Since 9/11, access to all the bases is extremely difficult. In the beginning, if I had to get on base, the vendor would pre-authorize me and, after a visit to the off-base visitor center for credentials, I had access for a day. As the years went by, I had to get all sorts of paperwork and jump through hoops for a 6 month pass. Then, the hammer came down. My company had to shell out almost $500 to get me a 4 year pass. So many forms, fingerprint and background check with the FBI, I-9 form from work, license, registration, proof of insurance, etc. But, now I just drive up, they scan my badge and I'm in. Except for Vandenburg - it's still a nightmare to get in there (Luckily, I rarely go there as other techs cover that one). Once I'm on base, I pretty much have to follow the rules I 'swore' to get the badge. I always have a camera with me and it's very tempting to photograph the 'cool' stuff but I like my job, hate jail and keep the camera in the glovebox. I am allowed to take pics at some places so I've included them here.
Point Mugu is a Naval Weapons development and test base. They've come up with some really neat things. There's always F/A-18's and Hawkeye Radar planes doing neat things there. I am allowed to say that the places I visit for networking and repair work are private contractors (ditto for Vandenburg and Port Hueneme). At Point Mugu, the vendors I visit design and build 'targets' for the Navy fliers. You've all seen the movie "Top Gun" where they try and shoot down each other with 'electronic-only' weapons but Point Mugu is a Live-Fire base. The 'targets' are real, jet powered and remote controlled. They can be small or very large. I've walked past them being assembled many times. That's about all I can say. As I walk down the halls, there are wall mounted photos of the 'targets' flying and being destroyed. What they are being destroyed with is what the Naval Weapons base designs (or assists with the design) and tests. This base has been around for a long time and has come up with all sorts of missiles. AAMRAN, HARM, SIDEWINDER and the list goes on. Whenever there is a 'training' exercise, the F-18's are up, live-armed and accompanied by (actually guided by) the airborne radar control Hawkeye aircraft. Sometimes, the Navy does the 'Top Gun' kind of stuff and they hire a private contractor to be the 'bad guys', just like in the 'Top Gun' movie. The private contractor hires former Navy/Air Force pilots, bring their own aircraft and the Good Guys and the Bad guys engage in the 'Top Gun' stuff. Electronic, not live ammo stuff. Very cool. I've seen all the aircraft on the ground and taking off/landing at Pt. Mugu. Guy stuff supreme. My favorite are the Hawkeye Radar control planes. They are the forward controllers of any battle in the air-any 'air' ops mission. Prop driven and a big radar dome on top. The wings fold up for aircraft carrier storage. Here's a pic of a retired one on the base.
This particular plane epitomizes the name, "Hawkeye". Here's another pic from around the side:
I just love the tail painting. Here's a close up:
As I said, this base develops or assists with the development of missiles. The various slogans, emblems and squadron names enforce that. How's this for cool:
The last pic is of an older missle, a Regulus II missile. When I was 12 or 13, I built a plastic model of it. Yea, lots of glue all over the place, but I loved it. This pic holds a special place in my heart because of that.
