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USS Constellation
12 images in this album
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The US aircraft carrier, USS Constellation CV-64 pulled up in Sydney early April 2001. On Saturday and Sunday it opened to crowds of over 20,000 and I saw it on the Sunday. Bus to Circular Quay where we joined a 45 minute line for a Garden Island bus. The bus dropped us off where we then joined a bloody long 3 hour queue. The wait was worth it, but only barely! The US$400million (in 1960s currency) 80,000 tonner is due to be decommisioned in 2003, but its still gigantic. It has a crew complement of up to 7000 (all out getting pissfaced in town) and 75 jets. After Sydney, the Constellation headed off to Freemantle (West Coast Australia) and then to the Persian Gulf for a 4 month stay.

Thanks to Doz for help with identifying the birds.

The USS Constellation CV-64
Woolloomooloo Wharf, Sydney
The USS Constellation CV-64
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The view from the other side of the bay at Woolloomooloo. The end of the queue for the ship was here.
Woolloomooloo Wharf, Sydney
The view from the other side of the bay at Woolloomooloo.
The end of the queue for the ship was here. *
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Two hours later... The destroyer you see there is the USS Kinkaid
Wooloomooloo Wharf, Sydney
Two hours later... The destroyer you see there is the USS Kinkaid
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Finally on the ship! Look at that queue... all lined up for a two-man-wide gangplank.
Wooloomooloo Wharf, Sydney
Finally on the ship! Look at that queue... all lined up for a two-man-wide gangplank.
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On the Flight Deck
USS Constellation, Sydney
On the Flight Deck
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An F/A-18B (or D) Hornet Jet
USS Constellation, Sydney
An F/A-18B (or D) Hornet Jet
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AWACS E-2 Hawkeye Surveillance Plane
USS Constellation, Sydney
AWACS E-2 Hawkeye Surveillance Plane
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A line of F/A-18C Hornets
USS Constellation, Sydney
A line of F/A-18C Hornets
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Elevator from flight deck to a hangar bay below
USS Constellation, Sydney
Elevator from flight deck to a hangar bay below
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Another Hornet
USS Constellation, Sydney
Another Hornet
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Signal flags all strung up on display. Each flag has a meaning (eg: Red pennant means attack underway). The jets are EA-6 Prowlers.
USS Constellation, Sydney
Signal flags all strung up on display. Each flag has a meaning (eg: Red pennant means attack underway). The jets are EA-6 Prowlers.
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F-14 Tomcat in the hangar bay
USS Constellation, Sydney
F-14 Tomcat in the hangar bay
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