Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)

[moose135]

Today is the big move - Felix 101, the Tomcat at FRG, is being moved to Grumman's Bethpage plant. As the first part of the move, she was lifted over the fence into the parking lot at the Airpower Museum. Tonight she gets towed to Bethpage. Here are some shots of the lift:

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290318479_Swp64-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290317298_F2D2W-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290316808_tp8qu-L-1.jpg

She was a little tail-heavy with all the internal equipment removed, so the crew added some weight to the forward compartments.
http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290315672_EG3z6-L-1.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290314286_YDkDX-L-1.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290312545_YgXnd-L-1.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290310968_Gbtsk-L-1.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290310297_CSCv2-L-1.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290309405_qEkdm-L-1.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290308713_rE7j4-L-1.jpg

Turn signals for a Tomcat!
http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290319965_LDxHA-L-1.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290319794_Xgcbn-L-1.jpg

[Greg_NY]

Thanks for posting this Moose. I was there yesterday and was wondering how they would get it out of the airport property - I figured there must be a large gate somwehere.

I am tempted to go take a look at the move tonight.

[PhilDernerJr]

So it's actually going to roll through the streets?

[nikon50bigma]

Great coverage!
It is so different to see a beast of a plane like that in the third photo being lifted by the crane like that.

See ya in Bethpage Felix 101!

[h2opunk1822]

Being there today and actually helping with the move i have to say was one of the most memorable things i have been thru since i started working at FRG!.. trying to hold that rope and stop it from swinging was def a good workout for the week!

[nikon50bigma]

That grey canopy certainly looks a heck of a lot better than the blue one.

[cancidas]

nice shots moose. from that angle, she looked like she was coming under her own power.

[Derf]

I was out all day and night, Moose an I had a great day...Now I just need sleep!
Here are a few quickies from the thousands of shots! ;)

http://derf.smugmug.com/photos/290741623_MTWp4-M.jpg

http://derf.smugmug.com/photos/290741644_nQMCK-M.jpg

Last ever Tomcat Sunset in Farmingdale
http://derf.smugmug.com/photos/290741671_WNFCM-M.jpg

http://derf.smugmug.com/photos/290741690_emHcy-M.jpg

http://derf.smugmug.com/photos/290741719_TDDey-M.jpg

http://derf.smugmug.com/photos/290741753_tyYvi-M.jpg

http://derf.smugmug.com/photos/290741791_VsWzE-M.jpg

http://derf.smugmug.com/photos/290741838_k6wKJ-M.jpg

http://derf.smugmug.com/photos/290741872_d9Jha-M.jpg

http://derf.smugmug.com/photos/290741911_F3bk3-M.jpg

http://derf.smugmug.com/photos/290741943_egQWA-M.jpg

http://derf.smugmug.com/photos/290741975_uzVNB-M.jpg

OK, no sleep and I got to go to work in 2 hours! UGH!!!!

[mirrodie]

Great coverage!

What time of night was it moved?

[moose135]

Great coverage!

What time of night was it moved?

It started rolling around 2am, about an hour later than originally planned. We pulled into the Bethpage plant around 4:15am.

[Matt Molnar]

How far is it from FRG to the factory? Why didn't they put it on a truck?

[MarkLawrence]

Great shots Moose and Fred - nice to be there for a little history!!

[moose135]

How far is it from FRG to the factory? Why didn't they put it on a truck?
The route they took was just at 8 miles. I think they would have had some clearance problems with traffic lights if it was up higher on a trailer, and since the gear were good, it made sense to tow it.

[moose135]

After a very little bit of sleep, here are some of my shots from last night,

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290795743_ZGp2g-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290796437_Rw5FP-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290797776_iUXJQ-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290798373_2AtNa-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290801186_67Xx5-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290799488_YqM4G-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290800825_BeorW-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290801525_dn8Eu-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290802345_E4thv-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290802595_5JSjE-L.jpg

An interesting footnote - Bay Crane, the company that did the move, also moved the Concorde onto the Intrepid and to Floyd Bennett Field.

[njgtr82]

Great shots guys, thanks for posting them.

