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About Rod Rakic

Making aviation more social, by building tools to help pilots and others in aviation connect. Internet nerd, professional pilot, based in Chicago.
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Immersive Video for Aviation… 360° Panographic Cockpit Video

by on December 3, 2011 in gadgets, general aviation, technology

Hit play… and then click and drag on the video. Do it now.


Steep Turns from the Cockpit via GoPano

A soon as I saw the GoPano micro from EyeSee360 I had to try it for myself.

We had a nice day to fly, so within minutes we were headed to the airport to try it out in the cockpit.

GoPano Micro

This was just the first test. This was shot with my buddy Pete simply holding the iPhone 4 S up on the glare shield of the Cutlass. No mount, no external mic.

Next I’ll need to figure out an easy way to rig a mount for it there. The iPhone / lens combo is so small that it really doesn’t get in the way of forward visibility, so I could leave it hooked up the whole flight and just grab video when something interesting is about to happen. I also have to figure out a way to pipe in the audio from the intercom. (Still waiting to hear back from GoPano on that.) If I could do that, this could be an amazing way to debrief a training flight.

What’s even more amazing is viewing the video on your iPhone using the free VideoWarp app. The player changes your perspective using the phone’s accelerometer and really puts you inside the action. It. Will. Blow. Your. Mind.

BONUS: This test seems to have avoided the video artifacts that typically makes the propeller look all goofy. We seemed to get a nice blur of the prop arc out in front, which was a pleasant surprise. (My guess is the post processing here counteracts the effect of the iPhone’s rolling shutter.)

Resolution is still a bit limited with the GoPano Micro. It’s nowhere near the quality we get with GoPros or the venerable Nflightcam. I don’t see much reason to step up to the bigger and more expensive GoPano Plus, since I don’t see much of a bump in quality.  It’s pretty amazing what $80 will get you these days.

I’ve been thinking about immersive video since my time working on the Jeep brand in the late ’90s. With the the hardware and processing power we now carry in our flight bags, I expect we’ll be bringing many more folks into the cockpit this way in the future.

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Sun ‘N Fun Connects

by on April 5, 2011 in aviation, general aviation, technology

For some 36 years, the Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In has run on aviation fuel, enthusiasm and wings — but another mode of operation played a stronger role than ever this year: Social media…

The face of aviation has changed with social media overall, said Rod Rakic, whose company, mytransponder.com, connects aviation buffs with various tools. Rakic said the storm was terrifying, and social media helped many share information and get through it the best they could.

“Aviation has always been a very connected community, and social media has really enhanced that,” Rakic said. “Networking has always happened in aviation. Folks have always wanted to talk about what they’re doing and who they’re doing it with. Aviators like to share.”

The Ledger.com: Sun ‘n Fun Made Use of Social Media This Year

 

Trending on Twitter after the storm.

Trending on Twitter after the storm.

:: Since we launched myTransponder in 2007, we’ve had a blast bringing social media, and social technologies to the aviation community. Some air show organizers have been on the leading edge of using these technologies to promote their shows and enhance the experience. …and some aren’t.

We connected to the Ledger’s Mary Toothman [@MaryToothman on twitter, MaryToothman on #myT] via Twitter during the show. It was great to be included in the newspaper piece today.

The one constant I’ve seen is the community of aviation social media is always on. This year at #SnF11, the community operated pretty much independently of the social media team that SUN ‘n FUN organizers had hired to promote / cover the event. It was cool to briefly meet their team leader at Saturday’s dawn balloon launch. But this was by chance. I wish would have done more to coordinate. We always try to reach out. We’re not always successful.

Whether it was in the aftermath of Thursday’s storm, or during the fabulous few days of spectacular weather that followed, folks following along via social media channels definitely got the most out of this year’s show.

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Inside the Storm at SUN ‘n FUN

by on March 31, 2011 in aviation, general aviation

I was visiting our good friends at Piper Aircraft‘s display near show center this afternoon when the storm hit.

