Douglas F4D Skyray aircraft lifted by crane onto to the Intrepid after arriving by barge

ByEyewitness News WABC logo

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

WATCH: Cold War-era fighter plane lifted by crane onto Intrepid

A historic Douglas F4D Skyray aircraft, which flew off of Intrepid during the Cold War, was craned onto Intrepid's flight deck after a 177-mile journey to its new home.

NEW YORK (WABC) -- A historic Douglas F4D Skyray aircraft that flew off of the U.S.S. Intrepid in the Cold War era is back on the museum's flight deck after a 177-mile journey to its new home.

It was a workhorse of a fighter plane in its time, with a reputation of flying anywhere.

But when it came time for the Skyray to be moved from Connecticut to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, it was quite an adventure.

It took 30 hours by truck, barge and crane to get from Connecticut to the Long Island Sound and up the Hudson River.

A historic Douglas F4D Skyray aircraft, which flew off of the Intrepid during the Cold War, was craned onto Intrepid's flight deck.

The plane debuted in 1956 and retired only seven years later, getting its name because of the unique shape of its wing, which resembles a manta ray.

It was a beast built to dominate the skies, capable of traveling at 720 miles per hour and made to intercept any threats to the fleet and protect bomber forces.

The Skyray set many speed and time-to-climb records in its day, as they were able to reach supersonic speeds.

The specific Skyray acquired by the Intrepid from the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, served in VF-162 and deployed on Intrepid between June 1961 and March 1962 with Carrier Air Wing Six.

Now, its new mission is to join the others on the deck of the museum and share its storied past with visitors as it gets ready -- after a spruce up -- for its debut during Fleet Week next summer.

ALSO READ | Tens of thousands of New Yorkers are moving to Florida during COVID pandemic