NORFOLK Naval Air Station Virginia --
One of the military's largest transports got stuck at the end of a
runway atop the I-564 overpass for more than 16 hours. It was unable to
turn around at the West end of Chambers Field at the Norfolk Naval
Station. The incident forced the closing of the field to all but
helicopter traffic and made for a dramatic sight for hundreds of
motorists passing beneath it during morning rush hour.
"That
thing's like a big building sitting there." said motorists. The nose of
the aircraft actually stuck out and OVER the Interstate!
The
aircraft's nose was so far over the end of the ramp, the crew was unable
to see the runway where it was supposed to turn around so the pilot
simply had to leave it at the end of the runway. The Air Force C-5
Galaxy, largest airplane in the free world, is almost as long as a
football field and as high as a six-story building.
Weighing 420
tons with a full load, it uses a system of 28 wheels to distribute its
weight. The aircraft had to wait for a specially made tow bar trucked
in from Dover, Del. When the tow bar arrived, it was used to hook the
C-5 to a tractor that then turned the aircraft around. The plane was
not damaged.
The female co-pilot was overheard saying to the male pilot as they exited the plane...
"I told you we should have stopped and asked for directions."
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