Things to do before you're dead

[vin_petrol]

Looking through that list of 50 things to do before an arbitrary age did make me think about certain things. It occurred to me that there are a few things I want to do. I do want to see the pyramids, but I plan to do that when I'm old and feeling the cold, and a trip to a hot place sounds like a good plan. I did want to fly on Concorde, but I'll never do that now. Which does leave one fundamental thing (not on that list) I've *always* wanted to do, and I really should think about it seriously now, given that the fleet has a limited future. It's this:

See a Space Shuttle launch.

Is there anyone else interested in this? I know blue_condition has expressed an interest. Trash really doesn't want to, so a "space enthusiasts" trip to Florida may be in order. I can see I'll have other life commitments that may make it difficult, but it's something I've always wanted to do, so I had best try before they retire (or ground permanently due to another accident) the fleet. The shuttle is due to resume service in the spring of 2005. I was thinking of some time over the next couple of years.

Oh, and there is one other thing. If anyone ever gets an Avro Vulcan flying again I would pay time and money to go and see that fly. Four Bristol Siddeley Olympus engines on reheat - it's no use trying to talk, no human sound can stand up to it. Loud enough to knock you down!

Which sums up something about how my head works: REALLY LOUD items of technology are GOOD! :-)

Comments

[steer.livejournal.com]

REALLY LOUD items of technology are GOOD!

You'd love the air con unit in my office and the PSU I just replaced on my computer.

[vin_petrol]

You'd love the air con unit in my office and the PSU I just replaced on my computer.

Well, if you have an air con unit as loud as a Vulcan then I am impressed!

[steer.livejournal.com]

It's as loud as Spock and probably louder than Sarek.

[andyguest.livejournal.com]

Hey lilac boy - how's the carpet ?

[steer.livejournal.com]

Good enough to drink.

[vin_petrol]

Now what's this all about then boys?

[steer.livejournal.com]

It's one of those manly beer and carpets things. I will post later.

[blue-condition.livejournal.com]

I've never flown on Concorde but I've spent a long time in the prototype at the French air museum at Le Bourget. Awesome.

When the Vulcans were being scrapped, they were going for about 1500 quid an airframe. I had "domestic difficulties" at the time, and was considering buying one to live in.... ;)

Best aviation noise experiences I've ever had:

(1) F-18 standing on its tail at Yeovilton air show, circa 1989.

(2) SEPECAT Jaguar doing a "bomb run" along the runway at Yeovilton, couple of years back.

(3) Panavia MRCA (Tornado to you kids) going supersonic at low level over Liverpool Bay in the mid 70s - rattled windows *miles* away.

Best "me and a plane" experiences -

(1) Being allowed a very close look around Eurofighter DA (Development Aircraft) 2 in the hangar at Warton... and seeing EAP sat in another corner forlorn and engineless.....

(2) My solitary tryst with the Concorde prototype at Le Bourget.

(3) Seeing Tornados being painted in desert camo at Warton in autumn 1990 - and realising that there was definitely going to be a shooting war in the Gulf... :(

[vin_petrol]

I went to an airshow at The Yorkshire Air Museum a couple of years ago. They have a Victor there which can't fly, but can run along the runway. At the start of the day they rolled it out in front of me, and then pushed the throttle levers forward and shot off down the runway. Jeeeeeesus Christ, it was loud..... After that, everything else seemed quiet, even the Harrier that hovered in front of me later.

[andyguest.livejournal.com]

The boys went to watch a rocket launch when we were over in Florida in March. I have seen a launch, but from a distance and all I really saw was a smoke trail heading into the sky ;-).

I would be up for a trip to see a shuttle launch, and I happen to know the perfect place to stay :-D

[vin_petrol]

I have seen a launch, but from a distance and all I really saw was a smoke trail heading into the sky ;-)

Ah, y'see I want to be as close as possible, to hear it rumble...

I would be up for a trip to see a shuttle launch, and I happen to know the perfect place to stay :-D

Ah yes! Good point. How far is it from Kennedy Space Centre?

[andyguest.livejournal.com]

It's about an hours drive from the villa to Kennedy. You have to make sure to get there early cos any launch is busy, the boys had to be early for an un-manned rocket launch let alone a shuttle.

[sheepthief.livejournal.com]

I would *love* to see a shuttle launch. How close can you get? What about ESA launches?

And have you seen the mpeg of the supersonic carrier flyby?

[vin_petrol]

I would *love* to see a shuttle launch. How close can you get?

A few miles away. NASA don't let people into KSC itself anymore (post 9/11), so you have to park-up somewhere nearby to watch it. I suspect you would have to be something like 3 miles away.

What about ESA launches?

I think the 'romantic' part of me means it has to be a Shuttle launch. So many memories are associated with it...

And have you seen the mpeg of the supersonic carrier flyby?

Oooh, no, URL?

[andyguest.livejournal.com]

You do get into the space centre, there's a public viewing area to watch from. The launch area is away from the visitors centre (by a couple of miles or so), they run busses there from the centre. Security is really tight, even for the visitors centre, bags are searched and digital cameras have to be turned on to show they are actually cameras.

