Garth wrote:
Unrelated question about the Intrepid, but figured this would be an ok place to ask: is one of her aircraft elevators still operational?
I know the well for the forward centerline one contains the theater, but she still has the port midships and starboard aft deckedge ones. And it looks like aircraft have been rotated between the hangar deck and flight deck from other times I've been there (I think the F-14B used to be in the hanger, years and years ago).
Yes the port one opposite the island. In the above photo you can see it currently has a T-34 parked on it, and retains the original wood decking unlike the rest of the deck that was relaid with steel. I took my family for what was my first visit in 10 years, and the first since resotration in 2008-09. I have to say that I was impressed with the positive changes they made. When I get power back (on LI, NY) I'll post some photos and a review. Currently below deck they have immaculate examples of the A-4C, Fury, TBM and a circa 1950's helo. Their restoration department is tops.
On that hangar deck they have a very large round info booth/kiosk area that is too large for the 3 docents that were staffing it. They could easily fit the F9F Cougar and F-11 Tiger in there IMHO.
Pete