September 11, 2001 Attacks - The Aircraft

I don't like to use other people's pictures on the posts that I use on here but since I don't have personal pictures of these aircraft, I will use them.  The pictures come from airliners.net and if you are looking for pictures of airlines, I highly recommend that page.  These are pictures of the aircraft that were used to carry out the terrorist attacks.

 At 7:45A.M., American Airlines Flight 11 was scheduled to leave Boston's Logan Airport and was supposed to go to LAX in Los Angeles, CA.  The flight was carrying 81 passengers (including the 5 hijackers) and 11 crew.  It is believe that the hijacking of the aircraft occurred around 8:15 in the morning.  The plane was told to ascend to it's cruising altitude of 35,000 but it remained at 29,000 feet.  At 8:21, the planes transponder was turned off.  This plane was carrying Mohammed Atta who was believed to be the ringleader of the hijacking attempts.   It is also believed that one of the passengers attempted to stop one of the hijackers but was killed.

At 8:46 A.M., the plane slammed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.  It was carrying nearly a full load of fuel and hit between the 93rd and 99th floors.  The North Tower burned for 102 minutes before collapsing to the ground.  All people on the plane were killed, along with approximately 1,600 that were either in the tower at the time or responders who came to fight the fire.

 United Airlines Flight 175 was scheduled to leave Boston's Logan Airport at 8:00A.M. and was originally heading to LAX in Los Angeles, CA as well.  It was also a 767.   It was carrying 56 passengers and 9 crew members.  It is believed that the hijacking of this aircraft took place at roughly the same time that Flight 11 slammed into its target.  The pilots were killed immediately.  The hijackers did not turn the aircraft's transponder off.  Around the time the plane was turning towards New York, it nearly collided with Delta Airlines Flight 2315.

At 9:03 A.M., Flight 175 slammed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.  It was flying at nearly full speed and almost full of fuel.    The tower collapsed after 56 minutes.  All people on board the aircraft plus another 900 people that were in the towers or responding to the emergency.

When this plane slammed into the World Trade Center, it was certain that something was amiss.

 American Airlines Flight 77 was scheduled to depart Washington's Dulles Airport for Los Angeles, CA at 8:10 A.M.  The flight was carrying 58 passengers and 6 crew at the time of departure.  It was a Boeing 757 Aircraft.  It is believed that the aircraft was hijacked at approximately 8:50A.M.  It's transponder was disabled.  At this time, Air Traffic Controllers knew something was up, but they weren't sure.

At 9:37 A.M. the plane slammed into the side of the Pentagon at pretty much full speed.  The damage to the Pentagon wasn't quite as severe as the damage to the World Trade Center.  At the time of the crash, there were 125 people in the building because it was a section that was just remodeled.  All of those were killed along with the passengers of the aircraft.

United Airlines Flight 93 was scheduled to depart Newark Airport at 8:00 but did not leave until 8:42A.M. because of heavy congestion.  It was scheduled to go to San Francisco, CA.  It is believed that the hijacking of the aircraft occurred at 9:28.  Unlike the other three planes, the passengers were getting rumblings that something was wrong and were starting to organize an effort to retake the plane.

It is believed the passengers struck back at 9:57 with the phrase, "Let's Roll".  There was a struggle and the plane crashed near Shanksville, PA six minutes later.  It was uncertain what the hijacker's intended target was.  Speculation was either the Capitol Building or the White House.  If you get a chance, watch the movie called "United 93" and that gives a pretty good description of the events.  It is also a pretty jarring one because you can put yourself in that situation.

Allegedly, had the passengers not retaken Flight 93, there was a pair of F-16's on a training mission out of Selfridge that were prepared to crash into the Flight.  It was not until 10:20A.M. that any official orders to down hijacked aircraft was given.  This picture is my own.

 

Almost immediately after the attacks, all aircraft in the air were ordered to land at the nearest airport.  Any planes that were headed to the United States were told to land outside the US borders (either Canada or Mexico).  Planes were kept on the ground for at least a week (if I remember correctly).  One thing I do remember is that it was an odd day.

 

On a side note, I do not subscribe into any of the conspiracy theories surrounding this event.  But then again, I don't subscribe to the conspiracy theories surrounding Pearl Harbor, the Moon Landings or the Kennedy Assassination.  I think conspiracy theories are a way that people deal with things they can't fathom.

