franklin091209":18rv7467 said:
... This could result in a lifetime memory for my son and me.
make every effort to be there, ... it
is a lifetime memory.
i will never forget seeing the enterprise on top of it's 747, on landing final approach right over me.
i was were i was probably not allowed to be, but i was there, ... a couple hundred yards from the front patch of the runway.
i was on a little gravel pull-out, at the yellow arrow, and the 747 w/shuttle was landing on runway 17R.
i had been watching them circle over the air force academy stadium for the cadets' graduation ceremony,
with binoculars, from the roof of my parents house, ...
then it occurred to me what was about to happen, and how close i was,
... i almost literally jumped off the two-story roof, and drove the 4 miles out to peterson field like my trousers were on fire,
hoping to get there before the big moment
with not 60 seconds to spare, i pulled off the road, right in front of the runway.
watching with my binoculars, i was seeing it coming in, ... getting closer,
then i couldn't even fit the whole thing in the binoc's view, and i'm digging it,
... and then, .. all i can see is tiles with stenciled labels, and it's LOUD
i rip the binocs from my eyes and the piggy back monster is like literally right on top of me,
only a couple hundred feet off the deck! ... i just about popped!
she landed so very hard on the right side landing gear, i got spooked,
but it was all fine.
scope out, and think through the possibilities of viewing areas,
make a plan, and a back-up plan,
and keep your eyes peeled on the pertinent forums for route updates,
and try to be in place if you can.
it's amazing.