The Week of February 24, 2019 — The Work Force on the Project Has Now Reached 850 Strong

The Week of February 24, 2019 — The Work Force on the Project Has Now Reached 850 Strong

The feature image for this week is of a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Air Rescue 7 Helicopter, which was on approach to the south helipad located on top of the existing Children’s Hospital. It is rare for me to get a change to photograph the life flight helicopters from a good vantage point on the building. Today, I was able to capture two helicopters within minutes of each other. The first came in from the west, making its approach from the east and landed on the north helipad. A few minutes later made its approach from the east and landed on the south helipad. I was so engrossed in capturing the first helicopter, I failed see from what direction the second helicopter came.

Sunday, February 24, 2019, was a beautiful day to wander around the site. The temperature was not too cold or too cold. There was enough of a breeze to evaporate most of the mud puddles from last weeks rain.

Helicopters as Viewed From the 17th-Floor

A Southern Approach and Landing

The southbound helicopter comes out from behind the elevator tower and drops below the top floors of the Adult Hospital tower as it nears the south helipad.
The helicopter (arrow) drops lower as it slows in its approach, and skirts parallel to the Adult Hospital tower and just above the Children’s Hospital tower.
The steel frame and decking of the new helipad located on the western side of the Adult Hospital tower. To the left and down approximately eight stories is the south helipad on top of the existing Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. To the right and down approximately nine stories is the north helipad, which is on top of the research wing of the Medical Center.


A Northern Approach and Landing
If you look closely, you can see it. You may see its shadow before you see the helicopter. Its shadow is on the podium’s roof of the School of Dentistry clinic. The helicopter is above and a little ahead of the School of Dentistry tower that rises out of the podium. In case you can’t find it, the helicopter is in the inset in the upper right of the photo.

Inside the circle is the helicopter on approach to the north helipad (lower left center). A wide angle view from the 17th-floor (roof) of the Adult Hospital tower illustrates how small the helicopter appears to the surrounding buildings and the valley beyond.
Final Approach: Many times over the years, I have stood on the helipad on the north side of the Medical Center. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that one day I would stand on the roof of a new Adult Hospital tower and take a photo of a helicopter preparing to land on that helipad. In the mid 70s, I had the privilege of taking off from and landing on that helipad in a Bell Bubble Canopy Helicopter when I took aerial photos of the VA Hospital construction.
A few feet from touchdown.
The Corrugated Decking on the 17th Floor (Roof) and spectacular views
Upon exiting the lift on the 17th floor, this view of Mt. Baldy and the west valley greeted us
From the 17th floor (roof) looking toward the elevator tower and the 17th floor step up to access the elevator tower.
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Dennis E. Park, MA
After graduate school Dennis accepted a position at Loma Linda University. He worked there for 42 years in the areas of administration and financial management, also teaching accounting and management to dietetic students at the School of Public Health. Through the years Dennis has chronicled the growth of the campus, including the construction of the Drayson Center and the Centennial Complex and the razing of Gentry Gym. He is the author of "The Mound City Chronicles: A Pictorial History of Loma Linda University, A Health Sciences Institution 1905 - 2005." dEp 09.30.2016 🔨
3 Comments
    • Dennis Schall

    March 22 . What floor is the concrete pumping on today. With all the tarps, it is more difficult to know where the action is.

      • Dennis E. Park, MA

      In my email reply, I noticed something was messed up. It should have read: Today, they are pumping the lower section of the 17th floor (the roof) running east to west. On the roof there is a step up and so they are just pumping the lower section today.

        • Dennis E. Park, MA

        Dennis:

        I just posted the step on:The Week of February 24, 2019 — The Work Force on the Project Has Now Reached 850 Strong
        I believe it is the last photo. This should give you an idea. Will be posting more on the 17th floor this weekend