pdunn: Comments

Anonymous,

The miniature planes are no longer visibile. They were in the area that has the strange discoloration at the very end of the tarmac.

Thanks for the inside scoop! I'll correct the description to reflect your input.

The plane itself is an A-4 Skyhawk.

Looking for a TBM Avenger, by any chance?

Thanks for the article, skyeye! This was one of my first postings on what was then Google Globetrotting, back when I'd spend hours in a day scouring rooftops for just such a find.

Wow, fascinating post.

I think it's an F-86 Sabre Jet.
http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/YankeeAirMuseum/2007/Highlights/F86Tom07.jpg

Wow, that (post above) was horrible news. What a loss.

Just part of the annual sphere migration:

http://journalofrheology.org/resource/1/jorhd2/v48/i3/p551_s1?isAuthorized=no

Interesting that the epicenter of Pakistan's big earthquake 08-05-2005 was just 32.5 km away and happened the same year OBL purportedly moved into his compound.

More on the helo wreckage featured in Skyeye's link. Here's a closer look at it as featured in Aviation Week. Turns out it is a newly developed stealth version of the Blackhawk UH-60.

...

Great link, Skyeye. The photo of the compound (immediately after the helicopter wreckage against the wall) illustrates just how ironic it is that OBL would locate here. The large script written across the mountainside says "Home of the Pfiffers 2005" — the moniker of the Pakistani Army's Frontier Force Regiment. Evidently, it was scrawled on the mountainside the same year Osama's compound was being constructed beneath it.

A post-strike video shot by a local Abbottābad resident: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlWMsApBOws&feature=player_embedded

The Pentagon has confirmed that the (Parabellum) BBC location is the correct one. Here are their photos of the compound published in The National Journal: http://nationaljournal.com/nationalsecurity/pictures-u-s-photos-of-the-bin-laden-compound-20110502

Makes you wonder if the Google-car drivers chalk up a "that'll be a great one." mental list as they pass by these slices of life.

This is one of my all-time favorites! Great post of great fun.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/PuwN25KEOLTekBWe9lVgmw?feat=embedwebsite

A new video of the X-47B during flight tests.

That's gotta be one of the cooler images.

CheesyCheetah, have enjoyed your maps. Be sure to always include a more info link on sites like these that are easily researchable.

Massive whirlpool following Japan quake (03/11/11):
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/03/11/vo.whirlpool.earthquake.nhk?hpt=C2

Making this even more intriguing, the very next click behind her has a woman (red dress against the curb) showing even more cleavage than the reflection, with no censoring. What gives?

Judging by the high-value of the agents the Russians exchanged for the release of the New York 10, you'd have to believe they had far more to show for their time in the US than has yet been reported.

Here is the complete history of the Howard N173U as chronicled by the Warbird Registry:
5650 • PV-1 Bu34760 (to RAF as FP608)
GR Mk.V (to SAAF as 6433): del. 27.9.43: SOC TT 554 hr 60
N127N Howard Aero Inc, San Antonio TX .59/61
Howard (stripped airframe shipped ex S.Africa 12.59,
Super Ventura conv. to Howard Super Ventura 8.61 at
San Antonio TX, line no. #45)
Howard 500 N90N Natural Gas Pipeline Co, Chicago IL .61/67
(c/n...

Anonymous, your comment seems to address Howard 500s in general; but not the lineage of the specific airframe pictured here. As you will note, the description follows the airframe throughout its entire history and its various owners from its initial construction to its eventual conversion. If you have documentation you would like to share that refutes this particular aircraft's well-documented history, we'd love to see it.

I came across this YouTube clip showing the April, 1945 demolition of the pens using 30 tons of explosives:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M67oS0g4pE

That is creepy, Anonymous. A poltergiest?

Do you have a more info link you can provide? Who is the artist? When was it installed?

Please provide a more info link on your submissions.

