Steve Fossett Missing? - Page 2

**P8riot** · 09-09-2007, 11:38 PM

Yeah.. PLB's are hardcore and they set off with any above-averge impact, submersion, or manual activation. They are as well built as an aviation 'black box' but 4x2x1" for the good ones.

**icky** · 09-12-2007, 04:23 PM

In case anyone wants to assist in the search for SF, there's an interesting project linked from his page: http://www.stevefossett.com/

I find myself compelled to help out just out of interest. I can't help but think that the large set of images could be drastically cut down with some basic image processing.

**P8riot** · 09-13-2007, 10:26 AM

Yeah, I saw that. It's seriously too bad now that it is in the second week. They also believe they can narrow it to a 30 to 50 mile radius.

The Super Decathalon was an interesting choice of aircraft - he knows his planes.

**loyalguard** · 09-13-2007, 10:37 AM

I found myself reviewing images last night for about two hours...I can't tell you why, I was just intrigued I guess. I think it is 99.99% unlikely he will be found alive at this point, but, the whole concept of using publicly available satellite imagery for such an effort to be a key indicator or our state of technological being.

Quote:

I can't help but think that the large set of images could be drastically cut down with some basic image processing.

I agree Ick...it shouldn't be too difficult, even if it was color based (look for a range of white or blue pixels) versus shaped based.

leejo · 09-13-2007, 10:49 AM

I think he's getting probulated 1/2 way to Alpha Centauri by now.

**icky** · 09-13-2007, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loyalguard

I found myself reviewing images last night for about two hours...I can't tell you why, I was just intrigued I guess. I think it is 99.99% unlikely he will be found alive at this point, but, the whole concept of using publicly available satellite imagery for such an effort to be a key indicator or our state of technological being.

I agree Ick...it shouldn't be too difficult, even if it was color based (look for a range of white or blue pixels) versus shaped based.

Ya, I spent an hour or so blowing through images. Most of the time, I was thinking "if it has no white pixels, it shouldn't be in this photo set at all". I was also thinking about how damn exciting it would be to find something!

The idea of an arbitrarily large number of volunteers helping with a search and rescue/recovery effort anywhere in the world is very interesting, and a successful result in this case will serve to promote the idea even more.

I bet the military has some tools for doing image processing on satellite images...

**DudeMan** · 09-13-2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leejo

I think he's getting probulated 1/2 way to Alpha Centauri by now.

interesting thought, or shot down over area 51 something that would never reach the light of day.... i love a good conspiracy theory... lol

Acreo Aeneas · 09-13-2007, 12:31 PM

Heh, I wouldn't be surprised if he's chilling with some gray aliens right about now...

leejo · 09-13-2007, 12:31 PM

I don't understand the assumption that pixels would be white. If he crashed shortly after takeoff there was probably a fire, no?

**loyalguard** · 09-13-2007, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leejo

I don't understand the assumption that pixels would be white. If he crashed shortly after takeoff there was probably a fire, no?

Of course fire would be a possibility I imagine and that fire might char parts of the plane, but, I still think there would be a good chance that even if there was a fire there would still be enough "white" pixels in order to make an image being reviewed as flaggable for further scrutinization.

If you haven't checked out the the search project yet, the images being reviewed are tiles of 278x278 ft. The view is approximately 1500 ft if looking at it from Google Earth. There are example images of how many "white" pixels that would be for images of that size.

**icky** · 09-13-2007, 02:02 PM

I wish that instead of an example photo of a perfectly intact plane, they had posted an example of a wreck.

I expect that no matter what happened to the plane, any image which would lead to the wreck would have some white in it. 95% or more of the images which I checked had nothing but green.

**Grunt 70** · 09-13-2007, 02:50 PM

I was discussing this at work with my colleague today. We talked about how strange it is that there was no signal from his personal locator and he said (is this true) that Mr. Fosset's watch had a gps unit embedded in it. (guess that's not so unusual)...then he went on to say he thinks Mr. Fossett just got tired of the rat race and is probably now living in obscurity somewhere--as he desires. Ridiculous, I thought initially, but then I thought...if anyone's got the resources for some ruse like that it'd be Steve Fossett...Now--given all he was involved with, happily, it seems, I think on second thought that voluntary disappearance is pretty unlikely.

Oh and now they think he is 30-60 miles from his original departure point? It's just weird.

**P8riot** · 09-13-2007, 03:55 PM

Well, ya know.. the Decathalon does have a pretty good range (without extension tanks) and with a skilled pilot, it would be capable of very low flight for and extended period of time.. if observed visually, it would probably be a relatively unremarkable aircraft.

**CingularDuality** · 02-16-2008, 09:39 PM

Not sure if you guys heard, but he was declared dead yesterday.

**P8riot** · 02-21-2008, 06:38 PM

Hrmm.. wow..

Thanks for the update.

09-09-2007, 11:38 PM	#16 (permalink)
P8riot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bradenton, FL Age: 37 Posts: 2,553	Re: Steve Fossett Missing? Yeah.. PLB's are hardcore and they set off with any above-averge impact, submersion, or manual activation. They are as well built as an aviation 'black box' but 4x2x1" for the good ones. __________________ Dungeons and Dragons Online; Thorgaard, Thaumiel and Mahblung EVE Online Captain Thorgaard OHern; skipper of the Battlecruiser "Jane Says.." Pirates of the Burning Sea; Pirate Thorgaard O'Hern Age of Conan Cimmeria; Tharashk, guild Revenant

09-12-2007, 04:23 PM	#17 (permalink)
icky Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ottawa Valley Posts: 6,154	Re: Steve Fossett Missing? In case anyone wants to assist in the search for SF, there's an interesting project linked from his page: http://www.stevefossett.com/ I find myself compelled to help out just out of interest. I can't help but think that the large set of images could be drastically cut down with some basic image processing. __________________ Peace through fear... since 1947!

