Eagle's Lair
Members Roster

Thursday, October 27, 2005

Ladies & Gentlemen:

The Edwards Air Show 2005 Trip has been made possible by financial donations by the following companies:  LevX® Corporation, McVay Mobile Welding, Eagle Machine, Inc, Aerial Machine and Tool, B & I Shopping Center, S&S Turbine Services Ltd,  Don Small and Son Petroleum and Rapp Hydema US.   Without their support, our appearance at Edwards Air Force Base would not be possible.

The team woke up to a chilly and slightly windy sunrise. After Tim Finley and Steve Wallace finished up their last minute work in the staging area, the team rolled out onto the lakebed once again for a last try at conducting a successful run.

Flags on cones were set up down the race course of runway 15/33 over a distance of 4 miles and team members went to work checking over systems and making sure everything was in order. After about an hour, Ed Shadle was given the signal by Crew Chief Bill Eckberg and he gradually brought the engine up from idle enough to get the NAE™ rolling.

Over the first mile, the NAE™ gradually continued accelerating & reaching a speed of 130 MPH. Dust from the lakebed was being stirred up in an immense cloud behind the NAE™. Ed then nudged the throttle up to 90% power, and by the second mile it was quickly going past 200 MPH. He then pulled back on the throttle and applied the magnetic brakes, speed brake doors, and parachutes to begin braking to take another mile to slow down to a stop. The magnetic brakes worked just as promised; it began slowing down the NAE™ but did not lock up the wheels.

The receiving team chased after the NAE™ and secured the area around the car to begin the process of preparing "the beast" for towing back to the staging area off the lakebed. The wind had intensified to the point of being unsafe and Ed made the decision to call it a successful day.

Overall, Ed was pleased with the performance of the engine, magnetic brakes and steering, and is looking forward to implementing some modifications for improve-ments once the NAE™ returns to its home in Spanaway, WA.

Col. Simpson w/ Ed Shadle

  

L to R: Major Lewis, Lakebed Larry & Muroc Mike - all exceptional individuals.

The entire team wishes to express its immense thanks and gratitude to all the wonderful people who were involved in supporting our testing endeavor. Without such support, this would not have been possible. From General Bedke, to Col. Simpson, Major Lewis, Lakebed Larry, Muroc Mike, the guys from 412th MX/MXMIM and the 412th EMS/MXMFB shops who stopped by to watch us work in the staging area and encourage us on, we say thank you for making us feel so welcome.

Johnny Baja

The team was pleased with all the goals accomplished and look forward to our next test runs; most likely in the spring of next year.

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