Tag: orbiter

The Aerospace Valley

CarloRLeave a comment

Among the most intriguing places for aviation enthusiasts, the ‘Aerospace Valley’ is the name attributed to the flat desert area extending North of the town of Palmdale, which can be reached with an about 70 miles drive north of central LA along N.14.

This large desert basin, which extends further north to Mojave, some 35 miles from Palmdale on N.14, encompasses two installations of major relevance for the history of aeronautics and for todays air power research, namely Edwards AFB and the close-related Plant 42.

The former has been developed for decades basically with aircraft testing in mind, and is located on the dry Rogers Lake. Today it is still an active AFB, home of the 412th Test Wing and other units. It is also operating a NASA research center named after the first ever moon-walker Niels Armstrong. The installation has more than ten runways, some of them paved in sand. Visiting is obviously prohibited – there used to be planned visits, but this appears to be not any more the case today. This site is really huge, and would offer many interesting sights to the enthusiast, including some relics from the past abandoned in the desert far from the main buildings of the base – some buildings and runway have moved over time for convenience and trying to cope with the natural movements of the desert sand, altering the slope and shape of the dry lake basin.

Obviously, the base is constantly guarded, so you may come close to it but you cannot really get close to what is in it without an authorization. In any case, I found exciting just being around where the sound barrier was passed by Chuck Yeager in 1947, and if you like deserts of the westernmost part of the country, touring this area would be interesting just for the natural setting – and even more if you are an aeronautic-minded person.

Plant 42 is actually not a totally separated entity from Edwards AFB. It is a unique installation, where some of the most iconic aircraft factories in the history of US military airpower – Lockheed ‘Skunk Works’ division and Northrop-Grumman – have some of their production and assembly hangars. These are all around the same airport, which is not an airbase – in the sense it’s not home to any units of the USAF – but is nonetheless owned by the Government and leased to the companies operating on it. Today Plant 42 is configured to supply and support test aircraft operated at Edwards AFB.

There is also the NASA Dryden research center installed on the premises of this airport, which is physically located on Plant 42 but is nonetheless administrated by Edwards AFB.

Even though Lockheed moved its Skunk Works division here only after the assembly of all exemplars of the SR-71 well in the Eighties, it was here that during the last decade of the Cold War the Blackbird fleet underwent maintenance. Also the reactivation of the U-2 production line with the TR-1 in the years of the Reagan administration implied production of new aircraft was carried out here.

Other most notable items produced here include the Space Shuttle orbiters – the hangar for their assembly is still standing and can be clearly spotted. Northrop produced here the world-famous F-5, before merging with Grumman. Today Northrop-Grumman, Lockheed and Boeing have active support lines here.

As you see, the area has been a focal point for aeronautics since long, fully justifying the name of ‘Aerospace Valley’.

But it’s not over. There are more sights of the kind around. Mojave has been for long a place for storing aircraft of all sorts and size – a properly sized airport, capable of operating a Boeing 747, obviously being a promptly answered necessity for companies in that business – taking advantage of the dry climate of the Californian desert. Literally tens of large liners of all sorts can be found parked waiting for reactivation, resale or scrap on the apron of Mojave airport. In more recent years, the place has grown to higher fame for being used as a base for space tourism operations. Consequently, the airport has been proudly renamed ‘Mojave Space Port’.

The following photographs from these and other sites in the Aerospace Valley have been taken during a visit in summer 2014.

Navigate this post – Click on links to scroll

Aerospace Valley – View and Hangars

There is a panorama point with a placard approaching Palmdale from N.14. From there you can see Palmdale and reach beyond to Plant 42.

Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird

Among the hangars scattered around the area of the airport in Plant 42, it is possible to see the Boeing facilities, with new Boeing liners around. One of Boeing’s hangars has an asymmetric roof. This is where all Space Shuttles were built, the higher part of the roof made to fit the tall tail of the orbiter. The name ‘Northrop-Grumman’ can be seen standing above the airside door of probably the largest hangar of all. Both Boeing and Northrop-Grumman occupy the northern part of the airport.

Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird

The emblem of the ‘Skunk Works’ can be spotted on the Lockheed-Martin hangar to the south-west of the complex. Further East the NASA Dryden facilities occupy the south-eastern part of Plant 42.

Skunk Works

In front of the gate of Lockheed ‘Skunk Works’ on Plant 42, at the end of 15th St. E in Palmdale, it’s possible to reach a small park with an F-16A and an F-104N, both Lockheed designs. These exemplars were used for testing by NASA Dryden research center, and are actually on loan from NASA Dryden. The F-16A is the only civil registered aircraft of the type, where the F-104N, one out of three specifically designed for NASA for pilot’s proficiency and for use as chase aircraft, logged more than 4000 hours flying for NASA.

Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird

Note: I involuntarily triggered a security inspection having ventured by car on the road running along the Lockheed hangar nearby the gate – the road is called Lockheed way. This is probably because the road is private property of Lockheed – even though it runs along the outer side of the fence. I was spotted and reached by pickups of Lockheed security – nothing bad, but better avoiding this if you can. The hangar with the Skunk Works emblem can be photographed from a little further, near the railway track to the west of the airport.

NASA Dryden

Two sights attracted my attention on the apron of Plant 42. Both could be clearly spotted from 40th St. E in Palmdale, running along the eastern side of the plant. Placidly parked on the apron where NASA Douglas DC-8 – as far as I know the only one still operated by NASA, which is using it for satellite testing, new sensor testing, space vehicle telemetry and atmospheric studies – and the massive Space Shuttle Carrier N911NA. Today the latter is on permanent display in Palmdale, the photos were taken before it was prepared for display. This is one of only two Boeing 747 converted for transporting the orbiter, the other (N905NA) being in Houston.

Dryden Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Dryden Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Dryden Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird
Dryden Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works Blackbird

The DC-8 is being operated by NASA Armstrong research center, from the ‘neighbor’ airbase of Edwards, but I found it at NASA Dryden.

Note: photographs of what is on the apron of Plant 42 from the distance are virtually impossible during the day due to excessive thermal turbulence close to the ground. Consider going near sunset for avoiding such annoying effect.

Blackbird Airpark

This spectacular exhibition can be easily reached driving on E Ave. P, to the South of Plant 42, Palmdale (website here). It can be clearly spotted from the road. The most peculiar display is to the front of the small museum building, and is composed of three Lockheed ‘black’ aircraft, namely an A-12, an SR-71 and a U-2. Also there are a D-21, a ramjet propelled drone mounted on a modified A-12, the engines of both the A-12 and SR-71 and of the U-2, and two different spooling mechanisms for starting up the engines of the A-12 and SR-71.

This is the only place on Earth where an A-12 and a SR-71 can be spotted together.

Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works

Close to the door of the museum building there are models of the A-12, probably built for wind tunnel testing. Inside the building, first and foremost you can find some air conditioning… there are also artifacts, videos and a nice shop with books and items about Plant 42 and the three ‘black’ aircraft outside. I personally met Bill Flanagan, who collaborates in managing the airpark on a regular basis, and is a former RSO on the SR-71 – he was very nice and told me many interesting stories about the aircraft outside on the apron. Some of the vids you can see there (they are also selling a DVD) were shot by Mr. Flanagan on duty.

Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works

Many other aircraft can be found on the Joe Davis Heritage Airpark, accessible to the back of the small museum building.

Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Joe Davis Blackbird Airpark Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works

Edwards AFB

I tried to approach the area from the south (Redman and 120 St. E), knowing some relics can be spotted in the desert in the area. Unfortunately, turn back signs begin to appear much earlier than reaching the real gate of the base. I didn’t risk going further, so unfortunately I couldn’t take good pictures of the base. You can appreciate the size of the installation from the zoomed photos below.

Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works

Milestones of Flight Air Museum

This place is located in Lancaster, on the eastern side of William J. Fox Airport, close to the station of the National Guard.

Again, a very short visit – the place was closed, contrary to the opening times I had found on the web. To be honest, it looked like the museum was not actively maintained any more. Nonetheless, there were some interesting items outside the museum hangar.

Milestones of Flight Lancaster Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Milestones of Flight Lancaster Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Milestones of Flight Lancaster Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Milestones of Flight Lancaster Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Milestones of Flight Lancaster Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Milestones of Flight Lancaster Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Milestones of Flight Lancaster Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Milestones of Flight Lancaster Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Milestones of Flight Lancaster Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Milestones of Flight Lancaster Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Milestones of Flight Lancaster Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works
Milestones of Flight Lancaster Aerospace Valley Plant 42 Edwards NASA Lockheed Skunk Works

The white civilian B-25 was reportedly owned by Howard Hughes. The wings have been removed, but strangely enough the tires are inflated.

Mojave Space Port

It’s not hard to spot this huge airport, to the north-east of the small town of Mojave. Access to the terminal is along Sabovich St. At the end of it you have a good and convenient spotting place close to a low fence.

Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley

When I visited, aircraft on the apron of the airport included at least three Boeing 747, a McDonnell-Douglas DC-10 and various DC-9, possibly a Boeing 720, and various other exemplars.

Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley

There are several companies operating on the airport, including parts resellers, aircraft resellers and industries connected with space flight.

Among the rare aircraft I saw around, a Lockheed TriStar operated by Orbital, a Sweden-made SAAB Draken, and an Italian Aermacchi MB326.

Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley
Mojave Space Port Aerospace Valley

Leaving the area of the space port to the south, I spotted a Douglas DC-8 used as a gate guardian.

Note: expect mild security checks when spotting in the area. I was reached by car and briefly interviewed by a lady of the security service, who had noticed I was taking pictures from close to the airport fence. I explained I was just taking pictures, she said goodbye and left without further troubles.

Monino – Central Museum of the Russian Air Forces

CarloRLeave a comment

Probably the most famous air museum in Russia – and formerly in the whole USSR – the Central Air Force Museum in Monino doesn’t need a presentation for aviation enthusiasts from every part of the world. As a matter of fact, still today this is probably the world’s largest collection of military and experimental aircraft manufactured in the Soviet Union.

Similar to many air museums in western Countries, this aircraft collection has been located on the premises of an active airbase since it opened its doors back in 1958. For this reason, in the years of the Soviet Union and even for some time after its collapse, the collection couldn’t be visited without prior permission. A specially restrictive visiting policy was applied to foreign visitors, due to the technological content of the exhibition. Today things have greatly improved in this respect, and visiting is absolutely free for everybody, both Russians and foreign tourists, like it is the case for most similar sites in the West.

To be sincere, I expected something like what you can find in former peripheral Countries of the Soviet bloc – an array of rotting fuselages, landing gears, rusty jet engines and no information around. It turned out I was totally wrong. What caused my inaccurate prevision was I had failed taking into account the singular passion and nostalgia that Russians show still today for their Soviet past, at least when it comes to military power and technological glory. In this respect, many other more ‘western’ and politically correct neighbor Countries in Europe, like Italy and France, have a much colder attitude towards aviation and their own past aeronautical endeavors.

So, at Monino the conditions of the aircraft both inside and outside are extremely good, especially if you consider the harsh weather that aircraft bodies have to sustain in the terrible Russian winters. From photographs on the web you can rapidly realize most aircraft are covered in snow in winter, so visiting may be also not much rewarding in that season. I visited in September, and except for a Soviet-grey, cloudy day I could enjoy a normal visit.

From the technical viewpoint, the collection is composed of many aircraft and engines up to WWII, hosted indoor, plus a huge outdoor collection of aircraft covering the majority of military models deployed by the Air Force of the Red Army over the years of the Cold War, in their respective roles – strategic bombers, fighters, …

Also some really rare prototype aircraft are part of the exhibition – some of them, like the Tupolev Tu-144 and the Sukhoi Su-100, are unique and very famous. There are also some iconic (gigantic) Mil helicopters, and some liners. There is much information around for less experienced enthusiasts, almost all placards both in Russian and English – a very rare sight in English-unfriendly Russia! If you can speak or understand Russian – unlike me – you can also have guided tours with former Air Force staff, which are reportedly much interesting.

The following photos were taken during a visit in September 2015.

Getting there

One of the reasons for so few interested people actually include Monino in their visit plan is the fame of the place as almost unreachable, inconvenient and expensive. This fame is due to the many companies on the web chattering about permissions, passport requests, tickets in advance, many hours to get to the place and so on. These companies usually ask for many hundreds dollars for taking you on the trip.

These are genuine tourist traps. There is no need for any permission, the place is not any more an active base (since long) and you are not asked any document. Plus, getting there with the local railway system serving the greater Moscow area is very easy – the train has Monino as destination – and the totally inexpensive trip takes about 1h 20min, only due to the countless stops.

First of all, note that I don’t speak russian nor can I read the Cyrillic alphabet. Nonetheless, I managed to get to this place about 20 miles from center Moscow to the East without troubles and traveling solo.

Trains going to Monino depart Moscow Yaroslavskaya in central Moscow rather frequently, about two to four times per hour – accurate timetable available briefly googling for local trains from Moscow to Monino. The terminal is the local railway terminal, placed right behind the main cottage-like building of the railway station (from where you can go as far as Vladivostok…). You can buy a ticket from one of the countless automatic vendors – in Russian, impossible for me – or from one of the countless ticket offices – this was my option. I got a ticket for both ways – you just have to say “To Monino and back”, even though Russians are not friends of English, this request was immediately understood by the officer. The fare is very cheap. The line I considered terminated at Monino, reached after many many stops and about 1h 20 minutes later. Note that the railway ticket is required also for leaving the station on arrival, so you’d better keep it safe.

If all you had seen before in Russia is St. Petersburg and central Moscow, you might be a bit shocked, and feel like you had leaped in the past and well back into the Soviet era – large and cheap concrete buildings, partially paved roads, many elderly people walking around along silent streets and more bicycles than cars around. Sure the village is nothing special and far from monumental, but it’s not dark nor scary or unsafe. Plus you can notice signs of its past vocation, as ghost insignia and abandoned control booths typical to a former military installation can be spotted immediately close to the railway station and around the village, together with a Lenin’s statue still proudly placed in a small square on your path to the museum.

