Issue 10 | Volume 151 | April 8, 2019
theavion.com | (386) 226-6049
A Campus B Industry & Technolgy U UX Corner
FUN IN THE SUN
Sarah Fairchild Chief Copy Editor
As the sun rose above the treetops this past Saturday, shining its radiance down on the inhabitants of Lakeland, Florida, one only need to glance up to see the sight of brightly colored hot air balloons taking to the skies. These slow-moving aviators signaled the start of a new day at the 45th annual Sun n’ Fun airshow- one that promised clear skies and fair winds for all of the aerial performances yet to come. Throughout the morning, attendees had a chance to tour the flight line; observing a plethora of vintage aircraft, military marvels, and homebuilt kit aircraft. Forums and workshops that covered a wide range of topics (from sheet metal fasteners, ForeFlight IFR pro tips, building with composites, to HAM radio and more!) were held throughout the event as well. Food and drink vendors were swamped with customers come noon, as everyone rushed to grab one last snack before the main event. The edge of the runway was packed with monochromatic folding chairs and wide-spread umbrellas, while others stood to watch as the airshow began. Freefalling from a height of 6,000 feet, the US Para commandos kicked off the event with the classic flying of the flag as spectators stood for the playing of the National Anthem. Following the patriotic opening was Bill Stein in his kaleidoscopic Edge 540. Thanks to a unique paint job, Steins Edge 540 airplane displays a variable color scheme based on lighting and audience perspective: a fact that was quickly proven right as Stein bobbed and weaved through the air, even managing to hover like a helicopter for a total of 13 seconds before pointing the plane's nose back towards the ground. Up next was the Cavanaugh flight crew-
The Greatest Celebration of Aviation in Florida
a skilled team that performs combat search and rescue (CSAR) missions on the daily.
Their reenactment of a typical CSAR job, while slightly underwhelming, was incredibly informative; providing the audience with a fantastic look into the teamwork behind finding and saving a stranded soldier in the field. From there, the airshow took an exciting turn as none other than Michael Goulian himself leaped to the skies. This Red Bull aerobatic pilot has earned all three of the airshow industry's awards, and it shows: the way Goulian maneuvered his Extra 330SC aircraft at such high speeds and altitudes was undeniably impressive. Not to be outdone, the Class of ’45 gave a stellar performance. With Scott “Scooter” Yoak behind the stick of his P51 Mustang “Quicksilver,” and Jim “Torc” Tobul in the cockpit of his F4U Corsair these long-time friends showed off their skills by performing a scissor move: in which the two pilots break, one in front of the other, before travelling in opposite directions. The GEICO Skytypers performed next; the team of T-6's showing off their precision aerobatics as they flew over the field in a line of rest formation; each plane stretched wingtip to wing-
tip. The maneuver then shifted, with the six pilots creating a tight delta triangle formation. Once the Skytypers had made two passes down the flight line in this arrangement, spectators were stunned speechless as the delta formation imploded! The audience watched in shock as the T-6’s turned into each other, each plane a hairsbreadth away from disaster as three of the pilots turned left, and the other three right in a dizzying display of evasive maneuvers. The six planes then crossed paths down the centerline as viewers cheered from their seats. The show was halfway over, but the fun was only beginning as Jim Peitz, and his F33 Bonanza flew into the spotlight. That's correct. A Beechcraft Bonanza performed jaw-dropping acrobatic maneuvers including the micro loop, the blender, the avalanche l o o p heart, the
doublehammerhead, and- a crowd favoritethe E-Brake. The E-Brake begins as a standard inverted loop, with Peitz rolling the F33 belly-up. However, instead of kicking the tail up to come out of the loop, he proceeded to do the opposite; the trail of white smoke from the back of the plane forming a clear, elongated S shape in the sky. Children and Parents alike were entertained by the next performance, dubbed "Down with the Immortal Red Baron" by Sun n' Fun commentators. A duet of aerial dogfighting
danced through the skies; both biplanes were attempting to gain the upper hand on the other as ‘gunfire' from the ground crew attempted to save the hero in the green biplane from the red baron. The kids had fun cheering for the hero and booing the villain, while the adults were witness to a fabulous view of aerial combat techniques. Julie Clark was one of the final flights of the show, this accomplished female aviator gracefully glided through the air, with red, white, and blue colored smoke trailing from the wingtips of her T-34 “Free Spirit” in a patriotic routine. This year is Clark's farewell tour, as the experienced pilot will be retiring from the show business with over 49 years of experience under her belt. Watching her perform aerial maneuvers with elegance in a plane whose capabilities have been described as rugged was a real honor to see. The Blue Angels took to the air in their notable F18's to close out the show, leaving fans and viewers only wanting more as these dexterous jet engines roared overhead. Long after the sun had set, the skies still shone. Because later that evening, the fans received precisely what they'd asked for, as Sun n' Fun hosted a spectacular night show. Lighted drones filled the air and fireworks rained down from above as another round of performances began. The Sun n’ Fun airshow is always a treat to any who have a fascination for aviation. This year
was no exception, as the festival went above and beyond expectations with the unique evening show. And though the display may be over for this season, the sun will surely shine on Lakeland again next year.
