Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)

[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.

[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!

[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!

[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

[wunaladreamin]

I heard they lost a wingtip there.