I spent 10 days in Palmdale this April to support the first GREAT flights of 2013. Lots of long days on the flights and providing hotfixes for problems that surfaced. I only took one day off to go hiking at the Vasquez Rocks.
After enjoying the captions below, you can view larger versions of the photos by clicking on them. You can see even larger versions of the photos by viewing the slideshow in full screen (F11).
Most of these photos (except for the last) were actually taken on previous trips. The DAOF is the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility.
The Yard House: Too many beers, not enough time! |
Enjoying a lambic with my reading |
The 747 cockpit |
SOFIA |
SOFIA in the hangar |
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High winds and blown sand shut the base down and postponed line ops |
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SOFIA at sunset, ready to fly |
Telescope Operator (TO) station on the left, Science
Instrument (SI) rack, with Randy and Randolf at the Mission
Director (MD) station |
Jeff and Alan at the TO station with M82 |
Jeff with the Ring Nebula |
Alan demonstrates the new Minority Report effect that
Liz added to the Workstation GUI |
Robert and I at the SI rack while Karl looks on |
Rolf, Karl, and I gaze intently at our monitors |
The GREAT instrument and Juergen |
Robert |
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SOFIA flight 100 crew |
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I took a day off to do some hiking at Vasquez Rocks where many movies have been filmed, including the original Star Trek episode (Arena) where Kirk fought the Gorn. I have to see that one again.
The Vasquez Rocks |
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I took a small break over the weekend to hike around the Vasquez Rocks |
Mistletoe in California juniper |
The Pacific Crest Trail goes through this park |
These rocks have been used in many shows and movies |
The cacti were blooming |
So was this plant |
Changing angles brings on new views |
I met a guy who was hiking the PCT, although not all at once |
Guess it's a little late for the no-smoking sign |
Remnant of the fire |
Surface aggregate |
More consolidated sandstone |
Looking the other way |
The rocks are unrecognizable from this angle |
Another 90 degrees clockwise |
Tataviam archeological site |
Indian grinding pits |
Accurate replicas of Indian pictographs |
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Some of the many movies filmed here on display in the new interpretive center |
Last year's yucca seed pod |
Finishing up the circuit |
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Randy (MD) and Ken (flight planner) ready for take-off on our last flight |
I got to sit in the cockpit for landing! Very cool. When we touched down, it felt like we were barely moving |
The Hilton Garden Inn might be my new favorite hotel in Palmdale. The rooms facing the north have relatively nice views that aren't just another parking lot, the rooms are quiet, the breakfast is fine (when I got up in time), but best of all it's in close proximity to the two best bars in town!
View from my window |
My home away from home |
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Copyright © 2013 Bill Wohler Last modified: Sat Apr 20 22:24:45 PDT 2013 About photos |
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