THE AVION
A2 Campus NSBE Shines at 45th National Convention
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor
Jaclyn Wiley K’Andrew France-Beckford News Editor Nick Hernandez Business Manager Alex Lee Photo Editor Vipul Telang
Page Editors
Contributors
Reporters Photographers
Sarah Fairchild Ugonna Nwauche Abigail Johnson Gathoni Mwangi Lauren Drake Michael Weinhoffer Emily Rickel Josh Smith Jacob Guliuzo
Tayluer Streat Joshua Rosado Conner Strobel Chaz Pokracki Keenan Thungtrakul
Cover Photo Chaz Pokracki
Staff Advisor Ronnie Mack Asst. Director, Media & Marketing
Contact Information Main Phone: (386) 226-6049 Business Manager: (386) 226-7697 Editor-In-Chief: editor@theavion.com Managing Editor: managing@theavion.com News Editor: news@theavion.com Business Manager: business@theavion.com Photo Editor: photo@theavion.com
Website: theavion.com @theavionnewspaper u/theavionnewspaper @The_Avion @TheAvion
The Avion is produced weekly during the fall and spring term, and bi-weekly during summer terms. The Avion is produced by a volunteer student staff. Student editors make all content, business and editorial decisions. The editorial opinions expressed in The Avion are solely the opinion of the undersigned writer(s), and not those of EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University, the Student Government Association, The Avion, or the student body. Letters appearing in The Avion are those of the writer, identified at the end of the letter. Opinions expressed in the “Student Government” and “Student Life” sections are those of the identified writer. Letters may be submitted to The Avion for publication, provided they are not lewd, obscene or libelous. Letter writers must confine themselves to less than 800 words. Letters may be edited for brevity and formatted to newspaper guidelines. All letters must be signed. Names may be withheld at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. The Avion is an open forum for student expression. The Avion is a division of the Student Government Association. The Avion is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press. The costs of this publication are paid by the Student Government Association and through advertising fees. The Avion distributes one free copy per person. Additional copies are $0.75. Theft of newspapers is a crime, and is subject to prosecution and Embry-Riddle judicial action. This newspaper and its contents are protected by United States copyright law. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, in print or electronically, without the expressed written consent of The Avion. Correspondence may be addressed to: The Avion Newspaper, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 600 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach, Florida 32114. Physical office: Student Union, Room 219.
Ugonna Nwauche Correspondent
This past month, Embry-Riddle’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) attended the 45th annual National Convention in Detroit, Michigan. As always, it was an event that was well worth the trip! With over 150 employer exhibitors and a record-setting 15,000 conference attendees, this event was an excellent opportunity for networking, professional development, and career advancement.
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Currently, the Embry-Riddle NSBE chapter has secured 18 internship and job offers between 15 students, and more are sure to come.
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Cover Editor Rajan Khanna Campus Editors Korbin Martin Andrew Bronshteyn Keenan Thungtrakul K’Andrew France-Beckford Industry Editors Vipul Telang Madaline Eitnair Sarah Fairchild UX Editors Jaclyn Wiley Jorja Gwaltney Victoria Jordan Comics Editor Alex Lee Copy Editors Jordyn Taylor Sarah Fairchild
“It was kind of a culture shock,” said Tayluer Streat, a Mechanical Engineering major who currently serves as the Community Service chair on the chapter’s executive board. “It was amazing to see so many people who looked like me come together in one place. It felt like I was in Wakanda!” Out of the 28 students who attended, 18 students received interviews, some with multiple companies. Currently, the Embry-Riddle NSBE chapter has secured 18 internship and job offers between 15 students, and more are sure to come. Embry-Riddle junior Wanjiku Kanjumba, who is majoring in Aerospace Engineering, also received the Region III International Student scholarship. At last year’s 44th annual Convention, 20% of students who attended accepted an offer, so this year there was an increase of almost 35%! “We took a really amazing group of students this year,” said Ugonna Nwauche, president of the chapter and a graduating senior in Mechanical Engineering.
Tayluer Streat/NSBE
"Everyone was so supportive, and I'm not talking about just students. We met so many Embry-Riddle alumni who were more than willing to recommend us to their colleagues, and I think that played a huge part in how successful we were." Throughout the year, the NSBE executive board created workshops and events to develop members academically, socially, and professionally, keeping NSBE's mission statement to heart. Students who attended were also required to complete a checklist to be sponsored. The list including things like meeting with a Career Services advisor, visiting at least two NSBE sponsored community service events, and researching
five companies to create tailored resumes for. "We really wanted to make sure everyone was prepared," said Jeffrey Lewis, Aerospace Engineering major and Conference Planning chair for the chapter. "The conference can be very overwhelming due to the sheer amount of people there, so I felt it was important to make sure that everyone was adequately prepared with resumes, elevator speeches, and interview skills.” Co-advisors for the EmbryRiddle chapter, who also helped students prepare for the convention, are assistant professor Dr. Leroy L. Long III and Kenneth E. Hunt, director of Embry-Riddle’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
Public Service Announcement A public service announcement from ERAU Alumnus Captain John Mazur: For everyone affected by the unfortunate recent aviation medical situation and requiring a new exam, I highly recommend Dr. Frank Browning, also in a Spruce Creek Fly-In hangar. A Vietnam Vet, and a previous National President of the Flying Physicians Association, he provides personal care at a reasonable cost. Just, please, don’t be late for your appointments. Tayluer Streat/NSBE
THE AVION
A4 Student Life
How to Avoid Over-Studying The end of April is creeping up on the students of Embry-Riddle, meaning only one thing: finals week is approaching. Finals can be stressful with long late-night study sessions, miserable practice exams, and a lack of sleep. There is a right way and a wrong way to prep for finals. If you do it the wrong way, your scores will not be your best, and you will have wasted all of your time studying for nothing. However, if you do it right, the study load can be lighter, and you can walk into your final feeling confident and prepared. One bad study habit Riddle students usually exhibit is over studying. Yes, it is possible to over analyze. This is defined as studying for countless hours on end with little to no breaks and a lack of food or hydration. If a student studies like this, they are possibly setting oneself up for failure. Here is why: your brain acts like a muscle. The weeks before tests or exams is when you use your brain most often. Your neurons are continually firing as you jump from one topic to another and then another that originally was learned over four months. Like any muscle, your brain will be worn out if it does not have a chance to recoup. Memo-
ry is sort of like the outer tissues of the mind; when your brain is retaining information, it can flex and absorb the data you are processing. However, if you use it for a span of more than two to three hours nonstop, your memory can “overheat” and merely stop retaining any new information.
