To sign up for Facebook, or search for myself (Chris Collura) on it, follow the link provided for it below (you will need to sign-up if you have not done so already) ...
http://www.facebook.com
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Now on Facebook (3/8)
I set up a Facebook profile where I can post my pictures, videos and events and I have the capability to add friends that can see them. Joining Facebook is a great idea and easy way to "network" with many people - Especially storm chasing!
To sign up for Facebook, or search for myself (Chris Collura) on it, follow the link provided for it below (you will need to sign-up if you have not done so already) ...
http://www.facebook.com
To sign up for Facebook, or search for myself (Chris Collura) on it, follow the link provided for it below (you will need to sign-up if you have not done so already) ...
http://www.facebook.com
Hang Gliding (2/21)
I was able to take a really exciting and fun flight aboard a tandem (dual-place) hang-glider and have the pictures to share it! Nothing is more peaceful (and exhilerating) than flying miles above the earth hanging from (basically) a "kite" with the wind in your face and feeling like a soaring eagle.
You can check out this exciting sport, along with many other extreme sports, in my SKYDIVING section of this web site by clicking the link provided for it below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/skydive.htm
You can check out this exciting sport, along with many other extreme sports, in my SKYDIVING section of this web site by clicking the link provided for it below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/skydive.htm
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Storm Chaser Convention (2/14)
The 11th annual National Storm Chaser Convention took place from February 13-15, 2009 in beautiful Denver, Colorado and was a blast! I was able to attend this event from February 14-15 (late arrival due to a delayed flight) and was greeted by a HUGE turnout of storm chasers and scientists alike!
We thank all for attending, as well as Tim Samaras and Roger Hill for organizing, and making this a better and better event each year! More details on the NSCC 2009 can be seen by clicking the link provided for it below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/picnic09.htm
We thank all for attending, as well as Tim Samaras and Roger Hill for organizing, and making this a better and better event each year! More details on the NSCC 2009 can be seen by clicking the link provided for it below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/picnic09.htm
Thursday, January 29, 2009
L-39 Jet Fighter Video (1/25)
Ever wonder what it's like to fly in a jet fighter? The link above is from an edited video that puts YOU in the cockpit of an L-39 jet fighter!
See what it looks like to buzz clouds at over 400 knots and pull in excess of 5 G's ... You can see the 10-minute video by clicking the image-link above, or by clicking link provided below ...
www.sky-chaser.com/l39vid.htm
Below is the link to my FLYING section, including more about the L-39 jet fighter and aerobatics ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/flying.htm
See what it looks like to buzz clouds at over 400 knots and pull in excess of 5 G's ... You can see the 10-minute video by clicking the image-link above, or by clicking link provided below ...
www.sky-chaser.com/l39vid.htm
Below is the link to my FLYING section, including more about the L-39 jet fighter and aerobatics ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/flying.htm
2009 Everglades Boogie (1/24)
The "Everglades skydiving boogie" is a rather large skydiving event that was held again in 2009 (in it's second straight year since 2008) in Clewiston, Florida at Air Adventures. This event was held from January 23-25 and had a large aircraft lineup ... For skydiving: 2 twin Otters, a Sky-van, a Bell 412 helicopter, and a Pitts Special. For rides: An Extra 300, hang gliding, and an L-39 jet fighter!
What an awesome event, fabulously put together by the great folks at Air Adventures! You can check out this event, along with many others, in my SKYDIVING section of my web site. You can also jump right to the link by clicking link provided below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/skydive.htm
What an awesome event, fabulously put together by the great folks at Air Adventures! You can check out this event, along with many others, in my SKYDIVING section of my web site. You can also jump right to the link by clicking link provided below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/skydive.htm
New US President - Barack Obama (1/20)
The United States just sworn-in our new president, Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States just after high-noon on January 20, 2009. Obama is the first African American to become president of the United States, and hopefully will be a message to both our country as well as an influence and inspiration many others here and around the World.
