Shuttle Enterprise arrives in New York

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NEW YORK, April 27 (UPI) -- The space shuttle Enterprise landed in New York Friday on its way to its permanent home at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum on the Hudson River.

After a photo-op low-level flight over the city and a fly-over of the Statue of Liberty, the shuttle, carried piggy-back on NASA's modified 747 jumbo jet, touched down at John F. Kennedy International Airport at 11:22 a.m.

Weather concerns had delayed the 2-hour flight from Dulles International Airport near Washington for several days, collectSPACE.com reported.

Enterprise, which never went into space but made several approach and landing tests in the late 1970s, had been a part of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's collection since November 1985.

Discovery, NASA's busiest shuttle in terms of missions flown, has replaced Enterprise in the Smithsonian museum.

Enterprise and the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft will remain attached to each other at JFK awaiting the arrival of the two large cranes that joined the two vehicles in Washington.

Once separated, Enterprise will be parked in an airport hangar for several weeks while the Intrepid museum completes a new display, "Space Shuttle Pavilion," set to open July 19.