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A bad study habit students usually exhibit is over-studying. Yes, it is possible to over-analyze. This is defined as studying for countless hours on end with little to no breaks and a lack of food or hydration.
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Abigail Johnson Staff Reporter
You must let your brain cool down and adjust to the latest news and data it has acquired. It has to recharge and build up before it can process anything extremely or new again. The best thing you can do during your studying sessions is to study or work for three-hour intervals. After a three-hour session, a good practice is to let your brain rest for half the time it is used. For the following hour
and thirty minutes, relax; have a bite to eat, get a drink or smoothie, go outside for some fresh air, and be social. Then, once your rest time is finished, study for a different topic. The idea of switching subjects is to increase your attention span for the second round of reviewing. Most likely, you already want to quit for the day and head home by this time. New information can be more stimulating and more interesting for the fresh eyes. While this tactic will help improve your memory retention and boost your final scores, it must go hand and hand with other tactics. This includes drinking water, eating decent meals and snacks, and sleeping. Numerous Riddle students neglect sleep. Ignoring your sleeping needs will throw out most of the information you have been trying to retain. This is due to the process of expanding short term memory to long term memory while you are resting your body. If you want to remember what you practiced the next day, the information must start to be processed as long term memory. I wish everyone the best of luck on the upcoming weeks and encourage students to take advantage of the events and resources open to the students on Study Day by the school and their professors. Happy studying!
Factoid ••Your brain’s neurons continually fire when you cram, which makes it harder to retain information. ••Like a battery, your brain can be depeleted and must be recharged. ••Study or work sessions should be no longer than three continuous hours. ••Breaks should be long, an hour and a half is recommended to allow your brain to recharge.
Important Dates ••Last Day of Classes: April 25 ••ERRSA Late Night Breakfast: April 25, 22:00 hrs ••Study Day: April 26 ••Hunt Library’s Cram with Cookies: April 26, 19:00 hrs ••Final Exams: April 27-May 1 ••Lift Off: May 3, 17:00 hrs ••Graduation Ceremony: May 6
Softball Team Nabs Series Win over PBA Cole Helman ERAU Athletics The Embry-Riddle softball team earned a series win on Saturday by splitting its doubleheader against Palm Beach Atlantic at the ERAU Softball Stadium. Both games were tightly contested pitcher’s duels. ERAU (18-17, 10-11 Sunshine State Conference) trailed PBA (23-19, 11-10 SSC) by one game heading into the day, and it seemed like both teams were evenly matched. The Eagles got the loss in game one despite Lisa Hop tossing a complete game without giving up and earned run. PBA took advantage of an Eagle error to win, 1-0. Jayla Jackson picked up where Hop left off by throwing a complete game shutout in game two. The Eagles backed the junior pitcher with two runs which turned out to be more than Jackson needed. She allowed six hits in seven innings with five strikeouts, and ERAU won the matchup 2-0. Saturday’s doubleheader concluded a strong series for the Eagle pitching staff. In three games, the ERAU hurlers allowed one earned run with 15 strikeouts. Game one included two dominant pitching performances. Both teams combined for just four hits. PBA scored the lone run in the second inning after an overthrow by the Eagles on a play at third base allowed the Sailfish runner to score.
The Eagles’ best chance to score came in the bottom of the fifth. With one out in the inning, Back-toback infield singles by Michy Ramos and ReAnne Drayton put runners on first and second. The runners were stranded after two quick outs. PBA allowed three runners on base in its 1-0 win. Game two was nearly identical to the first game as both team’s offense struggled to string hits together. Jackson worked her way out of hot water in the top of the first. PBA led off the game with two infield singles. A groundout, a caught stealing and a flyout got the Michigan native out of the inning unscathed. ERAU mustered just two hits until the fourth inning when the Eagles finally broke through. Katy Thompson started the one-out rally with a single through the right side. Ramos followed with a single of her own. The bases were loaded after Savannah Brockenbrough was hit by a pitch. Drayton got the Eagles on the board with a single to right field. Callie Rodriguez made it a 2-0 game with an RBI single of her own. Jackson took care of the rest in the circle. She allowed one hit in the game’s final three innings to notch her 10th win of the season. ERAU combined for six hits in the 2-0 win. The Eagles continue SSC play next weekend when they travel to face Rollins. First pitch in Winter Park, Florida, takes place Friday at 6 p.m.
