Layover

I'm on my way to a conference in South Carolina, but the Edinburgh flights (as well as ones via London) all get into the US too late for connecting flights to SC, so I had to fly over today, stay the night at Newark, and fly on to SC tomorrow.  

My colleague and I made the best of arriving promptly by going to the Intrepid museum, centred around the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid.  As well as exploring the ship, there are lots of aircraft on the flight deck and on hangar decks below.  

There is also a space shuttle!  I watched the shuttle program with fascination as a kid.  I narrowly missed seeing one in Seattle a couple of years back, so today was the first time I've seen one.  Walking underneath Enterprise she feels remarkably ordinary - if perhaps a bit bigger than I expected.  The delta shape is reminiscent of a Vulcan, or a robust version of Concorde.  The landing wheels and gear are surprisingly just like any aircraft.

It's when you look at the body that things are wierd - it's almost as if someone bolted a couple of portacabins on top of a Vulcan wing!  She's so bulky compared to any aircraft.

Enterprise was a "test article", and was used to test systems and aerodynamic performance in atmospheric flight, having been carried to altitude on the back of a converted 747.  Designated OV-101 (Orbital Vehicle-101) NASA intended to fit her out for flight once drop tests were complete, but by then the design of the other shuttles had moved on and conversion would have been too expensive.  She doesn't have proper thermal tiles, the orbital manouevering system apertures are blanked off, and no engines were fitted.  She still has an aerodynamic fairing fitted over where the SSME (Space Shuttle Main Engine) nozzles should be - which was used to reduce drag when she was being carried on the 747.

Next we explored one of the first submarines to have nuclear strike  capability - the USS Growler.  She didn't have missiles in the sense we usually think - instead she launched a cruise missile from a deck mounted launcher.  It could only be deployed on the surface, and four were carried in special hangars.  An interesting piece of history.

After all this we were hot, tired and thirsty.  We found a nice bar for some dinner and a beer, before hitting Broadway.

We went to see Waitress, mostly because Katherine Mcphee was starring and I loved her in the TV show "Smash".  Her performance was every bit as outstanding as I had hoped.  The whole cast were great, with minor roles having the feel of cameos rather than after thoughts.  A plot that could have been a bit mushy was elevated with strong elements of comedy in the script, and some rather wonderful bits of physical comedy too!  I absolutely loved it - a great show.

Having made the most of 8 hours in New York, I'm off to bed, ready to head for South Carolina tomorrow...