Intrepid NYC, 6th April 2015

At the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, NYC.

"American intermediate range subsonic cruise missile. The Regulus was the first strategic long-range nuclear-armed guided missile deployed by the US Navy. Vought received a contract from the US Navy in June 1946 to develop Regulus, a 320 km (200 mile) range nuclear-armed subsonic cruise missile. The Navy had considered using the Loon, a derivative of the German V-1, for the role, but it couldn't carry the heavy weight of early atomic bombs. Regulus was turbojet-powered, and zero-launched by solid-rocket boosters from surface ships or surfaced submarines. It used a clumsy guidance system, being remote-controlled by aircraft or ships deployed along the flight-path. Three controllers on different platforms would have to guide the missile on a typical mission. First flight was in March 1951, first shipboard launch in November 1952, and first submarine launch in July 1953. Operational in 1954, by 1957 Regulus was deployed aboard 10 Essex-class carriers, 4 destroyers, and 2 submarines. Eventually purpose-built submarines were built for Regulus, but the enormous hangars for the missile made them draggy and noisy. Deployment of the Polaris submarine-launched ballistic missile made Regulus completely obsolete, and they were withdrawn from service in 1964. Surplus missiles were converted into target drones." Quoted from www.astronautix.com/lvs/regulus1.htm At the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, NYC.

The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, NYC. Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax 'K' 30mm f/2.8.

Seen at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, NYC. Pentax K-3, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 lens.

Who knew that aircraft carriers have giant wing mirrors? Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, NYC. Pentax K-3, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 lens.

Detail from the space shuttle Enterprise. Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, NYC.

Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, NYC.

British Aerospace / McDonnell-Douglas AV-8C Harrier 1969. Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, NYC.

Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, NYC.

Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, NYC.

Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, NYC.

Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, NYC.

I'm not certain that "control tower" is the correct term for this bit of an aircraft carrier. Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, New York. Pentax K-3, SMC Pentax 28mm f/3.5 shift lens.

Grumman F9F-8 (AF-9J) Cougar. This example was built in 1955 and retired from active service in 1965. Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, New York. Pentax K-3, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 lens.