Featured

2014-08-26

Awesome Vintage Aviation Photos: New York International Airport

(Editor’s note: Welcome to Time Travel Tuesday, a nine-part series celebrating the airports, airlines, and aircraft of yesteryear, through the vintage aviation photos of William J. Armstrong. In Part One and Part Two, we explored the airports of the Midwest, while Part Three explored the airports of the Western United States. Then we went international, with Canada in Part Four, and Europe in Part Five. In Part Six and Part Seven, we toured airports along the East Coast. Last week, we arrived in New York with a collection of photos from LaGuardia and Flushing Airports. This week, we conclude our series with the gem of the collection: Bill’s photos of New York International Airport. Commonly known as Idlewild (the name taken from the golf course that once occupied the land), you might know it as JFK.) 

It is indeed an honor to introduce this series of aviation photos taken by my good friend William J. Armstrong. Our friendship spanned almost a half century, and blossomed because of our common interest in aviation. As time went on, we found common interests in many things, and at one time our professional careers crossed paths and I had the privilege of working with Bill.

We see Bill here because of his aviation photography, and he was among the few who would spend time at an airport for the sole purpose of taking photos of airplanes and observing operations. Bill began doing this during the late 1950s, and continued into the start of the Jet age. His photos are a look back in time, to when propellers were the order of the day, and when you walked across an often oil stained tarmac to your waiting plane. In those days, weather radar and instrument landing systems were the latest revolutionary developments in air travel.

Bill was interested in aviation, but in actuality if it moved he was interested. His knowledge of transportation systems, whether they traveled by rail, air, sea, or road, were legendary to his friends and fellow professionals. He also had keen interests in history, classical music, opera, swimming, travel, and the list goes on. He was a graduate of Columbia University, and Iona College with a masters degree. But for all his varied interests, Bill was always a humble person, never once forgetting the friends he met along the way.

Click to enlarge photos

New York International Airport (IDL)

Construction of New York International began in 1943, and the airport opened on July 1, 1948.

airports-new-york-idl-mb-airline-connection-bus-temp-terminal-100160-wja

airports-new-york-idl-mb-airline-connection-bus-temp-terminal-100160-wja
Picture 1 of 27

The "Airline Connection Service" buses provided passengers with a way to easily transfer between terminals.

 

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

On December 24th, 1963, fifteen years after the airport opened and one month after John F. Kennedy was assassinated, New York International Airport was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport.

cl-44-icelandic-airlines-tf-llf-jfk-82666a-wja

cl-44-icelandic-airlines-tf-llf-jfk-82666a-wja
Picture 1 of 10

Loftleiðir (Icelandic Airlines) was one of only four airlines that purchased the Canadair CL-44 turboprop.

 

This collection was curated by NYCAviation Associate Editor Ben Granucci. All images are copyright John F. Ciesla, all rights reserved.



About the Author

John F. Ciesla





 
 

 
Northern Pacific Boeing 757 with black and white livery on fuselage and tail, aurora borealis inspired splash of color on winglets, and similarly colored N on the tail.

Northern Pacific Airways Unveils First Aircraft

New airline Northern Pacific Airways unveiled their first aircraft on Tuesday evening in an event held at San Bernardino International Airport.
by Rufus Powell
0

 
 

American Celebrates The Super 80 Send Off As Its MD-80s Fly West

American Airlines retired their classic Super 80 aircraft in style on Wednesday with an airborne party and commemorations in both DFW and O'Hare.
by Ben Granucci
1

 

 

What’s Happening At The 2019 Paris Air Show (Updated 3X)

The 2019 edition of the Paris Air Show is happening this week. The biennial show is traditionally a place where new aircraft are launched and new orders flow in. Follow along here all this week as we recap each day’s happ...
by Ben Granucci
3

 
 

Finnair Celebrates 50 Years in New York

Finnair recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of their Helsinki - New York route.
by Eric Dunetz
0

 
 

A 727? Again?

Take a stroll down memory lane with us as we remember a time when a now classic airliner was once so common that it was boring.
by Shea Oakley
9