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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 "
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 "