The United States is going through rather hard times right now as of 2009, and it's going to take a good president AND a good heart to put the USA back on its tracks. We all welcome our new president and hope he fulfills his duties to its fullest and wish all of us the best of luck!
The United States is going through rather hard times right now as of 2009, and it's going to take a good president AND a good heart to put the USA back on its tracks. We all welcome our new president and hope he fulfills his duties to its fullest and wish all of us the best of luck!
Great White North Boogie (1/17)
The "Great White North skydiving boogie" is a small skydiving event held each year in mid January in Lake Wales, Florida. The Florida Skydiving Center in Lake Wales is a great place to skydive and is a facility undergoing major rennovations, including a new hangar, nearly 5 years after being devastated by hurricane Charley back in 2004.
You can check out this event, along with many others, in my SKYDIVING section of my web site. You can also jump right to the link by clicking the link provided for it below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/skydive.htm
You can check out this event, along with many others, in my SKYDIVING section of my web site. You can also jump right to the link by clicking the link provided for it below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/skydive.htm
New Year Of 2009 (1/1)
Welcome to 2009 and a whole new year! Like 2008, which was a fantastic year for me personally and especially for storm chasing, 2009 should be hopefully the same if not better.
The 11th annual National Storm Chaser Convention will again take place in February 2009 and I will be attending this event. The NSCC web-site can be seen by clicking the link provided for it below ...
http://www.chaserconvention.com
Storm chasing logs are completed for 2008 and can be seen in the STORM CHASING section of this web site. In the storm chasing section, all chase logs, including chase trips and "regular" logs are up to date as of the end of 2008. You can jump right to that section by clicking the link below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/stormc.htm
The 11th annual National Storm Chaser Convention will again take place in February 2009 and I will be attending this event. The NSCC web-site can be seen by clicking the link provided for it below ...
http://www.chaserconvention.com
Storm chasing logs are completed for 2008 and can be seen in the STORM CHASING section of this web site. In the storm chasing section, all chase logs, including chase trips and "regular" logs are up to date as of the end of 2008. You can jump right to that section by clicking the link below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/stormc.htm
Monday, December 29, 2008
Happy Holiday Season (12/6)
Welcome to December 2008 - Last month of the year, and the start of winter ... Actually, winter begins December 21 - But like the hurricane season, winter is a season that does not necessarily follow "rules".
In December 2008, an interesting grouping of Venus and Jupiter took place in the evening sky. The view of this planet pair was even more majestic as seen above Tampa Bay at 41,000 feet just after sunset (left above). A cold front pushes through Florida making a shelf / roll cloud over Miami, Florida (center), dropping the temperature there into the 40's at night. Up north, in Michigan, winter has an ealry grip in the Great Lakes region, with temperatures well below freezing, snow, and ice-covered railings (right image)!
The Atlantic hurricane season officially ended on November 30 and has been an above-average season. Now it the time to plan for next years chases, as well as go over footage from this year ... Which has been released in a new storm chasing DVD entitled "Storm Chasing 2008 - Extreme Seasons", so make sure you check the "special offers" section below for it.
Once again, the holidays of 2008 are here and I wish everyone a happy and safe holiday and travels ... And most importantly a great new year of 2009!
In December 2008, an interesting grouping of Venus and Jupiter took place in the evening sky. The view of this planet pair was even more majestic as seen above Tampa Bay at 41,000 feet just after sunset (left above). A cold front pushes through Florida making a shelf / roll cloud over Miami, Florida (center), dropping the temperature there into the 40's at night. Up north, in Michigan, winter has an ealry grip in the Great Lakes region, with temperatures well below freezing, snow, and ice-covered railings (right image)!
The Atlantic hurricane season officially ended on November 30 and has been an above-average season. Now it the time to plan for next years chases, as well as go over footage from this year ... Which has been released in a new storm chasing DVD entitled "Storm Chasing 2008 - Extreme Seasons", so make sure you check the "special offers" section below for it.
Once again, the holidays of 2008 are here and I wish everyone a happy and safe holiday and travels ... And most importantly a great new year of 2009!
