-----------------------------------

aiolos

Wed 17 May, 2006


The best use for an aircraft carrier

-----------------------------------

It took the U.S.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> Navy to do what two wars,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> hurricanes and a salvage contractor couldn't:<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> sink the famed aircraft carrier known as <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"The Mighty O.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
More than 500 pounds of plastic explosives,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> going off with flashes of light and clouds of brown and gray smoke,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> sent the USS Oriskany into its new life as the world's largest intentionally created artificial reef.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> Hundreds of people watching in boats had to stay a mile away but could still smell the acrid smoke.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
Hurricanes and environmental permitting problems had delayed the <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>$20 million project two years,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> but the sinking itself was much quicker than expected:<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> 37 minutes instead of more than four hours.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>