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Author
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Topic: Columbia ferry flight to KSC in 1979
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heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 09-12-2008 09:24 AM
   
I am trying to date a series of photos that I have of Columbia's initial transport from Palmdale to Edwards in March 1979 and the subsequent ferry-flight to KSC, but I have conflicting information. I always thought that the sequence of events was as follows: - March 8: overland tow to Edwards
- March 9: short test flight during which tiles fell off
- March 10-19: tile repair work
- March 20: first leg of flight to KSC
The book Space Shuttle by Dennis Jenkins mentions a second testflight on March 20, followed by the first leg of the ferry flight on March 21. Can anyone tell me with absolute certainty which is correct?To properly date the photos it would also help to know which runways the 747 used on the above dates, but I might be pushing my luck here... Thanks for any info.
Ed |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2915
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 09-12-2008 07:49 PM
Ed--Yes, on Mar. 9, 1979, the 747/SCA with Columbia mated, piloted by Fulton and McMurtry, made a short test flight from EAFB. Flight results indicated that a flapping adhensive tape damaged some dummy foam tiles used to improve the aerodynamics of the 747/Orbiter combination. During the next 10 days the tape had been removed and the dummy tiles were replaced. On the morning of Mar. 20, the second Shuttle SCA/OV-102 ferry test flight took place from Edwards piloted by the same team. The 2nd ferry flight successfully tested the replacement tiles and was certified for its first cross country trip from CA to FL. On that same day (Mar. 20), but in the afternoon, the SCA took off with OV-Columbia from EAFB on the first leg of the long cross country flight. That was on the 20th, also, and not on the 21st. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 09-13-2008 02:29 AM
Thanks a lot Ken, that would explain why I seem to have photos of three different takeoffs. I thought that after the second testflight on the 20th they stayed in the air and departed for KSC.Ed |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2915
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 09-13-2008 10:57 AM
Ed--I can't say for sure, but in answer to your other question, I think all the SCA flights took off from either lake bed runways 15, 17, and concrete runway 04. For those interested, Columbia's first ferry flight from Edwards to Kennedy Space Center in March 1979 took 4 days to complete! The first stopover on the cross country journey was at Biggs Army Air Base in El Paso, TX, that took nearly 3 1/2 hours on March 20. From there the 747/Shuttle combination flew from El Paso to Kelly AFB in San Antonio, TX, arriving there on March 22. On the next day, Mar. 23, the ferry flight continued onward to Eglin AFB in Florida. After a short 1 1/2 hour flight from Eglin, Columbia was delivered to KSC for her maiden orbital flight. That was an event I will always remember! It was on March 24 when I was standing alongside the shuttle landing facility's runway covering her arrival as an aerospace news media rep. As the big shuttle carrier aircraft first touched down with Columbia riding piggyback, a NASA T-38 jet piloted by Deke Slayton roared overhead us (he provided chase support for Columbia's maiden ferry flight). I was wondering if any cS readers nationwide did in fact view Columbia's cross country trip. Was anyone able to see her during the stopover visits at either Biggs, Kelly, and/or Eglin as thousands of folks were permitted to see the vehicles up close on those bases? | |
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