The California Science Center

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MrJLR

MrJLR

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Took the grandkid to the California Science Center in Los Angeles yesterday.

99% of what is there is real and authentic - not "replicas"...

Before even entering the building, you are greeted with a REAL SR-71 Blackbird!

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Once inside, nothing but cool !
An Apollo capsule (Apollo 10)

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Loads of other awesome stuff, but the cream of the crop was the space shuttle Endeavor!

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All FREE except $12 parking.....I was in awe the entire time!

Jeff
 
I miss living within "walking" distance of the USAF museum.

5 blocks from the side opposite the gate.
 
Thanks Jeff!

I wish I had known about that place when I was down in your neck of the woods to see the La Brea Tar Pits a couple years back. I totally would have taken an extra day off for that trip and gone there too.

Isn't that the A-12 trainer, not an SR71?

By the way, a Honda Civic doesn't have enough torque to navigate the traffic there. I wish I could have taken the Barracuda.
 
My kid just had his junior prom underneath the Endeavor. I still haven't been to see it, but I did get to watch it fly into LAX on the back of a 747.

Next to the Science Center is the Natural History museum, and a couple other museums. Nice place to spend a day.
 
The blackbird is the training version I believe, not sure if they even had more than one, Used to watch these awesome guys come and go at Kadena AFB, Okinawa. They would taxi/takeoff 4 KC-135 tankers and then "Habu" would go out and straight up, twas a sight to see, and feel!
I was on Det. We ran missile profiles, flew DACM, and towed targets at and for USN ships
 
Ottmundr said:
Thanks Jeff!

I wish I had known about that place when I was down in your neck of the woods to see the La Brea Tar Pits a couple years back. I totally would have taken an extra day off for that trip and gone there too.

Isn't that the A-12 trainer, not an SR71?

By the way, a Honda Civic doesn't have enough torque to navigate the traffic there. I wish I could have taken the Barracuda.
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SR-71 Trainer
 
they're planning to move the shuttle outside, (under a cover), and stand it up in launch position with the rockets installed. they need to leave it where it is. being able to walk under it makes you appreciate how large it really is
 
It's a great place we have taken our boys a few times, so much to see and the kids enjoy it.
 
The space program has always been a fascination of mine. Living only 50 miles from Edwards AFB there were all manner of bizarre aircraft cruising the skies of the Mojave Desert. It was a blessing that I got to work on the launch complex at SLC6 at VAFB and a heartbreak with the Discovery disaster. I knew right then a shuttle would never launch from SLC6. I did get to hear the sonic boom from the one shuttle they had to land at Edwards :lol:. I don't recall the reason they bypassed VAFB for that landing. While I was at SLC6 on the other side of the base they were expanding the runway to accommodate the shuttle landings. There were rumors that the VAFB landing strip might someday be used for Land Speed Record attempts. Yeah, it's a longie.
 
Unconventional said:
Speaking of
https://r.search.aol.com/_ylt=AwrgDdwgG_Rcw4AAiKJpCWVH;_ylu=X3oDMTByYnR1Zmd1BGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--/RV=2/RE=1559530400/RO=10/RU=https://www.spacelaunchschedule.com/vandenberg-launch-schedule//RK=0/RS=3BjtTx86jQzBNIfs_e9Hqw_5wTM-

Space X is at it again a week from tomorrow at South Vandenberg
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Much like the air force museum in Ohio, way too much to even try to list! Shuttle, blackbird , previous to the black bird(has 6 engines in the back), b-52 etc etc.
 
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We rented out the center for a multi area LDS prom, 300 kids had a blast dancing under the space shuttle!
 
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Thanks for sharing Jeff, the Blackbird is my favorite.

They make the sound of freedom!
 
Did not know of this place. Love exploring the LA region. Been to La Brea, Peterson on Wilshire and most of the Hollywood touristy stuff. Want to see the Angels Flight as seen in Bosch. Science Center on the list for our next trip. There was an interesting car museum right next to LAX where you can go for a ride in selected classics.
 
Dennis H said:
Science Center on the list for our next trip. There was an interesting car museum right next to LAX where you can go for a ride in selected classics.
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Science Center, etc. is right next to USC off of the 110. The museum near LAX is the Driving Museum. They have a huge selection of driveable classics (mostly Studebakers) available on weekends.
 
Its a CIA A-12 as it has no rear 'window' for a 2nd crewmans position. The USAF SR-71 had an integrated back seater that wasn't in a raised position like this trainer. The solo CIA A-12 pilot was so busy during his flight that he barely had time to look out the window. We heard one fly over us over Lake Tahoe, sonic boom and all. Read it in the paper then next day.."What was that boom?"

6 engines would be the XB-70 Valkyrie, possibly the 2nd most bad *** plane of all time.
 
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