Video: Shuttle Enterprise Being Lifted Off Of The 747 At JFK

 When I posted the video of Shuttle Discovery being mounted on top of the 747 for transport to the National Air & Space Museum (5th and last video in that post) I noticed the rather massive structure that's used in lifting the Shuttle into place onto the back of the 747. I wondered right then about what's used when they move a Shuttle to a random location such as a museum. So I was really interested in seeing this silent video that shows the Shuttle Enterprise (the glide test Shuttle that never went into space) after it has been moved out of the Air & Space Museum (to make room for Discovery) and was transported to JFK to eventually work its way to the deck of the USS Intrepid WWII aircraft carrier, the foundation for the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.

 The crane and associated apparatus used here seems nicely simplified compared to that massive scaffold structure, but also easily up to the task of safely lifting the Shuttle off of the 747 and then down to the ground. A job well done I'd say.

 If you're interested in checking out Enterprise in her new home, the Space Shuttle pavilion at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum is scheduled to open on July 19, 2012.

Comments

[Barry Nightingale]

I like it all. I was looking for a picture I saw of the Shuttle being lifted by a crane - it seemed so sad as it did so much and so many sacrifices. I'm one of those old farts that believe Man landed on the Moon. Then the last fuel tank vid reminded me of a song from an old band you might have heard of Pink Floyd. The Gunners Dream: Floating down, through the clouds, memories come up to meet me now, but in the space between the heavens and the corner of some foreign field, I had a dream.... Then it gets a bit sentimental. Hey what could have Apollo done with 64 bit technology? And I really liked seeing the shuttle being off loaded in fast time, it made me wonder about the technical details of looking after a piece of great History.. Thank you..