Remember 9/11

Whether you agree with what has transpired as a result of the attacks on the World Trade Center or not, you have to admit that it has affected us as a nation in one way or another.  I don't really have much in the way of a tribute but I will do it in a way that is fitting for this blog.

 I don't have any pictures of the World Trade Center itself but I do have a picture of a building that is connected to the World Trade Center.  The building is the One Woodward Building and its designer was Minoru Yamasaki who was also the designer of the World Trade Center.

The building above was completed in 1962 and many of the elements used in its design would be carried into the World Trade Center.  The lattice design above would be carried into the World Trade Center.  I'm not sure what the other design elements were used.  However, the building above does have similarities to the World Trade Center.

 As you know, the attacks themselves were carried out on September 11, 2001 using planes similar to the one above (I think the plane pictured is a 757).  Two of the flights originated out of Logan International Airport in Boston and both of those planes were used to attack the two towers of the World Trade Center.  One flight originated out of Dulles Airport in Washington D.C. and that was used to attack the Pentagon.  A fourth flight originated out of Newark but the passengers were able to take control of the plane and crashed it near Shanksville Pennsylvania.  It is believe that plane was going to be used to attack either the White House or Capitol Building.

At 8:46 A.M., American Airlines Flight 11 was crashed into the first World Trade Center Tower.  Seventeen minutes later, United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the other World Trade Center Tower.  At 9:37 A.M., American Airlines Flight 77 was crashed into the Pentagon Building.  At 10:03 A.M., United Flight 93 was crashed into a site near Shanksville, PA after the passengers were able to gain control of the aircraft from the hijackers.

Shortly after the Pentagon was attacked, the FAA put a ground hold on planes that were currently taking off and all planes in the air were told to land.  At around 10:30A.M., both World Trade Center Towers would collapse taking 2,606 people with them.  The damaged wing at the Pentagon was a little more lucky as it wasn't quite opened but still 125 people lost their lives there.  A total of 246 passengers were killed as well.  This would make it the worst act of terrorism on American Soil (and probably one of the worst ever).

I'm not going to get into the aftermath as that gets political and contentious.

One of the aftermaths of the 9/11 Attacks is that the New York skyline doesn't look quite the same.  The Towers dominated the Manhattan skyline but the replacement is pretty impressive (that's to the left of the picture).

So all we can do is remember this event and hopefully learn from it.

2012 in Review

Wow, 2012 is almost behind us.  So I guess this is a good time to look back at the year that was.  Will it will be the year that was in about 26 hours.

Well for the most part, I thought that 2012 was a pretty productive year for me.  I got see quite a bit of new things for me but I also felt like I was stunted in the second half of the year.  It's not that I lost focus, I had too much focus on one subject and I feel like I lost a little ground because of it.  With that, I would like 2013 to be better for me.

January found me at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.  It the first time that I'd been there in about ten years.  It was fun but not very public friendly.  Despite that, I think I'm looking forward to the 2013 Auto Show because it is going to be in the renovated Cobo Hall.

Ever since I got myself into photography seriously, I've wanted a picture of the St. Joseph Lighthouse covered in ice.  So in February I headed out there with a friend.  I didn't get the picture I was looking for but I did ask myself what the hell I was doing on an ice covered pier in a heavy wind.

March found me at Opening Day for the Soo Locks.  The Locks were opened by the Mesabi Miner.  This was pretty cool and I'm pretty sure I'll want to do this again but I think they normally open at midnight.  This year they decided to open at Noon.  I hope they do that again next year.

April found me out in Pennsylvania with my mom.  As I was checking into the hotel, I discovered a brochure that mentioned this train, so I took a ride on it.

In May, I took what is now becoming an annual train trip.  This year I headed east instead of west, so I went to Washington DC on the Capitol Limited.....

...New York City on the Northeast Regional and back to Chicago on the Lake Shore Limited.  There was alos a brief trip on the Wolverine at both ends.  My visits to both cities were fun, I just wish it were a little cooler in both cases...oh well.

June found me up at the Soo Locks again for the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the International Bridge....

