Where to Watch Space Shuttle Enterprise in New York
NOTE: The route is subject to change due to weather and operational constraints. Follow @nycaviation on Twitter for route updates.
Enroute to its new home at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, Space Shuttle Enterprise is tentatively scheduled to fly to New York on Friday, April 27, between 10:30am and 11:30am, riding piggyback on a Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.
This once-in-a-lifetime flight will be visible to millions of people as the Shuttle/Carrier combo fly over much of the New York City area at low altitude (1000-3000 ft) before landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport. 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 get some shuttle love as well.
On the map above, the blue line represents an approximation of the planned path, green thumbtacks mark the best spots to spot the action, and the white diamonds mark key landmarks on the path.
Based on an FAA flight itinerary we’ve obtained, here are 17 spots in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island, Long Island, New Jersey and Westchester where we think you’re most likely to get a good view.
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. The two things we can guarantee are that 1.) the Hudson River corridor will see the most action and 2.) the plane will land on JFK’s Runway 31L.
Follow @NYCAviation on Twitter for the latest information about the flight path and schedule.
Also follow the Space Shuttle Enterprise Arrival thread on the NYCAviation Forum to find out where spotters will be
On Twitter or Instagram? Tag your shuttle photos with #shuttlespottingnyc and we’ll retweet and/or publish the best ones!
Good luck spotting the shuttle!
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.
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.
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.
1. Riverdale Park: View the Shuttle Carrier over the Hudson, with the beautiful Palisades in the background.
1. Fort Wadsworth: In the shadow of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, this park will offer a good view as the Shuttle begins its flight over New York Harbor and up the Hudson, and again when it flies south and east for its JFK flyby.
1. Inwood Park, Inwood: This is probably the closest publicly accessible view of the flyby and the landing on Runway 31L.
2. Eisenhower Park, Westbury: The Shuttle Carrier will approach from the west and/or north as it overflies the New York TRACON radar facility near the intersection of Stewart Ave and Merrick Ave.
1. Liberty State Park, Jersey City: Especially good views of the Statue of Liberty flyby.
2. Palisades Interstate Park: From the cliffs, an elevated view of the Shuttle Carrier flying up and down the Hudson.
1. Pierson Park, Tarrytown: Should offer a pretty good view of the Shuttle Carrier making a U-turn near the Tappan Zee Bridge.
1. Inside JFK Airport: There is an event to celebrate the arrival, but it’s invite-only. If you’re flying that day, great, maybe you’ll get a glimpse from the terminal. If you have a favorite, legally-accessible spot somewhere else on airport grounds, go for it. But security will be tight. If you don’t know where you’re going, don’t bother trying to wander around the airport to find a good viewing location, because you’ll probably miss the landing, get harassed by security or both.
If Newark is landing and departing to the south (Runways 22L and 22R) (most likely scenario):
If Newark Airport is landing and departing to the north (Runways 4L and 4R):
If any of the weather components is forecast for anywhere on the route from Dulles to New York, the event will be postponed:
http://www.nycaviation.com/where-to-watch-space-shuttle-enterprise-in-new-york/
See post 13.
Then I turned around and it was right behind me, flying over the Giants Stadium area. Got a great look as it banked over Bergen County and headed back over the Hudson.
Thanks for the heads up! Cool stuff.