The problem is, if this event occured at 6000 feet, the aircraft would have to be far from shore at that point. I would guess an outbound aircraft out of LAX would have to be 10 miles out/off shore, or so before reaching an altitude of 6000 feet.
*The north side has a waterway and marina, and the south side has an oil refinery. Neither place where someone could set up a model rocket launcher without being seen.*
*The problem is, if this event occured at 6000 feet, the aircraft would have to be far from shore at that point. I would guess an outbound aircraft out of LAX would have to be 10 miles out/off shore, or so before reaching an altitude of 6000 feet.*
You are both wrong. I grew up there and know the area well. Between the runways and the ocean is a long, sandy hill parallel to the beach. Roads on both, beach and airport, sides of the hill. The long hill used to be covered with houses, and a Nike anti-aircraft radar site. City kicked out all the homeowners that lived under the flight path and bulldozed the houses. If you get through the fences, you have a lot of room to scurry around, only visible from the air. Would actually be a splendid place for an ambush, rightunder the climbing plane. Dunno what security LAX runs to keep people out.
As for 6000 feet, one of the newer mondo-powered airliners can climb like a scalded cat. Lifting off well before the end of the runway, I'd wager they can reach 5-6k feet not far from the beach, possibly less than 0.5 miles out.
Exactly. Also, many pleasure boaters don't get that far out there, especially with the rougher seas this time of year. I've been out there in 20 foot seas.
6000' from LAX is accomplished very quickly. Many flights are 1500 -3000 by the coastline there. 6000 in a couple miles is doable.