Breaking the sound barrier

[Weasel_Loader]

Just wanted to share a piece of history that I park next to every morning at my work.

The old South Base Complex of Edwards AFB is what used to be the actual main base back until 1953 when they expanded the runway and moved all the base facilities slightly north of the new runway. The aircraft parking ramp from the old main base is now automobile parking for the Combined Bomber Task Force personnel. We support all the flight testing for the bomber aircraft here at Edwards AFB (B-1, B-2 and B-52).

Tucked away in the corner of our parking area is the loading pit for the Bell X-1. It's now preserved as a land mark and it still amazes me how many people I work with don't know what it is.

My photo was taken using a little bit of a photo app I have for my iPhone. Having fun with it since it almost makes photos look like small model dioramas.

 

[dujardin]

thanks again for those brilliant photos report

what an adventure this sound barrier.

i really enjoy the controverse about the FIRST one who did it.....
following the stories (or history), it could be possible that the first one was a german fighter with his Me262.

ahhhhhhhhhhhh history.... who's wrong... who's right ?????

byeeeeeee marcel

 

[Weasel_Loader]

I am in the belief that the sound barrier was broken prior to Chuck Yeager's flight in the X-1, but I think he get's the record and recognition for first "documented" and level flight breaking of the sound barrier.

 

[dujardin]

I am in the belief that the sound barrier was broken prior to Chuck Yeager's flight in the X-1, but I think he get's the record and recognition for first "documented" and level flight breaking of the sound barrier.

i'm with you on this

 

[asiamiles]

Okay, who's gonna ID all the jackets in the top photo?!

 

[Grant]

Weasel, That's a cool piece of history you park next to every day!
Just curious, what photo app is that you used on your iphone?

 

[capt71]

Deleted

 

[MikeyB-17]

That is such a cool thing to have at work. I have a copy of 'The Quest for Mach One' by Yeager, Cardenas, Hoover et al, which I picked up second hand years ago. It tells the whole story of the breaking of the Sound Barrier, with a whole chapter about Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding club. Fascinating stuff, and it wasn't until I got it home (it cost me a tenner) that I found it was signed by Chuck Yeager.

 

[Weasel_Loader]

Weasel, That's a cool piece of history you park next to every day!
Just curious, what photo app is that you used on your iphone?

It's actually an iPad app called TiltShiftGenerator. Should also be available for iPhone. Here are a couple more I just did. All are actual real photos. Amazing what a change in aperture, vignetting, brightness, contrast and saturation can do.

 

[Weasel_Loader]

Had to wait and post this, but we had another first in flight today at Edwards. First successful launch/flight of X-51.

http://www.edwards.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123206533


This photo is actually inside the building I work in. I have nothing to do with the actual X-51, but we gave up space in our building for them to do final assembly work. We do hang the pylon on the wing of the B-52 that the X-51 launches from.

 

[Willy McCoy]

Great photos Danny. Hey, can you get a screen capture shot of the remains of the Happy Bottom Riding Club? I can't seem to locate it on google earth. I would like to know the location of it map wise.

 

[Weasel_Loader]

Here are the coordinates for the Happy Bottom Riding Club or Rancho Oro Verde.

34 51'49.35"N
117 57'22.67"W

Pancho's airstrip was located just slightly north-west of the residence. You can still see remains of it on Google Earth.

The actual hotel area did not burn in the fire and was moved off base in what became North Muroc or Muroc Junction till about the late 60s or early 70s. It's now Desert Sage appartments. It's located on the north side of Hwy 58 and just outside the north gate of Edwards AFB. A buddy of mine lives in this apartment and has found some interesting relics in what was probably the "burn pit" they used back in the day behind the "Muroc Motel". BTW, Hwy 58 used to be Hwy 466.

 

[Willy McCoy]

Thanks Danny ! You live in a verry interesting part of the US. I love it down there.

 

[Weasel_Loader]

Interesting, but hate living her with a passion. Wish I could move about 30 min west of here in Tehachapi. 4,000ft altitude, out of the desert and cooler summers. We drove through Tehachapi today and it was only 81, while it is 102 here in California City! Hopefully once the housing market improves, we'll escape from this hell hole of a town.

 

[Willy McCoy]

I can imagine that the never ending heat would get to be a little much. I really like those mountains on the drive from Bakersfield to Las Vegas. When you drop down to the desert you can really feel the heat. I always liked that Zzyzx overpass to nowhere. Can anyone drive out to the old riding club?

 

[Weasel_Loader]

The whole area around Pancho's is off limits except for one time a year when the base has an annual Bar-B-Que out there with live bands and such to celebrate Pancho's. It's every year in September. Next time I go, I'll try and take some photos.