HEC-TV Broadcasts New Special Program, The Science Behind Aviation, From St. Louis School

(HEC-TV graphic)

By Carmelo Turdo

The Higher Education Channel (HEC-TV) produced and aired live another great special program, The Science Behind Aviation, on Thursday.  After months of preparatory work, the production staff and panel of expert guests arrived at the Jennings School District where a full broadcast studio was recreated for the 10am and 1pm live simulcasts involving schools from across the country.  The Aero Experience was privileged to assist Producer Jacqui Poor with gathering some background material and connecting with our airshow partner, Patrick McAlee of ExtremeFlight.   We are also proud to support this HEC-TV aviation education special by sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the broadcast and by promoting viewership when it is made available to the public in the near future.

As implied by the title, the program examined the science of flight from the perspective of four expert panelists and two additional guests via video and Skype.  The panelists were (L-R): Robert Dowgwillo, Aerodynamics Engineer with the Boeing Company; Major Mallory Nordquist, C-21A pilot and former C-5 Galaxy pilot now at Scott AFB, IL; Host Tim Gore; Patrick McAlee, Aerobatic Pilot with ExtremeFlight; and Lt. Col. (USAF, Ret.) Steve Dobronski, former F-15 Eagle pilot and currently F-15 Mission Planning Senior Systems Engineer for Tapestry Solutions.  Also included in the program were St. Louis area pilot and publisher Gary Liming with his Zenith kit-built STOL aircraft and paper airplane champion Ken Blackburn.

The studio location for the broadcast was the Jennings School District's Gary Gore Community Education Center.  The panel discussion table was center stage, and tables and chairs were set up for the student audience participants.  A large monitor was provided to view videos and the classroom participants from other schools across the country.  Here we have some views of the guests and the preparations underway before the broadcast.  

 

 

The panel discussion had a cumulative effect of adding each guest to the conversation after a short biographical video introduction.  The first panelist was Robert Dowgwillo, who gave some guidance on the design process of an aircraft.  He emphasized that the F-15 Eagle was specifically designed for air superiority, or gaining control of the skies, so that the rest of the military forces can perform their roles.  The size, materials, performance and other factors must conform to the specific purpose, or mission, of the aircraft.  Patrick McAlee joined the discussion from the perspective of an airshow pilot, emphasizing the specific design requirements of his modified Pitts Special, the effects of g-forces, the need for situational awareness and the necessity of physical fitness in his type of flying.  Lt. Col. Steve Dobronski described flying the USAF F-15 Eagle high-performance fighter, controlling the effects of g-forces on the body during air combat maneuvering, and how temperature and pressure affect aircraft performance.  USAF Major Mallory Nordquist related her experience flying the largest U.S. military cargo aircraft, the C-5 Galaxy, weighing over 800,000 pounds on takeoff.  The enormous aircraft flies like any other, using the same laws of physics, though on a larger scale than with other aircraft.  Gary Liming appeared via pre-recorded video showing off his kit-built Zenith STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft, and Ken Blackburn taught the visiting students how to make (and launch) a championship paper airplane.   

Following the broadcast, some of the students stayed to meet the panelists and discuss pathways to various aviation careers.  As more students learn about the science behind aviation, it is hoped that they will continue to develop an interest in a career in one of the many aviation vocations that are now in desperate need of more skilled workers.  

The Aero Experience looks forward to the publishing of the special program for public access soon, and we thank HEC-TV, the program guests and the production crew for allowing us to provide this preview story. 

ExtremeFlight's Patrick McAlee to Appear on The Science Behind Aviation Special Program

By Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience is proud to announce that ExtremeFlight's Patrick McAlee, Pitts Special and commercial airline pilot, will be a guest on the HEC-TV special, The Science Behind Aviation, airing live tomorrow in the St. Louis area.  The program will stream live on HEC-TV and Facebook Live at 10am and 1pm from the Jennings, MO School District and will include aviation experts from many different aviation careers.  Patrick McAlee also participated in a previous HEC-TV special, Explore! Flying, in October 2014. 

