Freeper Canteen ~ Road Trip: Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake ~ 08 SEPT 2009

Serving The Best Troops And Veterans In The World | The Canteen Crew

[laurenmarlowe]

 

 

~The FReeper Canteen Presents~

Road Trip: Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, California

The Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division (NAWCWD) is an organization within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), dedicated to maintaining a center of excellence in weapons development for the Department of the Navy (DoN). NAWCWD has two locations in Southern California; China Lake hosting the land test range and Point Mugu hosting the sea test range.

Nestled in the quiet Indian Wells Valley at the south eastern foot of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, China Lake is the premier land range and weapons development laboratory for the Department of the Navy.

The Indian Wells Valley is south of two prominent geologic extremes in the continental United States, Mount Whitney, the highest point (14,497 ft. above sea level) and Badwater, the lowest point (282 ft. below sea level). The area was once also home to the Native American Coso People, whose presence here is marked by thousands of archaeological sites; the Coso traded with other tribes as far away as San Luis Obispo County, California.

 This locale was also a site used by European miners and settlers whose cabins and mining structures are extant throughout the Station. Among the notable archaeological sites is the National Park Service's Coso Rock Art District, an area of some 99 square miles which contains more than 20,000 documented petroglyphs.

China Lake is steeped in Naval History. In the summer of 1943 Dr. Charles C. Lauritsen of the California Institute of Technology, and Navy Commander Jack Renard, flew a small plane over the vast Mojave Desert in search of the perfect remote location to establish a "shooting range" for testing Navy missiles.

They eventually spotted a small two-way landing strip in Inyokern. The site was extremely remote, but not too far removed from Cal Tech's Pasadena base. Shortly afterwards, the Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) was born.

Inventions tested and refined at China Lake include the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, the AGM-62 Walleye TV-guided glide bomb, the AGM-45 Shrike antiradar missile, the AIM-95 Agile missile, the AGM-122 Sidearm antiradar missile, the AGM-123 Skipper II laser-guided missile, the lightstick, and the continuous-rod warhead.

Learn More About The History Of China Lake HERE!

While service to the Fleet underlies every program at NAWCWD, direct support is the most important activity at China Lake. NAWCWD Fleet Weapons Support Teams are with naval forces throughout the world providing hands-on assistance. Division senior scientists and engineers serve in 1- to 3-year assignments as on-site Science and Technology Advisors stateside, at sea, and abroad.

 New operational flight programs and weapons capabilities are taken directly to Fleet squadrons by NAWCWD teams who train aircrews and maintenance personnel aboard ship.

In times of conflict, the Division's Land, Sea, and Electronic Combat Ranges are made available to the Fleet for training, and development of urgently needed new weapons and electronic combat equipment is fast tracked. Prototype systems (such as the NAWCWD-developed Rapid Targeting System) are taken directly into world hot spots by Division teams to provide additional capabilities for the DOD warfighters.

Learn More About Naval Air Warfare Center China Lake HERE!

The U.S. Naval Museum of Armament and Technology joins only 11 others across the country in telling the story of the U.S. Navy in peace and war. The museum is a place to learn about the Navy’s precision-guided weapons essential to our nation’s defense. Visitors also learn the story of China Lake — the “secret city” that for more than 60 years has developed, tested, and evaluated many of these weapons.

Located in China Lake, the museum at China Lake, "The U.S. Naval Museum of Armament and Technology" is full of intriguing technology and fascinating history that introduces visitors to the numerous contributions China Lake and the Navy have made to the defense of the nation.

Visit The U.S. Naval Museum Of Armament And Technology HERE!

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT~Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allies military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before. 

Please remember: The Canteen is a place to honor and entertain our troops. The Canteen is family friendly. Let's have fun!

We pray for your continued strength, to be strong in the face of adversity.

We pray for your safety, that you will return to your families and friends soon.

We pray that your hope, courage, and dignity remain unbroken, so that you may show others the way.

God Bless You All ~ Today, Tomorrow and Always

 

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

That is one fancy chair....d:o)

[luvie]

Was it a new one? Our TiVo didn’t pick it up like it was supposed to pick up new ones. I am gonna be mad if it was!

[SandRat]

a re-run on now and then a new after that.

[luvie]

Hmmmm....we don’t even have a new one on the list! Rats....I think TiVo is goofing up!

[HiJinx]

You make it home okay?

We’ve been back for a little less than an hour, now.

Up and back in one day makes for a long drive.

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Lauren, Kathy.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Mooch...I fell asleep. Now I’m awake and going to bed. LOL! Hope you had a nice Labor Day.

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, AZ, for the red, white, and blue tribute.

[Kathy in Alaska]

TAPS

RIP HM/3 Ben Castiglione, USN

Eternal Father Strong To Save

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning/afternoon/evening/night Troops, wherever you are.

Thank you for doing your part to help keep all of us free and safe.

Coffee is always on........

How about a donut?

Cookies?

Veggies?

Sandwich?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Last Post

RIP

Sgt Stuart Millar
Pte Kevin Elliott

The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland

Flowers of the Forest

[Pusterfuss]

Good morning Kathy. (60)

[Kathy in Alaska]

God bless and keep safe our troops worldwide.

Good night.

Statler Brothers ~ How Great Thou Art

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Kathy. How's it going?

A very pleasant good morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, Everyone. Good morning to our AWESOME military, our allies, and their families

Thank you, Lauren, for preparing the Canteen for today’s activities.

Now for our local DC Metroland weather report

~ Today....Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 69F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Rainfall near a half an inch.

~ Tonight....Showers this evening becoming less numerous overnight. Low 62F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.

I suppose you know that I really don't want to be back at work today, right? I mean, I can think of better things to do with my time. Oh, well, at least it's Tuesday....

We're in for some rain most of the week, it appears. And, cooler temps. But, those are welcomed.

Looks like some really wicked weather around the country. Hope none of the FReepers have been affected by any of it.

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend.

Alrighty, we're coming up on the final days of the fiscal year so I will probably get a little busier as the days and weeks go by.

Time for me to make my rounds. But, you stay right where you are. Don't touch that dial. And, remember – I’ll be watching!

Now remember, the Canteen is

So, come on in and sit for a while. There's always plenty of coffee, pancakes, conversation, silliness, and plain old BS

REMEMBER THEM

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allied military and the family members of the above Honoring those who have served before.

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Beach. How’s it going?

[beachn4fun]

Good morning and (((HUGS))) EG. All is well. Trying to catch up on pings and focus on what needs to be done today.

How was your weekend?

[E.G.C.]

Well, it went OK. Nothing special happening.

Today is Patch Tuesday. We have few updates getting ready to be downloaded.

May get some rain this week. We'll see.