Cargolux 747-8F Inbound JFK Wednesday 1/25/12

[steve1840]

Great pics gentlemen!

[heeshung]

Nice! Too bad the first -8 touchdown at JFK had to be in those conditions.

[gonzalu]

Hey guys... Phil, I actually knew she was coming even before I saw it on NYCA forum post... but I never thought I could make it out for it. At one point, she was due in at 4:45 which would have been PERFECT for the light but, after crossing the pond, the time got updated until it came way late Anyhow, I will post a few more a little later!

[gonzalu]

A few more... Mark, as always my scouting stealth evening partner











Mangled the AF6 Super while waiting for Cargolux to take-off this is the best one of the bunch...



but I learn my lessons quickly LOL. For this shot, I set it ALL to manual.. including focus...

[Zee71]

Awesome! The last image is outstanding giving the conditions.

[gonzalu]

Thanks Mark... and for those who were wondering what flash we used... Mark and I held our iPhones up to the sky... All kidding aside, it was almost completely blackout conditions... we had a sliver of scatter from the floodlights on the JAL (it's the biggest sign on that building but for all I know, it is Evergreen as all the ground equipment used was stamped Evergreen... the stairs, the tug, the cargo ramps, palettes, everything!) cargo ramp...

[gonzalu]

Nice! Too bad the first -8 touchdown at JFK had to be in those conditions.

If it wasn't for the damn cloud cover on the horizon, we would have had much more light, at least 3 stops more! That would have been ISO 800 vs. 3200! But I'll take it...

[steve1840]

What was the departing runway Manny? And where were you shooting from? The light is fantastic on the belly of that bird is fantastic considering it was at night.

[Zee71]

Steve.......the bird departed off RWY 31L, location..............hmmmmmmmm............hint: end of runway 31L (maybe Charles Park) :P

[gonzalu]

Thanks Steve... RWY 31L (full length) ...really really close to Charles Park... almost in the water. And seriously, very little light ... that was ISO 8000 (wish I had a D3s) f/2.8 (wish I had the 200mm f/2 or the Canon 200mm f/1.8) 1/20th sec. Oh and LOTS of shots... got off about 35, this one and a couple more were sharp(ish) lol

[gonzalu]

A couple more pictures from my iPhone and a video clip (also from iPhone) For higher quality, view in YouTube in 1080p. The iPhone is great for shooting through a fence as the lens is tiny... but the quality at night is terrible!

[727C47]

that is my dream machine, and the dream of every Classic pilot !!!

[gonzalu]

BTW the pictures do NOT do justice to the incredible length of this behemoth... it "looks" like 744 but once you pay attention, man, that is one long plane... The Cargolux cheatlines don't really help convey the new size nor does the -200 style upper deck I bet the 747-8i will look it's part more than the 8f

[Roush6NY]

Manny, Mark, great job on these shots gentlemen ! Very nice

[gonzalu]

Thanks Kaz... one more



I am being told she is returning next Wednesday...