6 replies to this topic

[Phil Hackett]

Sonic Products is near LAX (about 6 miles) and Jack Northrup Field (1.5 miles) and aircraft traffic isn't unusual... But a few minutes ago the helicopter formation just flew over the shop... maybe at 300-500 feet and *slow* on a vector to LAX... Note the FlightAware screen where the air traffic has been cleared and these aircraft are not being shown on the screen... and since I'm on a uploading of local aerospace/military picts there's an oversized load in front of SpaceX. I have no idea what might be under the cone-shaped cover...

 

 

 

[Cheater]

Let us know if you find out please!

[Dave Crevie]

My guess it is the Orion space capsule. I've seen it at Lockheed-Martin in a similar cover in photos. On the trailer behind would be the companion living quarters. The covering is necessary to protect the aluminum-lithium alloy skin on the capsule. 

 

 

 

 

 

More next post...

[Dave Crevie]

Rest of photos:

 

 

[Phil Hackett]

Those cone-shaped loads are very common around SpaceX.

 

What's curious is an Amazon distribution warehouse closed a year or so ago nearby and it's obvious that something SpaceX related is happening there. There's no signage on the building and the security has been increased since Amazon left. I don't think SpaceX rented the property just to have more employee parking. It's a very odd situation. I'm sensitive to 'stealth' buildings and this one is pretty obvious.

 

(Don't get me going on the building where they (not SpaceX-related) built a second wall just inside the exterior wall for some reason. It's a modern building that fits in to the modern industrial/commercial park it's located. There were a number of weird things about it but it has never had any sort of signage or indication of anyone working there. I suspect a tunnel from another building in the area.... oh, it's also beautifully maintained.

 

Lots of stealth building around here and I pass by what used to be ((still could be for all I know)) a Northrup lab. It's big and there's a dedicated power line that travels several miles that goes to it. Northrup moved away and sold a lot of property but this facility remains with no signage and people working there. It's an odd place.)

 

Sorry for the digression...

[Dave Crevie]

You are near a lot of aerospace activity, although much of it has moved away. My uncle Fred Hazelhorst worked for Rocketdyne when they were in Canoga Park. Walking distance from where he and part of my mother's family lived. He left when they merged with Aerojet. I had a large collection of photos he sent me, taken inside the engineering dept. A lot of them can be found on the web, specifically on Wikipedia. 

 

 

 

[Dave Crevie]

More photos;

 

 

 

 

Uncle Fred was instrumental in getting me into building rocket engines for the space program, which in turn brought more work into the company I was working for at the time.