The Intrepid Museum is a floating piece of history and a must see for all aviation enthusiasts. It has been on my “bucket list” for some time now and on my visit to New York last week I made it a priority to spend time browsing the Intrepid’s massive hangar deck which now houses WWII aircraft, flight simulators, a space capsule, and a theatre showing the history of the mega-ship, including its war, space, and September 11th recovery missions. The upper flight deck of the carrier displays the majority of fighter jets and helicopters, as well as the astounding A-12 Blackbird. The Blackbird was initially flown in 1962 for secretive reconnaissance missions at speeds over Mach 3 (2,269 mph)!

Alongside the carrier, is the Growler submarine which is the only existent submarine that fired nuclear missiles. Visitors are allowed to walk through the sub and see the engine room, sleeping quarters and missile command center. To the south of the Growler, rests the British Airways Concorde that is positioned on the pier. Visitors can walk through the aircraft, which is kept in pristine condition by museum staff. It last flew on November 10, 2003 from Heathrow to JFK, where it was then placed on a barge and moved to the pier. The cockpit is closed off by a sheet of plexiglas, but the controls can still be seen clearly. A knowledgeable staff member stays on the aircraft to answer any questions.

Go see the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum in New York City!