Afternoon on the Hudson

USS Intrepid at the pier on West 46th street.  She served 

many tours of duty during WW II and Vietnam, and in between

was involved in peacetime missions with NATO and served

as the primary recovery vessel for both the Mercury and

Gemini space missions.  She was hit once by a torpedo, 

and struck three separate times by Kamikaze planes.

Since 1982, she's been home to the Intrepid Sea, Air, 

and Space Museum.  29 years later, I finally made it there

and I'm glad I did. 

  

The A-12 Blackbird, 1960's CIA spy plane.

The Huey.  I immediately think of rice paddies and

watching the Vietnam war on the news every night.

North Korean MIG, 1950's Korean War era jet.

They were also flown well into the Vietnam War.

So small, like having a missile between your legs.

The Harrier Jump Jet, featuring vertical

take-off and landing.

Anchor chain capstans up in the fo'c's'le.

Docklines leading forward out of the Hurricane Bow.

My Father-in-Law, who turned 80 the day

before.  If I'm in half the good health he is

when and if I make 70, I'll be thrilled.

Thanks for the great afternoon, Reno!

On the pier next to the Intrepid sits the British Airways

Concorde.  Across the pond in half the time.  It reminds

me of Live-Aid in 1985 when Phil Collins played

Wembley Stadium with Sting earlier in the day,

then flew the Concorde to Philadelphia to play with

Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton later that night.

There was a surprising amount of legroom in the seats

but a very narrow aisle and microscopic restrooms.

It was apparently a very quiet ride because you went

 faster than the speed of sound. 

USS Growler, a Diesel powered nuclear submarine,

in commission from 1958 only until 1964. 

Powder room.

Captain's Cabin. At least he and the Commanding

Officer could sit upright in bed!

Commanding Officer's Stateroom.  I say closet.

Up periscope!

I'm thinking there were not too many tall or wide

submariners.  I'm both and I had to squeeze through

those small doorways, somewhat sideways.

Hey, what does this lever do?

This little galley fed 88 crewmembers!  Don't tell

me you can fit 88 slabs of Foie Gras on those

flat-tops and still keep them all rare.  No way!

Mess Deck.

The bottom bunks could not have had more than

16 inches of clearance.  Claustrophopic people

need not enlist.

The three lucky guys who slept in the stern torpedo

room had a bit more space.  It takes a special breed to

serve on a submarine.  This is a good time to thank all 

of the men and women who serve or have served

 us in all branches of the military!

P.S.- What I failed to mention was the miracle on the

Hudson, which apparently transpired almost straight out

from this area in the middle of the river.  Sully could not have

chosen a better place to land;  The wind was right, the river

was relatively calm and clear at the landing zone, and the

river at this particular junction is rife with water taxis.

It was a tailor-made, textbook emergency landing.  

Everyone should be so fortunate to have a pilot of his 

caliber at the helm.