It turns out that Rosemary is the first woman to obtain an Australian helicopter pilot’s licence (in 1965) and her achievement was the beginning of a long and successful career in aviation.

In 2006 she was searching the web’s social and dating for new flying friends by trying to spot photos that included some indication that the person was an aviator or at least interested in aviation.  Her search resulted in a blind date with a fellow pilot which lasted several days as they crossed Australia in a Cessna 172 and subsequently attracting the attention of the media.  The couple are now married.

Fast forward a few years and Rosemary has written First Females Above Australia and is now working on her autobiography Hovering Matilda.  It was a story about these books that lead me to make contact with Rosemary and she has generously agreed to supply posts for the Love Air Aviation Dating blog.  Her posts are full of interesting and amusing anecdotes about life as a helicopter charter pilot in both Australia and the USA.

By a strange coincidence Rosemary’s RV has the registration LUVAIR so you could say she was destined to become Love Air’s guest blogger.  Follow her posts on the blog and be sure to buy a copy of her book.

To purchase her book First Females Above Australia please contact Rosemary at:

Email: RandD [at] longestblinddate [dot] com
Phone: Australia 0404 172 172
Costs:
$22/copy plus $5 shipping in OZ
$55 for 3copies plus $10 shipping in OZ (donate to your local schools)
$22/copy plus $15 shipping in UK/USA. (I can’t get the shipping lower).

We afford this same courtesy of space and quiet to the families of those who die in prison whatever the crimes that put them there.  We know that it is uncivilised behaviour to disrupt the funeral of those who did something that made us hate them beyond words.  We know that it is immoral to desecrate tombs and mutilate the dead.

So when people cry ‘Whatever happened to freedom of speech?!’ when tiny minorities of vociferous extremists are banned from carrying out their intended disruption of memorial parades on Remembrance Day I can’t help but wonder if some people have failed to see the difference between freedom of speech and grossly offensive and uncivilised behaviour.

People are free to think and write what they like about what our Armed Forces are doing and have done, but it was absolutely the right thing to do to ban a group whose intention it was to spew their bile onto ceremonies of remembrance.

Then in the summer of 2004 the idea for an online dating site for the aviation community was born. The first Love Air site was met with a mixture of enthusiasm and indifference, and it was the subsequent sites (Love Sail and Love Horse) that really caught the imagination of the niches for which they were designed.

After a few years in this format and with all kinds of promotional and marketing ideas being used to draw attention to the site it became apparent that the online aviation community wasn’t quite ready to join in sufficient numbers and so it was turned it into a free social network last year.  That too attracted a reasonable amount of members, but not enough to make it viable.

The almost daily administration tasks involved the inevitable profile checking and most of this chore consisted of deleting would-be scammers from African and other countries seeking to register a profile with nothing but fraud on their minds.  There was also a monthly hosting cost and other overheads that were not returned by advertising revenue.

So after a year in this format the site was re-launched as an aviation dating site again.  It’s a pilot dating, cabin crew dating, and general aviation dating site.  This time though there are several significant improvements.

The site is run in partnership with a company that is a market leader in this field and has teams of full time professional who take care of all the back-end work.  This gives me the ability to concentrate on promoting the site in my spare time.

The worldwide aviation community has embraced social media in a way that was unimaginable six years ago.  This gives those who have any kind of interest in aviation either professionally or for leisure reasons ample opportunity to contact others of the same ilk.

Despite exaggerated scare stories and initial misgivings people have come to accept online dating as one of many methods of meeting new people with whom one might have something in common from the outset.

So Love Air is airborne again and if you have any interest in aviation there are several ways in which you can make use of it (many of which will cost you no money at all):

1. Submit something to the blog: http://www.loveair.co.uk/blog/ – this could be something personal or a blog post that promotes your aviation related business.
2. Swap links with the site: http://www.loveair.co.uk/links.html – again, this could be your personal site or blog, or your flying club or business.
3. Follow Love Air on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/#!/LoveAirDating – most of the tweets are juicy bits of aviation news
4. View Love Air videos on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/LoveAirDating – an assortment of aviation videos
5. Find Love Air on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LoveAirDating – come and mingle, share your thoughts.
6. And of course you can do all or any of the above or just register as a member (for free), put together your profile, add a video clip of yourself, and have a good look around the main site at any of these location:

Love Air UK	Love Air AU	Love Air ZA	Love Air NZ	Love Air IE	Love Air CA	Love Air US

P.S.  …and if you’re quick about it there’s a promotional code – LOVEAIR20 – which gives you 20% off a six month full membership. This offer expires on 31st October 2012.

