Ensign Kepler Learns Instrument Flight Rules

2015

​

Ensign Kepler must learn the skill of controlled flight through moving clouds. In this kinetic sculpture, three mutually balanced but offset circular rotors represent the weather he faces.

 

However, the three balanced but offset rotors interact during motion to become chaotic: essentially unpredictable and not repeatable. In other words, they sum to airborne weather.

 

The sum of these motions tugs at Ensign Kepler’s craft, as shown to him on his Attitude Direction Indicator. Modeled in brass, the relative calm (or not) of the indicator shows our determined young officer how well he is learning the art of weather flying.