Ok. The ride wasn't so much a once in a lifetime ride but the sights and the event sure were. Literally! It will never happen again.

I took a ride down PCH from Topanga Canyon to LAX this morning to see the Space Shuttle Endeavor make its final flight/landing aboard the NASA 747 transport plane. There were groups of people lining the roads, on top of buildings, looking out of office windows, etc. Thousands of people.

The Shuttle made two low altitude fly-by's, almost touch and go's, before finally landing. The first fly-by was on the north runway that parallels PCH. The second fly-by and the final landing, about 45 minutes later, were on the south runway near Imperial Hwy.

I was able to get myself pretty decent vantage points for each runway, but the PCH vantage point for the first fly-by was the closest I got. It was awesome. I swear it looked like I could throw a rock and hit the Shuttle, that's how close it was.

Here's a few pics...

 

End of an era. What a cool oppurtunity to see its final trip.

 

Nice, thanks for sharing. I got to see the Stennis Space Center flyby.

 

Jealous. It flew by here but didnt get a real good look like you did.

 

Excellent pictures! Thanks for sharing!

 

Your welcome...Oh his pictures!

 

Def an awesome sight! Being from the Houston area, I got to see the shuttle(s) on the back of that 747 many times. Very cool! Thanks for sharing the pics!! First time I saw it was not in the air but on the ground at Ellington Air Force Base just south of Houston with my scout troop as a young boy. Quite an experience for a kid!

 

I can't believe we are going to throw away all the years of research-lives and $$$$$$$$$
Kroozeabout.

 

Thanks for sharing............

 

Incredible pics,thanks.