Eat your heart out, KaoFollow

As I'm walking towards our office in NYC, looking down 22nd street, I catch the tiniest glimpse of a really low-flying plane buzz past the city ahead of me.

First thought: Terrorists??

Second thought (.0042 seconds later): Wait....Space Shuttle?!

Third thought (1 second later): WTF???

Fourth thought (5 seconds later): Nobody on the street even reacted at all. Everything they say about this city is completely true.


So yeah, apparently it was doing a flyover in the city today. Would have loved to catch a pic of it, but I only saw it for the half a second it appeared between buildings down the street. Still pretty cool. Not to the bums on 22nd street, though, I guess. But I suppose it's hard to get excited about the Space Shuttle when you're already having a conversation with Hitler and an alien at the same time.

Edited, Apr 27th 2012 10:48am by Eske

I always pictured Heaven smelling less like urine and bum ****.

An office member in the field got a couple photos:

One of my favorite Christmas presents was a Lego Space Shuttle. I had a stomach virus that Christmas, and spent a large portion of the day throwing up. I was pretty laid out. But I wanted to put the shuttle together so bad that I lay over the side of my bed, and put the whole thing together with one hand in between retching fits.

Had trouble tracking down a photo of it, as I gather that they've put out subsequent iterations have gotten much more detailed.

This was the one, IIRC. I remember thinking that the fact that the back opened up to let you unfold the internal crane arm was the coolest thing ever.

Edited, Apr 27th 2012 11:33am by Eske

I never used Legos to build what was supposed to be built. I always ended up building tactical jet packs and cars/trucks with lasers and rocket launchers and stuff.

Back in the early nineties I was riding along with a friend somewhere and I just happened to look up and see a B-2 bomber flying overhead at a very low altitude. It was a little shocking to see that when you're not expecting it. It was on a Fourth of July and was probably doing a flyover of the Angel Stadium or something. It was pretty sweet.

I love Coronado Beach in San Diego for that same reason. There's an Air Force base (or Navy...I can't remember off the top of my head) that's literally right on the beach that seems to be constantly doing some sort of aerial operation. My knowledge of planes doesn't extend any further than the Ace Combat games, but IIRC it was mostly F-16's there. They'd take off and buzz the beach just a few hundred feet overhead, do a big circle over the ocean, then come back and land right above you again.

My favorite were the big fat transport planes. When they flew past, they'd emit this thundering low pitch drone that would vibrate your internal organs.

"Only one owner, an old lady who barely took it into low-earth orbit on Sundays..."


SpoilerAlso, the dashboard is made of eagles

Edited, Apr 27th 2012 2:35pm by Jophiel

Yup. They fly around from North Island and come back on approach right up the beach. I haven't been there in awhile, but it used to be like a plane every 15 minutes or so flying right overhead. Pretty darn cool. I also saw my first B2 fly right overhead when I used to live in University City. The commute from there to Sorrento Valley basically crosses the flight path going into Miramar. It was a day or two before the start of the air show, and there was a marine layer going on. The thing just kinda flew out of the clouds and right over us. It was quiet and big. Really neat.

I love when the air show comes around because my office building is kinda right on one of the paths the Blue Angels fly. So the Friday before the show, I get to sit and watch them. They usually buzz the building a couple times as well. Looks like they're flying right at my window, in formation, then fly over the building. I really did try to get a picture/video of this last summer for Kao, but my little digital camera can't focus through the window apparently (or at smallish objects at a distance moving quickly). Basically got nothing except a blur at the last moment.

I see Osprey flying around all the time now as well. Ok, I hear and feel them. They're loud. Think helicopter and then think louder than that. Also, the propellers are at an interesting angle and as they fly by you can feel the cavitation effect from them (especially if you happen to be in a parking garage at the time). Very very cool planes.

I can't believe they did a flyover in NYC. It looks cool don't get me wrong but imo, it is still too soon and I can't believe no one freaked out as OP mentioned (yes, I was in lower Manhattan on 9/11). It sounds like the govt. announced the flyover ahead of time but for folks who didn't get the memo, I imagine they had flashbacks.

I've asked the life flight crew if I can go for ride sometime. Apparently, they have rules against that sort of thing.

I live less than 2 miles (as the crow flies) from the Naval Air Station New Orleans. If I step outside my condo and look south, pretty much any time of day I can see some type plane flying around either doing training ops or just cargo/transit planes landing at the base.

I couldn't for the life of me tell you what kind of planes they are, but I can see them! I also have a friend who is a jet engine mechanic at the base.

Judging by the "76" hat, it looks like that is the starboard catipult from USS Ronald Reagan CVN-76. I'm going to be curious how many of those they convert over to EMALS at their half lifespan overhaul. The EMALS electromagnetic unit takes up about 4 times as much width as the steam tube, so it will be a total deck rebuild if they do. But should lower operating costs a bunch.

Neat!