Shuttle Endeavour to pass over downtown Austin on Thursday
By American-Statesman staff | Wednesday, September 19, 2012, 08:40 PM
NASA has announced that the retired space shuttle Endeavour, heading cross country atop a 747 on its way to a permanent home at a Southern California science museum, will make a low pass over downtown Austin near the Capitol on Thursday morning.
The shuttle was flown from Cape Canaveral, Fla., to Houston earlier today. The plane carrying Endeavour is scheduled to leave Houston’s Ellington field about 7 a.m. and will pass over Austin between 7:30 and 8 a.m.
This just scared the living crap out of me! I was on my deck giving my plants their morning watering with my mind a million miles away and this thing flew right over my house. I don't know if it is because I am at the top of a hill or what but it obviously didn't try pulling up much after it went over downtown. Maybe the shuttle is to heavy? It was what seemed like only a few hundred feet above me and super loud. Like it shook my whole deck and house kinda loud. Like being on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier during ops kinda loud.
Just crazy!
Was really cool to see it. Wish I had payed attention to the time for when it was flying over when I read your post last night. lol I would have loved to take pictures of it going over downtown from my deck, and its approach to my home.
I saw it, too! I had gone on a five-mile walk on the Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail and was almost finished - about 75 yards west of Lou Neff Point. I had been hearing planes fly overhead occasionally, but this one was loud and I knew it had to be the space shutttle. Luckily, there was a break in the trees where I was and I, along with a couple right ahead of me walking their bulldog all saw it. It was 7:40 am and the lighting was just beautiful as it flew past. I saw it for all of about three seconds before it disappeared behind some more trees. I'm so glad I got the chance to see it.
I saw it, too! I had gone on a five-mile walk on the Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail and was almost finished - about 75 yards west of Lou Neff Point. I had been hearing planes fly overhead occasionally, but this one was loud and I knew it had to be the space shutttle. Luckily, there was a break in the trees where I was and I, along with a couple right ahead of me walking their bulldog all saw it. It was 7:40 am and the lighting was just beautiful as it flew past. I saw it for all of about three seconds before it disappeared behind some more trees. I'm so glad I got the chance to see it.
Awesome!
I was wondering how loud it was downtown. My partner said it was probably so loud for us because they had to use full power to try and gain altitude over the hills where we live after being so low over downtown.
I would fear if it was as loud downtown as it was at home it would have scared the crap out of those in the towers down there. I bet more than a few hearts in the Austonian skipped a beat or two. :yikes:
That article says it was flying at 1,500 feet over downtown. It didn't sound all that loud when I saw it. I was on South Congress near the school for the deaf. I guess the traffic on Congress kind of drowned it out. It was awesome, though.
More here from Ralph Barrera. He took a photo my camera of the shot that I got. My fingers were greasy because my chain popped off my bike on South Congress.
Very cool! I used to live near Ellington Field and saw the Shuttle come in on a regular basis. I don't recall the 747 it is strapped to being overly loud. I don't think the engines are modified - just your normal hush engines. The F-16, F-15s, NASA trainers, Apache's and occasional A-10's, another story
Shuttle Endeavour to pass over downtown Austin on Thursday morning
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