PTS Flowbench Forum

Bruce, Those "cool" memories are really what keeps us moving! In 1967, as 1 of 16 new hires of North American Aviation's engineering department, we were "transported" to Palmdale and Edwards Air Force Base (not exactly "Beam me up, Scotty" because we were on the company's DC-3 shuttle run from LAX) to get a look at the B-70. Our personnel guide called her the "Savior" rather than Valkyrie (which I found rather strange) as he guided us through a maze leading to the high bay where she was kept. When we entered the bay, there was the most spectacular sight imaginable: a 190 ft long, 100+ ft wingspan bomber with her nose over 20 ft above the runway, capable of over 2000 mph and weighting over 1/2 million lbs (with fuel) all painted white. My reaction was to laugh! Strange as that seems, the personnel guide looked at me and smiled. He later told me that I might have been the only one to "appreciate" the name "change" to Savior. It had nothing to do with saving the company, but instead it was the first thing that ran through my head when I saw her (apologies to anyone who is offended): Jes-- Chr---! After allowing each of us a brief sitting in the cockpit, and a "pilot briefing", it was time to leave the hangar. As we headed for the waiting bus, we were suddenly directed to "stay clear of the door, do NOT go outside"! Of course, we all looked and saw an SR-71 (it was a YF-12 in those days) taxi past. How much better could this day get?! Actually, it was going to do so! Our bus ride down the flight line took us past another 3-4 "Blackbirds" before we got to the reviewing stand. We were going to get to "watch" an X-15 flight. It is really hard to watch a flight where a B-52 takes the flight vehicle to 45,000 feet altitude before it begins to fly on its own and when the top speed of the flight is over 6 times the speed of sound (over 4000 mph) while climbing to more than 50 MILES altitude before gliding back down (out of fuel). You do get to hear some good sonic booms however. X-15 pilots have received Astronauts Wings for some of their flights! You have probably heard of one them: Neil Armstrong. That day ranks as one of the best of my life and reliving the memory of it today is making today another good day! -- Doug

Brucepts wrote: you could tell he was looking closely at all the antennas hanging off our 130

Bruce, I missed out on Vietnam, I registered for conscription like every other eighteen year old, but my lucky marble with my birth date was not drawn in the lottery.
A few years later (early 70's) I was working at a TV station as an electronics technician, I was also a very active Ham Radio operator (VK3ALY) at the time, and I read a fairly detailed article somewhere about the CIA's top secret electronic propaganda aircraft absolutely stuffed with high powered broadcasting equipment that was used in Vietnam.
And the whole thing fascinated me so much at the time, I can still remember that article.

Here is a picture from Southern Utah and Arizona, USA. The area is called "The Wave" for obvious reasons. I have just seen pictures, never been there. Pretty tough hike in especially this time of year. Been over 100º every day for quite a while. A young women hiking died there today because of the heat. They only let 20 people in a day and it is by lottery. Also big danger of flash floods. Incredibaly beautiful though.

John

That would mess with my head!

John, In addition to the death you mentioned, an "elderly couple" ages 69 & 70 died there on the 4th of July. (I don't consider 69 & 70 as elderly, but that is what the news called it!) Although it was 100+ F, they went anyway as the 20 person per day lottery meant that they might never get another chance. (I understand that the sandstone is "soft" and that 100's of people a day could erode the surface substantially.) But I have to think that the shape of the place has to act like a reflector oven and ambient might be 100, but the reflection of the sun's rays make it much hotter. Our local news stated that those deaths were going to cause the Forest Service to "review their policy" about visitors (but no further explanation about what the policy is). Here is the Salt Lake City link to the story:
http://fox13now.com/2013/07/04/heat-bel ... -the-wave/

Doug

The shape of that looks like it could act like a parabolic mirror and really concentrate the sun and really cook you. My friend went when it was about 70º and he said it about killed them. Very tough hike through sand.

here is another stunning picture of the wave from Windows backgrounds.

Here is a video done with one of those quad copters and a Go Pro 3 camera. It is of the ghost town of Bodie, California, USA

http://vimeo.com/71185761#

My wife and I went out to see how our new house was coming. No one around today but they have the mounds of dirt gone and it is graded and the basement floor and the garage floor are poored. I also included a picture of the model home out there. It is sort of over the top. It has a detached garage that was $90,000 for the garage alone. It has a second level with a kitchen and shower etc. yes in the garage! I told my wife I feel like our house is the "servants quarters" for some of the other houses.

Very Nice John i love the Craftsman influance on the design.

Tell the wife if she will lets you get the garage update you will just live out there and not bother her.

Except to drive her to church and shopping LOL....

Rick