Space Shuttle Endeavour

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Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 6:24 pm

The Endeavour took its last trip this morning, en route to a museum in southern California. But as a parting shot, it took a detour over parts of northern California, including a very low altitude flyover the Golden Gate.

Looking at the flight plan I figured there was a pretty good chance I'd be able to see it from my house. What I didn't expect was to have it fly directly over me. WOW! Shocked

What a truly amazing sight -- that huge shuttle, mounted on top of a 747, flying over me at a mere 1,500 feet. It's unbelievable to see such an enormous plane at such low altitude.

Here it comes, making a turn to head south after coming north from Oakland, as seen from my rear deck:

Almost on top of me:

And on its way to the bridge:

As an aviation buff, this was one of the most amazing things I have ever enjoyed. Thumbs up

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 6:38 pm

That is cool!

I remember when one of the first space shuttles was flown atop a jumbo jet. It was sometime in the early 80's and I was stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB, in Dayton, Ohio. The jet (w/shuttle atop), landed at the base for a stopover. It was a huge event, and we let the general public in to see it up close (but not too close--maybe a hundred yards away or so).

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 6:40 pm

Wow Juan, that's truly once in a lifetime. Right over your house!

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

Very cool! Whenever I see the shuttle on the 747 I think of this...

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Shuttle_mounting_point.JPG

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 7103 Location: Yes

Great pics, Juan!

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 9:04 pm

Cool! I hope to go see one of the shuttles one day, they were some great machines! It's sad they had to be decommissioned, especially as there's nothing to take their place.

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 9:07 pm

Does anyone know what kind of plane is the escort, and what's its purpose exactly?

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 9:29 pm

I don't know the specific aircraft, but I'm assuming a military fighter jet for protection. Although a rough itinerary was published in the newspaper, specific details were kept secret. I guess in today's climate they have to be prepared for any eventuality.

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

Looks like the escort is an F-15, hard to tell from the pictures. I was an old Army grunt, hopefully someone from the AF can chime in.

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 9:58 pm

Awesome pics, Juan. I think the escort is a F-22.

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Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

^ With all due respect I am quite sure it is an Air National Guard plane, and they wouldn't be flying a F-22.

I may be wrong, I often am.

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 10:15 pm

It may well be, PF. I was going by the unique intake design.

I was in the Marine Corps...so I might as well wait for a flyboy too. Very Happy

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

Justcold wrote:

I was in the Marine Corp

That explains a ton! Very Happy

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 10:36 pm

The only information that I have been able to get is that it might be a National Guard F-16.

@PF, come on....you know we Marines have tender feelings. Crying or Very sad

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 10:53 pm

Well, after some Googling it can be definitively stated that the escort is an F-15. Unless it's an F-16. Or a F-18. Depends upon which report you read.

But it is possible that the escort changed between northern and southern Calif. It seems there were two fighters accompanying it when it was flying over LA, but definitely only one up north.

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 11:05 pm

The Space Shuttles were a dream project when I was growing up and into reality as I was in my younger years. I always told my Mom that if I ever got a chance to go up in one to pack my bags. I still have a Space Shuttle flight manual type book somewhere. It was a step-by-step book about going through an actual flight with templates for the switches and everything. I guess I'd better clean out the Garage attic and find it.

Nice Pics Juan. remionded me of the first (and only) time I saw a stealth bomber fly over me. I was at a local lake with relatives and it flew over and seemingly didn't make a sound. I thought I was looking at a UFO before I realixed what it really was.

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 11:20 pm

F15. The two vertical tails give it away.

I used to see the same sight from my back yard when I lived in Texas in the 80s. Every time the shuttle landed in Florida at Patrick AFB NASA would shuttle it across the country to Edwards AFB. I would stop at Kelly AFB in San Antonio to refuel.

I am still fuming that the AF Museum at Wright Patterson AFB did not get one of the shuttles. Mad

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 1:15 am

I was called into town for a meeting and thought it was unprofessional to take in my camera rig so I only had my cellphone. I did have my 30 year old Nikon binoculars in my computer case so I was able to spot the planes from 25 miles out. The Shuttle did a tear drop entry into the pattern over LAX (Los Angeles International) at three thousand feet, and then instead of turning right over the Science Center made a left towards downtown LA. It then dropped to what looked like 1500 feet past the highrises, over the Observatory and flew by the Hollywood sign. It then cruised over the Science Center again and then out towards Disneyland. Its not apparent in this photo but the roofs were filled with cheering people.

I was checking the Notices to Airmen (Notams) and saw that the area 30 nautical miles around Los Angeles International Airport was restricted from the surface to 5 thousand feet.

Everyone I talked to rated the experience a ten.

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 1:52 am

I hate the overworked word 'awesome' but in this instance, it really does apply. What an amazing journey -- and one which generated an unbelievable amount of excitement through the state. I'll certainly never forget it.

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 2:36 am

@lakeside77: I definitely thought the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patt would have gotten a shuttle.

They have such an awesome display there. And you are right--F-15s are easy to tell.

Great pics and great experience JF!

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 2:50 pm

Big Al, have a look at the Haynes manual for the shuttle, it has a lot of information. You can find it on amazon. Unfortunately it's not so detailed as to show all cockpit switches, though.

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 4:05 pm

I dressed as Maverick for Halloween one year and I agree it's a F-15.

So how are we going to launch satellites now? How will this affect my NFL Sunday ticket?

Awesome pics Juan and Connie!

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 4:18 pm

I agree that it's an F-15. It's definitely not an F-16 (I used to look after some of those). It could have been an F-14 or F/A-18, but apart from fact that the Tomcat has been taken out of commision, both these types are normally carrier based, and so it wouldn't make a lot of sense using them for an escort mission over the US mainland.
I don't know the F-22 all that well, those are far too modern to an old cold warrior like me. Laughing

Fantastic pics, Juan!

/Dane
Former "flyboy"

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 5:53 pm

Quote:

I don't know the F-22 all that well, those are far too modern to an old cold warrior like me.

Only produced for the US at least as of now and only a couple hundred have been made. I don't think they are making them anymore.

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 7:16 pm

I'd agree on an F-15, possibly an F/A-18. My speciality lies in civil aviation, though...