Monsen's Desert Aviation Connection. A personal website for RC Airplanes and Helicopters in Saudi Arabia

<body link="#00FFFF" vlink="#0000FF" bgcolor="#94A0D0" text="#FFFFFF"> <h1 align="center"><a href="index.html" target="_parent"><img border="0" src="banner.jpg" width="450" height="84"></a></h1> <hr noshade color="#FFFF00" size="3"> <p><b><font size="5">This page uses frames, but your browser doesn't support them.  That's too bad because you really can't see my website fully without them.  I suggest you get out of the stone age and use a 'real' browser.....</font></b> </p> <p><b><font size="5">Here is a little taste though....</font></b> </p> <p align="left"><font size="4">Welcome from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia!</font></p> <p align="left">Hello. My name is <a href="bio.html">Ron Monsen</a> and I am an American living in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. This website is a little portal of myself and my interests. I am an active private pilot and general aviation enthusiast and I am frustrated with the absence of general aviation (GA) here in Saudi Arabia. Luckily, I have another hobby which partially alleviates my GA separation anxiety: Radio Controlled (RC) aircraft. Here in Saudi there there is a small band of other aviation nuts including Brits, Americans, Saudis, and others that fly RC as well. Hopefully, this web sight will give you a little taste of the people, the flying, and the tribulation of pursuing our hobby in a country far away. We struggle for every little clevis that comes in, we mix fuel from camel excrement and ferment it ..... naw....it's not quite that bad. Nevertheless, it is very difficult to bring in RC paraphernalia. The customs officials don't understand aviation, much less RC, so, very often equipment is confiscated or sent back out of the country. Yet, even with the difficulties we still manage to have fun.</p> <hr noshade size="4" color="#FFFF00"> <b><font color="#00FFFF">Last updated: </font><font color="#FFFFFF">March 22, 2002</font><font size="4"><font color="#00FFFF">   </font><font color="#FFFFFF"> </font> </font></b><p><b><font color="#FFFFFF" size="4">Some New Pictures</font></b></p> <blockquote> <p><img border="0" src="images/field/contenderdant.jpg" width="200" height="228">  Dan Shoop just finished a new 'retro' Contender.  Check it out in the <a href="photo.html">photo section</a>.</p> </blockquote> <p> </p> <p><b><font size="4"> Eagle Lander 3D </font></b></p> <blockquote> <p><b><font color="#FFFFFF" size="6"><a href="eagle/index.html" target="_top"><img border="0" src="eagle/dump/lm3dstt.jpg" width="64" height="70"></a></font></b></p> <p>I have been working on a new Lunar Lander Simulator called Eagle Lander 3D.  Check it out at: <a href="eagle/index.html" target="_top">Eagle Lander 3D </a></p> </blockquote> <hr color="#99CCFF" size="3" noshade> <p><i>January, 2002</i></p> <p><b><font color="#FFFFFF" size="4">New Years Resolutions</font></b></p> <blockquote> <p>This year brings a resolution to complete several projects.  First of all the one below: my <a href="eagle/index.html" target="_top">Eagle Lander program</a>.  Next I have a scratch-built and original design P-51 .40 size funfly plane to complete.  I also have a Midwest Citabria and I have two helicopters to repair.  Oh, I almost forgot, I have a couple of backyard flyers to finish too.  My <a href="compacheweb/compachemain.html">Compache</a> helicopter still needs some plans finished.  I still have some <a href="video.html">airborne video</a> experiments to complete.  I want to have a head tracking device for my VR glasses so I can look around while flying.  I might have to save some resolutions till next year.......</p> </blockquote> <hr color="#99CCFF" size="3" noshade> <p><i>January, 2002</i></p> <p><b><font size="4">Finally Netscape Friendly</font></b></p> <blockquote> <p>Earlier last year I created a fancy JavaScript cascading menu system that was fun and easy to use.  Unfortunately Netscape browsers hated it.  I didn't realize how persnickety Netscape is about Java apps.  Anyway, I am back to boring again with a simple menu system. </p> </blockquote> <hr color="#99CCFF" size="3" noshade> <p><i>December, 2001</i></p> <p><b><font size="4">End of year news.....</font></b></p> <ul type="circle"> <li> <p style="margin-top: 10; margin-bottom: 10">I had a little crash of my <a href="compacheweb/compachemain.html">Compache</a>  by practicing low level hovering in a high wind.  I was nose-in in a strong crosswind when a sudden gust caught it and my innate reflexes failed me....  The main rotor blade hit the ground -- and well you can guess the rest.   </li> <li> <p style="margin-top: 10; margin-bottom: 10">Despite my confession of pilot error - remarkably - the Taleban claim to have shot it down.</li> </ul> <hr color="#99CCFF" size="3" noshade> <p><i>March, 2001</i></p> <p><font color="#FFFFFF" size="4"><b>My Piccolo Helicopter...</b></font></p> <blockquote> <p>I have a section about my little Piccolo helicopter along with some info, tips and a video. <a href="picollo.html">Check it out.</a></p> </blockquote> <hr color="#99CCFF" size="3" noshade> <p><font color="#FFFFFF" size="4"><b>Airborne Wireless Video.....</b></font></p> <p><i>March, 2001</i></p> <blockquote> <p>I have uploaded a video taken with during a "formation flying" flight. The video clip is about 45secs and I have two versions depending on your patience and bandwidth. I also have information on the setup and hardware. Check it out by clicking <a href="video.html">here</a> or on the picture below.</p> <p><a href="video.html"><img border="0" src="video/fllight.jpg" width="350" height="239"></a></p> </blockquote> <hr color="#99CCFF" size="3" noshade> <p><b><font size="4">Compache....</font></b></p> <blockquote> <p>Check out my rocket firing <a href="compacheweb/compachemain.html">Compache</a> helicopter section.</p> <p>I also have an Mpeg movie and several AVI versions of the rockets firing.  Click on the picture or link below....</p> </blockquote> <p align="center"><a href="compacheweb/compachemain.html" target="_parent"><img border="0" src="compacheweb/movies/compache160.gif" width="160" height="109"></a> <a href="compacheweb/compachemain.html" target="_parent">Compache fires!</a></p> <hr color="#99CCFF" size="3" noshade> <p><font size="4"><b>Mpeg (or AVI) Movie Making...</b></font></p> <blockquote> <p>For you techno-buffs out there that like to know how everything works, I have also added a description on <a href="compacheweb/moviemake.html">making movies for the internet</a> that describes the capture / editing / software tools used to make the Mpeg movie of the Compache missile firing.</p> </blockquote> <hr color="#99CCFF" size="3" noshade> <p align="center"><a href="guestbook/addguest.html">Sign Guest book</a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="guestbook/guestbook.html">View Guestbook</a> </p> </body>