Edwards Air Force Base (EDW, KEDW)

[Matt Ottosen]

I'm starting this thread for our Sponsored Member Bill McCarroll who has received press credentials to cover the departure of the Space Shuttle Discovery from Edwards AFB this Friday.  He's going to be helping Edwards' Public Affairs Office cover the departure for the base newspaper and their website.  It looks like he'll have a prime shooting location, he'll be on the flightline with all the national media!

Bill, we're looking forward to seeing your photos and reading your posts about your experience!

[Bill McCarroll]

Just uploaded images of today's departure of Discovery from Edwards AFB atop NASA's modified Boeing 747.  

http://billmccarroll.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Space-Shuttle-Ferry-Ride/9698035_7BmKP#655419338_NZ3XJ

What an experience to be there and take these photographs.  The base newspaper commissioned me as their photographer for the event.  The media was escorted to the west end of runway 04R which extends for 15,000 feet and they used about 10,000 of it!  We were right at the 12,000 foot marker when these photos were taken.  The 747 didn't have much height when it passed which made it extra amazing to cover.  The flight took off at 0620 about 20 minutes before sunrise.  The time made it a bit challenging to capture these photos without a lot of noise.  They were shot with my Nikon D300 and I did everything I could to get sharp photos with as little noise as possible.  Here are some ferry factoids given to the media from SCA pilots Bill Brockett and Charlie Justiz...

"The stage  length from Edwards to Rick Husband International at Amarillo is 793 nautical miles, or about 850 statute miles in a straight line, assuming a Runway 04R takeoff  It's about 20-30 miles further if they have to go out Runway 22L (the opposite direction).

They will fly about 250 knots indicated, or Mach 0.6, and at about 15,000 feet altitude to stay above the -9.5-degree C temperature cutoff.  May go a bit higher or lower as dictated by outside temperature.

Flight time is estimated at 2 1/4 hours, and they must have enough fuel for a 45-minute reserve.

They expect a takeoff roll of 12,000 feet, even in the fairly cool morning temperature, due to the heavy load. With the 747/shuttle at maximum gross takeoff weight of 710,000 lbs, they do not expect to lift off until the 747 reaches 185 knots airspeed, well above normal which is in the 150-160 knot range.

Due to the shuttle being heavy (224,540 lbs. minimum) for this flight, the 747's normal fuel capacity of 316,307 lbs. (47,210 gallons) will be limited to less than 161,300 lbs. (24,228 gals) due to maximum gross weight limits.  Their fuel burn on the first leg from Edwards to Amarillo will be about 110,662 lbs. minimum, more if they have to deviate from a straight-line route or to an alternate airfield.  That's a gallon every 230 feet!!!  They are required to land with at least 25,000 lbs. of fuel remaining.

(Calculation--MGTO (710,000) - 747 empty weight (323,034) - shuttle weight (224,640 minimum) - crew weight (5x200=1,000) = 161,326 lbs.)

Their runway preference is 04R, which gives them an extra safety margin with the overrun onto the lakebed if something goes wrong, and no hills or elevation gain for about 10 miles until outside Edwards' boundaries.  If the prevailing winds are out of the southwest instead of northwest, north or northeast, they would be limited to no more than 5 knots tailwind before having to switch to Runway 22L.

747 SCA flight crew on first leg:

Pilot -  Bill Brockett (DFRC)
Co-pilot - Charie Justiz, JSC
Flight Eng - Henry Taylor, JSC
Flight Eng - Larry LaRose, JSC
Flight Eng - Steve Marlachick, JSC"

[jslugman]

Superb shots in a challenging situation Bill, well done!!

[Dave S.]

Wow Bill!  Seconding Jame's comment of nicely done, especially with those challenging conditions.  Number 10 is my favorite.

Dave

[Hankmann]

Few pics from Century Circle at EDW.

[Brian Lockett]

Here's a couple of wide angle shots of Century Circle:





There are more shots of Century Circle on my web site at http://www.air-and-space.com/20070926%20Edwards%20Century%20Circle.htm

[Barry Griffiths]

  Deadly Jester

[Barry Griffiths]

Boeing NKC-135R Stratotanker 418th FTS

[Barry Griffiths]

C-17 Globemaster III

[Joe Copalman]

Very cool catches Barry, good to see some life breathed back into this thread.

[Barry Griffiths]

Many thanks, Joe ....... I'll keep adding images over the next couple of weeks.

[bilwor]

Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II USAF AF-01 461 FLTS Deadly Jesters

[bilwor]

Boeing C-17 Globemaster III USAF 03-3121 412 TW AFMC

[azspyder]

A little late for this month's photo challenge...but it fits the theme....

[azspyder]

Balls 8