Look what landed on base last night

[L32Projekt]

Originally posted by 98Camaro3.8:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by L32Projekt:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by TucsonBird:
Nice pics. #3 came out pretty nice. What are the round things on the ends of the stabilizer?

It's a shroud for the engines. No idea why they need to protect it. Doesn't that thing fly like 10x's faster straight up than it does on the back of that 747? :D </font>[/QUOTE]If you're talking about the tail cone on the rear of the orbiter, it's to reduce drag. [img]smile.gif[/img]

http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Pho...05-0166-26.jpg
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Pho...05-0166-27.jpg </font>[/QUOTE]Makes sense considering that would be a lot of disturbed airflow right before the 747's... what is that, vertical stabilizer, rudder? Thanks for the info.

[kristen]

thats really neat

[majeskyb]

Thanks. The stabilizers on the tail were flat, vertical pieces, not round (photos might have messed with that). It left yesterday morning to continue its fight home, I guess. I'm not too sure why it would land here either. The only thing I can think of is the size of our flightline. It's huge, because of the buffs

[98Camaro3.8]

Originally posted by TucsonBird:
I was talking about the cylinder lookin things on the ends of the stabilizer on the 747. I figured the cone on the end was either for protection or something else.

Because of where the orbiter sits, it blocks alot of airflow to the vertical stabilizer. They added in the 2 extra fins to help with directional stability.

http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Pho...05-0166-33.jpg
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Pho...05-0166-30.jpg


Also interesting is that because of all the weight and drag, it's only able to cruise at 15,000 feet instead of its usual 35,000-40,000.

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

[quote]Originally posted by 98Camaro3.8:

Also interesting is that because of all the weight and drag, it's only able to cruise at 15,000 feet instead of its usual 35,000-40,000.

damn so no loops on that flight i take it.... :(

[jessica2112]

We had one of the shuttles stop in Kansas when I lived there. Really cool to see