As I write this on Monday evening (August 8th), Al The Web Guy is still waiting for his computer to be fixed. His video card had some faulty wiring in it and self-destructed. A new part showed up this evening but, for the second time, it's the wrong part.

In the meantime, we're able to put out this newsletter but once again we can't add a new Q &A in the Ask Cap'n Meryl section at www.fromthecockpit.com. Please bear with us as I feel a full recovery for Al The Web Guy's computer must be near. I hope so. He's pacing like an expectant father, muttering things incomprehensible and presumably unprintable
If you've been reading my newsletter lately, you know I'm in talks with Microsoft about becoming involved with their home flight simulators. I'd like to do a very informal survey by asking that anyone who has a Microsoft flight simulator, has considered buying one, or is just interested in the subject let me know with an email to support@fromthecockpit.com. Please let me know your status as an experienced simmer, new user, etc. Put "simmer" in the subject, please.

I am planning on conducting a series of telephone interviews with various companies who make some of the flight simulator add-on products and am curious how many of my current readers would be interested in hearing such interviews. The only cost would be the cost of the call and I anticipate special discounts for at least some of the products discussed. Questions by email will be submitted in advance and possibly even during the interviews. I plan on interviewing some of the Microsoft Flight Simulator Team as well.

The first interview I'm likely to do is with acompany in Oregon which manufactures a device, called TrackIR, that attaches to a cap or visor. When you wear it, instead of being limited to the view straight ahead, if you swing your head a little left, for instance, but still keep your eyes on the screen, the view shifts just as it would if you turned your head all the way to the left to look out the left-hand window of a real airplane. You can even look around the metal strut in the window frame that may block part ofyour view.

As a pilot in the real world, I especially like the TrackIR because I can tilt my head slightly back and see my overhead panel, or slightly forward and see my center pedestal. It's difficult to describe here, but I'm guessing the people who make this product are better at conveying what it's like. The story of how and why the device was invented is in itself very interesting.
I got to try the TrackIR at the recent International FlightSim Convention held right here in Denver a couple of months ago. Convention photos are in the Microsoft FlightSimTeam album here if you haven't had a chance tosee them yet: http://www.fromthecockpit.com/Gallery/index.php?cat=0&page=3

Some of my readers have already let me know they're interested in flying from home and I'd like an idea of how many more there are. I'm very surprised at just how many have already expressed an interest, especially since I've only known about home flight simming myself for a few months now.

Regarding this week's title, "Back toCalifornia," my last few newsletters had to do with the road trip I took to San Diego from Denver with Al The Web Guy (also known as Chef Aland Cap'n Al) and Coco the Pomeranian.

We went out to help my Dad celebrate his 89thbirthday in July, driving instead of flying so we could keep our pooch with us and not subject him(or Cap'n Al, who is a lousy passenger) to flying. My Mom's birthday is only a month later than my Dad's, though, so I decided to fly back out on my own to help celebrate hers as well. If you missed the road trip photos or are new to this newsletter, click here and look for the SanDiego Road Trip Album:http://www.fromthecockpit.com/Gallery/index.php?cat=0&page=3

Chef Al's cooking was such a big hit with my parents when we were in San Diego for my Dad's birthday, we decided an encore was in order. This time around he made a couple of their favorite dishes--Coconut Chicken and SwedishMeatballs. The recipes for both are in our Recipes section and can be found by clicking on Appetizers and Main Dishes here: http://www.fromthecockpit.com/Recipes_Cap_n_Meryl_and_Friends.html
Chef Al cooked the dinners at our home near Denver and froze everything, and I schlepped it all out to San Diego for reheating. My parents don't get around all that easily and it's a treat for them to be able to stay home and enjoy someone else's cooking. I am Chef Al's #1admirer--I've never had better cooking in my life(other than my Mom's and grandmother's, that is), and in fact I have to ask him to knock it off sometimes for fear of both of us gaining too much weight. It does no good, though. He cooks it,we eat it. That's just the way it works.

The weather for both my flight out and my flight back was crystal clear and I was able to see a good part of the route we had just driven a few weeks ago. Flight time was an hour and fifty-six minutes westbound and a little shorter coming the other way. This as opposed to three days of driving to get there and two longer days of driving to get back. Even though I've flown this route a million (approximately) times, it gave me a completely different perspective to gaze down and see the route we took in our car.

Coming back, I sat on the right-hand side of the plane and although it's often hazy in the southeastern corner of California, it was so clear I could see almost a hundred miles down the Gulf of California. We flew within several miles of Mexicali, Mexico, where I often cleared customs while flying commuter routes from theU.S. to Mexico and Baja California. Some of this flying is discussed in "The World At My Feet" and in fact one of my favorite chapters, called"Buzzard? What Buzzard?" takes place during this time in my flying career. If you'd like to read the book and haven't yet, you'll find a link at the bottom and can order a signed copy if you'd like.

Right now my life is very much in a holding pattern while I transition from an active international airline pilot to other endeavors. Talks with Microsoft are continuing as I mentioned and I've had some other offers I'm considering as well. I thank my readers as always for sticking with me to see what's behind that next cloud up ahead.