The only problem is that there are no signs for reaching the museum – not any until you are in front of the gate -, which is about .7 miles from the station to the other end of the village (South). You can take a (rare) taxi, or enjoy the walk. The latter was my option. The road is extremely straightforward. Actually it’s basically straight. If you don’t have a digital map, you can simply print the Google map of Monino with a satellite view of the buildings – this again was my option – and this is definitely enough to get to the place. I prepared this small map with the path I’ve followed and some notable sights.

The ticket to the museum is less than 3 dollars, very cheap.

For going back you just reverse the plan. Travel time in total for the trip both ways may be 3h 10min, including train and transfers between the gate and Monino station by foot. Adding about 3 hours for visiting the museum with a relaxed pace, a visit to Monino from central Moscow may take about 6 hours, so you may plan something more than half day for this visit.

Opening times can be obtained from the official website http://www.monino.ru, some Google-translation is needed if you like me don’t know Russian.

Sights

Including descriptions of all aircraft in Monino would be impractical and probably uninteresting. For this reason I will include only photographs and some comments. For an almost-full list of the aircraft in Monino, with something about each of the preserved exemplars, I would recommend the book in English A guide to the Russian Federation Air Force Museum at Monino by Korolkov and Kazashvili, published in the US.

In the blue-roofed building of the ticket office some early aircraft engines and panels about the history of aviation in Russia are presented.

Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft

Then you can enter the neighbor hangar, with some unique aircraft from up to WWII. These include an exemplar of the world-famous Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik.

Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft

The rest of the exhibition is hosted on the other side of the road. Immediately past the gate on one side you have probably the world’s largest helicopter, the twin-rotor Mil Mi-12. Facing this monstrosity, some iconic bombers, including the Tu-4, i.e. a licence-built Boeing B-29, and a prototype Tupolev Tu-22M, with ancestral engine fairings later replaced on the production version. Also notable are a Tu-22, Tu-128 – a really massive interceptor – and two very famous Soviet prototypes, the Myasischev M-50 and the Sukhoi Su-100, with its characteristic Concorde-like deflectable nose.

Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft

In a hangar nearby it is possible to find some further experimental aircraft, including rocket-propelled aircraft, high-atmosphere balloon capsules and other curious items.

Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft

Placed on an off-limits grassy area nearby the hangar there are some very uncommon aircraft awaiting restoration, and on the other side a good collection of Mil and Kamov helicopters, including the Mil-24A featured in the third chapter of the John Rambo series, a Mil-10 flying crane helicopter and a huge Mil-6 which used to work as a flying command station.

Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft

Nearby is the ‘Yakovlev alley’, where most aircraft from this high-tech design bureau are presented.

Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft

Approaching the far end of the exhibition grounds you can spot some of the Soviet ‘big ones’, including an Antonov An-22 Anthei, an Ilyushin Il-76, an Il-62 and a very rare Tupolev Tu-114 turboprop with counter-rotating propellers. This was among the fastest-flying propeller-driven aircraft in history.

Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft

Recently added to the collection, on one corner of the exhibition are two truly iconic Cold War veterans, a Tupolev Tu-142 and a Tu-22M Backfire, both retired production exemplars.

Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft

Other interesting items are a rare Beriev Be-12 huge seaplane, a pretty old Ilyushin Il-18 and a Il-2, and obviously the world-famous prototype Tupolev Tu-144 supersonic liner.

Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft

Before taking to the ‘MiG alley’ and ‘Sukhoi alley’ reaching to the exit, three unique prototypes should not go unnoticed, namely the Lavochkin La-250 supersonic interceptor, with a 1956 variable incidence delta wing, the high altitude Myasischev M-17, a twin tailed, ultra-high aspect ratio wing, the Buran flight emulator, created to reproduce the flight dynamics of the ill-fated Buran orbiter in terminal maneuvers, and the Bertini-Beriev VVA-14 ekranoplane. The latter was off-limits when I visited, and could be spotted sitting derelict in the backyard, awaiting restoration.

Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft

Approaching the exit you can notice a full array of MiGs, including some more rare to find in the West, like the MiG-25 ‘anti-Blackbird’ Mach-3 interceptor, and various Sukhoi designs ranging from early prototypes to the more modern exemplars. Among them a Lisunov Li-2, a licensed Douglas C-47, was undergoing active restoration when I visited.

Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft

Finally, some photos of the ‘pleasant village’ of Monino, a former militarized village.

Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft
Central Museum of the Russian Air Force Monino Moscow Soviet Aircraft