Other guests on the program include:

USAF F-15 Command Pilot & Test Pilot Lt. Colonel Steve Dobronski

USAF C-5 Galaxy pilot Major Mallory Nordquist

Bob Dowgwillo, Boeing Aerodynamics Analysis & Testing /Aeromechanics with Boeing

Author Ken Blackurn, World Record Airplane Loft holder 

Reporter Paul Schankman has a special report on TV Drones

Experimental Plane Builder/Aviation Author Gary Liming reporting from his Creve Coeur Airport Hangar 

Tune in to your HEC-TV channel and look for the program on the HEC-TV website soon.

The Aero Experience Contributes to Midwest Aviation Media Projects

By Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience has contributed to the success of several Midwest Aviation media projects throughout the year in addition to our regular coverage of Midwest Aviation events.  We are doing more than ever to promote Midwest Aviation by collaborating with other organizations and media outlets to bring the joy of aviation to an ever wider audience.  Some of our long-term projects are coming to fruition.

Our speaking tour kicked off yesterday when Carmelo Turdo and Mark Nankivil of The Aero Experience team, along with local photography and publishing professionals Gary Chambers and Gary Liming, participated in a presentation on aviation photography at the Missouri Aviation Historical Society's monthly meeting.  Carmelo Turdo began the program with an introduction to The Aero Experience and a discussion on achieving the objectives of aviation media through the alignment of purpose, timing, methods, tools and good relations with the community.  Mark Nankivil closed the program with examples of photography techniques used in capturing stunning photos of aviation in action across the Midwest and beyond.  Our friends Gary Chambers and Gary Liming shared examples of dramatic air-to air formation and high-dynamic range images to illustrate their advanced photography and processing skills.  Special thanks to the presenters, Missouri Aviation Historical Society and our host Creve Coeur Airport for making the meeting a great success.

Carmelo Turdo speaks on developing successful aviation media

     

Gary Chambers shows how to capture the perfect image







Gary Liming demonstrated High Dynamic Range techniques













Mark Nankivil shows how to look for photo opportunities














 


The Aero Experience is currently in our third season providing our signature year-round coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, again sponsored by Air Associates of Missouri and Air Associates of Kansas.  None of this coverage would have been possible without our sponsors, Air Associates of Missouri and Air Associates of Kansas, the Cessna Pilot Centers that provide comprehensive pilot training, aircraft rental, aircraft maintenance and related services at their St. Louis, Missouri and Olathe, Kansas locations.  Air Associates has supported The Aero Experience as we have grown into a significant Midwest Aviation media resource, and we are pleased that they have continued to support our continued growth.  Contact Air Associates for your Midwest Aviation training and services needs.

The highly anticipated release of Fly Now! The Movie is planned for October 18.  The Aero Experience was proud to support the production of this new Reality Aviation Documentary that follows the adventures of "Piety" the Pietenpol homebuilt aircraft from Sun'n Fun in Lakeland, FL to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015 and everywhere in between.  You may see some of our video clips and photos in the movie, and the accompanying Fly Now! book will include photos from the movie production and aircraft we saw along the way as provided by The Aero Experience team.  

The Aero Experience is also proud to announce that two HEC-TV aviation-themed productions have received critical acclaim.  Two programs produced by Jacqui Poor have been nominated for Mid America Emmys: An Honor Flight for WW2 Veteran Tom Mohan and Explore! Flying.  The Aero Experience, along with the Missouri Aviation Historical Society and the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum, supported the production of these programs and commend HEC-TV and Jacqui Poor for including aviation to illustrate the heroes of The Greatest Generation and as a career choice for today's youth.  Emmy award winners will be announced October 3 at the annual awards gala.

The Aero Experience would like to thank all who worked on these and other projects, and we look forward to future opportunities to promote Midwest Aviation!  

