Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
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.
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
So it's actually going to roll through the streets?
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
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!
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
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!
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
That grey canopy certainly looks a heck of a lot better than the blue one.
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
nice shots moose. from that angle, she looked like she was coming under her own power.
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Great coverage!
What time of night was it moved?
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by mirrodie
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.
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
How far is it from FRG to the factory? Why didn't they put it on a truck?
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Great shots Moose and Fred - nice to be there for a little history!!
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by GothamSpotter
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.
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Great shots guys, thanks for posting them.
Bill
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Quote:
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).
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
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/2...52_AToiF-L.jpg
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
very cool photos of the tomcat on the road !
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Quote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by GothamSpotter
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?
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Great stuff! Certainly something you don't see everyday.
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gerard
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/2...55_Rfz2K-L.jpg
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
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!
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
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: :?:
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
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.
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by 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.
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 ;)
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by AA 777
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!
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
>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.
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
I heard they lost a wingtip there.
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Fred you never cease to amaze me with those pics!!.. Awesome job!!
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
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)
Re: Felix Heads Home (Lots of Pix!)
Thanks for the kind words guys! :borat:
