Control RC aircrafts from your computer.. for 0$
kang, March 9th, 2010
I got interested recently into some USB to PPM devices and related devices, that let you generate PPM signal from your computer. What’s PPM (Pulse Position Modulation) you say? That’s a more or less standard signal many RC Radios output for “buddy boxing” for example.
This means one RC Radio controls the other one. Chances are that you also use it, when you plug your RC Radio on your computer to fly your simulator.
These devices are expensive. However, a PPM signal can travel very well over an audio channel at high rate and high precision.
I first proposed this solution on a well known RC forum, where I got a usual warm reception “it can’t work”. Somehow, as a weak human I decided they know better and left it out.
Few weeks later, I got myself one of these USB2PPM cable for $1 as part as a cheap developer program. However this cable cannot yet work on my Spektrum DX7 due to a different PPM signal. I notified the author so this might be fixed. 
However, it was a good occasion for my PPM over audio idea to re-surface. You know, this kind of: “but of course it’s going to work, what was I thinking?!”. I thus bring to you a small open source PPM generator, that should work with most RC Radios and computers and will cost you nothing.
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Ultra micro video controlled heli (Blade mSR)
kang, February 25th, 2010
E-Flite’s Blade mSR is a micro helicopter, using high-end 2.4ghz Spektrum radios. It is a fixed pitch helicopter, mean there’s only one rotor and a real tail motor (like a real helicopter), and it does not allow for 3D maneuvers.
Unlike co-axials (2 motors and double blade main rotor), it is very precise. However, thanks to the integrated gyroscope and original head design (fly bar orientation) it is also very stable. Impressively stable for such a tiny helicopter in fact.
In short, a perfect platform for experimenting a micro remote video controlled heli
This heli can be remote controlled within approximately 300 to 800 meters, although the battery will probably empty before you reach that.. 
(technically, it could further, but in practice it depends a lot on your flying field)
The beast
AF/KLM cheap password recovery
kang, February 25th, 2010
I, for one, fly with Air France KLM a few dozen times a year.
They have a membership program, which grants you discounts on flights, book flights, get “free” items, and other advantages, called Flying Blue.
Like most of these membership programs these days, its accessible online, and you actually do most of the stuff with it online.
The identification code is a 10 digits code formatted like this one: 201xxxxxxx
The password is a 4 digits number.
Well, how many passwords can you have for one identification code? that’s right, 10 000.
Sounds like much? Not really. That’s 4 digits with 10 values each. Passwords considered secure nowadays have 8 digits with approx. 104 values each (it can be more or less).
Of course that’s not all what will make a password secure, but this is not the point.
I lost my password to this service a while ago, and despite my E-Mail and real life requests did not get a new password after a few month, so I decided I’d just recover it myself. And recover it I did.
A simple script takes an hour to test all the combinations. The issue lies in the fact that you can just put any other identification code, and find the password for it (effectively getting anyone’s password).
I have notified Air France KLM 3 month ago about this, without a single reply (just like the requests to get the password reset afterall). They just do not care.
The script to do this is after the jump.