LGA777
2009-02-12, 07:51 PM
I know this probably belongs in the LGA visitors thread but I think the mods will agree with me it deserves it's own. It's been a crazy day with the very high winds and the up and down Runway 31 ops, with some very wild approaches. But guess what happened about 1720? The Eagles 319 landed on 31 while VPBJD Trump's 727 took position on 31. Trump departed for PBI and as he rolled down 31 DL 763ER (N199DN) held short for AA 763 N372AA to taxi by. I can't remember when I have seen two 767's depart 1 behind the other at LGA, it was great. At the time of their departure the winds where 29029G39 so I said to a few co-workers, these are going to be really short departures, lets see who makes the shortest takeoff. When AA 1559 Heavy to MIA was airbourne in 3000 feet I said ok AA won. But less than a minute later DL 1787 Heavy to ATL rocketed down 31 and was airbourne in a just amazing 2700-2800 feet and like AA did a rocket climb out of LGA, so impressive. As I was typing this DL 763 N124DL taxied past the office headed for the gate.
On a side note I got off the bus around noon today at the first stop accross from the AA hangars as I need to go the Central Terminal before my shift. I watched a Piedmont Dash 8 depart 31 and the winds where so strong it looked like it was barely moving, I have never in my lifetime of planewatching seen a takeoff this slow. His airspeed might have been around 100 plus knots but his ground speed literally looked like 20, as the winds where gusting to around 50 then, wild, wild stuff !
Regards
LGA777
On a side note I got off the bus around noon today at the first stop accross from the AA hangars as I need to go the Central Terminal before my shift. I watched a Piedmont Dash 8 depart 31 and the winds where so strong it looked like it was barely moving, I have never in my lifetime of planewatching seen a takeoff this slow. His airspeed might have been around 100 plus knots but his ground speed literally looked like 20, as the winds where gusting to around 50 then, wild, wild stuff !
Regards
LGA777