Hidden Truth/Hidden Truth.iso/data/ftp-stuff/newstuff/lockheed-rcs-report

Text File | 1996-05-27 | 5.4 KB | 91 lines

Trip report-Lockheed RCS facility-June 25, 1994
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I knew that Lockheed Corp. has a classified facility for testing the radar
cross sections (RCS) of Stealth aircraft, in California's high desert, near
Helendale, CA, so I went looking for this facility. My first challenge was that
I didn't know where this facility was and my topographic atlas (DeLorme's
"Southern California Atlas & Gazetteer") showed 2 possible choices that were
reasonably close to the town of Helendale.

The two possible choices were Hawes Auxillary Airport and Helendale Airport.
I decided to check out Hawes first because the map showed a small area south
of the airport as a U.S. Military Reservation. I also found that the U.S.
Geological Survey 7.5 minute topographic maps of Hawes (Twelve Gauge Lake,
34117-H3-TF-024-00) and Helendale (Wild Crossing, 34117-G3-TF-024-00) were
last changed in 1973, so they are of limited use. After wandering around the
desert in 105 deg. Fahrenheit heat (40.5 deg. Celsius) studying the Hawes
facility with my 10x50 binoculars, I'm forced to conclude that Hawes is
not used at the present time.

This meant that the facility was at Helendale Airport. Maps show a "light
duty" road, Helendale Road, going south from Highway 58, past Helendale
Airport. Light duty in this case means a dirt road. TIP: this dirt road is not
as well maintained as the road going to Groom Lake. To be able to see the
rocks on the road and avoid them, you probably don't want to drive any faster
than 35 MPH (56 kilometers per hour) on this road. A good viewing spot is
about 6.5 miles south (10.4 km) of Highway 58.

Helendale Airport is definitely the location of the RCS facility, which is
east of the dirt road. You will see signs stating "Private Property - Lockheed
Corp." and a low barbed wire fence. My estimate is that you are less than
2 km. (1 1/4 miles) from the facility. It looks like the main runway is
the one that runs roughly North-South. You will see a small collection of
beige buildings. The main hangar is not very large -- it looks like it could
hold one large airplane at a time. When I was there, everything was "buttoned
up" so I didn't see any unusual aircraft. Also, they were not using the test
pylon that test aircraft are placed on. Some people have estimated that the
pylon can lift an aircraft 195 feet (60 m) in the air, so it can be bathed
in radar signals, so that the aircraft's stealth characteristics can be
understood. I've seen photos of the pylon in operation, and it appears to be
similar to the pylon at the radar test RAMS facility in New Mexico. (For an
illustration of the New Mexico pylon, see the June 13, 1994 issue of "Aviation
Week") Apparently, aircraft are "mated" to the pylon, just below the surface
of the ground. When I left Helendale Airport around 7 PM on a Saturday night,
there were a number of cars in the parking lot, possibly indicating that some
sort of test would be conducted late in the evening, when reconnaissance
satellites would not be able to "image" the facility. I had no encounters
with Lockheed security or local law enforcement. I can also report that after
a day out in the desert heat, a couple of ice cold Bohemia beers taste like
the nectar of the gods!


Radio monitoring:
_________________
I picked up one non-security transmission on my scanner, which had Lockheed
channels programmed in it. Unfortunately, the radio was sitting on the ground,
and I was holding binoculars, so I didn't catch the frequency. Here's a list
of Lockheed channels that I used (extracted from FCC records) (frequencies are
in Mhz, and FM unless otherwise stated):
  Helendale area: 153.2, 158.295
  Palmdale area (Plant 42): 153.2, 158.295, 334.7 (AM), 462.425
  California: 33.4, 121.9 (AM), 123.25 (AM), 123.325 (AM), 123.425 (AM),
    123.5 (AM), 123.9 (AM), 451.3875, 462.2125, 462.2625, 462.3125, 462.3625,
    462.4375, 463.2875
  anywhere in the US: 122.9 (AM), 123.125 (AM) , 123.15 (AM), 123.175 (AM),
    123.4 (AM), 123.575 (AM), 151.625, 154.57, 154.6, 464.5, 464.55


How to get to the Helendale RCS facility:
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I assume that you will want to stay on paved roads as much as possible - some
travel on a dirt road is still required though. Go north on Highway 395, from
Interstate 15 (towards Bishop and Adelanto). About 13 miles (20.8 km) north
of Adelanto, there will be a turn-off for Shadow Mountain Road, on the right.
When you get near highway callbox 395-262, slow down, because you will be
getting near Shadow Mountain Road. If you get to Kramer Road or Highway 58,
you've gone too far north. Go east on Shadow Mountain Road for about 6 miles
(9.6 km) and the road will run into the Helendale Road (on the left hand
side). Go north on Helendale Road on the part that is paved. Eventually,
the paved road will end and Helendale Road will become a dirt road. Keep
going north on the dirt road. Good viewing spots are in the area about 3
to 3 1/2 miles (4.8 to 5.6 km) north of where the paved road ends. Helendale
Road has some parts in there where you will have to slow down, because the
road has ruts and rocks in your path. This road is not designed to be driven
at high speed!! Interested visitors can also follow the signs in Adelanto
towards George Air Force Base. George AFB is being closed though as part
of the nationwide base closures, so there isn't much to see at George AFB.


Paul McGinnis / [e-mail]