2015 Issue

32 The bulging-eyed stares from the navigator and boom operator only served to tighten my gut more. I took a deep breath and thought to myself: “It is not in the book. Put the book down. You are an engineer. You have a very good brain. Use it. Think. There is absolutely no connection is there? Really? Where do all those circuits really go. THINK GODDAMN IT! No, sorry. Stay calm. Think.” A deep breath as the seconds ticked away and the crew started having their doubts about me. Then I had it. A quick look in the book and a quick look around and I knew I was right. “Ned”, I said to the pilot. “I got it.” I reached over behind the pilot’s seat and near where the Boom Operator was standing. “All the circuit breakers for the attitude indicators warning system are all together here, on this panel.” And sure enough, the protec- tive cover had come off of its velcro, pushed an entire column of circuit breakers open. Circuit breakers reset. Warning flags disap- peared. Calm restored. Uneventful flight. By the way, engineer also has as its roots Latin words for clever or ingenious. If you talk to one of our members of the So- ciety of Military Engineers, youwill findmany more exciting and daring adventures in engineering. We also have Engineers With- out Borders who would love to meet you and show you the adventure you’ve been seeking. And talk to our academics at the U of U, BYU, USU, and WSU. Each of those engineering programs feature more than dull academics. Just a few examples: USU is always on top in NASA rocket launching competitions. WSU launches weather bal- loons to check our atmospheric pollutants. BYU has cutting edge unmanned vehicles. And no one can come close to our own U of U for bioengineering. So that’s one of my stories. I tell it in the hopes that you go out and make your own, more adventurous, more action-oriented, stories. Meanwhile I am going to sit back and enjoy again the only TV episode with action-oriented engineers: Episode 27 of Season 2 of My Three Sons (5 April 1962). The Pencil Pusher. Chip finds out Dad is more than just a dull pencil pushing engi- neer when he saves a jet aircraft in trouble. Charles Vono is a retired USAF colonel and retired aerospace manager living in Ogden. He is active in Utah and National AIAA. His weekly blog can be found at retiredcoldwarrior.blogspot.com . ACTION FIGURE | continued from page 31 MWH assists our customers in managing the complete lifecycle of water. With extensive and proven knowledge in sustainable water management solutions from water conveyance, mining, and clean hydropower, MWH leads the way. mwhglobal.com RESOURCE. Full Recycling industrial-related scrap metal is one of the things we do best! www.umw.com | 801.364.5679 Utah Metal Works, Inc.