Memorial STS-107 Columbia Crew.  A commemorative photo empaneled at El Paso's NASA site.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Legenday Frank Batteas:   If it flies, he has flown it ( both known and dark projects). Click to read his bio at the link below. Frank flew the Endeavor Shuttle ferry Flight into and over Los Angeles, which we all saw on TV.  Tons as a USAF and NASA test pilot.  All the Right Stuff.

Frank next to his F-18.

This is a NASA stock photo of an F-18, With all that he's done, I say let's give him one for retirement.

One of NASA's STA's. The cockpits of these Gulfstreams fully duplicate the flight controls of a shuttle. See the following pics of this traiing flight.

NASA High Altitude Research craft.   This modified WB-57 is a research  platform. It was moved temporarily to El Paso to avoid damange by a hurricane in Houston.

Shuttle Ferrying Aircraft (SFA 747):  This photo was taken by my daughter Kaylen Duran after we negotiated midnight access for this vantage point.  A moment with my daughter I will always remember. Go Kaylen 

Not exactly a Kodak Instamatic, this rig has been on my Christmas list for years.   But if it doesn't fit in my car, my wife won't allow it.

Head Up! I'm the NASA Guppy

NASA Guppy Super Transport:   One of several, this baby is based in El Paso.   It is used to transpart a wide variety of cargo, (aircraft, missles, etc.,) for an even wider variety of clients;   military and private sector.

Shuttle Ferrying Aircrat 747:   A quick collage of the SFA-747.  

Go AHS Panthers.:   Right spot, right time.   I took this photo with my alma mater AHS "A" on the mountain in the background.  I framed this one. 

Bye Bye to El Paso

I'm in the nose of the SFA 747.  It fealt weird being in such a large craft, fully gutted to lighten the airframe enough to carry the Shuttle on top.

Inside of the SFA-747:  Not exactly 1st Class seating.  But then again, there are no screaming babies.  And there's plenty of space. Zero extra weight on this airframe is key to supporting a Space Shuttle mounted overhead.