Kennedy laucnh site

[sheepthief.livejournal.com]

I wonder what sort of distance/technology would be required to shoot one down then. Three miles doesn't sound like much, and I don't suppose that the shuttle can out-accelerate a missile.

[vin_petrol]

According to some of the more deranged conspiracy web sites I've seen, two space shuttles have *already* been shot down!

I suppose the obvious missile to think of is the Stinger. Wikipedia reckons it's "designed to attack aircraft at a range of up to 15,700 feet (4,800 m) and at heights from 600 to 12,500 feet (3,800 m)." So three miles is right at the limit of its effective range. "The CIA helped supply nearly 500 Stingers to the mujahideen warriors fighting Soviet forces in Afghanistan." I suppose these are the ones the American's would worry about - are they all accounted for?

I would suspect that the current launch viewing site is probably sited just beyond the capabilities of modern weapon systems of this kind.

[sheepthief.livejournal.com]

Well there's this fly by (http://acidb.ath.cx/others/flyby.jpg), though I think it's probably just a trick of perspective, and then there's this photograph (http://www3.sympatico.ca/j-k.butler/soniccloud.html), but the video I was thinking of can be downloaded from here (http://b19k20.tripod.com/jet/f18.html).

[road-runner.livejournal.com]

Oh, and there is one other thing. If anyone ever gets an Avro Vulcan flying again I would pay time and money to go and see that fly

Been there, done that. About 12/13 years ago IIRC. It was damned loud.

It was at an airshow that I went to with Jane Fenn. Since she worked on aircraft for a living I thought that it would reasonable ask her a question about lift from wings. 'How come planes can fly upside down' I mused. Surely if a wing gives lift it'll cause a plane to plummet to the ground if flown upside down.

'It just does' she replied. It was that time of the month :(

[steer.livejournal.com]

Surely if a wing gives lift it'll cause a plane to plummet to the ground if flown upside down.

Ah... it is a common misapprehension that the lift on a plane comes solely from the venturi effect from the cross sectional shape. In fact the wright flyer had practically flat wings and (famously) got off the ground. The lift is also generated from angle of attack. You can try this by putting something flat out of your car window while moving and changing its angle -- you will find that a stiff and flat piece of card can generate both lift and downforce in considerable amounts without any shaping.

[sheepthief.livejournal.com]

Yep. The principle is used in autogyros. Sort of.

[wendles]

The lift is also generated from angle of attack.

And from moving those little flappy things on the edges of the wings. You know the ones I mean. Pigeons ... ducks ... blinds ... um ... ailerons, yeah that's it. I knew it was something like pigeons.

[vin_petrol]

Been there, done that. About 12/13 years ago IIRC. It was damned loud.

I'm pretty sure I've seen a Vulcan before, it's just I feel I didn't really appreciate it at the time, and I would really like to see one again.

[wendles]

I'd give my back teeth* to see a Shuttle launch, but alas I have no spare money**.

*Assuming I had any left.
**And if I did I think the first thing I'd do with it would be to go to the Acrctic Circle to see really good aurora.

[wendles]

Ooh, I'd also love to see the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter take off - 10 August 2005.

[vin_petrol]

but alas I have no spare money

Start saving NOW. The trip won't be for maybe a year. America is a cheap place to stay. It's only the airfare that'll cost - mebbe £300.

And if I did I think the first thing I'd do with it would be to go to the Acrctic Circle to see really good aurora.

Ah, good point. That's certainly on my list, but I can do that anytime before I die, but I'm very aware now that the shuttle fleet has a limited lifespan left in it. One more accident and they'll just stop forever.

[wendles]

Start saving NOW.

Okay, okay! I'll add it to the list.

[cyberspice.livejournal.com]

See a Space Shuttle launch.

Our US office is just down the road from the shuttle launch site. Naturally people find they need to be in the US around the time of a launch. Last year a whole product team ended up over there for three weeks at the time of Columbia's last launch. They all took a day off to watch. I would *love* to see a launch and will probably impose on my Floridan friend next time there is one. You can see them from her house.

Oh, and there is one other thing. If anyone ever gets an Avro Vulcan flying again

wyrdlinks has a real thing about them. Just read his journal. They are wonderful planes and I would be stood next to you watching it.

[echo-echo.livejournal.com]

I've seen a Vulcan fly over once on the way to an air show. It was loud and amazingly graceful.

Best air experience was probably watching the Commonwealth Games opening ceremoney in Manchester in 2002. I live about 3 miles from the stadium and on TV I could see the Red Arrows in diamond formation about to fly over the stadium. I went to the bottom of the street to see if I could see them, I couldn't, about 20 secs later was scared to death as all 9 roared from behind me directly overhead at about 300ft. The TV had obviously forshortened the distance and boy did I get a surprise. Loud? My whole being became noise. :)

[vin_petrol]

about 20 secs later was scared to death as all 9 roared from behind me directly overhead at about 300ft

Hee hee. I can just imagine what that must of felt like. They caught me similarly by surprise when I was a sprog waiting to see them in Skegness. I was on the beach, staring out to sea, looking for them, waiting for them to arrive for a show ... when they crept up behind me from inland. Whoosh! :-)

[drdoug.livejournal.com]

Is there anyone else interested in this?

I'm interested! Though money and other commitments might make it tricky to do.