Space Shuttle flies right over Pelican HQ!

[romad]

well i won't say right over

[URY914]

This should really be in the "Random TRANSPORTATION" thread.

[dhoward]

Cool!
Right over!

[Targa Me]

Southern California Fly-by.
Enjoy.

[GWN7]

I'm curious as to why they have two aircraft following the shuttle? It's not like if it fell off that no one would notice.

[speeder]

I'm wondering how many traffic accidents it caused as it was flying over my neighborhood. It's not like these people can drive w/o a huge distraction overhead.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by GWN7

I'm curious as to why they have two aircraft following the shuttle? It's not like if it fell off that no one would notice.

Remember the airhead that flew too close to Obama's plane? They had to scramble jets out of March AFB in Riverside County to force the dude down in Long Beach. Stupid ass was packin' a few keys of weed. There are the clueless in the sky. The other thing that comes to mind would have been a terrorist attack. Slamming into that slow moving huge target would have been the piece d'resistance for the terrorists. Especially over the metropolis. I'm sure the 2 fighters you saw were only a taste of what was up there.

Originally Posted by speeder

I'm wondering how many traffic accidents it caused as it was flying over my neighborhood. It's not like these people can drive w/o a huge distraction overhead.

I'm betting the carnage was real. I heard it over and over on the media, don't stop and gawk and the cops will be everywhere.

Come to think of it, on the way home from the sighting, I passed over the 405 which was nearly stopped at 1 pm in the Long Beach stretch. Even on a Friday, that's a little early. Just takes one bonehead to stop that fwy.

[KevinP73]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

Ahh, I see that a simple Home Depot-stye ladder holds up the whole shuttle!

-Wayne

Budget cuts? After that five million dollar toilet seat debackle it's not surprising to see them tighten the purse strings a little

[mikester]

The chase planes perform a number of functions from documenting the flight for posterity, watching for issues with equipment, doing the 'wide load' type thing in the sky and providing additional eyes in the sky watching for other aircraft - folks that fly too close or don't pay attention to 'Notice to Airman' (NOTAM) notices that are posted at airports in the area.

[svandamme]

Look, if a mig would show up, somebody has to get inverted in that negative G dive.. and present the international sign of friendship..
And i don't see that 747 do it with that shuttle on it's back so that's why the Talons are there.. sheesh.

[mikester]

Parking job seems suspect...

[sc_rufctr]

Great shots. Imagine lifting that shuttle and securing it to the plane. Stressful for the operators to say the least.
How does the pilot fly this thing? All that extra drag and top heavy weight must make it a real handful.

[Maxim S]

The pics I've seen of it over the Hollywood Hills look like it basically buzzed my folks' house there. Too bad I wasn't down there to see it.

[Chocaholic]

I wonder what the little posterity trip cost the tax payers.

[DonDavis]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

I wonder what the little posterity trip cost the tax payers.

I sure to the average Joe it may be considerable but when the response of the many, may thousands of people is that of excitement, I'm fine with it. Chalk it up to National pride. When the B2 flew over Phoenix during the World Series, I ran outside with my son for the remote possibility of a glimpse. Never came close at all, but if it had, it would be something to remember for a lifetime. YMMV

[pavulon]

Do many (?any?) of these high profile fly-overs ever draw ground fire from various idiots so inclined?

[mikester]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

I wonder what the little posterity trip cost the tax payers.

Each organization that applied to be considered to receive a shuttle had to meet a financial requirement showing that they could afford to have a shuttle moved to their location.

I'm sure it did cost the tax payers but the Cal Science center is supposed to be paying for moving it.

[svandamme]

I don't think that this kind of cost is a problem... Let's face it, it's a wonderfull event, and it's something that everybody is talking about.. i would have loved seeing it fly over.. Those Shuttles did a lot of good in terms of driving technological evolution.. A lot of things we take for granted have been developed off experiments done on , or facilitated by the Shuttles.
And think about it, if a kid see that 747 with the Shuttle.. maybe it will inspire him to do good in school and maybe become an astronaut some day.

So i would not have a problem paying 5 bucks off my salary for this "Farewell Tour".. A bit of good news or inspiration is not a bad thing .