Author Archives: Shawn E. Bell

General Aviation

Sporty’s unveils Cessna 172LITE project

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

A Stripped-down Skyhawk designed to offer cheaper training

Jill W. Tallman has posted about Sporty’s new 172LITE program over on the AOPA website.  From the article:

A refurbished Cessna 172 that will offer more cost-effective flight training is at the heart of the Cessna 172LITE project, announced Dec. 17 by Sporty’s.

“Sporty’s is acquiring 172s and equipping them with basic flight instruments along with significant interior and exterior enhancements,” according to a press release. The first one is on the line at Sporty’s Flight Academy at Clermont County Airport, Batavia, Ohio. It rents for $99 per hour.

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Questions and Answers, Success Stories

Miscellaneous Questions: How did you become a screenplay writer?

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

I took a single screenwriting class. It was relatively easy – if you watch movies and understand that every story is the Monomyth. It’s all about structure, showing not telling, and fitting your story into 90-120 pages.

Screenwriting was exactly what I expected it would be.

It wasn’t difficult, and – within three months of the class – I was already selling work and ghosting.

The only thing you have to remember is that this is a business; you’re just the writer. Finish your work, get your check, move on to the next project. If you get so attached to the story or the characters that you have to direct or want to act or believe that you’re going to have ANY input on the film at all, you will fail. Period.

Dead Tree Books, eBook, Questions and Answers, Writer Reference

Indie Publishing: Best software for creating eBooks

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Question:

What Windows application can I use to create beautifully looking e-books, withe possibility to export in both PDF and Kindle?

Answer:

There are a few options.

But first: PDF isn’t an ebook format. Please don’t make the mistake that others have by trying to sell a PDF file. If you want to create an ebook, there are two formats: ePub and Amazon’s format.  That’s it.  PDF is for creating fixed-format documents; eBooks are reflowable files that allow a reader to read them in the most comfortable way possible; larger font, smaller font, font they like to read the most, landscape or portrait, etc.  PDF files don’t play well with eReaders or apps, and they’re – ultimately – a format for making a document look the same on screen as it does if it were printed; it’s a print format, not an ebook format.

To your answer:

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Warbirds

Navy Retires EA-6B Prowler to Palm Springs Air Museum

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

A press release from the Palm Springs Air Museum:

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – As the sound of two Pratt and Whitney jet engines echoed through the San Jacinto Mountain Range, one of the last four Navy EA-6B ‘Prowler’ fixed-wing aircraft still in service, made its triumphant final fly-by over the Palm Springs Air Museum, Nov. 21, 2014.“It was truly an honor to see such a great aircraft make its final voyage,” said Air Force veteran Don Broadhurst, ramp boss, Palm Springs Air Museum.More than 300 people attended the retirement ceremony to witness the final flight of the aircraft that had been in service since 1987. The A-6 style fixed-wing aircraft has been in service with the U.S. military since the 1960s and part of the Navy’s aerial fleet since 1971 providing electronic warfare support and attack capabilities. “It was an honor to fly this piece of history, and I have a good feeling that [the museum] is going to take good care of the aircraft,” said Navy Cmdr. Kirk Christofferson, executive officer of Electronic Attack Squadron 134.

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