Joshua Rosado/The Avion Newspaper A Palm Beach Atlantic player (gray) stops an Embry-Riddle player (blue) from sliding onto a base.
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Campus A5
Pinwheel Project 2019: Saying No to Sexual Assault Keenan Thungtrakul Staff Reporter The morning rain on Tuesday, April 2 did not stop members of the Counseling Center, Office of Title IX and Housing & Residence Life from creating a beautiful small field of pinwheels spinning in the afternoon breeze. Students that were walking between classes passed by four tables, one of which had a large poster that was signed by many. Written on the poster was a four-part pledge that read: "I pledge to create an environment in which sexual assault is unacceptable, and survivors are supported, to intervene in situations where consent has not or cannot be given, to identify situations in which sexual assault may occur, and to recognize that non-consensual sex IS sexual assault." April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The pinwheels spinning in the breeze symbolized student, staff, and faculty awareness of the issue of sexual assault and their pledge to stand with survivors. People who passed by the display had the opportunity to speak with members of the Counseling Center, Office of Title IX Compliance, and three volunteers from the Volusia Rape Crisis Center. They also had the chance to state why they stand with survivors of sexual assault publicly. Those that consented wrote their statements on whiteboards and had their picture taken both for sharing on official social media and for The Avion. The volunteers wanted people to know that this is everyone's issue, and everyone has a part to play in mitigating it. Student volunteers from Housing and Navy ROTC helped recruit students to stand with them and support their cause. The display also caught the attention of prospective students who were touring the
campus at the time. It was great to see the variety of people that chose to take a stand against sexual assault and make it known publicly. Deborah Kim, a member of Army ROTC, placed her pinwheel in the field and stated in an exclusive interview with The Avion that both she and her sister were survivors, and wanted to Keenan Thungtrakul/The Avion Newspaper make it known that Two families consisting of alumni and prospective students make a stand against sexual assault there are survivors in during their visit to campus. (Left Sign) “I stand with survivors because... everyone deserves to the student commufeel safe!” (Right Sign) “We stand with survivors because... there is good in the world.” nity. Another student, Nico Ragusa, said he stands with survivors be- Chief Flight Instructor Ivan Grau. cause he wants to show that there is still good A standard message shared by students who in the world. A lot of people could use those planted pinwheels is that either they were surviwords of encouragement, especially in the fi- vors of sexual assault themselves or have friends nal month of the semester. Projects are getting who are survivors — ever wondered how you close to due; papers need to be written, exams might be able to spot a potential sexual asto study for, and more. Knowing that people sault or spot a victim before it's too late? Comare supporting you even if they don't know you mon signs that a crime may have taken place can send a powerful message, especially in the are persistent feelings of helplessness, denial world of recovery from a traumatic event like of claims or statements, self-blame, or abrupt sexual assault. Luis Otero, a student volunteer mood changes. The best way to sense these from Housing & Residence Life, said that no one signs is by careful observation. Have you noshould be scared of going outside their home. ticed someone acting differently among your No one should have to worry about potential group of friends? Has it been a persistent obserassault or abuse. In an ideal world, he said, vation? If so, consider talking to the person to people would not be ruled by fear. They can see what's the problem; otherwise, that person go about their lives not needing to worry about may have no one else to turn to. Having friends what will happen to them. Administrators also who care for you during the times of good and came out to show their support. Notable fig- bad is key to helping anyone who is making the ures included Lisa Kollar, Dean of Students and transition from victim to survivor.
Stories From the C-Ink: ANTI-STASIS
I
Murky waters breed contempt. Who he was in the past he does try, though has come to resent these old tangles and kinks with age, muddling the ins and outs of his medulla that will take years and years to dismantle. How can one take what seems like centuries to molt? How long does one take on average? Frustrations and doubt brewing storm in a cup runneth over impatient, tease he’s a waste of space in a world where success isn’t measured by growth, but the wealth one generates. Success is stasis excused by a material flow. Unspoken, yet everybody knows it is only considered real once you smother the abstractness of this noun with god-given inventory registered in the index of your fingertips.
Gathoni Mwangi
II
If one can’t let their green do the ‘walkie-talkie,’ they are handicapped – Either do the dance or get your legs chopped, Mr. ‘Liability-to-The-Establishment’. Hereby, Faceless Society nourished by utilitarian virtue decrees, “Crucify the cabbage!” The rhetoric mute the lesser the son of a carpenter. Safer is the option to reclaim glory days from the swamp where naïveté is a badge of honor. A place he thought he knew all that needed knowing. An ignorant certitude of his dispensability, a laughable faith in his ever-churning turbines of trite inspiration. But now the frost surrounding his cornea has shattered and along with streams of sharp realization, came shards. Matrixes peeled back revealing his portion was never a tragic thorn, but a shape-shifting womb.
The above poems were created as part of an activity with the Creative Writing Club. If you want to join this club you can attend their meetings on Mondays, 7-9 p.m.
And so it begins.