Orion Launch Is Topic of Latest HEC-TV Live! Program - Orion: The First Step Into Deep Space

By Carmelo Turdo

Today's successful launch and recovery of the Orion spacecraft on the Exploration Flight Test No. 1 flight captured the hope of America's return to manned space flight in the coming years.  In anticipation of the flight, originally scheduled for Thursday, HEC-TV partnered with the Challenger Learning Center St. Louis and other local aerospace experts to produce an HEC-TV Live! program yesterday from 9am-noon during the launch and recovery window of the planned mission.  Even without the actual mission launch, the program proved to be an excellent learning experience for those participating live and it will be available for the public audience through future access to the archives.  The Aero Experience was privileged to be present during the production of the live program, and we now take you behind the scenes to meet the guest experts and those involved in making the program possible.

HEC-TV Live! programs offer opportunities for students around the country to interact with experts in various fields with hundreds of their peers.  Students are able to view the presentations, ask questions on the air, and in some cases produce background materials used to illustrate concepts discussed.  The HEC-TV crew goes on the road and sets up the stage for the program at a location that best illustrates the subject matter and accommodates the guest speakers.  In this case, the Challenger Learning Center was a great choice to host the Orion Mission launch as it showcased the St. Louis connection to past manned space flight programs and provided the mission control training facility for the on-site activities.  This particular event included a middle school class student audience that not only witnessed the live studio program and asked questions of the guest speakers, but also rotated in smaller groups to the mission control room to meet the experts and discuss what it takes to become a contributor to future space programs.  The Aero Experience audience has seen the Challenger Learning Center St. Louis in a recent feature story about the visit to St. Louis by legendary Flight Director Gene Kranz.      

Our day began with the arrival at the Challenger Learning Center St. Louis of the guest speakers around 8:30am.  The set and camera equipment were ready for action in the public gallery reception area, and preparations were under way to be sure that the live program would start promptly at 9am.  Prior to being issued wireless microphones and taking their places on the set, two former McDonnell Aircraft engineers and veterans of the Mercury and Gemini space programs on the 1960s, Mr. Dean Purdy and Mr. Norman Beckel, joined Washington University James S. McDonnell Distinguished Professor Dr. Raymond Arvidson on a brief tour of the mission control and space station work stations used for the simulated space missions regularly held at the facility with student groups.   

(L-R) Tasmyn Front, Director of Challenger Learning Center St. Louis,

with Mercury and Gemini space program veterans Norman Beckel

and Dean Purdy in the space station simulator 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The live program began promptly at 9am, and at that time the launch of the Orion spacecraft had been delayed three hours and it was cancelled for the day not long afterward.  The program's host, Tim Gore, began with the discussion with Dean Purdy and Norman Beckel, drawing parallels between the Orion program development and the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs of the past.  Then Dr. Arvidson took the stage and discussed his specialty - his work with the series of Mars landers and advanced rovers that have led to breakthrough discoveries about the red planet.  Following the in-studio guests, there was a webcast with former astronaut Dr. Linda Godwin, a Cape Girardeau, MO native who flew four missions aboard the Space Shuttle between 1991 and 2001.  She gave her views on the future return of U.S. manned space program and gave the students a first-hand view of the effects of space on humans.  Students present at the Challenger Learning Center St. Louis rotated to the breakout sessions throughout the program.

Norman Beckel and Dean Purdy with host Tim Gore ready to start

    

Dr. Arvidson joins Robert Powell and Tim Gore on stage

Middle School students in the audience during the program

Tasmyn Front with Norman Beckel and Dean Purdy in Mission Control



L-R: McDonnell Aircraft Engineer Dean Purdy, Challenger Learning Center

St. Louis Education Coordinator Robert Powell, Washington University

James S. McDonnell Distinguished Professor Dr. Raymond Arvidson,

HEC-TV host Tim Gore, and McDonnell Aircraft Engineer Norman Beckel.

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