Message posted by Thud on July 24, 2003 at 10:38:56 PST:
Basically, here what's going on. There used to be a connecting taxiway from the tarmac area to the "old" runway. See this satellite image: http://www.satelite.com/area51/groom_lake_afb.jpg You can see that it was a paved taxiway and that a temporary, not as wide, taxiway was installed between the "old" runway and the "new" runway. So, plans were made to install a permanent connecting taxiway from the tarmac area, accross the "old" runway" to the "new" runway. In about the same location. Constuction of the new taxiway was not built over the old taxiway for obvious reasons. You can't taxi on a taxiway under construction. In the following image, you can see the "new" taxiway and the "old" taxiway. But, the "old" taxiway has either been scapped up, or is covered with dust / dirt / debis: http://www.dreamlandresort.com/index_en.html In addition, notice it is the same width all the way to the "new" runway. To accommodate heavier and wider "articles". Also, you can see the there is quite and incline on this taxiway. No large aircraft is going to egress on that incline. Also, as Gary pointed out, in an earlier post. If a pilot had to abort from that runway, he might become a new monument on Tikapoo. And, if he were egressing the other direction he might become a permanent fixture on hanger 18. There are no runway stripes or runway numbers painted on this surface either. Further indicating this is a taxiway. Notice that the new taxiway's angle accommodate a longer landing rollout that the old one So, it's a taxiway fellas. Thud
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