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Chase 2008 DVD Released (12/2)
See mother nature and weather at their worst with the 2008 "Extreme Seasons" DVD! Nearly two hours of compelling footage starts with one of the earliest-in-the-season tornado events near Memphis, Tennessee on "Super Tuesday" (Feb 5, 2008) followed a bone-chilling lake-effect "frozen hurricane" blizzard in coastal (Great-Lakes) Michican just 5 days later! Then its off to "Tornado Alley" in the Spring of 2008 with some of the most violent tornadoes, up-close and personal (maybe even too close)! This presentation is not for the faint-of-heart, and some footage will have you on the edge of your seat.
See tornadoes directly impacting storm chasers, literally becoming more of "the chased" than "chasers". Watch a large "satellite" stove-pipe tornado go around a mile-wide wedge tornado with 100+ MPH RFD winds as day becomes night. See gigantic hail total a car in minutes. Watch muddy Kansas dirt roads turn into vehicle "fly traps"! See some of most impressive supercell structure ever observed.
After tornado season, it's time for hurricane chasing, with tropical storm Fay and hurricanes Gustav and Ike in the Summer / Fall of 2008. See the eye of a hurricane's calm star-lit skies in Ike, followed by a 15-20 foot storm surge as Galveston, Texas is both put underwater parts set on fire. Watch the mass evacuations before and daring rescues / piles of boats left behind in the aftermath. See a rare commercial airline flight high across the eye of tropical storm Fay! This DVD has just about every extreme and raw power of the four seasons!
To view more information on this video (or how to order a copy of it) - Check the link provided below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/offers11.htm
See tornadoes directly impacting storm chasers, literally becoming more of "the chased" than "chasers". Watch a large "satellite" stove-pipe tornado go around a mile-wide wedge tornado with 100+ MPH RFD winds as day becomes night. See gigantic hail total a car in minutes. Watch muddy Kansas dirt roads turn into vehicle "fly traps"! See some of most impressive supercell structure ever observed.
After tornado season, it's time for hurricane chasing, with tropical storm Fay and hurricanes Gustav and Ike in the Summer / Fall of 2008. See the eye of a hurricane's calm star-lit skies in Ike, followed by a 15-20 foot storm surge as Galveston, Texas is both put underwater parts set on fire. Watch the mass evacuations before and daring rescues / piles of boats left behind in the aftermath. See a rare commercial airline flight high across the eye of tropical storm Fay! This DVD has just about every extreme and raw power of the four seasons!
To view more information on this video (or how to order a copy of it) - Check the link provided below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/offers11.htm
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Welcome Mr President (11/4)
Obama officially won the election as of Midnight on November 4, 2008 ... So now what can we expect? Hopefully, a bit of changes are on the way with a new leader, but far more depends on that that just who is US President. First of all, Obama will not officially be president until Inaguration Day, which is towards the end of January, 2009.In the meantime, GW Bush will continue to be president.
The US economy and military is not only reliant on who's running this country, but the people in our country as well. We all must work together as one, along with our government, and have hope things will improve during these tough times. God bless America, and the World too.
Air Force One, a military / government conversion of a Boeing 747-200B aircraft (designated as a VC-27A), makes it's final approach into Miami International Airport during the early afternoon of Friday, Ocrober 10, 2008. This plane is a highly customized "Oval Office in the sky" and allows the president, G W Bush (onboard at the time) to be capeable of running the country from this plane in the event the US is under attack or any other circumstances making Washington DC not an option.
The plane has a range of just under 8,000 miles, can fly at speeds up to 630-MPH, and has a service ceiling of about 45,000 feet. The plane is seen here, in the landing configuration, with the distinct white and light blue livery and US government emblems.
You can also read about our conditions in America and other political / racial subjects in my section called "AMERICA" on this web-site. You can also jump right to that section by clicking the link below...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/america.htm
The US economy and military is not only reliant on who's running this country, but the people in our country as well. We all must work together as one, along with our government, and have hope things will improve during these tough times. God bless America, and the World too.
