LGA 8/18

[moose135]

Started the afternoon at the World's Fair Marina for some LGA 31 arrivals before heading to JFK. Got there just before the two F-18s departed for their Yankee Stadium fly-by, saw them pass over in formation as they climbed out. It was the usual suspects for the most part, but after about 45 minutes, the two Hornets returned.

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/185328120-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/185328190-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/185328277-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/185328352-L.jpg

Over the fence:

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/185328390-L.jpg

You sharp-eyed observers may recognize the Felix tail markings - you will see that same logo on the F-14 at the Airpower Museum. These Hornets are from VFA-31, formerly VF-31, the final Tomcat squadron, and retain the logo and "Tomcatters" nickname (both of which actually have been used by the squadron since the end of WW2).

One other special catch was the US Airways Eagles scheme A319. This is the first special scheme US jet I've managed to catch - thanks to Ron for the heads up on this!

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/185328449-L.jpg

After she came in, I headed down to JFK...I'll post some shots in that thread soon.

[GrummanFan]

Nice shots, but I just can't get used to seeing Felix grace the sides of a hornet.

[LGA777]

Great shots Moose in great light. In addition to Felix on the tail of the F-18's that was their callsign as well. Was a pretty impressive flyby at the Stadium from our vantage point, and when they landed they both sat down really, really early on Runway 31. Nice shot of 709UW, glad they did not swap her out so at least someone got a shot of her. Also the AA Retro 738 came in at twilite around 1915 and departed about 45 mins later.

In case anyone wants to see the Super Hornets depart on (I assume Sunday) typically it's around 1400-1530 when they do a stadium flyby the day before.

Cheers

LGA777

[PhilDernerJr]

Moose, GREAT catches!!! Certainly the most crisp photos of fighters for LGA of all time.

Agreed on the Felix/F-18 thing.

[Gerard]

>Started the afternoon at the World's Fair Marina for some LGA 31 arrivals before heading to JFK. Got there just before the two F-18s departed for their Yankee Stadium fly-by, saw them pass over in formation as they climbed out. It was the usual suspects for the most part, but after about 45 minutes, the two Hornets returned.<

So I'm watching the Yankee game on my DVR (the only way to watch TV) and they show footage of
the Golden Knights coming in and I'm waiting for some shots of the F-18s. Well right after "God Bless
America" in the 7th inning they have a great shot of the two jets coming towards the camera.....then
THEY CUT TO COMMERCIAL!!!!!!!! It was like the "Sopranos" finale!!! WTF I screamed!! LOL!!

[hiss srq]

Great stuff Moose. I am glad someone got the Tomcatters! And the 319 is crisp as well. She came in from the Bahamas.

[cancidas]

nice job moose! i saw them on the way home from a nice long hop, saw them on what looked like the expressway visual to 31 from my angle. they were still in formation at that point.

[wunaladreamin]

Nice shots, but I just can't get used to seeing Felix grace the sides of a hornet.
Took the words right out of my mouth. Great work Moose.

[LGA777]

My departure time prediction was wrong, the Hornets departed 13 Sunday morning around 1000A.

Regards

LGA777

[njgtr82]

Great shots Moose, I love the hornets.

Bill

[Mateo]

Moose! My new hero of the weekend... Made a 90-second stop at Planeview on Saturday to see if the F-18s could be seen, but I only was able to see the 105/107 part of the modex. Thanks for the pix to fill in the BuNos for me. Army C-37/G-V 02-1863 was also present. Oddly enough, while the F-18s recovered to LaGuardia, Golden Knight 608 (C-31/F27 85-1608) passed 50' over my car as it arrived Runway 1 at Teterboro that afternoon.