III
A metamorphosis defiant to heuristics; the contempt a result of living life in the boggy ghetto of forgotten shadows, on hold, often postponed by a world that would rather choke than bat an eyelid his direction. He isn’t allegorical, but his own visible man more attuned with his elastic nature. And there’s indeed no intervention required of the courts or jury, neither in heaven nor below the stars above, that could dictate the completion of his skin’s shedding.
The author was given the prompt to use at least three of the following words: Start, Call, Cup, Hatch, Trite
THE AVION
A6 Campus ERAU’s Phi Beta Lambda Heads to Nationals
Lauren Drake ERAU PBL President
On March 28-31, the honors organization Phi Beta Lambda hosted its annual State Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida. The organization Future Business Leaders of America - Phi Beta Lambda is a Business Honor Society based out of the college of business. Students were given the opportunity to show their expertise in their respective subjects against the rest of the state of Florida. Three students from the Embry-Riddle Chapter of Phi Beta Lambda networked with over 300 members from over 30 different colleges across the state. This year’s theme for the conference was Leave Your Mark, which is something that Embry-Riddle’s chapter most definitely did this year. Highlights of the conference include interacting with business and industry professionals through panel discussions, resume reviews, and interactive workshops focusing on entrepreneurship, job transitions, and negotiation skills. Another distinct attraction of the conference is competitive events between the attendants, including but not limited to, management concepts, computer programing, network de-
sign, and business law. These events are important because it provides opportunities for students to display their skills and prove their knowledge and performance in areas of interest. Participants had the choice of taking a written test for their subject, or a performance-based assessment for the more advanced topics. Business Administration student and Embry-Riddle chapter Secretary Zachary Mosteller placed 5th in Macroeconomics and won 1st in Impromptu Speaking. Engineering Physics student, Embry-Riddle chapter President, and District II State Vice President Lauren Drake placed 2nd in Information Management and won 1st in Contemporary Sports Issues. Unmanned Aircraft Systems Science student and State Secretary Nicholas Hernandez won the most prestigious academic and leadership accolade, the Rob Kelleher Memorial Award. To end the occasion, both Lauren Drake and Nicholas Hernandez finished their terms as Florida Phi Beta Lambda State Officers. The entire trio is looking forward to representing Embry-Riddle at the National Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas in June.
Photo Courtesy: FBLA-PBL
From left to right: Lauren Drake, Zachary Mostellar, Nicholas Hernandez display their achievements at the end of their State Leadership Conference
Feature Photo: Army ROTC Military Ball
Connor Strobel/ The Avion Newspaper On April 6, 2019 the Army ROTC Eagle Battalion conducted their 39th annual Military Ball. Over 300 people attended the ball, which was hosted by Eagle Battalion’s Professor of Military Science, Lieutenant Colonel Robert C. Moyer. The purpose of the ball was to build espirit de corps among Cadets, Cadres, and special guests while familiarizing Cadets with basic knowledge of Military Ceremony and Etiquette. The military ball was an overwhelming success. The food was delicious, and using the Student Union as the venue was very convenient. Cadet Stephens was awarded the John Vaughan award, and the Cadet leadership for the 2019-2020 academic year was announced. Eagle Battalion was lucky enough to have Embry-Riddle alumnus, Colonel John M. Ferrell, speak to the cadets. Colonel Ferrell gave a great speech, with a perfect balance of humor and seriousness, and inspired the cadets present to always be the best versions of themselves.
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B2 2019 Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In and Expo B3
Connor Adair/The Avion Newspaper
During the week long Fly-In and Expo, pilots are encouraged to bring their planes and to display their aircraft to the general public. Sun ‘n Fun organizers estimate that nearly 200,000 guests attended between April 2-7, 2019.
Chaz Pokracki/The Avion Newspaper
The Blue Angels, the United States Navy’s flight demonstration team, headlines the performers for the 2019 Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In & Exposition. The four FA/18 Hornets shown flew past show center during one of their maneuvers.
Connor Adair/The Avion Newspaper
An aspiring aviator sits in the gunner pod of the Memphis Belle, a Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress used in the Second World War. The aircraft is currently leased by the National Warplane Museum, which provides historical flight experiences to the public.
Connor Adair/The Avion Newspaper
Connor Adair/The Avion Newspaper
Chaz Pokracki/The Avion Newspaper
The Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In & Expo also allows for manufacturers to showcase new aircraft and parts, such as this alternator for a Cessna.
Airshow pilot Jim Peitz puts his F33C Bonanza through the paces during his demonstration. During his performance, Peitz loops, rolls, and even climbs vertically! The modified Bonanza is able to pull +6/-3 Gs thanks to a Continental IO-530 engine driving a three-bladed Hartzell Sabre propeller.
The GEICO Skytypers Air Show Team are comprised of six T-6 Texans which write out letters in the sky as well as perform classic World War II maneuvers.