I'll give you that there are no pools of blood or bullet holes in the car's windows, and the people around seem pretty casual about the whole ordeal. But where's the fun in that? Where's the mystery?

If it's a siesta, the guy has chosen to take a nap amid bags of rotting garbage.

Assuming it is a homicide, some more armchair sleuthing:
You can tell by the fresh tire tracks in the loose sand, that the white car was the last car to enter (it's tracks are over all the others and it went in diagonally, so a trailing car would probably overlap the tracks at some point). There is a fresh bike or motorcycle track that goes parallel to the car tracks to the right, but...

I'd think a person of interest to the Mexican police would be the guy sitting on the yellow wall to the right of the crime scene.

You titled this a "Double Homicide" where is the second?

Yikes! Makes you feel for the Google drivers who seem to venture into even the most dangerous neighborhoods. There was also this map of a guy with a gun drawn toward the Google Street View car:
http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/guy-with-a-gun/

The thumbnail shows the unobscured event; however, Google has since blurred out the photo—first by simply blurring the gun, but now blurring out...

This is a Boeing C-117 Globemaster III. It does not have a nose section that can be raised to load cargo as required by the scavenger hunt category.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_C-17_Globemaster_III

Definitely a submarine, but not a dry-dock as required by the scavenger hunt category.

This doesn't appear to be a military vessel or facility.

I'm afraid this one doesn't meet the spirit of "Note4" of the scavenger hunt. The planes would have to have been assembled (as in built) outside, not been assembled in a group outside.

Nice find. Just squeaked under the "at least three rides" req.

There are people on a American Football field, but they are not in any recognizable formations or in sufficient numbers to indicate a game is being played. We'll have to withhold the scavenger hunt points on this one.

Those aren't backed-up cars, but construction equipment working on a drawbridge under construction or repair—contrary to the requirements specified in "Note 3" for the scavenger hunt.

This one has the backed-up cars, but lacks the bridge being in the upright position required to get points for the scavenger hunt/

This is a very nice post. Unfortunately, for this month's scavenger hunt all entries must be "Old School Google Maps."

Please resubmit the thumbnail without all the Google-trappings and we'll be happy to give you the points for the scavenger hunt.

The more info link you provided for tje scavenger hunt's "Note 1" requirements was insufficient.

By the looks of the bullet-riddled cinderblock wall down the street, it looks like the guy uses it from time to time.

My guess is it is either a damaged F-18 or possibly its precursor, Northrop's YF-17 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_YF-17

Looks like the last days of an F-111 Aardvark

Thanks for the insight! I'd come across a few of these and had no idea what their purpose was.

Thanks for the detailed ID, Gosell!

Love the title!

I particularly like the mosque outside of town with the gold "radome" dome.

Great find! When you discover a map like this, the story behind it usually comes weeks or months later (if at all), when someone who knows the story weighs in. In the mean time, if anyone knows of a news article detailing the events of this particular house, feel free to post it.

Thanks for the insight. There's always that one person in the VGT community who's able to add a personal revelation that solves the mystery to even the most perplexing maps.

Nice find!

Track back(south) to where the water crosses the road, and it looks like there's a rhino drinking to the west (in the distance).

That had to be a thrill to come across after clicking on miles of brush.

Looks like we have a winner! Once Kjfitz concurs, it'll be official. Congrats, hhgygy!

Nice find!!

There are actually two models here, one up at a steep angle (more evident in other compass points)

Welcome to VGT! Nice first posting.

Pmoore pointed out in a duplicate submission that the artist was killed when the piece fell on him during installation.

That makes more sense than this link that claims it to be the "Fat Boat," the fastest eco-powered boat, fueled by human fat:
...

Judging by the type of trucks and RVs in the adjacent parking lot, I think you have come across "extras" on a movie set. I'm guessing the RVs are the dressing rooms for the actors. If you're lucky you may find a celebrity or two in the area.

