Last STA

Tonight I had the priviledge of watching Terry and Zambo complete their final STAs, or simulated landings in the shuttle training aircraft. It was astounding, the thrill of a lifetime. The shuttle actually lands without engines as all the fuel is used for liftoff, so it lands like a 10 ton glider, or like a ton of bricks as my husband likes to say. It approaches at a very steep dive angle, 20 degrees to be exact and to put that into perspective, a standard airliner lands at a 2 1/2 degree dive angle. So that baby is humming!!! It roared over our heads, put out the gear for a perfect landing and then tookoff again for another run. Can't wait to see the real thing.