Calvin Klein – “Calvin Klein is a fashion icon known all over the world for his classic looks for men and women. His line includes the Calvin Klein Collection of designer clothing for both men and women, Calvin Klein jeans for men, women and children, and an affordable line of casual wear under the label “CK”….” more

Thierry Mugler – “In the 2010s, the name “Thierry Mugler” is most often recognized because of the label’s notable association with the Haus of Gaga. However, long before Lady Gaga ever picked up a disco stick, the Thierry Mugler brand thrived and…” more

Claude Montana – “A French fashion designer who started out making jewellery, Claude Montana became a prominent figure in 1980s fashion. Montana understood the importance of colour and acquired a reputation for his color choices. In his collections, he…” more

Christian Lacroix – “Born in Arles, Christian Lacroix is renowned as a French fashion designer. His passion for fashion began at the University of Montpellier, where he studied art. After graduating from the University of Montpellier in 1973, Lacroix continued to study in Paris at Ecole du Louvre and Sorbonne…” more

Donna Karan – “Donna Karan was influenced by the fashion world from childhood, as her father was a tailor and her mother a model. She started to design and sell clothing while still in her teens, and after high school attended the Parsons School for Design. She…” more

Manolo Blahnik – “Manolo Blahnik has become one of the leading shoe designers in the world. Manolo Blahnik took his start in the world of fashion at the University of Geneva, where he studied art. In 1968, Blahnik moved from Paris to London in order to…” more

Perry Ellis – “Born in 1940, Perry Ellis enjoyed a comfortable middle-class lifestyle with his parents courtesy of his father’s Coal & Oil company, and living comfortably afforded him the luxury of the best education. After graduating from…” more

Gianni Versace – “The name Gianni Versace is iconic in the fashion industry. Born the son of a dressmaker in Italy on December 2, 1946, Versace was a pioneer for high fashion and design in the 1980’s. Versace established his empire in 1976 with…” more

Giorgio Armani – “Born and raised in northern Italy, Giorgio Armani came from humble beginnings. Originally, Armani set out to become a doctor, but after military service that required him to work in a military hospital, he decided that a career in…” more

Jasper Conran – “At the tender age of 15, Jasper Alexander Thirlby Conran became the youngest student to enrol in the prestigious Parsons School of Design. Between classes, Conran was known to hang around future celebrities including Andy Warhol, Grace Jones and…” more

Bruce Oldfield – “Bruce Oldfield‘s success is perhaps more poignant when underscored by his upbringing as a charity child in 1950s Britain. He was fostered by a seamstress, who encouraged his early love of fashion, and Barnardos Children’s Charity sent him..” more

Jean Muir – “When a young Jean Muir began working in the stockroom of Liberty & Co during the early 1950s, she had dreams of moving away from London and designing fashionable clothing. Despite earning unremarkable academic scores, she possessed…” more

Pierre Cardin – “Ever since his beginnings as a designer in France during the 1940s, Pierre Cardin had an eye for avant-garde. Working closely with Jeanne Paquin, a noted fashion designer in the former part of the century, and later Elsa Schiaparelli, Cardin did not…” more

Yves St Laurent – “In 1953, when he was just 17 years old, his design of an asymmetrical cocktail dress won an international competition. Later that year, Yves Saint Laurent was introduced to the legendary Christian Dior, who was so impressed with…” more

Not so the Etón Raptor Solar Radio.  Here is a device that has comparatively few features but that’s its main advantage.  The designers have made something for those outdoors who might be walking, hiking, camping or rock climbing that’s durable, rugged and lightweight and delivers the sort of information they might need while doubling as a mobile phone charger, radio, torch and bottle opener.

