Dancing About Architecture: Microfeed for "Helpful Google Tricks"

Helpful Google Tricks

Mon, 15 Dec 2003 08:54:34 CDT

I love how Google just quietly introduces new features that (to borrow a phrase from somewhere in my past I can't put my finger on) "surprise and delight" the user. Here's the latest batch of fun things you can do, just in time for the holiday season:UPS tracking numbersexample search: "1Z9999W999999999"FedEx tracking numbersexample search: "fedex 999999999999"Patent numbersexample search: "patent 6543046"FAA airplane registration numbersexample search: "n199ua"FCC equipment IDsexample search: "fcc B4Z-34009-PIR" Check out the rest of the page Google Web Search Features for other tips you might not have seen before....

Comment from matt shobe

Wed, 17 Dec 2003 12:09:03 CDT

The airplane registration number search is a farily specialized choice, but it's pretty cool. i've learned that a few of the planes i've rented are actually owned by organizations of uncertain repute (try N734JL; who the hell is "SHANNIKKI"?).

talk about discovery -- i didn't even think to consider that such a database would be online. of _course_ it is, you dolt.

Comment from Kevin Gordon

Thu, 21 Oct 2004 23:08:14 CDT

Matt--

Any good pilot would interest themself in the log books for that particular aircraft. If the logs are up to date and correct, the company is obviously meeting the FAA requirements.

If you really want to know who Shannikki is, that is very easy to find out.

Comment from matt shobe

Fri, 22 Oct 2004 09:13:50 CDT

Yeah, yeah, A.R.O.W. and all that. Was trying to be a bit tongue-in-cheek. 734JL was an everyday trainer at my flight school and i think i knew its logbooks entirely too well. The persistent, unkillable nosewheel shimmy was something to behold.

In more disturbing developments, another aircraft I've rented on occasion out of Gary/Chicago, N2355E, recently came up on the short end of a student pilot encounter: http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20040917X01450&key=1.

Comment from Kevin Gordon

Sat, 23 Oct 2004 21:35:31 CDT

Thanks for the link Matt. Student says she "believes all three gear touched down at the same time" and "the landing was not the smoothest one she has made."

Tri-cycle gear wasn't designed for hard pancake landings.

Matt, why do you blame N2355E for this?

Also, N734JL probably has long range tanks--usually full at take-off? Since your not burning 6 hours of fuel on a short flight training flight, your landing weight is going to be a bit heavier than a 172 with regular tanks. To stop a shimmy, ease back on the yoke.

Again, not the planes fault.