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B4 Technology
Rocket Lab’s Electron Flies DARPA Payload on 5th Flight
Michael Weinhoffer Senior Reporter On March 27, 7:27 p.m. EST, Rocket Lab's Electron rocket launched from the Mahia Peninsula of New Zealand on its fifth flight. The payload was a technology demonstration of a new type of antenna for the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and the mission was a complete success. Rocket Lab has quickly proved itself as a reliable launch provider for small payloads, even though the first Electron rocket launched less than two years ago. The payload for the mission was cleverly named R3D2, which stands for the Radio Frequency Risk Reduction Deployment Demonstration. The payload is a new type of antenna that can be used for small satellite missions since it is composed of membrane layers that are compressed into a structure before deployment. This technology may enable small satellites to improve their communication
capabilities without introducing significant mass penalties. Northrop Grumman, MMA Design, Trident Systems, and Blue Canyon Technologies contributed to the development of the payload for DARPA. The mission utilized a third “kick” stage to allow for precise insertion of the payload into an orbit 425 km high. The kick stage is powered by a single “Curie” engine that can be restarted multiple times to deploy payloads to a variety of orbits on a single mission. After payload deployment, the kick stage is then deorbited, which minimizes Rocket Lab’s impact on the fragile orbital environment surrounding the Earth. It would be very inefficient if Electron launched directly east of the launch pad due to its far distance from the equator. Therefore, all missions are launched south of the Mahia Peninsula and travel over the poles. Rocket Lab announced in October that it is building a second launch facility on Wallops Island,
Virginia, which is the home of the Mid-Atlantic Spaceport Complex. This facility will allow the Electron to fly directly east of the launch pad but will come with payload mass restrictions. Rocket Lab plans to eventually be able to launch an Electron every two weeks from one of the two launch pads, and they quickly announced after the R3D2 mis-
The second launch of Rocket Lab’s Electron.
sion that their next launch will be happening in late April. At that time, the company will launch three small research satellites for the Air Force’s Space Test Program. Rocket Lab continues to impress the global space industry with reliable launches for small satellites, and it looks like small satellites have found a new rocket friend.
Photo Courtesy: The Verge
Jaclyn Wiley Editor-in-Chief
According to recent filings to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Amazon is the latest entrant into the already-crowded field of low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation field. The Amazon plan, codenamed Project Kuiper, proposes a mega-constellation of 3,236 satellites that will orbit in three rings in LEO, which will provide broadband service to "unserved and underserved communities around the world." Amazon estimates that the Project Kuiper constellation would grant up to 95 percent of the world's population internet access. The Project Kuiper mega-constellation would consist of three rings of satellites - 784 satellites at an altitude of 590 km; 1,296 satellites at an altitude of 610 km; and 1,156 satellites at an altitude of 630 km. For reference, the International Space Station orbits at about 400 km and the Hubble Space Telescope orbits at about 596 km. Though no launch provider has been officially announced, many suspect that Amazon owner Jeff Bezo will utilize his other commercial space company, Blue Origin, to launch the satellites. Blue Origin is currently developing the New Glenn launch vehicle, which will be able to launch up to 13,000 kg to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). The New Glenn, like its predecessor, the New Shepard, will have a reusable first stage, and may eventually
be used to launch crewed missions. Such a vast constellation of satellites would require a massive ground station infrastructure. Amazon is already a player in the ground station market, however; Amazon recently announced the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Ground Station, which is a venture that provides satellite operators with satellite communications, downlink, data processing, and data storage services. Though 3,236 satellites is a large constellation, it is not the largest of the proposed LEO constellations. That honor currently belongs to SpaceX, which has proposed a 12,000-satellite constellation called Starlink. Amazon will have many competitors in the LEO constellation market besides SpaceX. Telsat, OneWeb, and Planet are all planning constellations in LEO as well. Such a crowded potential market for LEO constellations is made even more difficult by the issues of spectrum allocation. Spectrum refers to the electromagnetic wavelengths that satellites use to communicate with one another and the Earth. Since spectrum is a limited resource, the international community came together to create a body dedicated to allocating spectrum equitably. The ITU, established in 1865, ensures that range is not hoarded by technologically advanced countries or powerful multinational corporations. The FCC has the authority to allocate spectrum to commercial
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Technology B3 Amazon Files Plan for LEO Mega-Constellation
Telesat has selected the New Glenn rocket to launch Telesat’s innovative LEO satellites into space. Photo Courtesy: CNBC
endeavors on the domestic level. The Project Kuiper proposal was filed to the ITU by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), on behalf of Amazon. The ITU operates at the international level and is the UN agency dedicated to ensuring the fair and equitable allocation of telecommunications spectrum. Though Amazon and its competitors will operate in low-Earth orbits, the ITU is also responsible for allocating geostationary orbits to satellite operators. There is no authority on the international level, nor within the United States, that controls the allocation of low-Earth orbital slots. This is a significant policy debate, currently. As LEO fills up, however, the current debate over space debris management, tracking and mitigation will also grow louder. There are thousands of pieces of orbital debris in LEO, each of which could pose a danger to the new constellations. Each debris impact event could be disastrous for these companies, as well as for the LEO space debris environment in general, as each game would create more and more debris. This phenomenon, known as Kessler Syndrome, could lead to the complete pollution of LEO, and, therefore, the loss of utility of that area of space. A significant space debris event occurred in March when India conducted an anti-satellite (ASAT)
weapons test. This test created hundreds of pieces of debris in LEO, which could jeopardize future LEO operations. NASA Administrator James Bridenstine stated that the waste generated in the Indian ASAT test could even potentially impact the activities of the International Space Station. If Project Kuiper is a success, it could majorly impact the aerospace market, especially for the Embry-Riddle students of today. Students may be hired to take part in the development and design process, as well as in the business and operations areas as well. Further, the continued operations of the satellites, once launched, will also be a major effort that will require many people. If Project Kuiper is a failure, however, the impact could be just as massive. An apparent failure of such a large project could potentially depress the LEO launch and satellite markets, which would impact not only Amazon's employees but also those of its competitors, especially if investments dry up. If the Amazon mega-constellation pollutes LEO, the impact would be even higher on the aerospace community, in a very negative manner. The development and launch of the Project Kuiper satellites will take years, meaning that there is still time for Amazon and its partners to address the many concerns of launching a LEO mega-constellation.