In other words, the designers have done exactly as they should i.e. put themselves in the shoes of someone hiking or camping and ask themselves, “What do I need, and what would be superfluous to my needs?”  They’ve come up with a funky gadget that will probably be on the wish-list of most of those who spend time off the beaten track and who like to have some 21st Century technology to hand.

Yes, of course, there are many alternatives.  GPS devices for example, would be most people’s choice of gadget for  outdoor use, but sometimes you don’t need five satellites to pin-point your location because you already know where you are and where you’re going, but what you would like is a device that uses solar energy to power up your phone, a digital radio able to pick up a selection of AM/FW/SW stations, a torch for the trip from tent to loo, and a bottle opener for around the fire.

If the Etón Raptor is outside your budget then there’s the Etón Scorpion, which has the additional feature of crank handle for building up power in the battery.  It doesn’t have the altimeter and barometric pressure readings of the Raptor though and the technical specifications are a little less, but it’s an affordable device which does almost as much as the Raptor.

Devices that use solar and dynamo power to recharge their non-disposable batteries are the way forward.  We don’t need to create, use, then throw away millions of batteries any more, and as time goes on those devices that use disposable batteries will seem old fashioned, out of date and fit for the museum.

As you replace old gadgets with new ones, or when buying a tool for a specific job, or just when buying a gift, consider moving to the solar and wind-up devices.  There’s something fundamentally satisfying about using new technology that harnesses the power of the sun or the energy in your arm.

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Etón Soulra solar powered sound system for iPod and iPhone

The Etón Soulra is a portable solar-powered docking system for the iPod/iPhone. It’s perfect for outdoor events like barbequeues, festivals, camping etc, but also around the house.  Solar powered means daylight powered after all, so like all such devices it doesn’t need hours of direct sunlight to to recharge itself.  Just expose the solar panel to the daylight.  It has a rugged and durable design and comes with a remote control.

Etón Solarlink FR360 wind up, solar powered and rechargeable radio

The Etón Solarlink FR360 is more than just another solar powered AM/FM radio.  It has a variety of functions many of which are not only convenient but also a boon in any emergency situation.  It can be charged by the solar panel, the crank handle or using a mains connection.  The FR360 can then charge your mobile phone while you’re out in remote areas or just anywhere in which mains electricity is not an option.  The radio has a weather band and alerting service for approaching storms.  It’s lightweight and is ideal for campers, climbers and outdoor folk.

Etón Microlink FR160 wind up, solar powered and rechargeable radio

This devices is widely used by the emergency services and by those in any area where the main infrastructure has been interrupted by natural disaster, wars etc, but it can just as easily be used by anyone spending time outdoors and in remote areas.  The Microlink FR160 is a solar and crank powered radio that delivers about 40 minutes of playtime for about 90 seconds of cranking (or winding, if you prefer), or about 2.5 hours of operation for about 5 hours of sunlight.

Etón Scorpion wind up, solar powered and rechargeable radio

The Etón Scorpion wind up, solar powered and rechargeable radio is a popular choice among hikers, surfers, festival goers etc.  It’s a radio, flashligh, phone recharger and bottle opener all rolled into one.  It’s small and portable while being rugged and durable in a splashproof casing.  This is the must have gadget for anyone on the move.  Power it up from the mains before you go then give a few minutes of winding each day and/or expose the solar panel to the daylight.  It’s available with either green or orange trim.

As featured in The Sunday Times.

Ventus SPIN Media Player

The Ventus Spin is one of a new generation of media players that are fast replacing the current models.  People who are on the move, eco conscious and short on time don’t want to keep pausing at a mains socket to recharge their favourtie media player so they often choose the Ventus Spin instead.  Just turn the handle at the back for 60 seconds and you’ll get about 45 minutes of playback.  Plenty of time to listen to another album.  It’s also a phone charger, radio, and a photo & movie player – truly a multi media device for those on the road.

Ventus Mini Eco Radio wind up and solar powered

Like the FR160 featured about the Ventus Mini Eco radio is again solar and crank powered.  It’s small, compact and rugged, and contains an integrated LED torch and red LED map reading light. Like all Ventus products the packaging and manufacture is very eco conscious with recycled materials used wherever possible.

PowerPlus Toucan MP4 player solar powered

The Toucan is just one of a range of solar powered products from PowerPlus.  It’s ideal for beach lovers and other outdoor folk who enjoy listening to their sounds while out and about.  The integrated solar panel will keep it charged while you lie back and get into the zone.  The TFT screen will display your video clips in six different formats.  There’s a headphone socket and built in speakers, and an interface through which it’ll charge up your mobile phone.

PowerPlus Rhino Eco Radio

It might be called the Rhino but this radio with built in torch/flashlight weighs just 500 grams.  Rugged and stylish with a carry handle, the Rhino is the perfect device for picnics and camping.  Small enough to fit into most rucksacks while big enough to deliver sound to your outdoor group.  As with all these devices it’s solar and crank powered while still capable of being recharged through a standard electrical mains socket.  If you enjoy listening to the radio at home and don’t want to miss The Archers or the Shipping Forecast then get yourself a Rhino.

PowerPlus Verio MP3 Player wind up and USB rechargeable

The Verio is a dynamo powered MP3 player. For the mobile music lover the Verio enables endless hours of music at the turn of a handle.  There’s no solar panel on this one, it’s wind-up only, but that’s no disadvantage as it’s small size and lightweight structure make it ideal for the pocket.  It has a built in torch/flashlight so it’s handy for music loving night owls.

PowerPlus Lynx Eco Radio wind up and solar powered

A high tech AM FM radio with integrated torch/flashlight powered by the sun or by your arm, the PowerPlus Lynx is a high tech device for the modern age.  Stylish and eco friendly, the Lynx would compliment any home or office.  It’ll even recharge your mobile phone.

PowerPlus Cheetah Eco Radio wind up and solar powered

Dispose of your batteries in a consicencious manner and start enjoying a battery-free life with the PowerPlus Cheetah Eco Radio.  You’ll be able to tune in anywhere, at any time, without the need for a wall socket. Its integrated rechargeable batteries can be powered up using the handle, the solar panel, a USB connection to a PC or laptop, or a conventional mains socket.  If your mains electricity is solar powered then you’ll be enjoying free electricity througout your various devices.

All these products are available from EcoMoneySaving.com. Currently they only ship to UK customers.

Portable electronic gadgetry is fine as long as it has the power to operate, and any that rely upon disposable batteries are fast becoming the technology of the past.  The future belongs to those which are powered by the free energy of the sun or the kinetic energy of movement.  Disposable batteries require processing to make safe before the component parts can be recycled or safely disposed of.  Dead batteries mean that your cutting edge piece of technology becomes a useles lump of metals and plastics.

The Etón Scorpion get its energy from the sun or your arm.  Once powered up it is a digital AM/FM radio, torch, and USB charger (so other gadgetry can be powered up from it).  On top of everything else it contains a bottle opener, so it’s perfect for the beach or barbeque.  Click here to watch a short video which points out all its features.

They say that about a million people were on the streets of London yesterday celebrating the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton, and they also say that 25 million Britons watched the proceeding on TV while two billion watched it worldwide (many of them in republics!).

Then there were the organised events in towns and cities. We’re told that there 5,500 applications for road closures in order that people could hold street parties ranging in size from or a few families seated at trestle tables to parties in town squares in which large screens were placed for the crowds’ viewing pleasure.

Support for the Royal Family may fluctuate but it hasn’t dimmed to crisis point for a long, long time. Even after the Royalists lost to the Roundheads in English Civil War the Monarchy was eventually restored. It seems Britons like to keep the tradition going even if it means they have to persuade the monarch to modernise and move with the times.

Today, the affection for the Monarchy comes from all quarters. There is strong support across the spectra of class, politics, or culture. Your just as likely to find a Royalist among the taxi drivers of Tottenham as you are the Hurray Henrys at Henley, and there are many Monarchists among the populations of Britain’s former colonies that now make up the Commonwealth who are proud to show allegiance to the heritage and traditions of Great Britain

This is what the Republicans and other anti-Royalists can’t seem to grasp. Many of the anti establishment protests have a strong left of centre undercurrent, but the Monarchy’s supporters come from all kinds of social backgrounds and have varying political viewpoints. Consequently the antis have had to come up with some other argument and I’ve yet to read any that even resembles something convincing. Their arguments sound hollow and weak, and faced with the obvious joy seen in the faces of those on the streets of London yesterday they appear to be losing their sense of conviction in their own arguments.

The fact is that for every anti-monarchist there are a 10,000 flag waving Britons who are quite happy to pay a pound or so per year to keep them in their palaces. That’s thousands more than those individuals who post snide and sneering comments below articles in online newspapers. Their barely disguised envy is misplaced as they fail to appreciate the pressures of being part of this institution.

Duty & Responsibility

The Royals are born into a life of duty and responsibility for which the country grants them certain privileges. The Royal Family are acutely aware that duty and responsibility come first, the privileges they might enjoy are part of the traditions of the institution. They are aware also that if the Monarchy is to continue then they need to be progressive and to make changes in keeping with the current generation and public mood. This is precisely what they have done and why yesterday was a resounding success both for the Royal Family themselves as well as for Great Britain.

Today’s prince and princess know only too well that they must live their lives under the media spotlight from birth to death, but unlike other celebrities they are allowed no retort to any judgement or criticism.

They are judged on the basis of what they do for others and what they contribute to the nation.  These works are often overlooked if for any reason the media decide they are not a favourite and not likely to sell as many newspapers as another might.  Consequently the ongoing work or enterprises that they have initiated are ignored in favour of a line in a speech, or a choice of clothing or some other triviality.

The Union of Monarchy and the Spirit of Albion

The British Isles is an ancient country with a long history.   The myths, legends and faery lore of Britain feature all kinds of heroic characters, but one of the most well remembered and potent symbols of Britain is King Arthur, the once and future king.

At the risk of spinning off into Fairy Land here it’s worth remembering that there is a such a thing as the subconscious of a nation as well as our own individual subconscious,  and the urge among Britons to maintain the traditions, pageantry and symbolism of a living Monarchy is sometimes difficult to explain but no less powerful and urge for it because it lies so deep within us, beyond the description of everyday speech and rationality.

Perhaps it’s just something to lift our spirits in the mood sense, but perhaps also in a more mystical sense.  Looking at the Royal Wedding yesterday in Westminster Abbey was a reminder of the powers of love, symbolism, hallowed ground and the genus loci, and the whole thing was beautifully brought into focus by the Bishop of London’s sermon.  You don’t have to be a church going Christian to appreciate the potency of those words.

• Laura Ashley – A favourite British company, founded by Bernard Ashley and his wife, Laura, after World War II, Laura Ashley was created after Laura was inspired to make her own printed fabric for Victorian style head scarves after she had seen a display at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. When…

• Missoni – Founded in 1953, Missoni is an Italian fashion label that is known for its wide variety of luxury goods, which, today include both knitwear like sweaters, dresses, skirts and scarves as well as accessories, handbags and shoes. Although it has enjoyed widespread success across…

• Vivienne Westwood – Bell-bottoms, platform shoes, hot pants – all of these fashion crazes came to prominence and have become icons of the 1970′s. With the influence of the glam and punk rock music styles still fresh in the public eye, capturing the attention of the world with their innovative…

• Zandra Rhodes – Zandra Rhodes grew up in the fashion community of the 1940’s. In the late 60’s, when she debuted her textiles, they were deemed unsuitable for designs created by that community, so she began to make her own clothes especially for those fabrics. During the 70’s she…

• Halston – When one thinks of Roy Halston Frowick – known in the fashion world simply as Halston – the first thing that comes to mind is simplicity. A talented fashion designer who got his start in the 1950′s as a co-designer for Lilly Dache, a hatmaker and prominent fashion designer…

