PhilDernerJr
2005-10-10, 06:35 PM
Ah, Los Angeles. What a trip it was.
It started off for me spending Thursday night at Tommy's. We woke up early and made our way to Islip. Having checked-in online the previous day and having our boarding passes and not having any luggage to check-in, we went through the short security line and went right to the gate.
We were one of the first people on and we managed to get the bulkhead on the left side. Lots of legroom….Phil is happy. The aircraft was N464WN. While we sat at the gate front window actually allowed me to look into the jet-bridge, seeing three flight attendants that were waiting for the next flight. One was Hispanic, mustache, and looked VERY angry. Another was a taller white gentleman and the third was a pretty black gal. I waved at them and the angry guy seemed so annoyed with me for some reason. He wouldn't return the wave, while the lady smiled, waved and laughed as I joked blowing kisses in a bon voyage manner.
Leaving in rain, the flight was actually very smooth. We landed in BWI on time and went right to our next gate. Though there were a few pre-boards and A-group passengers in front of us, we still managed to get the bulkhead, on the right side this time. This one was N729SW. The flight was also very smooth the whole way.
I don't get excited about trips or any events in advance. I always feel that something will **** it up and I don't feel like getting disappointed. My first hint of excitement was as I took this photo.
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/InNOut_Overhead_1_100705.jpg
I'm really here. Los Angeles. I've been waiting for this trip for a long time.
We touched down, got to the gate and hot-footed it to Avis. We got our car and headed directly to In N Out. The car hardly stopped before I jumped out the passenger side and did a quasi-cartwheel and roll into the grass. I missed that grass. Normal height, but so thick and softer than any grass I've ever felt in my life.Almost fake feeling, it makes that little park one of my favorite places in the world.
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/InNOut_Grass_1.jpg
There we met up with Eric Dunetz, who got in the day before. We ate, myself getting a Double-Double. Amazing food while planes came in on 24R over our heads.
We scarfed and went to Imperial Hill. I've never been there since the last time I was there was in July, not a good month for that location with sun position. I was pleased with the spot's height and vantage point, comfort and lack of police interruptions.
It was a little cloudy on both mornings that we spent in LA, but it cleared up early in the afternoon.
We had a good crowd out there and Tommy and I took a break to go to the bathroom and check into our hotel. I was hit with another blast of elatement when we pulled up to this.
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/Sheraton_1_100905.jpg
My favorite hotel. View of the airport, great layout, nice gym that's close to the pool, friendly staff, and beds that are so comfortable that I decided to sleep in Sunday morning (I was drunk) while Tommy went spotting.
Spotting was spotting, so I'll spare you details. Here are some of the shots and traffic we got:
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/Alaska_737_N792AS_LAX24LDep1_100805.jpg
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/ChinaEastern_A346_B-6053_LAX25RDep1_10805.jpg
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/Qantas_744_VH-OEJ_LAXTaxi1_100805.jpg
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/Song_752_N610DL_LAX25RDep1_100805.jpg
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/Thai_744_HS-TGO_LAX25RDep1_100805.jpg
My favorite shots came on Saturday at dusk from the In N Out area. Two dozen guys running around trying to get different angles, many of us went for the amazing sunset opportunities with these kind of shots.
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/SW_737_LAX24RAppr1_100805.jpg
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/A340_sunset1_100805.jpg
Although, the most fun shots came while we were taking those sunset shots. An airport police officer pulls over a car near us. Before I know it, there are 5 more cop cars on scene.
These two guys get NYCAviation.com's 2005 "Sucks to be you" Award.
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/LA_Arrest_1_100805.jpg
Some non-aviation stories about the weekend for a moment if you will:
I went out Saturday night with Andrew (He's the one that got that amazing JetBlue incident shot with the flame underneath) to Santa Monica. He took me first to Fin McCool's on Main Street. My old friend Dom met up with us there and the beer started.
We went to a second bar not too far from there and I started to see what Cali women are like. It's funny how these girls all think they are the hottest thing alive…even the fat ones. I've never seen so many girls flatter themselves like this. Dom glanced at a girl that was barely a 4 on the scale with WAY too much makeup and she says "Stare all you want, nothing will happen." We laughed at her and a few minutes later as we decided to leave, I went up to her group of friends. They were taking a group pic with a digital camera. I snuck in and offered my best Kool-Aid smile. They looked at the back of the camera and saw my face. "Who is that?" When they turned to me, I said to too-much-makeup girl, "I just wanted to say I'm a big fan. I absolutely LOVED you in the Rocky Horror Picture Show." Before she could close her mouth from the shock, we were laughing on the sidewalk and moving onward.
