photo gallery

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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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.