World War I Biplane on a New York City Skyscraper Rooftop

WWI Biplane on New York City Rooftop

WWI Biplane on New York City Rooftop

WWI Biplane on New York City Rooftop

For years, a mysterious World War I biplane has been parked on a rooftop landing strip at 77 Water Street in New York City. The plane is in fact a replica of a British Sopwith Camel fighter, and it was hoisted on to the roof in 1969 as a bit of architectural whimsy by the building’s developers. Film location scout Nick Carr of the blog Scouting NY delved into the plane’s backstory for the Wall Street Journal.

photos by Rob Bennett/The Wall Street Journal

E.D.W. Lynch
E.D.W. Lynch

Writer and humor generalist on the Internet and on Facebook.