The VAFB runway is 15000 ft of concrete. Built to take the weight of an
aborted shuttle polar shot with full load. The real problem is that VAFB is
an active base launching lots of Minuteman, Peacekeeper, Titan III and IV's
and public safety is a big concern. Now the National Missile Defense
programis launching from there as well (North VAFB, that is). IMHO it isn't
gonna happen, but I hope someone keeps trying! I spent 1967 -1975 and 1984
- 1990 there launching stuff and am pretty familiar with the area. Went to
school at San Luis Obispo, grew up in Oxnard/Port Hueneme, lived in Santa
Maria, etc.
mayf
At 10:11 AM 11/28/99 -0500, John Beckett wrote:
> Wes
>
> How long is the runway at Vandenburg anyway? And whats at either end?
>If you think the Militay is wraped in red tape try the FAA. The big problem
>may be getting the base commander to let Gold Coast Roadsters Club/SCTA have
>it, not once, but six times a year.
>
> There is a beautiful 15,000' strip of concrete in Oklahoma...old SAC
>base...about half way between East and West coast, but the FAA rules with
>iron fist.
>
> John Beckett
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Wester S Potter <wspotter@jps.net>
>To: land-speed@autox.team.net land-speed@autox.team.net
><land-speed@autox.team.net>
>Date: Saturday, November 27, 1999 11:11 PM
>Subject: Vandenberg runway
>
>
>>List,
>>Nothing in the way of racing at the present time but there have been some
>>preliminary discussions about using the runway there. From what I
>>understand there are a lot of problems involved with security ... they use
>>the runway for just helicopters now but it is a designated space shuttle
>>alternate landing strip. The other problem is that it is a test area for
>>the rockets involved in the intercept tests for possible incoming stuff.
>>Mayf is the expert on Vandenberg ... but he hasn't been heavily involved
>>there in recent times. Nothing in writing, either yes or no, at the
>present
>>time from what I was told, just a lot of red, red, military and government
>>tape. The encouraging thing is that there have been some preliminary
>>approaches made and responded to involving the Gold Coast Roadsters Club
>>people. Sure would beat the dirt at El Mirage. Longer course too.
>>Wes in SLC with the "Greatest Snow on Earth" just minutes away.
>
>
>
>
>
L.E. Mayfield
124 Maximillion Drive
Madison, Al. 35758-8171
1-256-837-1051
old >>>>>>>> http://www.hsv.tis.net/~mayfield
new >>>>>>>> http://home.hiwaay.net/~lemayf
DrMayf@AOL.com
lemay@hiwaay.net <<<<preferred
Sunbeam Tiger, B9471136
Sunbeam Alpine Bonneville Land Speed Racer,
'66 Hydroplane Drag Boat (390 FE)
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