miamiair/forum/images/avatars/gallery/first/user54/1.pngoffline(netAirspace FAA) 03 Dec 12, 20:17
Thousands attend farewell ceremony for USS Enterprise
The world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise, was formally retired on Saturday at a ceremony in Norfolk, Virginia, attended by thousands of crew members who served on the ship during its five decades in the U.S. Navy fleet.
The 1,123-foot (342-metres) long Enterprise was commissioned in 1961 with eight nuclear reactors on board, and the next year was deployed to participate in a blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Since then, it has played a role in a number of naval missions, including deployments to Vietnam and to the Middle East as part of the U.S. response to the September 11, 2001, attacks. It returned from its final deployment about a month ago, said Navy spokesman Mike Maus.
Nicknamed the "Big E," the Enterprise was the oldest active duty ship in the U.S. Naval fleet, according to the military, and was the eighth U.S. military ship to bear the name Enterprise.
The roughly 12,000 people who participated in the ceremony for the USS Enterprise include many former crew members and their friends, Maus said. The ceremony was held in Virginia at Naval Station Norfolk.
And let's get one thing straight. There's a big difference between a pilot and an aviator. One is a technician; the other is an artist in love with flight. — E. B. Jeppesen
slacker/forum/images/avatars/gallery/first/user1851/1.pngoffline03 Dec 12, 21:49
Wish I had pleasant memories of “Climax” strike. First night RAG raps in A-4 were on her. Crappy weather , fog, rain, low balls, red balls, wave off’s, high sink rates, bad line up and taxi 1’s including low fuel bingos to many West Coat air stations at 0300. However, good training to get all of the bad shit you’re gona do out of your system before going to a small deck in the fleet. Hope they find a good home for a boat that has carried well for our country and not the scrao yard.
Boris/forum/images/avatars/gallery/first/user56/1.pngoffline(Founding Member) 03 Dec 12, 22:28
slacker wrote:Hope they find a good home for a boat that has carried well for our country and not the scrap yard.
I've read it will be scrapped because of the damage that must be done to remove the reactors and fuel.
While the Enterprise was inactivated Saturday, it will be several more years before it is fully decommissioned. Its nuclear fuel must first be removed by punching gigantic holes in the ship, rendering it unfit for service or turning it into a museum. It will eventually be towed to Washington state for scrapping.