THE AVION
U2 UX Corner Create Your Own Augmented Reality
Emily is a graduate student in the Research in User eXperience (RUX) Lab in the Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology. RUX investigates the usability and user experience of technology in our everyday world. This is a regular column that explores different techniques typically used by Embry-Riddle students. Emily Rickel Staff Reporter The popularity of Snapchat’s Lenses and augmented reality (AR) mobile apps like Pokémon Go have made AR more accessible to a broader audience. But, it can be tiring to see the same Snapchat filters and Pokémon over and over again. If you are interested in developing a custom AR experience, you can use an app called HP Reveal to discover, create, and share your own unique AR experiences. What is HP Reveal? HP Reveal is a mobile app that uses AR to allow users to interact with their surroundings in a new way. Users can scan “trigger images,” real-world images or objects, to initiate the beginning of an animation that plays on their phone. This animation is called an “overlay” because it is placed over the trigger image during the AR experience. Overlays in HP Reveal can also be images or videos. Additionally, users can upload or take pictures of their trigger images and overlay them with the media of their choice to create a custom AR experience, or “Aura.” Users can also create
Emily Rickel/The Avion Newspaper
Following the “RUX Demo” channel and scanning the Coca-Cola logo with the app triggers an overlay of a Coca-Cola can. After a second or two, they can also play a song and moves to its beat.
“channels,” or pages where they can upload their Auras to share with others. Other users can follow channels and view the Auras that have been uploaded to the channel by the channel’s owner. How Easy is it to Use? To gather student impressions of the user experience of HP Reveal and its Auras, we asked six students to complete four tasks without any assistance: downloading and logging into the app, viewing an existing Aura, discovering an Aura created by a public channel, and creating a new Aura. Finding and downloading the app was straightforward for all participants. One noticed the App Store rating of 3.3 out of 5 stars and figured the app was not the best. Upon launching the app, introduction slides appeared that gave a general overview of the app’s AR capabilities. But, only two participants swiped through these slides. Logging into the app was also simple. Doing so led users to a homepage where they could search and view Auras, create new Auras, and see their profile. Some participants experienced a bit of a learning curve while trying to view an existing Aura. There was some initial confusion about what an Aura was, and the button for opening the camera to scan the trigger images was not immediately noticeable to some users. However, once users were able to open the camera and activate the overlay, they seemed to enjoy the experience. Along with some “oohs” and “ahhs,” one participant exclaimed, “This is so cool!” Another commented, “Viewing it should have been easier than it was, but it was still really cool. I’ve never seen anything like it.” When asked to find and follow the “RUX Demo” channel, users were able to do so with ease. “It was super simple to find. The channel page is set up like most social
media accounts, so following them was a familiar process,” explained one user. However, there was some difficulty and frustration in viewing the channel’s Coca Cola Aura. Doing so requires the user to return to the homepage so they can tap the icon that opens the camera. Once this was figured out, users again seemed to enjoy the AR experience. One user was so immersed they even tried to reach out and grab the virtual can. Many participants smiled and also danced along to the music that played with the animated overlay. While creating an Aura, all users were able to find this function from the homepage quickly. When prompted to take a picture to create a trigger image, there was some confusion from the app’s feedback about the quality of the image. After capturing a trigger image, users could choose an overlay from a list of pre-made options, or wish to upload a picture or video from their device. The overlay can be resized, moved, and rotated over the trigger image. Users can then preview their Aura and choose to upload it to a channel or keep it private. The app then takes a few seconds to produce the Aura before it’s ready to view and share. Overall Impressions HP Reveal has some confusing and frustrating aspects, especially for first-time users who are not familiar with the terminology or processes associated with viewing and creating an Aura. However, the customizable AR experience provided by the app seemed to create a unique, immersive, and delightful interaction with everyday objects. Overall, if you are prepared to spend some time exploring the app or reading through the help pages, then your patience and effort are likely to pay off for an exciting experience. Try it Yourself! HP Reveal is a free app available for Android and iOS mobile devic-
es. After downloading and opening the app, tap the blue square icon on the bottom of the home screen to scan a trigger image. Try scanning a $1 or $20 bill! Or, explore the social side of the app by searching for the channel called “RUX Demo.” Follow this channel, open the camera to scan a trigger image, digitize the Coca Cola logo, and watch the logo come to life!
Image Courtesy: The Coca Cola Company
Try it yourself: use the app to follow the “RUX Demo” channel, scan the Coca Cola logo, and watch the image come to life! Tip: turn your phone’s volume on to hear the song and get a more immersive experience.