After a third bar, I had my first, and last, experience with Del Taco. I was very "affected" by the alcohol at this point, and though I'm usually a love-drunk, I started to get a little angry and some temper showed. We ordered our food and 15 minutes went by. The guy finally made our food, but no one was bagging it or bringing it to the counter. Another 4 minutes pass and I yell from the counter in front of about 40 patrons "Yo, when the **** is someone gonna get me my ****in food! It's been sitting there for eight years!" The guy who made it looks at me with a look of anger and I continue "What the **** are you looking at me for like you're gonna do something? I'll smack the ****in **** out of you." The whole place is quiet at this point and Dom pulls me away and I realize I brought it to a too-high level and I calmed down and went to my seat.
It was a great night. Great seeing my boy Dom, and Andrew is a really fun guy to have some brew with. Here's and the Dom Mega and I throwin west coast:
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/DomPhil2.jpg
So back to planes.
After spotting on Saturday, we went to Proud Bird. Tommy, Eric and I had eaten there the night before, and we were glad to have such great food for a second night. I ordered the lobster tail for a second time, but the waiter insisted that they nevered offered the potato soup that I KNOW I ate the night before. Weird.
We sat there, 16 guys in all, eating in a nice restaurant covered with plane photos on one side, and a massive window on the other offering us a BIG view of 25R arrivals. The is when Michael Carter called out "Now THERE is an airplane." I turn around and for the first time ever, my eyes laid on an inbound 707. Lowa Ltd. Wow. What a beautiful bird.
We had an amazing group of guys out there. Everyone is awesome. This is how cool they were: This was the first time that I ate with such a large group where no one stiffed the group on the bill. We didn't have to ask for a second collection of cash or fall short of the tip. In fact, we tipped damn well.
This is the crowd, as taken from Imperial Hill:
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/LA_Group_1_100805.jpg
My return trip was on N724SW for both legs, with a stop at MDW. Amazing to see so many ATA birds like that, but it was too dark for photos. Though the weather sucked along the way on the East Coast, the flights were again very comfy.
Tommy and I drove back from the airport looking back on our trip. Everything had fallen into place. The previous two days in LA were simply magical. How can you beat warm weather, great planes, nice photos, delicious food and lots of good friends in a great city like LA?
I'd like to thank everyone that joined us. Each person contributed to the smiles I had and the memories that I'll never forget.
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/LA_Group_2_100805.jpg
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/Sheraton_1_100805.jpg
If you were there, post your story and your pics!
It started off for me spending Thursday night at Tommy's. We woke up early and made our way to Islip. Having checked-in online the previous day and having our boarding passes and not having any luggage to check-in, we went through the short security line and went right to the gate.
We were one of the first people on and we managed to get the bulkhead on the left side. Lots of legroom….Phil is happy. The aircraft was N464WN. While we sat at the gate front window actually allowed me to look into the jet-bridge, seeing three flight attendants that were waiting for the next flight. One was Hispanic, mustache, and looked VERY angry. Another was a taller white gentleman and the third was a pretty black gal. I waved at them and the angry guy seemed so annoyed with me for some reason. He wouldn't return the wave, while the lady smiled, waved and laughed as I joked blowing kisses in a bon voyage manner.
Leaving in rain, the flight was actually very smooth. We landed in BWI on time and went right to our next gate. Though there were a few pre-boards and A-group passengers in front of us, we still managed to get the bulkhead, on the right side this time. This one was N729SW. The flight was also very smooth the whole way.
I don't get excited about trips or any events in advance. I always feel that something will **** it up and I don't feel like getting disappointed. My first hint of excitement was as I took this photo.
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/InNOut_Overhead_1_100705.jpg
I'm really here. Los Angeles. I've been waiting for this trip for a long time.
We touched down, got to the gate and hot-footed it to Avis. We got our car and headed directly to In N Out. The car hardly stopped before I jumped out the passenger side and did a quasi-cartwheel and roll into the grass. I missed that grass. Normal height, but so thick and softer than any grass I've ever felt in my life.Almost fake feeling, it makes that little park one of my favorite places in the world.
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/InNOut_Grass_1.jpg
There we met up with Eric Dunetz, who got in the day before. We ate, myself getting a Double-Double. Amazing food while planes came in on 24R over our heads.
We scarfed and went to Imperial Hill. I've never been there since the last time I was there was in July, not a good month for that location with sun position. I was pleased with the spot's height and vantage point, comfort and lack of police interruptions.
It was a little cloudy on both mornings that we spent in LA, but it cleared up early in the afternoon.
We had a good crowd out there and Tommy and I took a break to go to the bathroom and check into our hotel. I was hit with another blast of elatement when we pulled up to this.
