In 2001 the Corps of Engineers completed a Remedial Investigation at the Abandoned Landfill project to evaluate potential contaminants in the soil and groundwater. Since 1993, the Corps of Engineers has been assessing whether the soil and groundwater have been impacted by previous military activities and whether there is a risk to human health and the environment. The trench does not appear in aerial photographs after 1959. Historical aerial photographs and records indicate the trench was filled with water and served as a collection/infiltration pond. Based on site plans and historical aerial photographs of the airport the Corps of Engineers suspects that burning and disposal of ordnance and explosive waste materials occurred in this area.įrom 1945 to 1953, an elongated, Z-shaped trench was constructed on the landfill site. The Abandoned Landfill project comprises nearly 4.6 acres on the western portion of the Camarillo Airport property. This page provides information on the Abandoned Landfill project, which is part of the Camarillo Airport FUDS. The Corps of Engineers is investigating and monitoring the former Air Force base through the FUDS Program for potential environmental contamination that may remain from previous military activities. Elsie piloting, delivered Terry and I to KWVI before departing for KSNS.įor more information on the Castle Air Museum visit Camarillo Airport Formerly Used Defense Site, or FUDS, is located within the city limits of Camarillo, in Ventura County, California, approximately 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles. No doubt they were concerned about visitors encountering the poltergeist that wander the museum. We stayed until the museum closed the gates at 5 pm and sent us on our way. We brought our lunches, but there were vendors and with food and drink for the thousands of visitors that day. The museum was featured on an episode of UPN's Real Ghosts (1995). For years, museum staff have reported apparitions, voices, and other paranormal events around some of the warbirds. I channeled an experience from the 007 film adventure " Thunderball" by climbing the passageways and exploring the cockpit and navigation stations of the 60-year-old nuclear bomber. In the giant delta wing British Avro 'Vulcan' B-2 Bomber. Elsie and I agreed that George Lucas must have seen its retractable gun turrets and used them as the prototypes for the Star Wars turbo-lasers on the Imperial Starships. This thing weighed 410,000 pounds and had ten engines. It carried up to 22 crew and could stay aloft for more than two days (51 hours record) without refueling. It is the largest piston powered aircraft in the world. I stood in line for 20 minutes waiting for my turn in the flight deck under the expansive wingspan of the B-36. For example, we visited the behemoth warplane, the Convair B-36 "Peacemaker". Once inside the gates, we split up and wandered throughout the museum exploring various pieces of history and technology. It was operated, like everything at the museum by volunteers. We rode the shuttle van from the airport to the museum. Some aircraft are historically obscure, such as the North American B-45 Tornado from the 1950's period of early jet aircraft. From the pre WW-II warbirds, bombers trainers and transport, to the modern cold war fighters, tankers, and bombers including a B-52, an SR-71 'Blackbird' spy-plane. There was more to see and explore than anyone could do in a single day. Castle AIr Museum has more than 50 warbirds and this day was "Open Cockpit Day" Each aircraft has a group or organization of volunteers to restore and maintain the old birds and they were on hand to provide background informations and conduct tours of the planes. What a treat it is for us who adore flying machines to be able to wander among scores of airplanes representing 80 years of aviation history. There was plenty of room, the air base has a 11,802 foot runway and the facilities for former air wings of USAF bombers and tankers of the cold war era. Around 80 other private planes with pilots and passengers made the trip as well. It was a sunny day, perfect weather for the trip. Elsie H, Terry S, and Steve B jumped into Steve S's 172 (thank you Steve!) and cruised over the coastal mountains and across the central valley to the former Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, CA, now known as Castle Airport.
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