Bringing this one back to the top. I was able to visit Ponce Inlet again on Sunday. Here are some pictures showing the progress of the First Order Lens restoration.

In the first picture one can see that the lens frame and the top and bottom catadioptric prisms are in place. Also installed are the reflectors that sit on the landward side of the lens.



In the second picture one can see what the whole lens looks like. This picture was taken from the steps leading up to the second level, because there is not a real good place to shoot the whole lens without a wide-angle camera lens on the first level. Notice the steps in the pedestal base.




The lens has suffered a bit of damage to 2 of its lower right catadioptric panels. Here are 2 pictures showing the damage.

The extreme right lower panel


The next panel to the left of the first panel



I also asked the staff about the status of the 3rd order lens return to the tower. I was told that they hoped to have it completed and installed by the end of the summer. They are currently waiting on some replacement glass panels.