Four years later, a photo:

http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-03/boot-process-complete-awaiting-command

Coronado is a big US Navy town. It could also be in celebration of the return of a ship after a long deployment or something similar.

So, that's where I parked it!!

I wonder if it could be related to the recent passing following an illness of Olaina Reed-hall who played the popular Sesame character "Gloria?"
http://www.hollywoodmemoir.com/alaina-reed-hall

Good catch! I've updated the map.

You are absolutely right. Definitely a different image and perhaps plane than the first imagery. Perhaps it is on static display and was removed for a time for repainting and refurbishing. Also, the scale compared to the surrounding buildings seem to me to be way out of whack. Looks like there is an AA emplacement right next to it. Perhaps it's a decoy.

Ford Cobra?
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ford_Cobra_no.66.jpg

Call it coincidence, but I saw one just like it on New Years Eve. Go figure.

zoom out and you can see the same plane just a bit ahead. Makes it appear to be landing in formation.

Must be the holidays. Still up 12/27/09

Zoom in on the windshield of the Honda CR-V and it's shattered.

Good call adrbr. I think the south view seals it. I'll update the description from a possible Fiat G-50 to the Yak-52

Terrific find! I don't know how you do it.

Thanks for the update. I think you'll find you get more viewership when you include a more info link. What is it that makes this cemetery and church relevant to your audience, other than that it is 15 kms east of Salzburg?

The fact it's from satellite and not BEV at that resolution is also pretty impressive.

Great collection of yachts, Boris. It's good to have you onboard VGT!

I can't remember a map with more hits quicker.

Please provide a "more info" link

Wonder what's the story of that 737 behind it?

Sorry, neo. I fixed your link before reading your comment. I will "unfix" it so nic has the example you intended.

Congratulations on posting Virtual Globetrotting's 77,000th map!

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/05/Pasco/Skydiver_tumbles_to_d.shtml
This article shows a photo of the accident aftermath, with an officer on the scene walking past the orange and black striped chute that is visible in the BEV imagery. The pickup truck in the imagery is also in the photo.

I think the progression of events starts with the west view, where the ambulance and a pickup from the skydiving company are first on the scene;t hen switches to the east view where a firetruck and the first police arrive on the scene, the fire chief's truck can be seen turning off the access road; next the south view, where the fire chief truck is seen leaving; and then finally, the north view, where the ambulance and fire crews have left, leaving the police, now with a gold car (probably the...

Check out the mini-bone/junk yard next door

Are you positive that this is a barrier and not tanks caught in action on maneuver?

Champion3,
It's obvious you are putting much time into the maps you have found. Be sure to make that last step and ensure your coordinates are leading to the thumbnail you have posted. I think what is happening is that after finding the view you are looking for in Birds Eye View, you are not then clicking on the "aerial" or "map" view ( locking in the coordinates) after locating your address, and then switching back to Birds Eye View to cut or copy the new coordinates (see tutorial...

Check out the shadow of the Google guy on his tricked-out bike

Excellent sleuthing!

It has a pointy little nose, a wake, and has been rumored to playfully pull people at great speeds with wooden planks strapped to their feet.

Judging by the shear number of officers on the scene, the chalk circles drawn under the wheels of the bike, and all the numbered chalk-marks retracing the bike's final moments down the road, I don't think the bike's rider met with a "favorable" outcome on this one.

Some stunning photos of Nepal's Chitwan National Park:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3051046&id=122146418522&ref=mf#/photo.php?pid=3051097&id=122146418522&ref=mf

No longer there after latest update.

Wow, what a harrowing escape and sad loss of a great plane.

I think it's a "64." My dad drives one.

He shoots...and scores!

The video above is of an IL-76, not an IL-124, but still worth the watch.

Here is a humorous video from Austrailia of one of these trying to lift off carrying one million pounds. "Trying" being the operative word.
http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/2008-2-9-Il76-in-Australia.wmv