Sam's in So Cal!

[rlux4]

When I got home Friday night I found we had a visitor. Good ole' Sam has stopped by for a while on his multi state, multi nation tour.
We live in Lancaster, Ca, which is in the Antelope Valley, home of the Edwards Airforce base. This is where the space shuttle lands when it comes down in California, and is home to much of aviation history. The sound barrier was broken in the skies overhead, and many of the aviation advances are made and tested here. I took Sam to one of the air museums here to see a couple of the famous planes.
The SR71 Blackbird:



And the F117 Nighthawk stealth fighter:



Just down the hill is an area called Vasquez Rocks. This landscape has been produced by the upheaval caused by proximity to the San Andreas fault. It's been the location of countless western movies:



I could tell that Sam wanted to try his hand at rock climbing, but when he got up a ways he froze up. I was able to calm him down and he got back to the ground OK:



He really did seem to be enjoying himself, but I could tell by his expression that he was thinking: "Hey dude, like where's the beach?"
Ron

[pope]

They already have a 117 fighter jet in the museum? I'll bet Sam would like a ride on the SR71 strapped to the nose! I think the Blackbird is still the worlds fastest jet, but they mothballed all of them.

[mbouse]

Sam, have a great time in SoCal

[So Cal Mark]

can't wait for Sam to "go Hollywood", and where are the Manny dreadlocks?

[ga.spyder]

Ahhh....to be Sam!!! My father was a test engineer for Pratt-Whitney and did a lot of work on the SR-71. They have been mothballed but are still the fastest,highest flying plane in history.During the Cold War days ,the Russians fired a couple missles at the B-birds.Missed by a reported 20 miles!!
Craig

[mdrburchette]

Sam loves airplanes! He seems to be having a very good time. Sam, you better be careful. That ole' Ron will have you working on his car while he sits in a lawnchair with a beer in his hand.

[kilrwail]

I'm glad to see that Sam has found a warmer climate. It's cold, wet and miserable up here now. Does he need a new box yet?

[racydave]

Looks like he is looking for Rattle Snakes! He needs a six-shooter and Marks Cowboy Hat!

[rlux4]

The Antelope valley has it's drawbacks, for one it is in California. And it's hot, and dry, and windy. But it's an amazing place to be if you're an aviation buff. We get to see planes up close, on a regular basis, that very few people get the chance to see at all. A few miles up the highway is the town of Mojave. It's the home of Scaled Composites, the company started by Burt Rutan, a famous aircraft designer and visionary. He's the guy who has designed some absolutely amazing aircraft.
You can take a tour of Edwards airforce base and see things like the actual lunar rover. If there's a space shuttle being worked on here, and if you "know someone", you can get a tour and get up close to it. A few years ago, when the space shuttle was piggy-back on the 747 that ferries it to Florida, it took off and banked directly over our house, when we were living in the foothills overlooking the valley. It must have been less than a couple hundred feet over us. It was an awesome sight.
I've been very busy working this last week, so I haven't made it yet and Sam is bugging me to take him to the beach. I keep hearing him humming Beachboys songs.
Ron

[Foster48x]

Ron,
Stopping by here on your tour of Lancaster for a chat with some of the residents should deter Sam from getting into any more mischief.

[mdrburchette]

I've been very busy working this last week, so I haven't made it yet and Sam is bugging me to take him to the beach. I keep hearing him humming Beachboys songs.

Is he humming "Carolina Girls"? I think he's homesick. Oops, that's a Chairmen of The Board song.

[rlux4]

Foster, is that the prison? If so, it looks a lot different from ground level. (Outside, looking in, BTW)
Ron

[Foster48x]

Yes, it's the California State Prison in Lancaster. You definitely don't want to be on the inside looking out.

Rick

[So Cal Mark]

Sam won't be the same after a few days of cohabitating with hardened criminals

[htchevyii]

Sam won't be the same after a few days of cohabitating with hardened criminals

You talking about Ron, or the prisoners?