Prose & Photography: Nicholas Pascarella

When you think of NYC, I'll bet "aircraft carrier" isn't usually the first thing you think of, right? For an aviation enthusiast in the big city, this is where you start exploring. Driving down 12th Avenue, the ship dwarfs all but the largest of buildings, and the tails of an F-14 Tomcat and an SR-71 Blackbird are seen hanging off the back of "the boat", the sharp designs prompting children to scream and point.

Tied to the dock, the menacing Growler (not an EA-18G, but a vintage nuclear attack submarine) is open for tours and absolutely worth a stop. Riveting history reveals itself through each narrow passageway between compartments, feeling more and more claustrophobic as one travels through the vessel. 

On the carrier below deck, interactive exhibits (most off-limits due to Covid) are strewn amongst the open hangar, along with a few legendary carrier aircraft. The size of the boat is oppressive as one exits the hangar, and on the way up to the top deck, the elegant lines of the Concorde beckon from the western end of the dock.

Up on deck, the stars are all here. Naval Aviation heros line the length of the deck, with legendary Army, Air Force, foreign fighters and NASA aircraft peppered throughout. The space shuttle Enterprise resides in her own enclosure at the west end of the deck, offering an immersive experience in her unique flight environment. Walking from one end to the other is a lengthy reminder that this is an airstrip, albeit much condensed.

If you ever end up in NYC, find your way to the Intrepid. It's the only building that, you know, looks like an aircraft carrier.