There's a British World War I Fighter Plane on the Rooftop of 77 Water Street

A replica of a British World War I fighter plane sits on the roof of 77 Water Street, a 26-story office tower in Manhattan's Financial District.

The warplane is parked on a landing strip lined with runway lights.

The William Kaufman Organization, owner of the office tower, wanted to adorn the roof with something more interesting than air-conditioning machinery.

Here, a photo taken in 1969 of the newly installed plane replica. The fighter plane was placed on the roof while the building, which opened in 1970, was being constructed.

The plane was hoisted into place by crane in 1969 and hasn't moved since. Here, a historic photo from 1969.

The aircraft is an artistic re-imagining of a 1916 British Sopwith Camel, designed by Rudolph de Harak and constructed by sculptor William Tarr.

The high-altitude plane is just one of many whimsical embellishments found on Kaufman-owned buildings throughout New York City. There's a three-story chess board on an otherwise bland cement wall at 767 Third Avenue, and a cat chasing a canary, set in tile, at 127 John Street.

You may have heard about the British World War I fighter plane replica sitting on the rooftop of 77 Water Street in the Financial District, but unless you live/work on a floor of a Lower Manhattan building that has more than 26 floors, you probably haven't seen it. When building the skyscraper, the William Kaufman Organization wanted something more unique than the usual rooftop adornments.

The company decided to put this unusual “crowning jewel” on the top of the building, complete with an Astroturf runway and landing lights, just before it was completed in 1970.

Even though the plane looks real, it's actually a non-functioning steel replica of the British Sopwith Camel war plane.

via Ephemeral New York, WSJ

77 Water Street

New York, NY 10005

Matt Coneybeare

Editor in Chief

Matt enjoys exploring the City's with his partner and son. He is an avid marathon runner, and spends most of his time eating, running, and working on cool stuff.

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