http://www.aneclecticmind.com Web site and blog for Maria Langer, freelance writer, commercial helicopter pilot, and serious amateur photographer. Thu, 24 May 2012 23:31:12 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/05/21/malaga-springs-to-martin-scott-by-helicopter/ http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/05/21/malaga-springs-to-martin-scott-by-helicopter/#comments Mon, 21 May 2012 14:00:01 +0000 Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/?p=7690 Another nosecam video. Yesterday, I flew nine people from Martin Scott to Malaga Springs and back. For some of those flights, I had my GoPro "nosecam" set up and turned on. Since it's been so long since I shared a "nosecam" video, I threw one together Saturday night and uploaded it Sunday morning. Here it is. Continue reading →]]> http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/05/21/malaga-springs-to-martin-scott-by-helicopter/feed/ 0 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/05/20/transponders-for-dummies/ http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/05/20/transponders-for-dummies/#comments Sun, 20 May 2012 20:14:30 +0000 Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/?p=7688 Get the facts straight. A podcast gets transponders wrong; I set things straight. Continue reading →]]> http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/05/20/transponders-for-dummies/feed/ 0 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/05/10/why-i-replaced-my-r44-fuel-tanks/ http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/05/10/why-i-replaced-my-r44-fuel-tanks/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 15:41:48 +0000 Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/?p=7678 The short answer: Lawyers. Do you want to know why aviation is so expensive? Why it costs so much to fly with me and other helicopter operators? Ask the lawyers. Continue reading →]]> http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/05/10/why-i-replaced-my-r44-fuel-tanks/feed/ 14 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/04/01/about-the-golf-ball-drops/ http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/04/01/about-the-golf-ball-drops/#comments Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:00:19 +0000 Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/?p=7632 Your questions, answered. Who doesn't like helicopters? Who wouldn't want to watch something being dropped out of one? Continue reading →]]> http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/04/01/about-the-golf-ball-drops/feed/ 0 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/03/24/tips-for-aerial-photographers/ http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/03/24/tips-for-aerial-photographers/#comments Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:31:19 +0000 Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/?p=7619 The pilot really does know best. When you hire an experienced pilot for an aerial photo or video shoot, you need to fully communicate the needs of the mission before the flight and listen to the pilot's advice. You need to work with your pilot to make a team to get the job done. Continue reading →]]> http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/03/24/tips-for-aerial-photographers/feed/ 14 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/03/14/a-desert-flying-gig-day-two/ http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/03/14/a-desert-flying-gig-day-two/#comments Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:43:44 +0000 Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/?p=7598 Cut short by a tragic disaster. A hell of a way to lose a job. Continue reading →]]> http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/03/14/a-desert-flying-gig-day-two/feed/ 4 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/03/12/four-days-in-the-life-of-a-helicopter-charter-operator-day-1/ http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/03/12/four-days-in-the-life-of-a-helicopter-charter-operator-day-1/#comments Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:40:48 +0000 Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/?p=7596 The first day of a gig for a regular client doesn't go exactly as planned. At least I didn't spend the day waiting.

Continue reading →]]> http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/03/12/four-days-in-the-life-of-a-helicopter-charter-operator-day-1/feed/ 0 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/02/26/the-2012-buckeye-air-fair/ http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/02/26/the-2012-buckeye-air-fair/#comments Sun, 26 Feb 2012 22:12:32 +0000 Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/?p=7575 Some small towns really know how to put on an airport event. A great family event. Watch the video and see for yourself! Continue reading →]]> http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/02/26/the-2012-buckeye-air-fair/feed/ 0 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/01/18/a-tethered-balloon-flight/ http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/01/18/a-tethered-balloon-flight/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:14:39 +0000 Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/?p=7524 Never a routine day. It was my second time in a hot air balloon and I can assure you that a tethered flight -- although kind of nice -- isn't anything nearly as spectacular as the "real thing." Continue reading →]]> http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/01/18/a-tethered-balloon-flight/feed/ 0 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/01/03/hovering-with-the-balloons/ http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/01/03/hovering-with-the-balloons/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:40:10 +0000 Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/?p=7502 Just a quick post after an unusual photo flight. I'm the odd bird in this flock. Continue reading →]]> http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2012/01/03/hovering-with-the-balloons/feed/ 0 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2011/12/29/the-fruits-of-my-labor/ http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2011/12/29/the-fruits-of-my-labor/#comments Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:00:40 +0000 Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/?p=7498 …or why I love my work as an aerial photography pilot. I'm part of the equipment. Continue reading →]]> http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2011/12/29/the-fruits-of-my-labor/feed/ 4 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2011/12/18/flying-m-air-videos-on-you-tube/ http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2011/12/18/flying-m-air-videos-on-you-tube/#comments Sun, 18 Dec 2011 17:33:19 +0000 Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/?p=7488 I didn't find what I hoped to, but am still pleasantly surprised. Although I didn't find any videos of my recent Santa fly-ins to Deer Valley Airport, I did find three other videos shot by passengers over the past two years and posted on YouTube. Continue reading →]]> http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2011/12/18/flying-m-air-videos-on-you-tube/feed/ 0 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2011/12/17/santa-and-pilot/ http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2011/12/17/santa-and-pilot/#comments Sun, 18 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0000 Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/?p=7486 A photo from today's flight. I flew Santa to the Deer Valley Airport (KDVT) Restaurant again today. Before we took off, I rigged up a GoPro on the inside of the cockpit bubble pointing at us and set it to take one shot every 10 seconds. Here's one of the nicer shots, snapped about a minute before we landed on the ramp in front of the restaurant. Continue reading →]]> http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2011/12/17/santa-and-pilot/feed/ 0 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2011/12/16/more-gopro-camera-tests-more-aerial-photos-and-videos/ http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2011/12/16/more-gopro-camera-tests-more-aerial-photos-and-videos/#comments Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:49:45 +0000 Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/?p=7481 Another chapter in my never ending saga: any excuse to fly. There's nothing I like more than to go flying over the desert right after a good rainstorm. So on Wednesday, as the storm clouds moved north and blue sky started to appear again, I loaded up my GoPro cameras and mounts, and went flying. Here are the details and photos. Continue reading →]]> http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2011/12/16/more-gopro-camera-tests-more-aerial-photos-and-videos/feed/ 7 http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2011/12/12/move-over-reindeer-santas-got-a-new-sled/ http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2011/12/12/move-over-reindeer-santas-got-a-new-sled/#comments Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:03:00 +0000 Maria Langer http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2011/12/12/move-over-reindeer-santas-got-a-new-sled/ I take the honorable Mr. Claus by helicopter to meet his adoring fans. Not your usual flying gig. Continue reading →]]> http://www.aneclecticmind.com/2011/12/12/move-over-reindeer-santas-got-a-new-sled/feed/ 4