People in New York will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity tomorrow to watch the Space Shuttle Enterprise head to its new home at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.
After nearly a week of weather-related delays, the shuttle is tentatively scheduled to fly to New York between 10:30am and 11:30am tomorrow, riding on a Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. The shuttle could fly as low as 1,000 feet as it heads to JFK International Airport. According to NYCAviation, the five boroughs will see the most action, but areas as far north as Tarrytown and Nyack, NY, and as far east as Westbury, NY, will also be able to see the shuttle.
Based on an FAA flight itinerary obtained by the aviation website, here are a few spots in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn where spectators are most likely to get a good view.
(Important: Please note that this route is subject to change due to weather and traffic conditions, and some of these spots might not get a flyby at all. That said, the Hudson River corridor will see the most action and the plane will land on JFK’s Runway 31L.)
Manhattan
1. Anywhere on the Hudson River: Pretty much any place with a view of the Hudson in the 30 mile stretch between Jersey City and Tarrytown — including the entire west side of Manhattan — will offer a great view as the Shuttle Carrier flies a lap up and down the river at altitudes between 1500 and 3000 ft.
2. Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum: Regular admission fees apply, but you can watch the Hudson River flyby from the flight deck.
3. Randalls Island: The north end of the island should offer a decent glimpse of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft enroute to its LaGuardia Airport flyby.
Queens
1. World’s Fair Marina, Flushing: From the east side of the Marina, a head-on low altitude view of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft on its LaGuardia Airport Runway 13 fly over.
2. World’s Fair Marina Pedestrian Bridge, Flushing: This bridge over the Grand Central Parkway, near the western end of the marina, will provide an elevated, side-on view of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft during and after its LaGuardia Airport Runway 13 fly over.
3. Fort Tilden, Rockaway Point: Distant view of the Shuttle Carrier as it flies east just off shore over the Atlantic enroute to its JFK flyby.
4. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, North End: This spot should offer a stunning view of the Shuttle Carrier after its JFK Airport flyby.
Brooklyn
1. Brooklyn Heights Promenade: Will offer a distant but clear view as the Shuttle Carrier flies past the Statue of Liberty at around 1500 ft.
2. Shore Parkway Promenade: In the shadow of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, this area should get at least two viewings of the Shuttle Carrier as it flies north over New York Harbor and south again.
3. Coney Island: Distant sightings possible as Enterprise begins its flight up the Harbor, or possibly after it flies south and east for its JFK flyby.