Things you find in the air.

   / Things you find in the air.
  • Thread Starter
#11  
Same airport, a different biplane than the common crop dusters flew over. Go check it out, and it turns out to be a Boeing 40, airmail and passenger plane. Got to walk around, talk to the pilot, etc. Airports weren't restricted then like now.

Bruce
 
   / Things you find in the air. #12  
That would have been cool to see! (y)

My wife and I were driving through Florida one day. From the Disney area, straight east to the coast, then down towards Miami. As we neared the coast, we saw cars parked all over the sides of the roads. I asked a guy what was going on. He said a space shuttle was going to launch in about 5 minutes! So we got out, looked in the same direction as everyone else, and then we see this BRIGHT GLOW behind some palm trees about 3 miles away and a whole bunch of white smoke! Then up goes the darn space shuttle! WOW!!

15 seconds later, the sound hits us! You could feel it in your chest, even at 3 miles. Very cool! Hung around for 5 minutes, then got back in our car and left.

Many years later, we were at Disney with our kids. We walk out of It's a Small World, into the bright sunlight, look up, and there goes another space shuttle, but much farther away. WOW again. Couldn't hear it at Disney, but you could see the smoke and fire from the engines.

So we got to see them launch twice, and both were unplanned, and just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
I lived in the Orlando area for 12 years. I've watched some night launches from Cape Canaveral on several occasions from my back yard.

You would see a bright orange ball rising into the sky. Then it would disappear for a second or two. Then you would see a bright orange ball continue up, while another orange ball went back down. I believe those were rocket launches that I was seeing.

I was also one of the only people at out rental company I worked for cleared for security to drive anywhere around Caneveral.

I've had my F550 service truck parked next to the crawler that moves the shuttle to the launch pad.

That thing was Massive!!!!! Made that F550 look like a child's toy car was parked next to it.
 
   / Things you find in the air. #13  
I can't remember what shuttle it was...but one time the 747 carrying the space shuttle back from a CA landing...stopped overnight at MacDill AFB because of weather at the cape...we drove over to the base to watch it land...
We were at Edwards AF Base in CA for the 4th of July landing of a shuttle. Then the prior landed shuttle was taking off mated to the 747. We have seen the shuttle crawler in FL. Also been on Vandenburg AF Base and saw their verticle Shuttle Assembly building. Original plans was for the AF to have their own shuttle. Because of ?, theirs went to the Cape instead. Jon
 
   / Things you find in the air. #14  
The crawlers were built by Marion Power Shovel in Ohio and Rockwell International. They are each powered by two 2,750hp Alco locomotive engines that power 16 electric motors to drive the tracks. Original cost was $14 million each.
 
   / Things you find in the air. #15  
Heard a high pitched buzzing while out walking my dog. She then completely and utterly lost her sh#t.

Puffed up, growl resounding from her toenails, and barking up a storm.

Looked around and then up. Someone was flying a drone.

When it started moving in our direction, she decided she had enough and dragged me to the house
Lol. Poor dog.
 
   / Things you find in the air. #16  
Later in the summer we will hear a buzzing sound. It's folks with their powered ultra light aircraft. Sounds like a lawn mower. My dog will come over and sit down - right next to me - as we both watch.
 
   / Things you find in the air. #17  
Air Force 1 landing and then on the tarmac at the very small Salzburg Austria airport which is very close to city center... A patriotic moment for sure.

President Reagan was there to dedicate the opening if the American Diplomatic office.

Air Force One dominated as this really is a small airport and even smaller then although once the Concord landed on a promotional tour with lots of prep and I believe nearly empty...
 
   / Things you find in the air. #18  
Air Force 1 landing and then on the tarmac at the very small Salzburg Austria airport which is very close to city center... A patriotic moment for sure.

President Reagan was there to dedicate the opening if the American Diplomatic office.

Air Force One dominated as this really is a small airport and even smaller then although once the Concord landed on a promotional tour with lots of prep and I believe nearly empty...
Air Force 1 has landed in South Bend numerous times over the years. If I go out to the end of my driveway I can see it landing or taxiing by. I can see the blimp when it parks overnight hear as well. And most ND home games get a military flyby. On of the perks of living in a college town.
 
   / Things you find in the air. #19  
From my mailbox. Air Force 1 moving around, a Goodyear blimp, and a Met Life blimp at night.

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   / Things you find in the air. #20  
Directly behind my house about 500 feet is an abandoned crop duster hanger and the remains of the grass landing strip. Mr. Ben operated out of there until the mid 80’s. Mostly he flew a Pawnee but one year he had a Stearman. That one would wake me up quick in the mornings. In and out all day long spraying for nearby farmers. A joy to watch, as graceful as a ballet dancer. He finally had to retire due to failing eyesight.
 
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