posted on May, 5 2012 @ 01:40 AM
I got a copy of the book "Boyd", which is about Nellis fighter pilot John Boyd. He talks about not wanting to be a test pilot because they spend a
lot of time running through boring test sequences. So that might add some credence to this being a boring test flight.
What is missing is someone hanging out at Edwards and monitoring test flights out there. That is, we need a baseline measurement to understand what is
normal, otherwise you can't judge what is unique. Quite likely you would hear similar comms at EDW.
If you want to hang out around Edwards and scan from a car with the least amount of "pain", there is a rest stop near Boron. Coordinates
35.00697 -117.71746
At least the trees there are taller than you. It has vending machines and bathrooms. Bring a book because the visuals aren't all that common that far
out. I did catch the Boeing Dreamliner in flight out there doing orbits.
If you want to view from closer to the base, there are hills on the north side of the highway. You sort of stick out there like a wart on the hill.
Nobody ever bothered me though.
You learn how effective of a solar heater a car can be just parked in the desert. You either use a lawn chair or run the engine and air-conditioner.
As a compromise, you can put up the sun shield on the front window and look at the base from the side window if you don't want to run the engine and
A/C for a few hours.