My experience at Mojave

[thermionic]

<br />WK wasn't as loud as that smaller jet that was accompanying them. After the flight though, WK did a low pass and fast climb to show us its stuff. When it got on the gas to head up into the sky, it did make a lot of noise. I was struck by its long take-off roll and slow climb when it had SS0. The wing is high lift, looks like a sailplane, but even so it had to work hard to haul SS0 up.

 

[JonClarke]

What sort of aircraft were flying chase?<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[spacechump]

<i>Did you guys take Hwy 126 to Hwy 14?</i><br /><br />Nope. A quick hop onto 101 south down to the 405 (yeah I know I hate the 405 but at 3 in the morning there is almost no traffic). 405 north splits to 5 and that takes you to 14.

 

[spacechump]

<i>One question though, is WK really as loud as they say it is?</i><br /><br />Not really. I thought the private jet that lander a couple hours before, and also WK's chase jet were actually louder.

 

[spacechump]

Yeah those Starships are snazzy planes aren't they. When tracking the planes in the air you could always tell the Beech by its distinct Y shape.

 

[planet_z]

Spacechump, thanks for sharing!<br /><br />I wish I lived on the west coast. I also was inspired by the Discovery special. I had my eyes glued to the science channel that morning. I'm glad that there was a channel that had complete coverage from start to finish.

 

[CalliArcale]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Not really. I thought the private jet that lander a couple hours before, and also WK's chase jet were actually louder.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />I would bet that if it turned on its afterburners at low altitude, it would be louder. But then, unlike you, I was not fortunate enough to actually see the thing.<br /><br />I just have one thing more to say:<br /><br />YOU LUCKY, LUCKY, LUCKY, AWESOME COOL GUY!<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your photos, even if they do make me intensely jealous. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> You saw history. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[davf]

Which should be no surprise since the Lear's CJ610 is a 'civilianized' J-85... without the afterburners, of course.<br /><br />Spacechump: Thanks for posting the pics! Very cool!

 

[spacechump]

<i>I would bet that if it turned on its afterburners at low altitude, it would be louder.</i><br /><br />I hadn't thought of this. I guess Burt didn't want to deafen the audience <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br /><i> You saw history.</i><br /><br />You read my mind. I figured it was an important day and I wasn't going to let 2 hours of driving stop me from seeing it.<br /><br /><i>YOU LUCKY, LUCKY, LUCKY, AWESOME COOL GUY! <br />Thanks for sharing your photos, even if they do make me intensely jealous. </i><br /><br />Ah shucks...it was nothing. I'm glad everyone enjoyed the pics. I hope real soon to add some video my roommate took.

 

[spacechump]

Again, maybe it was just me but WK just didn't seem that loud. It makes sense that the afterburners would be on during takeoff newsartist, but maybe I was just caught up the in the excitement to notice the noise.<br /><br />I do believe that once they were noticibly and safely airborn that they turned off the afterburners until they reached the altitude that they needed them for for that extra oomph. I remember hearing over the radio how they turned them on about 10 minutes before they reached their maximum cruise altitude.

 

[spacechump]

Hi all. I just noticed I had a couple pics I wanted to show but forgot so I'll add them in late....sorry.<br /><br />Here is one of the White Knight on a quick flyover.<br /><br /><br /><br />

 

[spacechump]

And here is a clearer shot of the salute flyover of the chase planes.<br /><br />