Now that you can view others’ experiences try creating one of your own! Tap the plus icon on the home screen and go through the step-by-step process of capturing and saving a trigger image, choosing and positioning your overlay, and sharing your experience with others. Did you try the app? Scan the QR code and tell us what you thought!
Make your own AR experience, or “Aura,” with HP Reveal’s step-by-step process.
Emily Rickel/The Avion Newspaper
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UX Corner U3
Josh and Jacob are graduate students in the Research in User eXperience (RUX) Lab in the Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology. RUX investigates the usability and user experience of technology in our everyday world. This is a regular column that explores different techniques typically used by Embry-Riddle students.
You Get Money! And You Get Money! Everybody Gets Money! Josh Smith and Jacob Guliuzo Graduate Researchers
even through your email or phone number.
Why Have a Money Transfer App? Everyone has been there. You’re out with your friends, whether it is at a restaurant, bowling, or the movies. When you go to pay, the worst thing possible happens: your card is declined. But your good friend saves the day and covers for you. In the past, you would have to wait until you could take out cash to pay them back. Now, you can immediately pay your friend back with a money transfer app. In the RUX Lab, we love to use money transfer apps. Members of the lab have used a money transfer app a couple of times to order pizza as a group. Our app of choice is Venmo because it's what everyone has. One person out of the group requests all of the pizzas, and then says, "Just Venmo Me!" We see it is like the use of this app has essentially created a new verb, similar to when your friends are arguing over where pizza was originally invented, and you say, "Just Google it!" Personally, Venmo has also saved the butt of a lab member. I was out to eat with friends one night, and I left for home from the restaurant before my friends. When I got home, I realized that I never paid my bill. I quickly Venmo’d my friend who was still there and asked him to cover for me. He politely agreed as he knew he was immediately paid back — situations like these show just how useful money transfer apps can be. Money transfer apps, such as Venmo, PayPal, and Zelle, allow you to send and receive money using your phone quickly. As long as you have the same app as whomever you want to transfer money with, you can soon pay or collect payment from someone. Apps like these can send money from multiple sources including bank accounts, debit/credit cards, and
Which Apps Students Use and Why In a recent survey of ERAU students, four apps emerged as the most popular - Venmo (43%), Zelle (27%), and Paypal (16%) and Cash App (10%). Surprisingly, not a single student said they used Xoom. Ease of use was the primary reason given for why they used their respective app. Other reasons students choose their preferred app over others varied. Students who preferred Venmo did so because they viewed it as the most popular money transfer app and it was what all their friends had. Students preferred Zelle because of the fact it integrates directly into their bank app. Students who preferred PayPal said they liked the pedigree that comes with PayPal, as it was one of the first online payment services. Lastly, students that preferred Cash App did so because they viewed it as a pioneer in instantly transferring money, and not having to wait a lengthy period of time.
Common money transfer apps.
dents had a credit card linked. Students who had their bank account tied did so because they wanted to interact with their bank account directly. Some students who only had their debit or credit card connected did so because they said it felt safer, as thieves would have access to that. Students linked their phone number because they thought that transferring money in that way was sometimes faster. The majority of students surveyed, 65%, said their primary use of money transfer apps was to pay friends and family, while 14% said it was to transfer money between bank accounts and 8% used them to pay bills. Students stated that they typically use a money transfer app about once a month to once a week. Not a single student said they use an app every single day. Additionally, more than half of the students surveyed rarely or never pay instant transfer fees. These are fees
Image Courtesy: Jacob Guliuzo
that you can pay to access money deposited into your account instantly. If you choose not to spend the instant transfer fees money that will be deposited into your account may take a few days. We also asked students which features of the money apps contributed to whether they use it or not. Account and transfer security were rated as being very important. The next two highest-rated functions were transferring money through debit/credit card and transferring money directly through bank accounts. The two features that students did not find important at all were transaction social feeds and moving money through email. The social feed of Venmo is unique because this feature is only found on Venmo. The social feed is where people can see their friends' transactions and like/comment on the purchases. Participants noted that this feature could be left out and was unwanted.
Image Courtesy: Josh Smith
A
breakdown of how much students prefer each service (n = 37).
How
Students Link the App to Their Money The majority of students had their bank account, debit card, and phone number connected to their app to transfer money. Only five stuImage Courtesy: Josh Smith
A breakdown of what students use money transfer apps for (n = 37).
If you would like to suggest a device or technology for us to evaluate for this column, then please use the QR code to make a suggestion.
Image Courtesy: Jacob Guliuzo
Common features for money transfer apps.
Conclusion Venmo and Zelle are the apps most students go to for money transfer needs. This could be paying your friends for food that everyone split to paying your bills. Or using an app like Apple to shop online or order food online, or directly to send money to family. While security tends to be the feature students value the most, the convenience and ease of transferring money online are why they will continue to be popular among students.
Comics and Games
[five years later] Ok, it seems we were accidentally zoomed in slightly too far. But imagine there’s a cool-looking twisted accretion disc just outside this black square!
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How to Play: Each row and column of the puzzle must contain the numbers 1-5, with no repetitions. Additionally, the numbers within each outlined section must equal the target number displayed, using the mathmatical operation shown.
Fill in each row and column with the word that matches the clue. The letters in each word solution must fit both vertically and horizontally.
4/7/2019
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Puzzle No. 156783, 5X5, hard
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