An aircraft carrier is leaving its home at the Navy Yard in South Philadelphia to make its final journey on Thursday morning.

"Big John," as it was affectionately nicknamed, was decommissioned in 2007 and has been in Philadelphia ever since. A new aircraft carrier named after JFK will enter service later this year.

The departure of the USS JFK comes amid delayed plans for another massive ship to move out of South Philadelphia. ALSO SEE: Ship sinking expert explains how the SS United States will be prepped ...