Yesterday was an interesting day all around. The build session went very well. All the new modifications were install on the Tandem airship and testing has jumped into full swing.
We switched from foam to fabric fins for Away 34. We modified the design again to make them easier to deploy in the field. We started building fin sets for the next three vehicles.
It was also replication day. solder was flowing as the spare systems for Tandem were build. Spares are different from backups. Backup systems are things that fly with the main system. A spare is one to change out should there be a problem before flight.
Sewing continued on the new parachute and the helium flow meter was fixed, Yea!
Last night I attended a performance by our new music sponsor. It was incredible. We’ll be making an announcement as we get the details together. I stopped by the shop on my way home and that’s when things got exciting.
A pair of rapid series of gun shots banged out followed by shouts, screams and squealing car tires. I looked out the window and could see a huge crowd running around outside the sports center across the street. I went outside (I know, not very smart), and called 911. Another round of gun shots started. At this point I ran behind my truck. I couldn’t see who was shooting although I though I saw flashes. Police cars started rolling in. After a few minutes it looked like a used car dealership of police cars. There was still maybe thirty people still at the scene, not including the police. I watched for another half hour. No ambulance so I don’t think anyone was hit. There was around 20 shots in all. I can’t find anything about it in the news so far this morning.
Time to head back in, check for holes in the building and start sewing on parachutes.
Hopefully the neighborhood isn’t usually that exiting. I’ll leave it to your nearest family members to smack you for going outside while shots are being fired. Yikes! No damage to your building or equipment, I hope?