• Diane von Furstenberg – Diane von Furstenberg started on her career as a designer as a way to keep herself from becoming subsumed into her husband’s identity as a European prince. She didn’t want to be a useless princess, so she launched a new business and through that, she became an icon…

• Bill Gibb – Bill Gibb sprang into and out of the fashion scene in 1970’s London with all the verve and flair of the clothes he designed. Unlike many high fashion designers, Bill came out of a remote farming community to pursue a career in couture. Right out of…

• Stephen Burrows – Bacall, Hendrix, Streisand, Cher, the Supremes, Aretha Franklin, all names to conjure with: all bodies that have been draped and displayed with a Stephen Burrows design. Stephen started young, making dresses for a friend’s dolls, and then when he grew up and went to…

• Ossie Clark – No discussion of Ossie Clark is complete without his partner, Celia Birtwell. Ossie’s humble beginnings, from his birth during an air-raid, to his scholarship at the Royal College of Art, were enhanced and launched to fame with Celia’s textiles. Ossie won the attention of…

• John Bates (Jean Varon) – Working under the name of Jean Varon, a name that he chose based on its implication of a French background, John Bates began his apprenticeship with Gerard Pipart at Herbert Sidon of Sloane Street in 1957. Only two years afterwards he began designing fashion…

Screen Shot showing an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER Landing at London Heathrow

Are you an aviation professional who needs a reliable and accurate display of international flights tracking their progress across the continents?

Are you a curious amateur who would like to see live flight information and the status of airline flights as they criss-cross the globe?

AirNav Systems is a market leader in world of live flight tracking.  They have a range of products to suit a variety of customers and budgets.  You can download their software on a trial basis and I’m sure that when you’ve done so you’ll want to own a copy.

Private Pilots, FBOs and aviation enthusiasts all use their software for live flight tracking.  Instead of fiddly and time consuming searches for flight numbers in search engines they can see track a flight from departure to arrival.  They have a wide range of flight tracking products to suit both professionals and amateurs so make sure you try and buy the software that’s right for you.

Here are some examples.

Aviation Enthusiasts, Flight Sims, Private Pilots

AirNav FS Live Traffic 3

AirNav FS Live Traffic 3 is a Microsoft Flight Simulator X add-on that provides real-time flight traffic as you fly around your virtual world.

• Simulates aircraft and presents them within your virtual world
• Adds the airports that these aircraft fly from and to
• Downloads current flight information automatically
• Downloads updates and maintains currency

This package is available in US, European and Worldwide editions.

Read more about it and watch a video about it.

AirNav Radar Box 3D

The AirNav RadarBox is a virtual radar that displays flight information on your computer screen. It decodes ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast) radar signals so that what you see is exactly what ATC (Air Traffic Controllers) see.

There are 2D and 3D versions and each comes with the radar box itself, cable, antenna, setup guide and a CD containing the software.

There’s excellent post sales support and a forum in which you can engage with other owners and the support staff.

Find out more about it here.

Professional Aviators, FBOs

AirNav Live Flight Tracker

Are you a airport or FBO that needs to monitor arriving departing traffic from your location? Are you a private jet company that wants to track its entire fleet?

This software provides real-time information on both airline and general aviation flight information.   Airport inbound and outbound flights are shown in different colors.  There is live airport information and info on landed and planned flights.

There’s now a European edition also covers the US, Canadian, Atlantic and Pacific airspace.  If that’s more than you need then try the Personal edition.

Easy Graphical Interface
By moving your cursor over the displayed map you’ll see detailed flight information (Flight Number, Origin, Destination, Aircraft, Altitude, Heading, Speed, elapsed and remaining time). You will also see detailed airport and airspace information.

Live Flight Information
The data used in all products arrives in real-time from the FAA and is worked 24/7 to provide the most reliable flight information available online today.

30,000 Satisfied Customers
NOAA, NASA, IBM, Sanford Airport Authority, Calgary Airport Authority, Delta Airlines, Honeywell, US Coast Guard, DaimlerChrysler, TV and Radio Stations and hundreds of airports, small jet operators, travel companies, private pilots, and individuals have made use of this range of software products.