On September 21,  2012, the retired space shuttle Endeavour fixed atop NASA’s specially configured Boeing 747 flew from Edwards Air Force Base to LAX via several checkpoints all over San Francisco and Southern California.  I got up early that morning and drove to the birthplace of Endeavour - Palmdale, California, hoping to get some shots of the behemoth duo flying overhead.

I wasn’t disappointed.  Shortly after lifting off from Edwards the 747 made 3 passes over and around the Palmdale airport.  This was appropriate because all the space shuttles were built in the Plant 42 facility at Palmdale airport by Rockwell International.

The weather was gorgeous and thousands were in attendance to see Endeavour’s last flight. (Even if it was just strapped to the back of a 747.)  You can see a NASA F-18 chase aircraft in one of the photos.