| Hi Erik,
Design and build electronics and software. Designed and built a flight control and communication system for unmanned aerial vehicles (from sensors interfaces to control algorithms, to actuator interfaces with control surfaces).
Designed and built vehicle control systems for hybrid electric battle tanks.
Aero or mechanical engineer? No.
I have been working with mechanical engineers and have been through several design cycles of electronics and software closely tied to mechanical systems.
I have been involved in numerous troubleshoot sessions for mechanical and aeronautical systems. I know what happens when we don't use real empirical data to solve problems. You chase your tail, waste a lot of time and money.
I remember when it took 6 months for our team to finally decide to use a borescope on a cooling system, only to discover the cooling problems were because the manufacturer had left out a baffle allowing coolant to bypass the heat exchanger. We probably blew up over $250k worth of inverters (and labor) trying to find this problem.
We need real data so we really know what is going on and to find the root of the problem. I frustrate a lot of people when I don't take a surface "intuitive" approach.
Do you remember the DC-10 that lost an engine (as in it fell off) on take off years ago? There was a press conference and some mechanic presented a bolt that they found on the runway. Everyone got all excited and started breathlessly speculating.
If you are familiar with the history, you will agree that it was good thing they didn't make any decisions based on what someone saw on the runway.
Patience grasshopper ;)
Thanks, Kevin
Kevin,
I've been following this thread for quite some time and reading your prolific posts and strong opinions on the subject.
Many of us know of the extensive background and real world experience of: Valin Thorn, John Smith, Fred Moreno, Ron Jones and others.
Would you mind giving us some information on YOUR experience in aviation, to perhaps add some credibility to what you are saying?
How long have you been flying.....are you a professional pilot....an engineer.....an aerodynamicist?
I mean this with absolutely NO disrespect.... but I think it might be helpful to your argument to tell us why we should be listening to YOU over the vast majority of others, who we KNOW have a lot of experience?
Thanks,
Erik Larson
Legacy / N74FX
|