Visiting NY for the first time, Jan 2 - Jan 9

Hello!


I will be visiting NY for the first time next week, if the weather turns out to be ok, me and my camera would love to spend a day at LGA.

Would be really nice if anyone could meet up at the airport for some spotting and talking!
I will try to find a Internet café where I can update to tell you wich day I intend to try a visit!

And second of all, Is there any easy way to see wich runway is in use?
(I don´t think I will be able to call ATIS)
I´ve seen so many great photos from the spots around runway 04 and would love to try it out!


Greetings from Sweden

Johan Junemo

Hey Johan,

I've seen many of your shots on A.net, some great work!

Definitely keep us all posted as to what day you plan on doing some LGA. Weekends are better for most people here, so if you can free up a Saturday or Sunday, that's your best bet (for having an escort, at least).

Without calling ATIS, determining the active runways can be a crapshoot. Your best bet is to bring up the detailed weather for the day, and use the winds as a guide (the direction they mention is always where the wind is coming from). Winds from the N usually call for arrivals on 04 and departures on 13 or 31, from the S is usually arrivals on 22 and departures on 13 or 31. No guarantees, though.

If you're with a local when you go to spot, or can get in touch with one, you should be able to get some reliable educated guesses and information about the appropriate spots.

Just curious, though...why wouldn't you be able to call ATIS? Even if your cell phone doesn't support calls to local phone numbers, you can fork up 25 cents for a payphone and get the ATIS from virtually anywhere in the city. You can also email or PM me for my cell phone number.

I hope you enjoy your stay, whatever you do! :) Good luck,

Brian

Thanks for the answer

Arrived a rainy NY yesterday and I will probably visit LGA on Friday, does anyone have a look on how the winds will be?

I will go up there in the morning and (hopefully) stay for a couple of hours.

If anyone are going up on Saturday or Sunday I think I go then instead!!


Johan

Johan,

The weather report for Friday, Saturday and Sunday -- which may very well change between now and then -- shows snow for Friday, but mostly sun on the weekend with highs in the low 30s. I don't know about the winds yet.

As Brian said, your best bet in terms of meeting up with other people is to go to LGA on the weekend. Why don't you post here again on Friday afternoon and see if anyone has any plans for Saturday and/or Sunday at LGA.

Take care, and I hope your stay in NY is enjoyable. Sorry about the weather today. :)

Josh

Sounds good!!

If its going to be snowy on Friday I think Saturday or sunday sounds better, i will post on friday evening, and if anyone of you would like to post the weather info for Saturday or sunday I would really appreciate it!

hehe, I didnt think of the other kind of telephones!

Hope to see some of you this wekend then!

Johan

I plan on going out Sunday. Weather looks real promising right now.

I'll be homebound this weekend, have to much post holiday stuff to do. Plus I have a paper due on Monday that I haven't started so probably be a good idea to get it done. Have fun.

Johan,

The weather report has changed, and it is now looking like sunny conditions for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, the winds are predicted to be WNW, with a high temperature of 34F. If I had to guess, I'd say that it's likely that LGA arrivals will be on either 22 or 31 (with 31 being more likely given the WNW wind). If arrivals are on 22, you can't really do much except go to McNeil Park at the end of College Point, and even then that spot is only good until about 11a-12p. If arrivals are on 31, your best bet will be the Worlds Fair Marina and the surrounding area, but it'll be chilly down there with the wind blowing off the water. I assume you have some warm clothes!

Brian and I are both planning to try to get out for some spotting on Saturday, so one of us will post here on Friday evening and let you know what our plans are. If you'll be out there, it would be great to meet up and show you around LGA.

In the meantime, if you have any questions about spotting at either JFK or LGA, or about NYC in general, post them here! :)

Josh

I'm definitely interested in heading out there this weekend. :)

Ok, I think I try saturday then!

Would be great if you could give an update of the weather for Saturday tomorrow night, and hopefully, ill see you there!



