Endeavour's Final Ferry Flight : September 21, 2012

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8500' near Lancaster, CA

After months of planning, I took off Friday to watch the final space shuttle ferry from the air. From a vantage point over Lancaster, I watched Endeavour take off, circle around towards Rosamond and Fox Field, then do a low pass at Palmdale. She flew right under me - an incredible sight! Then it was off towards Mojave, where a left climbing turn brought her back in front of me again before disappearing off to the north.


Taxiing out (148k)
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Flying past Fox Field (128k)

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Balloonists getting an eyeful (196k)
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Low approach Palmdale Rwy 25 (148k)
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After low pass at Mojave (128k)

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Astro97 chase detaches (52k)

5500' over Burbank area

After a fuel stop at Camarillo, I orbited between Van Nuys and Glendale above the flight restricted area. After overflying downtown Los Angeles, a wide left turn brought the SCA across my path. Later, after a low approach on Rwy 24L, the SCA flew underneath me again on the way to the Griffith Observatory. Another left hand turn over Pasadena and JPL gave me a chance to catch up and see another fly-under. It was absolutely amazing.


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LAX in the hazy distance (100k)
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Over Downtown LA (108k)
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Silver Lake Reservoir (132k)
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An uncropped view (156k)
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Over Vermont Ave (96k)
Out over the Pacific after a low approach at LAX (44k)
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Los Angeles Country Club (164k)
An uncropped view (176k)

Beverly Hills Hotel (180k)
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Over the Hollywood Hills (220k)
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Over Griffith Observatory (128k)
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Hwy 134 / Hwy 2 Interchange (152k)
Ventura Blvd near Universal Studios (200k)
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Wilshire Country Club (164k)
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Hollywood Fwy at Western Ave. (220k)

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In front of Mt. Wilson (152k)
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Off to Disneyland! (116k)

10500' over LAX

While the SCA flew off to Disneyland, I climbed up so as to fly over the LAX airspace to see the second low pass and landing. It's sad to think that the shuttle will never take to the air again.


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Cal State Dominguez Hills (248k)
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Alondra Blvd. near Avalon Blvd. (188k)
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Felton Elementary School (196k)
Low pass on Rwy 25R (156k)

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Mas Fukai Park in Gardena (228k)

I-110 just north of Alondra Blvd. (164k)
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Over Hollywood Park (156k)
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The Proud Bird Restaurant (172k)
Imperial Hill (168k)
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A KLM 747 (132k)
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3500' over LAX

With Endeavour on the ground, the flight restrictions were canceled and I flew through the LAX VFR corridor for a view of the SCA on the United ramp.


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An A380 shot at 400mm (108k)
Another A380 shot at 400mm (132k)
The SCA at 400mm (116k)

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Along Imperial Avenue


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