Air Force One, a military / government conversion of a Boeing 747-200B aircraft (designated as a VC-27A), makes it's final approach into Miami International Airport during the early afternoon of Friday, Ocrober 10, 2008. This plane is a highly customized "Oval Office in the sky" and allows the president, G W Bush (onboard at the time) to be capeable of running the country from this plane in the event the US is under attack or any other circumstances making Washington DC not an option.
The plane has a range of just under 8,000 miles, can fly at speeds up to 630-MPH, and has a service ceiling of about 45,000 feet. The plane is seen here, in the landing configuration, with the distinct white and light blue livery and US government emblems.
You can also read about our conditions in America and other political / racial subjects in my section called "AMERICA" on this web-site. You can also jump right to that section by clicking the link below...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/america.htm
Tiny TS Marco (10/7)
Tropical storm Marco formed during the beginning of October 2008 and struck Mexico's Bay of Campeche coast as a 65-70 MPH tropcial storm. This storm, however, was very unique because it was the smallest tropical cyclone ever observed, with a tropical-storm forced wind field width of only 10-15 miles - A large thunderstorm complex is larger!
The annotated to-scale diagram above compares the size of hurricane "Ike" (in September 2008) with that of Tropical storm "Marco", less than a month later, which is barely discernable in the Bay of Campeche to the lower-left (look carefully)! The previous record for the smallest size of a tropical storm's gale envelope was with tropical cyclone "Tracy", with a 30-mile wide wind-field, back in Australia in the early 1970's.
For the records, the widest tropical cyclone (measured across the wind swath of winds at or greater than 38-MPH) was super typhoon "Tip" in the Pacific back in 1979, at an astonishing 1,200 miles across!
The annotated to-scale diagram above compares the size of hurricane "Ike" (in September 2008) with that of Tropical storm "Marco", less than a month later, which is barely discernable in the Bay of Campeche to the lower-left (look carefully)! The previous record for the smallest size of a tropical storm's gale envelope was with tropical cyclone "Tracy", with a 30-mile wide wind-field, back in Australia in the early 1970's.
For the records, the widest tropical cyclone (measured across the wind swath of winds at or greater than 38-MPH) was super typhoon "Tip" in the Pacific back in 1979, at an astonishing 1,200 miles across!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Hurricane Ike (9/12 - 9/13)
Hurricane Ike hit Galveston, Texas on September 12-13, 2008 and - again - my chase partner and I were there! Landfall packed winds near 110-MPH with devastation, storm-surge, and even fires.
The chase log for my hurricane Ike intercept in SE coastal Texas / Galveston Island is available in the STORM CHASING section of this web site. You can also click the link provided below to check the section for hurricane Ike ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/ike08.htm
The chase log for my hurricane Ike intercept in SE coastal Texas / Galveston Island is available in the STORM CHASING section of this web site. You can also click the link provided below to check the section for hurricane Ike ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/ike08.htm
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Hurricane Gustav (9/1)
Hurricane Gustav hit SW Louisiana on September 1, 2008 and my chase group and I were there! Landfall packed winds near 110-MPH with devastation just 3-years after hurricane Katrina.
The chase log for our hurricane Gustav intercept in the northern Gulf Coast is available in the STORM CHASING section of this web site. You can also click the link provided below to check the section for hurricane Gustav ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/gustav08.htm
The chase log for our hurricane Gustav intercept in the northern Gulf Coast is available in the STORM CHASING section of this web site. You can also click the link provided below to check the section for hurricane Gustav ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/gustav08.htm
Flying Over TS Fay (8/22)
The image below is a panoramic view of the circulation center of Fay, taken on August 22, viewed from a commercial jet aircraft flying over the storm at about 38,000 feet!
The picture above was when tropical storm Fay was inland over North and Central Florida, and being over-flown by a commercial airliner enroute from Fort Lauderdale to Chicago.
More information on tropical storm Fay can be seen at the link below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/fay08.htm
The picture above was when tropical storm Fay was inland over North and Central Florida, and being over-flown by a commercial airliner enroute from Fort Lauderdale to Chicago.
