Sunday, April 25, 2010

Walk in the neighborhood park

Took a walk with my kids in a neighborhood park around here. The snow on the ground has started to melt already.

"Flying Horse" boundary near the trail

View of "Flying Horse" from the trail (Don't know if that huge building is a million dollar home or not)

Preparations for the new life

Small creek in the park (water from melted snow)


Reflections in puddles on the paved walk way


On the way, my daughter wanted to kick the snow. Missed the first one.

If you stand on the snow, it's hard to miss :)

Finally a picture of the majestic Pikes peak from a distance

A field trip to Solos restaurant in Colorado Springs


A few days ago, I visited Solos restaurant with my daughter on a field trip. The restaurant is built around a fully intact Boeing KC-97 tanker, built in 1953.

The Boeing KC-97 is one of the largest piston aircraft ever built by Boeing. Only one American-built piston aircraft, the Douglas Globemaster, is larger than the KC-97 (although the Globemaster’s payload is less and its speed is slower than KC-97’s) Powered by four 4360 Pratt & Whitney engines, the KC-97 was very powerful. 

Each 6,000 lb. radial engine has four banks of seven pistons, 28 pistons per engine generating 3,500 hp.
The first generation of KC-97s, then designated XC-97, first flew November 15, 1944. It was designed to be the first long-range transport with a large upper fuselage. The lower part of the fuselage, including the wing and tail, are common with B-29.

On January 4, 1945, a C-97 set a new speed record from Seattle, Washington to Washington D.C., 2,323 miles in 6 hours, 3 minutes and 50 seconds. The variations of the KC-97 range from flight-refueling tankers, troop transport (seating for 80), cargo transport and the commercial, trans oceanic model 377 Stratocruiser (seating for 117). Solo’s KC-97 at one time was converted to the “L” Model. “L” designates two 15,200 lb. thrust General Electric J-47 turbojets, mounted outside of the outboard engines. These “jet assists” increased the KC-97’s speed to a compatible rate with the jets it was refueling.

Before these jets were added, it was common for KC-97s to increase speed by entering a shallow dive so the faster planes, that were refueling, would not fly so slowly they would stall.  Although Solo’s KC-97’s jets were removed years ago, if you look, you will see an outline of where they were mounted. 

(The above information is from the restaurant website http://www.solosrestaurant.com/)

I could not take any pictures from outside since it as snowing heavily.

Inside the restaurant

Behind the plane from inside (You can see a full size lifelike dummy watching outside the window) 

Young pilots exploring the cockpit

The cockpit

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Black Forest

The pine trees in the woods always fascinate me. I get jealous watching them since they never get old like us. Yesterday evening I was driving around Black Forest near Colorado Springs. I had never been to that area. When saw a small beautiful park (Black Forest Regional Park), decided to take a short walk. When I started hike sun was shining. Here is the first picture.


After a few minutes the clouds started to move in.


It started raining suddenly and I had get back to the car. I love rain. I am from the south west tip of India where it rains and rains during the monsoon season. One must read the book "Where the rain is born" to know more about Kerala. I felt so nice watching the rain.


After the rain I could see spring around the corner and some birds too.
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What can I say about the unpredictable weather in Colorado! As the saying goes, "If you don't like the Colorado weather, wait for a few minutes..."

Monday, April 19, 2010

Point and shoot performs better

I love my D5000. I am not successful (yet) getting a masterpiece with it. I understand it takes time to learn and I am learning it everyday. I had a Kodak point and shoot. Here is a picture we had taken with that camera.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

A walk in the Fox Run park

Went for a short hike in Fox Run park today. I liked the skies after the morning snow.


 


Saturday, April 3, 2010

Bear Creek park and around...

Some pictures from Bear Creek park and around.