Regarding my last post--I'd forgotten the value, and function of fear; to cause prudence; to cause caution; to cause self-preservation. I need to remember those functions, rather than let the sensation itself work on my psyche (note that Cicero classified more than a dozen types of fear, but for the moment I'm subsuming them all within the one word):
Thanks, Flynn, for the reminder!
Below, Philippe Petit walks the wire in Australia, from the most inspiring film I know, "Man on Wire". This man, without fear, would not have accomplished what he did; he would have dashed out onto the wire without a care. Rather, fear guided him to spend a year of preparations.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Fears
I am consumed, obsessed, with fears; I can barely sleep. Am I setting myself up for a quick suicide mission by building my own pressure suit, and trying to use that to
sustain my life in a balloon ascent to the lower stratosphere?
On the one hand, a pressure suit is a relatively simple piece of equipment--people have been building these garments for over 70 years--and I think I've built a functional suit that will sustain me to 50,000 feet altitude.
On the other hand, one very small mistake, in this stage of my preparations, could kill me.
So, I move very slowly & carefully, and I try to get some sleep.
sustain my life in a balloon ascent to the lower stratosphere?
On the one hand, a pressure suit is a relatively simple piece of equipment--people have been building these garments for over 70 years--and I think I've built a functional suit that will sustain me to 50,000 feet altitude.
On the other hand, one very small mistake, in this stage of my preparations, could kill me.
So, I move very slowly & carefully, and I try to get some sleep.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Further Footage of November Pressure Suit Test
A bit more footage of that first test:
And a still photo of the whole rig:
I've learned a lot from researching and building this suit, and now it's on to building further suit components and refining the design. Busy, busy, tonight at writing group, tomorrow all day at the Portland Garment Factory, where I'll be consulting with Britt Howard on custom production of a few of the suit elements (specifically the fireproof coverall) that I don't feel confident to take on myself.
Still on crutches...a unique way to locomote!
And a still photo of the whole rig:
I've learned a lot from researching and building this suit, and now it's on to building further suit components and refining the design. Busy, busy, tonight at writing group, tomorrow all day at the Portland Garment Factory, where I'll be consulting with Britt Howard on custom production of a few of the suit elements (specifically the fireproof coverall) that I don't feel confident to take on myself.
Still on crutches...a unique way to locomote!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
"Nothing will ever quite equal that moment of total hilarity that filled my whole body at the moment of take-off...it was not mere delight. It was a sort of physical ecstasy...
Such utter calm.
Such immensity!
[Afterwards] someone asked me, 'what's the use of a balloon?
I replied, 'What's the use of a newborn baby?'"
Dr. Alexandre Charles, on his first balloon ascent, near Paris, in 1783.
Friday, January 8, 2010
A COMET
A thrilling discovery--I can detect her thrill, as well as her caution regarding such a discovery-- in Caroline Herschel's diary, August 1786:
From Richard Holmes' terrific book, The Age of Wonder.
August 1st 1786. 9 hours 50 mins. I saw the object...like a star out of focus while the others were perfectly clear...I have calculated 100 nebulae today, and this evening I saw an object which I believe will prove tomorrow to be a Comet.
August 2nd. Today I calculated 150 nebulae. I fear it will not be clear tonight, it has been raining throughout the whole day...1 o'clock. the object of last night IS A COMET.
August 3rd. I did not go to rest until I had written to Dr. Blagden and Mr. Aubert to announce the Comet.
August 5th. I calculated nebulae all day...paid the smith. The night was tolerably fine and I SAW THE COMET.
From Richard Holmes' terrific book, The Age of Wonder.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Three Books
Three books to write this year; one contract signed, two in the works.
"The Fact of Evolution", for Prometheus, will walk the reader through the process of evolution, showing--in the clearest terms--that evolution is a fact of the natural world.
"Distant Lands Unknown: The Evolution of Homo extraterrestrialis", for _____________ , will argue that humanity must migrate off of our home planet if we wish to survive as a species.
"The Frost Giants", for __________, will be the wild narrative of my solo expeditions on Iceland's Vatnajokull Ice Cap.
With these commitments--and flying as much as possible this year in preparation for the next Alaska expedition (nine months and counting!), and continuing work on the High Altitude Ballooning Project [and, oh yeah, teaching]--there is not a moment to lose!
"The Fact of Evolution", for Prometheus, will walk the reader through the process of evolution, showing--in the clearest terms--that evolution is a fact of the natural world.
"Distant Lands Unknown: The Evolution of Homo extraterrestrialis", for _____________ , will argue that humanity must migrate off of our home planet if we wish to survive as a species.
"The Frost Giants", for __________, will be the wild narrative of my solo expeditions on Iceland's Vatnajokull Ice Cap.
With these commitments--and flying as much as possible this year in preparation for the next Alaska expedition (nine months and counting!), and continuing work on the High Altitude Ballooning Project [and, oh yeah, teaching]--there is not a moment to lose!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Departure From Controlled Flight
'Departure From Controlled Flight' is the dry aviation term used to describe loss of control of one's flying machine.
Two days ago, in Nevada, I made a takeoff run towards the edge of a 600-foot bluff. This was a zero-wind forward inflation, not the best way to take off, but I'd just completed a successful flight and was feeling confident. However, while checking out the takeoff track, I had worried it was a little short, and that if I didn't have enough speed at the edge, I'd drop and smash into the rocks on the terrace ten feet below. I'd put my fists on my waist, thought, taken a deep breath, filed away the the worry and made my takeoff run.
Not enough speed; the wing inflated on my run but was just shy of giving lift when I went over the edge;
I slamed into the boulders;
I pitched headfirst--a certain departure from controlled flight--and my wing flopped and then surged ahead;
I had no thought except that if i didn't recover in the next instant I would curl up in a crash position;
I went over the edge just in time, my boots swung below me, I applied a bit of brake to stop the wing surge;
The wing popped into shape;
I glided away from the bluff and down to a safe landing a few minutes later.
Now I'm in crutches with a severe sprain / strain / bruising to all the muscles of the left foot. I will be on crutches for at least the next few weeks if not a month or more. I have not yet learned how to carry a cup of coffee while hobbling with crutches.
No Alaska this year--too tight, timewise; but I have two books to write (and a third to edit), and it looks like I'll be in a seated position for some time.
Above, a frame from my helmet camera, a moment before impact; I'm a few inches above the ground, speeding along about 25mph, and about to impact the rocks; below, a strange and fun collage of images from my helmet camera, stitched together to give a general impression of flying in this beautiful desert environment (click for enlargement).
Look at those brambly, hardy shrubs! Look at those lakes of sand! See that open sky! What wonders there are in each of those blue-black boulders, older than aomebas!
Mery Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!
Cameron
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