Bill

[lijk604]

An interesting footnote - Bay Crane, the company that did the move, also moved the Concorde onto the Intrepid and to Floyd Bennett Field.

Bay Crane is the "heavy lifting" specialists. When I worked at UA, Bay Crane was actually listed in the Emergency Response Manual in case they were ever needed to lift an "injured" aircraft onto a flatbed. (Loss of nose gear,etc).

[moose135]

One last shot...sometime early this morning, while I was sleeping, they lifted the Tomcat onto the pad at Bethpage. This afternoon they were doing final assembly work on it.

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290926652_AToiF-L.jpg

[nikon50bigma]

very cool photos of the tomcat on the road !

[Gerard]

How far is it from FRG to the factory? Why didn't they put it on a truck?
The route they took was just at 8 miles. I think they would have had some clearance problems with traffic lights if it was up higher on a trailer, and since the gear were good, it made sense to tow it.

Conklin/Hempstead Tpk to Rt 107? And did you have a PD escort?

[T-Bird76]

Great stuff! Certainly something you don't see everyday.

[moose135]

Conklin/Hempstead Tpk to Rt 107? And did you have a PD escort?
No, Rt 110 to Spagnoli Road, up to Old Country Road then down South Oyster Bay Road. We had 4 or 5 State Troopers with us running interference on the traffic. Can't imagine what some of those people must have been thinking - have a trooper block the intersection in front of you, then see a Tomcat come rolling past!

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/290799755_Rfz2K-L.jpg

[mirrodie]

John and Fred, I'll tell you, I don;t think I could have done a late night. But I sure am glad you guys caught the action and posted these photos. Must truly have been a night to remember!

[AA 777]

Awesome pics guys! I'll have to drive past her when I get back up there in a week or so!

Just a random thought that Futterman and I came up with.... Why didnt they just take a section or two of fence down instead of dealing with a massive lift like that??? :shock: :?:

[Derf]

Security issue.... They wanted to do that but it was not possilbe. Huge issue pulling the posts out of reinforced tarmac (where the parking lot is now). Oh, and the FAA would not allow that as well. Where they did pull them, it was in dirt.

[T-Bird76]

Security issue.... They wanted to do that but it was not possilbe. Huge issue pulling the posts out of reinforced tarmac (where the parking lot is now). Oh, and the FAA would not allow that as well. Where they did pull them, it was in dirt.

Security issue??? The dam fence on New Highway gets knocked down once a week...and remains compromised for a few days before it’s fixed. lol But since the word FAA came into the picture it makes perfect sense, no need to explain further, hehe ;)

[GrummanFan]

Why didnt they just take a section or two of fence down instead of dealing with a massive lift like that??? :shock: :?:

That would also be too boring. Much more fun to use a gigantic crane to lift a jet fighter dozens of feet in the air surprisingly close to many awed onlookers with fancy cameras.

Great job with the coverage guys!

[Derf]

Processing now, I like this one!

http://derf.smugmug.com/photos/291411529_NoNMu-L-1.jpg

[Gerard]

>No, Rt 110 to Spagnoli Road, up to Old Country Road then down South Oyster Bay Road. We had 4 or 5 State Troopers with us running interference on the traffic. Can't imagine what some of those people must have been thinking - have a trooper block the intersection in front of you, then see a Tomcat come rolling past!<

Wow they came right past my neighborhood!! If I only knew.
Thanks.

[Derf]

Another
http://derf.smugmug.com/photos/291568002_zKGSC-L.jpg

[wunaladreamin]

I heard they lost a wingtip there.

[Derf]

Here is a new one
http://www.longislandwallpapers.com/photos/293432955_JbZCj-M-1.jpg

http://www.longislandwallpapers.com/photos/293432488_sRHzx-M-1.jpg

Artsy fartsy shot
http://www.longislandwallpapers.com/photos/293433327_6nMWN-L-2.jpg

[h2opunk1822]

Fred you never cease to amaze me with those pics!!.. Awesome job!!

[nikon50bigma]

Great shots!

[MORS-AB-ALTO]

Those Felix 101 shots at Bethpage have a real haunting touch to them Fred. If not for the shadow I would swear they were done at hight. 8)

[Derf]

Thanks for the kind words guys! :borat: