Due to the Open Space issues in Second Life, today marks the last of Royal Caledon Air Force's weekly organized dog fights. As I joked today with Zoe Connolly due to my performance in the skies above Lovelace this morning I wouldn't be missing them very much. That of course is not true.
I may in my short time here in Caledon set the record for being shot down in the RCAF (my un-official call sign is Target) but to me that's not what these weekly meet ups were all about. Don't get me wrong I love ripping the canvas of a Fokker DR1 with slugs from my guns as much as anyone. But frankly I don't see some of these people other than at one of these weekly get togethers.
It's my hope I don't lose contact with many of the fliers here in the RCAF. I know Zoe has big plans for the RCAF after the beginning of the year, she's clever that on. But some of the best times I've had in Second Life have been at these weekly dogfights. Be it standing on the tarmack at Second Skies shooting the breeze with everyone or watching at the bottom of my parachute as someone takes a victory roll after shooting me from the sky.
If anyone is actually reading my little chunk of the aethernet and should come across this and you need a little target practice. Give me a shout in world. I could use the stick time and beside...I'm a hoot!
Due to the recent pirate activity in and around Lionsgate Tower RCAF patrols have increased over the Firth, Middlesea and the tower itself.
Last evening while hovering over Lionsgate I noticed I was being shadowed. I would move, they would counter move and sit. Keeping the tower between us I was unable to get a good look at who was following me. Doing what any good pilot and all chickens would do, I called for help. Within moments Vickster Kuhn was on the scene and the two of us spent the next several minutes looking for this blip on our maps. At one point we both thought we had glimpsed a bi-plane through the clouds but were unable identify it. At this point I landed my airship at Lionsgate and took on my jetpack and ray-rifle. I wanted to get a better look at something at the base of the island that I couldn't see from a aircraft. Near the surface I caught movement from the corner of my eye and was amazed to see what I assumed to be a statue of a black dragon spring to life and begin to pursue me. Vickster was soon at my location and opened up with her guns but to no avail. I tried several "trap" rounds from my ray-rifle but the creature was just too large.
Thinking we had driving the beast from the area we landed atop Lionsgate and were soon followed by the creature who then landed and observed us before flying off to the South.
Is the creature part of our pirate problem near Lionsgate? Were the pilot of the bi-plane Vickster and I caught a glimps of and this dragon working together?
Home sick today. Thus a bit of time on my hands and another ham fisted video for your viewing pleasure. Just a note, cold medicine and video making really don't go well together.
Last evening the lovely and talented pilot Miss Tiziana Corleone took her newly acquired Optica two seater out for a quick test flight.
From the builders Notecard:
The Optica is a concept aircraft designed for good forward visibility. She's fitted with a location beacon for those sticky SL moments so you can find it later. Also fitted with the now standard "eject" command that deletes the aircraft, say "eject" in chat and poof! Very useful for those hanging around in mid air sim crossing failures.
I believe the designer to be Denver Hax
After our test flight Miss Corleone being the renown tinkerer and builder that she is was already plotting upgrades for her new aircraft. I believe those mentioned were a bit of paint and a Lewis Gun on top of the wing.
We capped off the evening with a bit more flying. Her in aircraft and me looking for planes I'd left hanging about over Celedon. Miss Corleone was kind enough to act as spotter.
It's been a busy ten days since I first signed up for my Second Life account.
At first its a bit overwhelming but I had the good fortune through creative use of the in-game search engine to stumble upon some very kind people who have shortened my learning curve to a great degree.
So what have I done in my first 10 days in second life? I've joined a few groups. Most importantly the Royal Caledon Air Force (RCAF) . It's a group ran by the infamous Zoe Connolly The group, located in the Caledon, Penzance region caters to those who love all things aviation related. With a tilt to early aircraft both real and imagined. Some wonderful Steampunk aircraft flying the skys of Caledon.
Miss Connolly was kind enough to offer me a part time job watching after her airfield. Not that it really needs watching after that I can tell. Through her kindness its allowed me to do other things besides camp for in game money. And plus its cool saying I work for the amazing Zoe Connolly.
While not attending to my duties at RCAF Connolly Aerodrome I've spent most of my time exploring many of the Victorian and Steampunk regions of Second Life. And developing a few new hobbies. Namely sky diving, base jumping, collecting firearms, airships, and submarines. Oh! And shopping for all of the above.