....and Engineer's Day.  It looked like it was going to be bust for ships going through but my favorite ship decided to hang back a little bit to give us a treat.   She also gave us a salute and that was pretty cool.

July found me in Amish Country near Clare to get pictures of the wheat sheaves again. 

August found me at a Civil War Muster.  This was the first time I'd been to one of those in a while.  After seeing the many photography opportunities, I'll have to catch some more.

September found me down on the Detroit River for Navy Week.  The crews of the USS DeWert, USS Hurricane and the brig Niagara were all very gracious hosts and I hope that the US Navy doesn't remain a stranger to the Lakes.

September also found me taking Eastern Michigan pictures again.

October found me up at the Mackinac Bridge to catch a shot I've wanted for as long as I've been following the Roger Blough.

November found me back in California.  I was able to visit the USS Iowa and caught a couple of other ships.  It was pretty cool setting foot on a battleship.

December found me getting my groove again.  I hope to continue series like this in 2013.  There are plenty of tales to tell in Detroit.

As always, thanks for visiting my blog.  I hope that you will continue to do so through the next year.

One More Ride on the Long Island Railroad

Based on the area I was staying in Queens, I got quite a few trips on the Long Island Railroad.  The Long Island Railroad was chartered in 1834 and since it has operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US railroad still operating under its original name and charter.

 Believe it or not, this is actually a railroad bridge.  But it is also a set of buildings.

 The train that would take me to Penn Station in order to connect with the Lake Shore Limited and almost home.

 A shot of the station as we pulled away.

 Somewhere between Queens and Manhattan.

 Looking out at the freeway.

 As we passed by the railyard.  I was amazed at the number of trains in this railyard.  The one on the left is similar to the one I took from DC to New York.  The sort of middlish one is similar to the ones I normally take.

A building somewhere just after the railyard above.  It wasn't a long trip on the Long Island Railroad.

I am curious what the train that goes all the way to the end of Long Island is like.

Wandering Around New York City

The next series of pictures is from my wandering around New York City.  I apologize for the number of pictures in this post but I wanted to get all of them in one post.  One of the things that strikes me about New York City is the diversity.  You've got different types of buildings but they span over a couple hundred years.

 As I reached the Staten Island station, I saw this map and I had to have a picture of it.

 Part of the Manhattan skyline from the ferry.

 I think the hot dog stand pretty much screams New York city.

 Looking at a building through the Staten Island sign.

 I think this is the Robbins Reef Lighthouse in front of the Statue of Liberty.

 A shot of the Statue of Liberty.

 The subway doors as we pass out of the station.

 A passing subway.

 I forget which Church this is.

 A detail on one of the buildings near the World Trade Center.

 A police officer directing traffic.

 I think this is the Woolworth Building.

 The man who urged young men to head west.  I think he also convinced Virginia there is a Santa Claus.

 Details on another building.

 I think this is the New York City main courthouse.

 A statue on that building.

 Detail above the entrance.

 A shot of the Woolworth Building and New World Trade Center building.

 I'm not sure what building this is.

 Looking at the Brooklyn Bridge.

 Moving closer to the center of the bridge.

 Looking up at the tower.

 A shot of the other side.

 A shot of Midtown Manhattan from the Bridge.

 A shot pulled out.

 Lower Manhattan.

 Looking up at the tower.

 Another view of lower Manhattan.

 I'm not sure what building this is.

 The tower of New York City Hall.

 A fountain near City Hall.

 Going down Broadway is pretty cool because they show all the things they had ticker tape parades for.

 The New World Trade Center building.

 Detail on one of the buildings.

 A statue of George Washington near Wall Street.

 The New York Stock Exchange.

 The bull statue near Wall Street.

 A statue on a building near Battery Park.

 Another statue there.

 A third statue.

 Heading back on the subway.  It's amazing how crowded they get.

 Near Times Square.

 Looking away from Times Square.

 Looking up at a Building.

 Times Square.

 Another view of Times Square.  I'm not sure I liked Times Square.  There were way too many people.

 One more shot of Times Square.

 Looking up at another building.

 I'm not sure which street this was.

 An apeless Empire State Building.

The Hotel Pennsylvania across the street from Penn Station.

So that was my whirlwind tour of New York City.  I know that I only scratched the surface of the city though.