Space Shuttle Discovery Landing(Updated Pictures Pg. 2)

Photos of operational aircraft from bases, airports and "spotter" outings
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hunterxf382
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by hunterxf382 »

garethbrum wrote:Great shots.
The orbiter needs to slow to around 260mph for gear retraction I believe and she touches down at around 210mph.


I hope you mean gear extension Gareth..... :oops: retracting it might make for some tile damage..... :biggrin:

Back to the photos - simply stunning indeed..... Not a sight seen by very many - especially that close :shock: :shock:
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TheDuck
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by TheDuck »

What a machine the Space Shuttle is. Great captures of it as well. :clap:

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Darren Currie
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by Darren Currie »

Great captures of a rare opportunity - Wow!

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Arthur Tee
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by Arthur Tee »

Sorry lads - but it beats the hell out of those other gliders at Portmoak and Dunstable! :grin:

Top shots!!! :clap:

Arthur
Canon PowerShot SX40HS - It's not what you've got - it's what you do with it!

garethbrum

Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by garethbrum »

hunterxf382 wrote:
garethbrum wrote:Great shots.
The orbiter needs to slow to around 260mph for gear retraction I believe and she touches down at around 210mph.


I hope you mean gear extension Gareth..... :oops: retracting it might make for some tile damage..... :biggrin:

Back to the photos - simply stunning indeed..... Not a sight seen by very many - especially that close :shock: :shock:


Absolutely mate - you're quite right of course! :dummy:

PS See you at the weekend!

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whitus1
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by whitus1 »

pretty impressive well done! :clap:
keep flying

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Buccaneer
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by Buccaneer »

Stunning shots..................

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danspuggti
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by danspuggti »

:clap: :clap: :clap:

That's about all I've got to say really other than "jammy git" :biggrin:
Same old sh*t.............just happening on a different day!!!

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138EAW
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by 138EAW »

Fantastic :drool: :drool: :topbombing:
Gary

Rory76
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by Rory76 »

My ideal response would probably get censored, so I'll settle for :drool: ing!

I'd rate these in the top ten of anything I've seen on here if they were shot on a ropy camera-phone, once in a lifetime doesn't even cover the subject matter, but they're really well shot too.

First one's my favourite tho, a rarity even in this collection, don't think I recall ever seeing a clean shot of the shuttle on finals.
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^^Gord^^
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by ^^Gord^^ »

Awesome! :clap:

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CH2
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by CH2 »

fg1 wrote:How do you top that? Amazing!!! :clap:


Aside a miracle flight of an SR71, you don't. Fantastic post, a first on UKAR? :topbombing: :rock:

The Shuttle maybe looking its age, but to replace it with something that looks like a reject from the Apollo programme is nuts. :sad:
Cheers,

Chris

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Tim Holden
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by Tim Holden »

I have been to Florida for two takeoffs (both aborted) and 1 landing when I got the wrong day and heard the sonic booms whilst on the hulk ride at universal studios!

Stunning Pics mate. :clap: Consider me officially envious. I just watched the official NASA video of the landing. Were you standing between runway markers 4 & 5 wearing a blue top? If so you are in the official video. Man you were close!! lucky devil :shock:

Tim
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chrisward123
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by chrisward123 »

Brill pictures! something you don't see everyday :rock:
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NeilH68
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by NeilH68 »

Stunning photos...

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Lomcevak26
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by Lomcevak26 »

What an opportunity! Very well captured and, yep, shot of the week for sure! Many thanks for posting. :biggrin:

GBloore
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by GBloore »

danspuggti wrote::clap: :clap: :clap:

That's about all I've got to say really other than "jammy git" :biggrin:



I can not thank you all enough for your kind words and praise. As many of you can imagine, clearly the chance of a lifetime.

The great thing about being from the US(aside from the idiotic yanks that ruin peoples shows at Duxford) is that I have no idea what some of the terms/praise means. What is "jammy git" ?

I have some more shots of after the landing and the euipment used to maintain/check the shuttle which I will post in another thread later.

Thanks again,

Glenn

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Wes_Howes
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by Wes_Howes »

Jammy git - you very lucky individual :grin:

Just echoing the sentiments here, great shots :clap: nothing else can be said really :smile:

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Worldnis
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by Worldnis »

Glenn,

Congratulations on your shots. I was fortunate to have seen this in '83 alas way before decent lenses and digital cams.
Did the shuttle stay on the runway for most of the day or have they 'cleaned up' this procedure?

Rob Nispeling

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Prepare for the next mission, Darling.

GBloore
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing

Post by GBloore »

Rob,

The Shuttle stays on the runway for a while after the landing. How long? I don't know, but I think it was quite some time.

Here are some shots the rollout and and chute, the post landing clean up work and equipment, the Security Helo and the Gulfstream that was shooting approaches prior to landing to finalize settigns for the orbiter and decide on what direction they would land. It is a highly modified Gulfstream. This is a quote from a gentleman named Rober Becker explaining the picture to someone.

"This is the space shuttle trainer. It's a highly modified Grumman Gulfstream G-II (G2). This aircraft has the ability to decend at a very steep angle due to the modifications. The thrust reversers can deploy in flight slowing the rate of decent, the ailerons will extend downward when the flaps are extended and the main landing gear can be extended without the nose gear as shown in this shot. All these mods allow the aircraft to simulate the high rate of decent that the space shuttle performs during it's landing approach. Another noteworthy mod done to this aircraft is in the cockpit. The left side is set up like the shuttle, whereas the right side is standard G-II."

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Bill16STN
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing(Updated Pictures Pg. 2)

Post by Bill16STN »

SUPURB!!!

iskra750
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing(Updated Pictures Pg. 2)

Post by iskra750 »

WOW what a set of pictures, you are so lucky to get so close, well done.

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Iskra750

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Copper2
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing(Updated Pictures Pg. 2)

Post by Copper2 »

I like the helo from Barstow Dagget.
The others aint bad either :biggrin: :clap: :clap: :clap:

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failedmot
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing(Updated Pictures Pg. 2)

Post by failedmot »

Love the Shots and Thanks for Posting, Would love to see for myself..
Cheers...Willie :clap: :clap: :clap:

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Ashley Wallace
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Re: Space Shuttle Discovery Landing(Updated Pictures Pg. 2)

Post by Ashley Wallace »

Does anybody know how long it takes for them to prepare the shuttle for transit back to Florida?