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/Sheraton_1_100905.jpg
My favorite hotel. View of the airport, great layout, nice gym that's close to the pool, friendly staff, and beds that are so comfortable that I decided to sleep in Sunday morning (I was drunk) while Tommy went spotting.
Spotting was spotting, so I'll spare you details. Here are some of the shots and traffic we got:
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/Alaska_737_N792AS_LAX24LDep1_100805.jpg
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/ChinaEastern_A346_B-6053_LAX25RDep1_10805.jpg
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/Qantas_744_VH-OEJ_LAXTaxi1_100805.jpg
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/Song_752_N610DL_LAX25RDep1_100805.jpg
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/Thai_744_HS-TGO_LAX25RDep1_100805.jpg
My favorite shots came on Saturday at dusk from the In N Out area. Two dozen guys running around trying to get different angles, many of us went for the amazing sunset opportunities with these kind of shots.
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/SW_737_LAX24RAppr1_100805.jpg
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/A340_sunset1_100805.jpg
Although, the most fun shots came while we were taking those sunset shots. An airport police officer pulls over a car near us. Before I know it, there are 5 more cop cars on scene.
These two guys get NYCAviation.com's 2005 "Sucks to be you" Award.
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/LA_Arrest_1_100805.jpg
Some non-aviation stories about the weekend for a moment if you will:
I went out Saturday night with Andrew (He's the one that got that amazing JetBlue incident shot with the flame underneath) to Santa Monica. He took me first to Fin McCool's on Main Street. My old friend Dom met up with us there and the beer started.
We went to a second bar not too far from there and I started to see what Cali women are like. It's funny how these girls all think they are the hottest thing alive…even the fat ones. I've never seen so many girls flatter themselves like this. Dom glanced at a girl that was barely a 4 on the scale with WAY too much makeup and she says "Stare all you want, nothing will happen." We laughed at her and a few minutes later as we decided to leave, I went up to her group of friends. They were taking a group pic with a digital camera. I snuck in and offered my best Kool-Aid smile. They looked at the back of the camera and saw my face. "Who is that?" When they turned to me, I said to too-much-makeup girl, "I just wanted to say I'm a big fan. I absolutely LOVED you in the Rocky Horror Picture Show." Before she could close her mouth from the shock, we were laughing on the sidewalk and moving onward.
After a third bar, I had my first, and last, experience with Del Taco. I was very "affected" by the alcohol at this point, and though I'm usually a love-drunk, I started to get a little angry and some temper showed. We ordered our food and 15 minutes went by. The guy finally made our food, but no one was bagging it or bringing it to the counter. Another 4 minutes pass and I yell from the counter in front of about 40 patrons "Yo, when the **** is someone gonna get me my ****in food! It's been sitting there for eight years!" The guy who made it looks at me with a look of anger and I continue "What the **** are you looking at me for like you're gonna do something? I'll smack the ****in **** out of you." The whole place is quiet at this point and Dom pulls me away and I realize I brought it to a too-high level and I calmed down and went to my seat.
It was a great night. Great seeing my boy Dom, and Andrew is a really fun guy to have some brew with. Here's and the Dom Mega and I throwin west coast:
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/DomPhil2.jpg
So back to planes.
After spotting on Saturday, we went to Proud Bird. Tommy, Eric and I had eaten there the night before, and we were glad to have such great food for a second night. I ordered the lobster tail for a second time, but the waiter insisted that they nevered offered the potato soup that I KNOW I ate the night before. Weird.
We sat there, 16 guys in all, eating in a nice restaurant covered with plane photos on one side, and a massive window on the other offering us a BIG view of 25R arrivals. The is when Michael Carter called out "Now THERE is an airplane." I turn around and for the first time ever, my eyes laid on an inbound 707. Lowa Ltd. Wow. What a beautiful bird.
We had an amazing group of guys out there. Everyone is awesome. This is how cool they were: This was the first time that I ate with such a large group where no one stiffed the group on the bill. We didn't have to ask for a second collection of cash or fall short of the tip. In fact, we tipped damn well.
This is the crowd, as taken from Imperial Hill:
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/LA_Group_1_100805.jpg
My return trip was on N724SW for both legs, with a stop at MDW. Amazing to see so many ATA birds like that, but it was too dark for photos. Though the weather sucked along the way on the East Coast, the flights were again very comfy.
Tommy and I drove back from the airport looking back on our trip. Everything had fallen into place. The previous two days in LA were simply magical. How can you beat warm weather, great planes, nice photos, delicious food and lots of good friends in a great city like LA?
I'd like to thank everyone that joined us. Each person contributed to the smiles I had and the memories that I'll never forget.
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/LA_Group_2_100805.jpg
http://nycaviation.com/pichost/Sheraton_1_100805.jpg
If you were there, post your story and your pics!