We all knew that the forecast included thunderstorms to roll through the area. Even as we chatted about Piper’s new program to bundle initial flight training with the purchase of a new Archer, the sky darkened in the distance and everything got buttoned up as the rain got started.

As the rain intensified, and the wind picked up, the conversation started veering to the weather… until we finally got the picture that this was not just the usual airshow afternoon thunder-boomer…

I wish I could share some cool weather channel worthy video of what the storm looked like from inside that tent. But the truth is, I was too busy trying to find something solid to hunker down next to. You know that guy who stands outside in the middle of a hurricane, just to get the shot? That’s not me.

Soon wind was whipping the rain into horizontal sheets, and blowing into the tent from any gaps. I could see the prop of the static display mock-up actually start to spin in the wind.

The fact that we were all standing in a tent rated for 40 mile per hour winds became a point of discussion. By the time the first airplane tumbled through the display area,  it was clear we weren’t going anywhere. All we could do was wait it out.

It was only after the winds subsided that I came out from cover to snap some pictures. Here’s what it looked like soon after the cell came through.

I’ve got to give props to the gaggle of social media types typically gather around SUN ‘n FUN Radio. When the power went out and the radio transmitter went off the air, everyone stepped up immediately to help out. A call went out for anyone with emergency medical training to go check the grounds for anyone that needed assistance. Others started posting updates to Twitter. Good job all.

I feel terrible for all the folks who had airplanes damaged or even destroyed today. Mother nature gave us a good smacking. But the aviation community is a tough bunch, and as if to make that point, SUN ‘n FUN will open in the morning at 8am as planned. I look forward to getting on with the show.

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You’re Invited to the SUN ‘n FUN 2011 MeetUp

by on March 29, 2011 in aviation, myTransponder

To help celebrate what many call, “Spring Break for Pilots,” we of course, are throwing a party…

Sun ‘n Fun 2011 started today in Lakeland, Florida. (KLAL)

You’re invited to join us at the #SnF11 myT MeetUp for breakfast on Friday morning. Come help make aviation more social!  Meet with members of the myTransponder community, your friends, your fans, and your followers.

[RSVP online here] #SnF11 myT MeetUp

Sponsoring this year’s event are some of our favorite folks in aviation…

 

Airplane Owners and Pilots Association (www.AOPA.org)
AOPA is a not-for-profit individual membership association, effectively serves the interests and needs of its members as aircraft owners and pilots and establishes, maintains, and articulates positions of leadership to promote the economy, safety, utility, and popularity of flight in general aviation aircraft.


Sennheiser Aviation (www.sennheiser-aviation.com)
In 1982, at Lufthansa’s request, Sennheiser developed the first audio headset for cockpit communications. Since then, working closely with pilots and airlines, Sennheiser has continued to develop new solutions for the aviation sector.


ForeFlight (www.ForeFlight.com)
ForeFlight produces intelligent aviation software for pilots. Started in 2007, ForeFlight is devoted to giving pilots the best possible mobile flight planning tools.

There will of course, be some pretty sweet door prizes. Also, here is a great chance to meet some really cool people from around aviation…

COORDINATES
8:30 AM to 10:00 AM (L)
Flight Line Observation Tent #3
East of taxiway foxtrot and on the North side of the Warbird ramp.
Lakeland Linder Regional Airport
Lakeland, Florida

 

[HINT] You’ll probably get the chance to hang out with this guy, him, and her.

Come meet the folks you connect with online as we celebrate the community of aviation. There will be bacon.

Word is… “Ace” may even show up.

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We Want to Watch Ice Pilots NWT!

by on December 19, 2010 in general aviation

 

 

Ice PilotsIce Pilots NWT is a 13-episode real-life docu-series about an unorthodox airline in the Canadian North. Yellowknife-based Buffalo Airways flies WWII-era propeller planes – big old aircraft built by “Rosie the Riveter” that have remained virtually unchanged over the years. Rookie pilots defy bone-chilling temperatures to fly cargo and passengers through blizzards, breakdowns and transatlantic journeys. It’s an impossible job in a merciless place.

website: Ice Pilots NWT

:: I hate reality television shows.

