AAGold
2005-05-17, 11:09 AM
Jay Selman and I spent the better part of the day at JFK on Monday the 16th and ended up getting some pretty nice stuff even if the day started badly.
Jay wanted to get the SAA A340 inbound, an early arrival, so we left hoping to make it in time even though it was very gray. Landing on the 4s we went to Bayswater and got there in just the nick of time to see the SAA taxi to the gate. We'd missed her. For the next few hours it alternated between brightening up and getting really dismal, even dripped on us for a little while, but we stuck it out. We managed to catch the Varig 777 with the 75 year sticker, nice. An Atlas full colors inbound. The Cathay 74 departing (surely a reject because of "bad fence" with that new fence they put up last year). We got an all white 74 with a B registration. Turned out to have the Dragon call sign so maybe there is hope we will get one with colors one day. An El Al 74 all white with titles inbound to 04.
We were sticking it out at Bayswater waiting for the arrival of the ANA 777, but 10 minutes before it was due they switched to the 22s. We immediately left for a new spot hoping we wouldn't be too late. A quick phone call to find out she was at 19,000 feet gave us hope. We made it just in time. Walking out the the viewing area we see her coming in and grab a few shots then notice she's not descending anymore, she's climbing. A go around ... nice, espcially since it was the ANA Star Alliance.
We continued to shoot the 22 arrivals and thanks to what appeared to be a good crosswind we even got some mild banking shots from a few of the heavies inbound. Aeroflot added a new flight that comes in mid-day so no more waiting until 6 to catch her. We also go the JAL 74 new colors with the large Yakosa Japan stickers, and ANA cargo, AF 773, and Emirates with the soccer sticker, and the LTU.
All things considered a pretty good day for shooting.
Art
Jay wanted to get the SAA A340 inbound, an early arrival, so we left hoping to make it in time even though it was very gray. Landing on the 4s we went to Bayswater and got there in just the nick of time to see the SAA taxi to the gate. We'd missed her. For the next few hours it alternated between brightening up and getting really dismal, even dripped on us for a little while, but we stuck it out. We managed to catch the Varig 777 with the 75 year sticker, nice. An Atlas full colors inbound. The Cathay 74 departing (surely a reject because of "bad fence" with that new fence they put up last year). We got an all white 74 with a B registration. Turned out to have the Dragon call sign so maybe there is hope we will get one with colors one day. An El Al 74 all white with titles inbound to 04.
We were sticking it out at Bayswater waiting for the arrival of the ANA 777, but 10 minutes before it was due they switched to the 22s. We immediately left for a new spot hoping we wouldn't be too late. A quick phone call to find out she was at 19,000 feet gave us hope. We made it just in time. Walking out the the viewing area we see her coming in and grab a few shots then notice she's not descending anymore, she's climbing. A go around ... nice, espcially since it was the ANA Star Alliance.
We continued to shoot the 22 arrivals and thanks to what appeared to be a good crosswind we even got some mild banking shots from a few of the heavies inbound. Aeroflot added a new flight that comes in mid-day so no more waiting until 6 to catch her. We also go the JAL 74 new colors with the large Yakosa Japan stickers, and ANA cargo, AF 773, and Emirates with the soccer sticker, and the LTU.
All things considered a pretty good day for shooting.
Art