’t “me” and if I can’t just be me, then I’m not motivated to do it on a regular basis.

So, to that end, I’ve widened the scope of what I want this show to be. It’s going to be ME talking about the tech subjects that I like to talk about in a way that I like to talk about them. Relaxed, unscripted and comfortable. Like I’m talking to you over a beer or cup of coffee. I hope you will like the new format.

I’m also going to be sticking to a strict schedule. (yeah, I’ve said that before) So, anyway… My schedule is as follows:

Monday: No Podcasts. Use this for Web work
Tuesday: Record Mike Dell’s World (main feed)
Wednesday: Other recording projects (like BanjoTrax on Ed’s Mixed Bag)
Thursday: Record Geek Of The North
Friday: Record What’s Up With That (once in a while) and/or record the ***yet to be named new show with co-host***

Unscheduled: ipadio updates (see www.mikedell.com for info on that) and / or record Mike Dell’s World (unplugged feed) Also, record for www.flightradio.com as needed.

I want to take my podcasting to the next level of dependability.

I really appreciate that you take a slice of time out of your week to listen to me and I think it’s only fair that I make sure I’m there for that time, every time and all the time.

-Mike

GOTN – Geek of the North #3

Mike — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:02:53 +0000

Stories from today’s podcast:

Aircraft Seatbelt Airbags

Cockpit PC ban

AirBus A330-200F

Hams win Prizes – http://www.arrl.org/

Farmers Twitter Too!

Stanley Tools acquires Black & Decker – What will they come up with?

Geek of the North Re-Launching November 4th, 2009

Mike — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:00:04 +0000

Hey, Where did Geek of the North Go? – Well, I had good intentions of getting the podcast and blog up and running full force this summer, but… Life gets in the way. I’ve been very busy with work, home projects and travel this fall, and haven’t really had time to develop a schedule for research, posting and production of the podcast.

That will all change on November 4th. On that day, I will release the next show and let everyone know what the schedule will be. I will also have a couple of very exciting announcements about the future of the GOTN Network (Yes, Network!)

I will be producing the show and posting here on the blog on a very regular schedule. I’m thinking of doing the podcast once a week to start off and posting news as I find it.

If you have any stories you think I should cover, drop me an email at mike@mikedell.com or call the voicemail line at 231-715-1366

Till November 4th, be good!

-Mike
AkA Geek of the North

GOTN – Geek of the North #2

Mike — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:20:58 +0000

NASA offers $1.5 million for 200MPG aircraft

Senate votes to kill F-22 production

First US Navy Stealth fighter roll out

All about HD Radio

9 Reasons radio shack shouldn’t change it’s name.

Radio Shack re branding

No more converter box coupons for DTV
Thanks for listening!

Tech Podcast Network

Mike — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 04:32:30 +0000

Geek of the North has Joined the Tech Podcast Network. In fact, I did the TPN Weekly Show #13. Go check it out over at blog.techpodcasts.com.

Shows begin July 16th (Later Today). I will be recording live on ustream.tv .. Go check it out around 9am Eastern Time by hitting the “GOTN Live” button at the top of the home page.

-Mike

World’s Tallest Broadcasting Tower?

Mike — Fri, 29 May 2009 05:40:17 +0000

KVLY-TV in in Fargo is the user of this 2,063 ft broadcasting tower. Built in 1963 for KTHI (HI referring to the hight of the mast)

The tower is located three miles west of Blanchard, North Dakota, halfway between Fargo and Grand Forks. It became the tallest artificial structure upon the completion of its construction on 13 August 1963. The mast was surpassed in height by 57 ft (17 m) in 1974 by the Warszawa radio mast near Konstantynów, Poland, which collapsed on 8 August 1991, making the KVLY-TV mast again the tallest structure on land.

It looks like it’s no longer the tallest man made structure on land. It is surpassed by Burj Dubai in Dubai, United Arab Emirates which stands at 2,320 feet and is still not complete.

You won’t be seeing me climbinig this thing anytime soon.. There is an elevator in the tower which I would consider a ride in at some point.

New Radar – UGLY Plane!

Mike — Fri, 29 May 2009 03:46:17 +0000

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass (AFNS) — Equipping warfighters with the technology to detect moving targets in combat gained momentum when Electronic Systems Center officials here, in concert with prime contractors and other organizations, recently completed a key flight milestone for the Multiplatform Radar Technology Insertion Program.

A Proteus aircraft flies over Southern California carrying the Global Hawk variant of the new Multiplatform Radar Technology Insertion Program radar.

Read the full story here

Blubrry Powerpress 0.8.0 is released

Mike — Thu, 28 May 2009 07:16:19 +0000

RawVoice Releases Revolutionary Update to WordPress Podcast Plugin

The Geek Of The North podcast will be using this plugin to deliver the podcast to you!

-Mike

Stuff

Mike — Thu, 28 May 2009 06:51:49 +0000

All other cool tech stuff goes here.

All my Radio posts here

Mike — Thu, 28 May 2009 06:51:19 +0000

Radio posts go here.. Things like New Radios, Ham Radio stuff, Shortwave, scanner and so on.

Outdoor Tech

Mike — Thu, 28 May 2009 06:50:05 +0000

Here is where we are putting all the outdoor tech stuff. (Campers, camping, hiking, biking, paddle sports and so on)

Farm, Tractors, Lawnmowers and such go here

Mike — Thu, 28 May 2009 06:48:46 +0000

All the outdoor work toys go here

Broadcasting post

Mike — Thu, 28 May 2009 06:47:53 +0000

Here is where all the broadcasting articles will go soon.

Car stuff post

Mike — Thu, 28 May 2009 06:47:03 +0000

This is where the Automotive Tech stuff will go.

Flying Post

Mike — Thu, 28 May 2009 06:46:22 +0000

This is the Category for Aviation posts.

More to come soon.

Geek Of The North – 001

Mike — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:00:02 +0000

Here is the intro to Geek of the North. I had to put something in the feed to get the thing listed on iTunes and to get the feed started.

See ya in a couple of weeks!

-Mike

About

Mike — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 04:18:09 +0000

Hi, I’m Mike Dell. (no, not that one) And being a geek about Aviation, Radio, Broadcasting, Cars, Tractors and Motorcycles I figured I would do a podcast that reflects those interests and leave the cellphone and computer stuff to the other great podcasts out there. Geek Of The North will be a weekly audio podcast and the blog will be updated as needed to keep you up to date on your favorite off-beat tech stuff. I’m happy to bring it to you from the North Coast of the USA (Northern Michigan). If you have any news or comments you would like for me to see, either comment here on the blog or send me an email at geekofthenorth (at) gmail dot com.

If you are a geek about Air Traffic Control please visit my long un-updated (but soon to be updated) site www.flightradio.com

For my personal blog/podcast check out www.mikedell.com. A Show about nothing according to Mike James over at www.thinksmedia.com

Enjoy!

-Mike

Future Home of the Geek of the North

Mike — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:34:37 +0000

Welcome to the new website for the Geek Of The North. This will be a podcast and blog about Tech (doh!) from a Geek living in the northwoods of Michigan. Not exactly the center of the Tech universe.

Stay tuned for more.

Until then, Check out some of my favorite websites (and a few shameless plugs)