Johan

After a great day yesterday with the Concorde and intrepid museum, im now heading for LGA tomorrow morning, i will try to be at the active runway from noon, at least!

unfortunaly this internet cafe is closed on the night, so I cant check the weather, but I really hope to meet up with you guys!



Johan

Rwy 4/22 is closed today, and they are using rwy 31 for both landings and departures.

Weather looks great, but it's flippin cold.

I went to the marina today and met up with Johan and his father, who were already there.

It was very cold out. So cold, that my camera froze up after 30 minutes. The mirror moved but the shutter didn't seem to actually take the photo....my displatyed screen showed black photos being taken.

Josh and Brian headed to the termianl, as did Johan, and my disappointed self went home. lol

It was great meeting Johan, seeing someone take such an interest in the aircraft that is common to us that we take advantage of. :)

And who was that in the car?

When I arrivd, I saw a car with someone in it. The car was facing us and the guy seemed to be looking at us. I coudn't make it out, but I thoughtit might be some guy about to call the cops.

Then later, Johan and I moved down a little bit more and said that the guy in the car had been taking pics of planes. I walked back to the area and the car was gone.

I'm almost insulted. Show yourself! :-p

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Phil D.

And who was that in the car?

When I arrivd, I saw a car with someone in it. The car was facing us and the guy seemed to be looking at us. I coudn't make it out, but I thoughtit might be some guy about to call the cops.

Then later, Johan and I moved down a little bit more and said that the guy in the car had been taking pics of planes. I walked back to the area and the car was gone.

I'm almost insulted. Show yourself! :-p

---

I think it was Dan Tanna.

Just arrived home on SK 904, after a beautiful week in NYC!
And im right now in the middle of uploading my photos,

I would like to thank Phil, Brian, Josh and everybody for making my spotting day at LGA so perfect, It is wounderful to see how our hobby can put people from way different areas together, but it would not be possible without your great hospitallity!

The website has prooved to be a great tool for visitors and I´m sure I´ll be visiting NYC many times in the future!

I will upload some of my photos later on if you are interested!

Thanks again for all information and kindness

Greetings from Sweden

Johan Junemo

Johan,

It was great meeting you on Saturday at LGA. You're absolutely right about how cool it is that this hobby and this website can bring people of different backgrounds together to enjoy their common interests. One of the great things about living in New York is that my fellow aviation enthusiasts and I often get the opportunity to meet people such as yourself who are from out of town and who want to experience NYC.

Anyway, we hope to see you again in New York sometime soon. Maybe next time you'll come here when it's not quite so cold and we can enjoy some more of the spots around LGA and JFK -- I know you wanted to get some pictures at Planeview Park! In the meantime, keep taking those great pictures back in Sweden! :)

Cheers,
Josh

Hey Johan,

Good to hear that you got back to "Orlando" with no problems. :P

I agree wholeheartedly with you and Josh. This site adds a whole new dimension to aviation enthusiasm beyond that of planes and photography - the ability to meet and connect with people from, for instance, Sweden, makes this hobby more satisfying than Canon or Nikon ever could.

The pleasure was all ours...you're definitely welcome back here anytime.

Looking forward to seeing your shots!

Take care,
Brian

haha!, yeah the trip to "orlando" was a real pleasure =)!

I´ve uploaded som photos on my website, http://www.junaviation.com/gallery.html

Hope you like them!

Johan

Just realized that I may have spotted the Delta Retro Jet, just passing Empire State Building, that must have been for LGA?


http://www.junaviation.com/retro.jpg

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Johan, that is indeed the Spirit of Delta. Nice shot! :) It was most definitely heading to LGA based on the angle of that picture. I don't think it would be going to EWR or JFK anyways.

Johan, I photographed the Spirit of Delta at LGA on Thursday 1-6, arrived around 1445-1500, does that time match up with your cool Manhattan shot ? Sorry I did not get to meet you but I am really glad you enjoyed LGA so much, your shots look Great !

Cheers

Ron Peel, LGA777