09-13-2007, 10:26 AM	#18 (permalink)
P8riot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bradenton, FL Age: 37 Posts: 2,553	Re: Steve Fossett Missing? Yeah, I saw that. It's seriously too bad now that it is in the second week. They also believe they can narrow it to a 30 to 50 mile radius. The Super Decathalon was an interesting choice of aircraft - he knows his planes. __________________ Dungeons and Dragons Online; Thorgaard, Thaumiel and Mahblung EVE Online Captain Thorgaard OHern; skipper of the Battlecruiser "Jane Says.." Pirates of the Burning Sea; Pirate Thorgaard O'Hern Age of Conan Cimmeria; Tharashk, guild Revenant

09-13-2007, 10:49 AM	#20 (permalink)
leejo Join Date: Sep 2003 Age: 39 Posts: 7,421	Re: Steve Fossett Missing? I think he's getting probulated 1/2 way to Alpha Centauri by now.

09-13-2007, 12:31 PM	#23 (permalink)
Acreo Aeneas Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: DePaul University (Chicago) Age: 22 Posts: 3,470	Re: Steve Fossett Missing? Heh, I wouldn't be surprised if he's chilling with some gray aliens right about now... __________________ Acreo_Aeneas Former 9th Member "...I had my tonsels removed and my breasts enlarged, now I dont need to bother the wife if I want some big nipples in my face. Cha ching!" - Thesleeper01

09-13-2007, 12:31 PM	#24 (permalink)
leejo Join Date: Sep 2003 Age: 39 Posts: 7,421	Re: Steve Fossett Missing? I don't understand the assumption that pixels would be white. If he crashed shortly after takeoff there was probably a fire, no?

09-13-2007, 02:02 PM	#26 (permalink)
icky Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ottawa Valley Posts: 6,154	Re: Steve Fossett Missing? I wish that instead of an example photo of a perfectly intact plane, they had posted an example of a wreck. I expect that no matter what happened to the plane, any image which would lead to the wreck would have some white in it. 95% or more of the images which I checked had nothing but green. __________________ Peace through fear... since 1947!

09-13-2007, 02:50 PM	#27 (permalink)
Grunt 70 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Patriot Nation Age: 42 Posts: 2,260	Re: Steve Fossett Missing? I was discussing this at work with my colleague today. We talked about how strange it is that there was no signal from his personal locator and he said (is this true) that Mr. Fosset's watch had a gps unit embedded in it. (guess that's not so unusual)...then he went on to say he thinks Mr. Fossett just got tired of the rat race and is probably now living in obscurity somewhere--as he desires. Ridiculous, I thought initially, but then I thought...if anyone's got the resources for some ruse like that it'd be Steve Fossett...Now--given all he was involved with, happily, it seems, I think on second thought that voluntary disappearance is pretty unlikely. Oh and now they think he is 30-60 miles from his original departure point? It's just weird. __________________ \|TG-X\| Grunt 10th Tactical Guard Server Rules and SOP \| Kicked? Banned? READ THIS FIRST! Contact an Admin \| Nominate your teammates for a ribbon "When force is necessary, it must be applied boldly, decisively, and completely. But one must know the limitations of force; one must know when to blend force with maneuver" - Leon Trotsky

09-13-2007, 03:55 PM	#28 (permalink)
P8riot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bradenton, FL Age: 37 Posts: 2,553	Re: Steve Fossett Missing? Well, ya know.. the Decathalon does have a pretty good range (without extension tanks) and with a skilled pilot, it would be capable of very low flight for and extended period of time.. if observed visually, it would probably be a relatively unremarkable aircraft. __________________ Dungeons and Dragons Online; Thorgaard, Thaumiel and Mahblung EVE Online Captain Thorgaard OHern; skipper of the Battlecruiser "Jane Says.." Pirates of the Burning Sea; Pirate Thorgaard O'Hern Age of Conan Cimmeria; Tharashk, guild Revenant

02-16-2008, 09:39 PM	#29 (permalink)
CingularDuality Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dallas/Ft. Worth area of Texas, USA Age: 33 Posts: 16,516	Re: Steve Fossett Missing? Not sure if you guys heard, but he was declared dead yesterday. __________________ Become a supporting member! -- Shop at the Tactical Market! Take the world's smallest political quiz! "I was touched by His Noodly Appendage." TacticalGamer TX LAN/BBQ Veteran:

02-21-2008, 06:38 PM	#30 (permalink)
P8riot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bradenton, FL Age: 37 Posts: 2,553	Re: Steve Fossett Missing? Hrmm.. wow.. Thanks for the update. __________________ Dungeons and Dragons Online; Thorgaard, Thaumiel and Mahblung EVE Online Captain Thorgaard OHern; skipper of the Battlecruiser "Jane Says.." Pirates of the Burning Sea; Pirate Thorgaard O'Hern Age of Conan Cimmeria; Tharashk, guild Revenant

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