This field trip includes tours of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Mesa Research Site and the Arizona Wing Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Museum.
The Air Force Research Laboratory's Mesa Research Site researches, demonstrates, and transitions leading-edge human performance methods and technologies that provide the Warfighter the necessary knowledge and skills to dominate the decision environment. Field trip attendees will see the technology developed to meet this mission, such as Distributed Mission Operations Testbed, with four networked F-16C simulators with 360 degree out-the-window visual displays and Weapons Director/Air Battle Manager Command and Control stations, Air and Space Operations Center Testbed, with visual displays and computer stations representing the Combat Operations Division, Night Vision Center of Excellence, with Night Vision Goggle training course and devices, and Joint Terminal Attack Control Training and Rehearsal System. The tour will be followed by lunch at Flight Deck Cafe and a chance to tour the Arizona Wing Commemorative Air Force Museum.
The Arizona Wing CAF Museum displays and fly’s a variety of aircraft from WW I through Vietnam, including WWII memorabilia and the most fully restored B-17 flying today, B-17G Flying Fortress Sentimental Journey, B-25, C-45, SNJ, F4 Phantom, Migs 15 & 21 and other warbirds.
For security reasons only US citizens may attend this tour.
Meet at Hotel for Departure: 0800
Return to Hotel: 1530
Cost: $7
Palo Verde Nuclear Site
The Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station®, located about 55 miles west of Phoenix, has been the largest power producer of any kind in the United States since 1992. Its three units are capable of generating nearly 4,000 megawatts of electricity. Because of its desert location, Palo Verde is the only nuclear plant in the United States that does not sit on a large body of water. Instead, it uses treated effluent from several area municipalities to meet its cooling water needs, recycling 20 billion gallons of wastewater each year. Palo Verde is the largest nuclear power plant and the largest single power production facility in the country. You will get a unique look at how power is produced using this safe, economic, and environmentally sound source of energy. In addition to a briefing by one of the plants representatives, you will get a closer look "inside the fence" at this engineering wonder, and the last plant licensed for construction in the United States.
Lunch will be provided during the tour.
Meet at Hotel for Departure: 0630
Return to Hotel: 1500
Cost: $0
Gila River Indian Community
The field trip to the Gila River Indian Community will consist of a visit to the Huhugam Heritage Center, which exhibits information and artifacts about the culture and heritage of the Akimel O'odham (the River People), or Pima; and the Pee Posh (the People), also known as the Maricopa. A primary function of the center is the curation of the Community's archaeological, ethnographical, and archival heritage. Archaeological collections from the Central Arizona Project Repository and the existing collections in the Cultural Resource Management Program constitute the majority of the Center's holdings. In addition, archaeological collections from other tribal and non-tribal lands are stored and preserved at the Huhugam Heritage Center.
Meet at Hotel for Departure: 0845
Return to Hotel: 1230
Cost: $0
Luke Air Force Base
Luke is the largest and only active-duty F-16 training base in the world with over 200 F-16s assigned. They trained more than 400 F-16 pilots last year, many of whom are student pilots who came to the base straight from pilot school to receive intense training on the F-16. These pilots graduate from Luke and proceed to combat assignments throughout the world. The Arizona legislature has recognized the importance of Luke's mission to the nation's national security by passing several state laws to formalize the communication cycle between Luke and municipalities, and to establish some compatible use definitions and protections in the high risk areas at both ends of Luke's parallel runways. Together, the base, local communities, the State of Arizona, and the state's Congressional delegation have instituted innovative measures to allow Luke to conduct its F-16 training mission. The tour of Luke Air Force base will include an informative presentation, flight line orientation, an end of runway visit to watch last chance ops, takeoffs and landings, tower visit, maintenance hangar visit and a weapons load demo. Lunch will be provided.
Meet at Hotel for Departure: 0800
Return to Hotel: 1400
Cost: $0
Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station
The Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station (NOFS) is located in a beautiful setting surrounded by old growth ponderosa pines and a view of the San Francisco Peaks. The mission of the Observatory is to make dark sky observations to meet both DoD requirements and the needs of the global astronomical community. The field trip will include a tour of the Observatory. Following the tour, participants will enjoy a discussion on ambient light issues affecting the Observatory and adjacent land acquisition issues to address encroachment along the boundary of the Observatory and nearby Camp Navajo. We will also entertain a short discussion on how the DoD Legacy program has assisted with further development of natural resource partnerships with other Federal, tribal, state, and local agencies. The Naval Observatory is supported by the NOFS- Camp Navajo Natural Resources Partnering Team. To complete this field trip, we will make a visit to the Coconino National Forest to view Mexican spotted owl habitat and learn about forest thinning for wildfire protection including preserving owl habitat for the future.
Meet at Hotel for Departure: 0730
Return to Hotel: 1700
Cost: $0
Biosphere
Tours include a historical overview of the Biosphere 2 project, a look inside under the glass at many of the biological systems within the structure, and discussion of past and current research underway. Bioshpere 2's most comprehensive tour is available throughout the day. Because Biosphere 2 is a research facility, the interior portion of this tour is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. The interior portion of the Biosphere 2 was opened to the public in the spring of 2002. The tour begins in the human habitat. Here you will see one of the apartments where the Biospherians lived, the farm area where they grew their crops and the kitchen where they cooked their meals. Your guide will then lead you through the airlock door into the wilderness areas of Biosphere 2 where you will experience firsthand the environments of this engineering marvel. You first enter the tropical savanna. The trail system then travels along the 40-foot ocean cliff where you look down into the million gallon tropical ocean. As you move along the trail, you descend into the lower savanna along the mangrove through the tropical thorn scrub and into the coastal fog desert. From the desert, you now go into the technosphere. The technosphere is where mechanical systems make control of the Biosphere 2 environments possible. From the technosphere you venture into the recently opened tropical rainforest which contains over 150 different species of plants, some more than 60 feet tall! Finally, you'll descend through a tunnel into one of two lungs. The lungs are large geodesic domes that originally prevented Biosphere 2 from exploding or imploding. Tours take from 1-1.5 hrs. Lunch will be provided.
Meet at Hotel for Departure: 0800
Return to Hotel: 1500
Cost: $15
Phoenix Zoo
The Phoenix Zoo is the largest non-profit zoo in the country and has an international reputation for its efforts on behalf of wildlife. The zoo has over 30 regional conservation initiatives including reintroducing animals into the wild. The Zoo participates in numerous local and international efforts on behalf of endangered species including many Arizona natives: the Mexican wolf, thick-billed parrot, California condor, black-footed ferret, leopard frog, gartersnakes, Sonoran mud turtles, razorback sucker, Gila topminnow, and Three Forks springsnail just to name a few.
The Phoenix Zoo works with other zoos, the American Zoological Society, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, universities, non-governmental organizations and the Department of Defense on projects to conserve, enhance and restore wildlife locally and abroad. Zoos are observing that there is less and less habitat for gene pools and are realizing additional needs for animals to have egress and ingress to wildlife areas (other protecting landscapes).
Join us on a train ride through the Phoenix Zoo and hear about the Zoo's work, including a discussion by the President of the Arizona Zoological Society (which runs the zoo) on regional collaborative efforts with the Department of Defense and others in the western region.
Meet at Hotel For Departure: 0730
Return to Hotel: 1100
Cost: $0
