Space Shuttle Discovery's last flight, Dulles Airport

[05REPO450]

Looked out my window at work this morning and seen Discovery coming in to Dulles Airport. First picture I took with my iPhone and the rest were taken by co-workers who had better cameras

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[OTMTRX]

Thats cool!

[whoppes27]

Very cool!

[Guest Phantom Z]

Save those pics, that is history right there!!

 

Thanks for sharing them :thumb:

[Guest Deven]

Do you work at Dulles?

 

I should have more pics and cool stuff later

[05REPO450]

Do you work at Dulles?

 

I should have more pics and cool stuff later

 

Yes and no. I work at the Sterling. VA forecast office which is beside Dulles Airport, but I do repair the sensors at Dulles, Reagan, and BWi.

[Guest Deven]

My father is the head engineer at dulles. Hes been there 14 years.

 

Heres some pics he emailed me this morning. He said he will get more as they switch the shuttle out. they have 55 Semi trucks parked on the tarmac to get this job done.

 

In case anyone did not know the air and space museum contains a shuttle currently. If it wanted to go to space it is a real working shuttle. It however was never used for a mission only training. When it was placed in 03 it was only as a condition they get this shuttle when the space program ends. Every aircraft in the museum is not a replica but a REAL working ACTUAL plane used for their mission or purpose.

 

anyways, Here is a few pics from down on the runway as the plane landed.

 

The first one was on one of its flybys before it was cleared to land... basically a photo opp, you can also see the T-38 which made a landing directly behind the shuttle as it was out of fuel. Normally they land a bit later but this T-38 had to land on the runway adjacent due to no fuel as the shuttle made a couple extra loops today. After the first pic he went down to the tarmac..... can we say super security clearance.... LOL

 

http://www.offtopic.forum/uploads/imported/2012/04/101_1949-1.jpg

 

http://www.offtopic.forum/uploads/imported/2012/04/101_1956-1.jpg

 

http://www.offtopic.forum/uploads/imported/2012/04/101_1957-1.jpg

 

http://www.offtopic.forum/uploads/imported/2012/04/101_1958-1.jpg

[manny530]

thats bad ass seen live video feed on tv this morning

[05REPO450]

I noticed during the second flyover it was on its own, the first flyover the it wasnt. I work off of Old Ox Road (rt606). Both sides was packed with people pulling over to watch. I also heard 28 was at a stand still. We got an email yesterday about what was going to happen today and I completely forgot until I looked out my window and seen it coming in for the first fly over.

[Guest Deven]

I noticed during the second flyover it was on its own, the first flyover the it wasnt. I work off of Old Ox Road (rt606). Both sides was packed with people pulling over to watch. I also heard 28 was at a stand still. We got an email yesterday about what was going to happen today and I completely forgot until I looked out my window and seen it coming in for the first fly over.

 

Ya, The T-38s were pulling altitude to come in to land with little to no fuel.

 

Ya I heard the freeways were stopped and everyone was standing on the freeway

[05REPO450]

That's exactly how it was. I can see it when I come into the west gate here at work sitting on the tarmac. The Enterprise (currently inside Udvar-Hazy) is scheduled to fly out Monday, April 23rd to New York. They're going to do the same type of event in NYC that they did yesterday here (fly bys of the Statue of Liberty, etc.). No word on if there will be any major viewing opportunity for Enterprise at takeoff from IAD like there was yesterday at KSC in Florida, but if it takes off where I think it will I will be able to see it.

[hoser]

Thanks for sharing the photos and info guys, that is pretty cool! I didn't know about any of this, guess that's what I get for never watching the news. . . . . .

[05REPO450]

Had to run over to Dulles this morning.

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[Guest Deven]

Awesome!

[hoser]

That is so cool! It's amazing how "crude" those things actually look.

[05REPO450]

Went back over cause a few co-workers wanted to see it and I am the only person with escort privileges. Now they have them nose to nose

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last one is me infront of Discovery

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[Guest Deven]

So awesome!

[05REPO450]

Few more from yesterday

http://www.offtopic.forum/uploads/imported/2012/04/100_3010-1.jpg

Checking the tire pressure

http://www.offtopic.forum/uploads/imported/2012/04/100_2996-1.jpg

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[05REPO450]

http://www.offtopic.forum/uploads/imported/2012/04/100_2994-1.jpg

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http://www.offtopic.forum/uploads/imported/2012/04/100_2991-1.jpg

http://www.offtopic.forum/uploads/imported/2012/04/100_2992-1.jpg

http://www.offtopic.forum/uploads/imported/2012/04/100_2987-1.jpg

[Guest Phantom Z]

Jealousy does not even begin to explain as I look at the pics your taking!!