Ice Pilots NTW (that’s North West Territories) is good televison.

“If you really want to experience flight in this life then you have to strap a DC-3 to your ass.”

- “Buffalo” Joe McBryan

Flying for Buffalo Airways has been  compared to joining an airborne bike gang. The show dramatizes the everyday challenges of operating amazing piston workhorses like the DC-3, DC-4, and the C-46 in some of the most extreme weather on the planet.

Save The Radials T Shirt

Save The Radials

Wait… A TV show with DC-3′s?

Yes.

The show is fun to watch. (maybe sometimes from the, “sure glad that ain’t me,” perspective.) Each episode is a mix of drama in the air, and on the ground. (real or imagined) The amped up narration, and the occasional silly animation explainer, are nods to the required reality show cheesiness… but the editing is mercifully restrained, keeping it watchable.

Not like I’ve seen any of the show or anything… If you live in Canada, you can watch the show on History Television. Even you you don’t have cable, you can watch entire episodes online at www.history.ca. But… if you’re in the states, you’re out of luck. The suits-to-the-north have taken the very special precaution of blocking folks from outside Canada from streaming the video. (this really frosts my cookies)

So if you’re lucky enough to someplace where you can watch the show, (or sneaky enough)  I recommend it.  The show has proven to be popular, the first season has earned the highest ratings of any Canadian show on History Television. It was recently confirmed there will be a second season.

The producers need to get on the stick and get the show onto a US network. (or even just Hulu) It’s good stuff.

Oh, and you can buy the sweet t-shirt online here, trip to Yellow Knife not required.

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Flight Line Radio on your iPhone

by on October 25, 2008 in gadgets, general aviation, technology

Having been inspired by Capt’n Chris of the PlaneMadness Podcast… I started tinkering around and have managed to get Flight Line Internet Radio to stream directly to the iPhone. No jailbreaking required.

Chris used Tuner Internet Radio, which is very fine app. (Tuner costs $4.99 US which I didn’t mind) So following the Captain’s directions… (Live ATC on your iPhone) I’ve successfully loaded Air Traffic Control audio streams from around the world, and they stream just fine over 3G. But as turns out the FLR stream won’t work with Tuner.

So I gave the FStream a try, which is a free alternative to Tuner. After some hacking about, I figured out how to get FLR’s audio to play.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Download and install FStream on your iPhone or iPod Touch.
  2. Tap “Favorites,” whcih is the star at the bottom.
  3. Tap “Edit” at the top left of the Favorites screen.
  4. Add Flight Line Radio in the “Name,” field
  5. Add mms://win.2.c3.audiovideoweb.com/2c3winlive6516 in the “URL” field
  6. Tap “Save.”

That’s it, nothing there’s else. You can leave the “Format” and “Bitrate” fields blank. Listen, go back to the “Play” screen and tap the play button or the title. Enjoy.

In addition to rescuing the random stranded stuffed Koala bear, (OSH08 story, ask Steve) the guys from Flight Line Radio are good guys doing cool stuff. There is some excellent aviation content on the channel.

You can track down Don Constanza‘s profile , or connect with other FLR fans in the Flight Line Radio group on myTransponder.

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outage

by on October 15, 2008 in myTransponder

“That’s not flying, that’s just falling with style!”

- Woody, regarding Buzz Lightyear, in Toy Story

Last night we took myTransponder offline for a server migration that we expected to take a couple of hours… tops.

The idea was to bring the server down just after the site backup, this would insure that your data would be safe, and none of your stuff on myTransponder would be lost in the shuffle. That all worked out fine. So to be clear, profiles and data are all safely tucked away.

Unfortunately we’ve somehow managed to anger the plesk demons.

The site was completely down for most of today. Did you get just a blank page when you tried to login? Yes. We got that too. We were just as bummed about it as you were.

