FReeper Canteen ~ Road Trip: Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, California ~ 25 JAN 2011

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | laurenmarlowe

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

~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]

God bless and keep safe our troops worldwide.

Good night.

Statler Brothers ~ How Great Thou Art

[E.G.C.]

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.

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

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Lauren. Thanks for this morning’s thread. How’s it going?

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning to everyone at the Canteen. Busy week for me, so not much time for FR.

[Tanniker Smith]

Oh, my. Looks so serious. Like “Grammie, can I go back to my cupcakes now?”

[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.

~ Today... Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. South winds around 5 mph.

~ Tonight...Cloudy. A slight chance of rain in the evening...Then a chance of rain or snow after midnight. Lows in the lower 30s. Light and variable winds...Becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation 50 percent.

We seemed to be stuck in a spin-cycle with this weather system. UGH!

Ok, I know I'm late so this will be a generic post. I'm trying to catch up on pings. Sorry.

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

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

REMEMBER THEM

DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM

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.

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning beachy and (((HUGS))) to you.

[ConorMacNessa]

Good morning, Beachy!

*HUGS*

Looks like we're in for some Winter slop over the next 24 hours. How's everything going with you?

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, dear ((HUGS))

I’ve been reading JimRob’s Zot. Interesting reading. LOL

How are things out your way?

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, CMN ((HUGS))

The morning commute will be interesting for sure. Around the homestead it looks like it’ll be rain, but as I head north toward DC it’ll be a mix. Fun!

So, today, I’m going to relish the sun and slightly warmer temps.

Are you still driving to work? Or back on the train?

[E.G.C.]

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

[beachn4fun]

Good morning and ((HUGS)) EG. All is well. Getting some reading done, with work in between - LOL.

Howz it out your way? Howz the home reno’s going?

[Arrowhead1952]

We have a lot happening this week. Inspection later this week, so have to get some last minute stuff in order.

[ConorMacNessa]

Still driving to work at this juncture - I expect to go back on the train starting next week.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[E.G.C.]

It's going OK. We did get the bathtub put in. Getting one of the old tub pipes out was a big problem however as it took quite a bit of time and energy to get it unscrewed.

That pipe was old and rusted and those things are hard to get out.

Today, he puts the linoluem in. The sheetrock comes next and hopefully the toilet will be put in sometime today.

[beachn4fun]

Ahhh... the dreaded inspection. You’ll do well.

[HiJinx]

And I had retired by then...
Good Morning, Teenie!

[beachn4fun]

Yeah, those old pipes can give you troubles. Sounds like it’s moving along though.

[beachn4fun]

Since you are driving now did you get a handicap spot at work?

[ConorMacNessa]

Didn't need one - they have valet parking in my garage for the handicapped but I was able to just park normally.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!