More information on tropical storm Fay can be seen at the link below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/fay08.htm
Tropical Storm Fay (8/19)
Tropical storm Fay was intercepted in SW Florida on August 19, 2008. Tropical storm Fay was an interesting storm because it made MANY landfalls (2 in the Caribbean, and 4 in Florida alone) and had a very strange track from August 15 through August 24. In Florida, it made landfall near Key West, then on the SW Florida coast, then re-emerged into the ocean near Cape Canaveral, only to make a third landfall near Daytona Beach, cross the state, then re-emerge over the NE Gulf of Mexico, and make a final landfall near the FL Panhandle.
The storm packed winds up to 65-MPH and dumped over 20 inches of rain in less than a weeks time during its chaotic path across the state of Florida. You can check out my full chase log on Fay by clicking the link provided below (for my STORM CHASING section) ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/fay08.htm
The storm packed winds up to 65-MPH and dumped over 20 inches of rain in less than a weeks time during its chaotic path across the state of Florida. You can check out my full chase log on Fay by clicking the link provided below (for my STORM CHASING section) ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/fay08.htm
Hurricane Dolly (7/23)
The Atlantic hurricane season of 2008 came alive on July 23 with a vengence as Hurricane Dolly, the first hurricane to strike the US in 2008, came ashore in Texas just north of the Mexico / US border at about 2 PM CDT packing winds of 100-MPH. This is a category-2 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
I was not able to intercept this storm (unfortunately) but you can check out the tropical season of 2008 by a special section called "TROPICS" in the STORM CHASING area of this site. The tropics will continually be monitored in 2008 for any activity to study or even intercept!
Click the link below to jump right to my section on tropical weather ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/tropics.htm
I was not able to intercept this storm (unfortunately) but you can check out the tropical season of 2008 by a special section called "TROPICS" in the STORM CHASING area of this site. The tropics will continually be monitored in 2008 for any activity to study or even intercept!
Click the link below to jump right to my section on tropical weather ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/tropics.htm
Liquid-Sky Boogie (7/19)
The "Liquid-Sky" skydiving boogie (special event) was from July 18-20 in Clewiston, Florida at Air Adventures skydiving. This event included some hot summer skydiving fun, as well as aerobatic rides!
You can check the SKYDIVING and FLYING sections of this site for pictures and details on this fun event. These pictures can also be seen by clicking the links provided below.
Below is the link for skydiving events, such as this one ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/skydive.htm
Below is the link to my FLYING section, including aerobatics ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/flying.htm
You can check the SKYDIVING and FLYING sections of this site for pictures and details on this fun event. These pictures can also be seen by clicking the links provided below.
Below is the link for skydiving events, such as this one ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/skydive.htm
Below is the link to my FLYING section, including aerobatics ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/flying.htm
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Southern California (7/4)
Southern California is a place in the United States that has "something for everyone". Besides the most obvious "Hollywood" and "Beverly Hills", no one can ignore the collaberation of culture and diversity in this area. Southern California also offers a lifestyle like no other, from beaches to theme parks.
Be sure to check out what visiting (or living in) california is like by checking out the OUTDOORS section of this site. These pictures can also be seen by clicking the link provided below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/outdoors.htm
Be sure to check out what visiting (or living in) california is like by checking out the OUTDOORS section of this site. These pictures can also be seen by clicking the link provided below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/outdoors.htm
Canada's Class-5 Rapids (6/29)
Canada is noted for its impressive beauty and appeal to the outdoor adventurer and sportsman alike. In the pictures above, you can see and almost feel the power of the Niagara River aboard a jet boat specially designed to drive right THROUGH class-5 rapids!
Check out many pictures of Canada and many other exciting destinations by checking out the OUTDOORS section of this site. These pictures can also be seen by clicking the link provided below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/outdoors.htm
Check out many pictures of Canada and many other exciting destinations by checking out the OUTDOORS section of this site. These pictures can also be seen by clicking the link provided below ...
http://www.sky-chaser.com/outdoors.htm
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