We managed to get the web server restarted this evening, which got rid of the blank page, but leaves us with a broken site for now… we’re sorry about that.

We’re trying to get the rest of the site working for you again as fast as we possibly can. (We’re doing short of sacrificing a chicken, but we’re not far from that at this point if you ask me.)

Why in the name of Bernoulli did we do this?

We are glad you asked.

The server migration is an important milestone on our roadmap flightplan to making myTransponder a more robust, more useful application.

The beta so far has been a bit like Project Mercury. What we’re moving to next will be more like Project Gemini. So we’re making some big changes to how the application is hosted on our server to make that happen.

We’ll continue to update you as to our progress here, and on Twitter. (You can follow us @myTransponder.)

We really do appreciate all the the tweets, emails, IMs, SMS messages, posts, comments and phone calls all pretty much asking, “What’s up?” We figure that if the site went down, and nobody noticed, that we may be barking up the wrong tree. It turns out to be very much the opposite.

Thanks to everyone in the beta for your patience, and for your ongoing support of making aviation more social.

Finally, if you haven’t seen this, we think you may enjoy a little The Website Is Down right about now. Sales Guy vs. Web Dude cracks us up every time.

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Simpler, Safer, Sooner?

by on July 20, 2008 in space

A group of secretive rocket designers have defected from NASA’s rocket-building team to spearhead their own forbidden project. They spend their evenings designing Jupiter (pictured), a moon rocket they think will work far better for less money then NASA’s current moon rocket, Ares, set to bring some people to the moon in 2020.

i09: The Moon Rocket Project NASA Doesn’t Want You to Know About

::The folks advocating for Direct 2.0 say that right out of the gate, their program is already four years ahead of the approved NASA initiative, Ares I. They imagine that they could have us flying Apollo 8 type Moon overflights 2 years before the first manned Constellation flight currently planned.

Now I’m no rocket scientist. (Despite the hours I spent playing around with a Space Station construction simulation on the PCjr of my youth.) But the story this maverick group of rocket jocks has to tell seems pretty compelling.

Their plan includes the reuse of about 95% of the existing Space Shuttle (STS) hardware and infrastructure, vs. what they say is the NASA plan to pitch all but 5% of what we have today.

These engineers make the point that back in the 70′s, NASA went for years demolishing infrastructure and not flying… which was disastrous. They want us to avoid the same mistakes this time around.

They believe that in addition to being significantly cheaper, and safer than the 2 vehicle plan NASA is working on… that their plan means no 3 and a half year workforce gap would be necessary. (Imagining aerospace engineers working as a the world’s smartest baristas between programs.) These folks are pretty motivated.

Dig deeper for yourself by watching their presentation, and the video does a good job of illustrating the plan too.

NASA’s response to the buzz around Direct 2.0 seems to be, “we’re committed, moving on.”

Gosh… It feels like we’ve heard that before.

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Shiny New Logo

by on July 10, 2008 in myTransponder

Tah-dah!

Here’s the new myTransponder logo.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to look at the various iterations of the logo. There were tons of good directions… but eventually, you’ve gotta pick one execution and move on.

I’m pretty happy with how the final logo worked out.

To help get from the initial design that I had cooked up, to what you see here… took some work. (and talent that I didn’t have!)

So I decided to crowdsource the work… using crowdSPRING, I posted the project and got submissions from all around the world. Who knew it would be so easy to tap talent from around the planet? Designers from Italy, India, Canada, and the Philippines all contributed. Ultimately it was grapesoda from Scotland in the UK who won the project.

 

“Ace,” hasn’t said anything to me about it, but my guess is that he’s either a long lost cousin to, or maybe even a just a drinking buddy of, “The Stiq.”

I bet that he’s under the impression that chicks dig the mysterious type… so I haven’t pressed him on it.

You can always drop Ace a line via email at ace@myTransponder.com, or follow him on Twitter. He’ll keep you up to date on all the goings on here at myTransponder.

 

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