JFK 11/20 Air France

[Metal484]

Anyone planning to head out to JFK to catch the inagural flight of the Air France A380 to JFK? weather permitting.

[mmedford]

i'll be there, not by choice...

[moose135]

I'm going to try to get out for it.

[AirtrafficController]

I'll be there.

[Delta777LR]

im gonna try to get out there

[EWRlovr]

Is there a spot where you guys meet so you can go around spotting as a group or is it more like every man for himself? I would love to go, but I'd like to meet up with a group instead of being alone. :)

[megatop412]

I'm sure the spot will depend on what runway is in use. If 31R, I will be at the Bay Harbour Mall, if it's the left side I will have to get a spot in Inwood.

[moose135]

I'm sure the spot will depend on what runway is in use. If 31R, I will be at the Bay Harbour Mall, if it's the left side I will have to get a spot in Inwood.
Won't be 31R - the A380 can't use it. If they are landing 31L, go to Bayswater or Inwood Park.

[MSN007]

Greetings,

I come to JFK every year for all day spotting. I usually spot at Costco lot for 31R and road side for 22L. I am planning to meet and greet AirFrance A380 this Friday weather permit or Monday. I am not familier with the bay harbor mall nor Inwood park and need your assistance. I am hopping I will meet and follow one of you fellow spotters.

[Metal484]

Well so much for me starting this thread, now I can't go I have to work the next 8 days straight. Hope to see some awesome pictures from you guys, I'm sure I will.

[Chris S]

Let's just hope the forecasted showers for Friday morning will be out here before it's arrival at 1:20PM !! :wink:

[NIKV69]

Why did I think the arrival was later. Is 3:45pm the scheduled service arrival once it starts revenue? Anyone have a flight # for Fri and Sat?

[Chris S]

On Air France's website it has it scheduled as flight # AF380 due into JFK at 1:20 PM EST on Friday. I believe 3:45PM will be it's usual arrival time once regular service starts.

[NIKV69]

Hope it's a little late (if the sun is out) Thanks!

[Delta777LR]

looks like the weather is going to be crappy on friday, I might pass

[JohnJ]

Hmmm. Photography being the main goal for me here, I might wait for a sunny day. However, I will keep my eyes on the forecast. At present, the NWS is calling for 56% cloud cover at 1 p.m. tomorrow. If that percentage slides much lower as the event draws closer, I might take a gamble and head down. It's a 2-hour drive for me, though, so it's a big effort. I'm jaded by the first Emirates A380 arrival, which was under dismal conditions. At least that event had more historical significance since it was the first revenue A380 operation to the States.

Hope for 31L if you're out for photography. The lighting on 22L at 1:30 would be far less than optimal since the sun will be at 210 degrees then - close to nose-on but slightly on the other side of the plane from The Mounds. 31L lighting would probably be excellent if the clouds stay away. Winds are supposed to be from the west at 15, so I guess it could go either way.

[JohnJ]

This could get interesting. The forecast site I use has upgraded things a bit and now calls for 30% cloud cover tomorrow at 1. I'll check again in the morning, but if the 30% forecast holds true I might well try to get down there. Looks like they're expecting things to start breaking up by around 10 tomorrow morning.

[Matt Molnar]

Sky is completely blue here in Queens and it's only 7:30!

[Gerard]

Sky is completely blue here in Queens and it's only 7:30!

Same here on Long Island. The storm has totally cleared out to the N/NE!!

[abandagale]

hi guys... please let me know if you are heading out. I'd love to join in again.. my email is [email protected]. I work in midtown so it'll take me an hour to get there.

[JohnJ]

Things went from solid overcast and rain to clear in about 20 minutes this morning in Connecticut. NWS now calls for 26% cloud cover and winds slightly from the northwest. That's good enough for me to make the trip down.

The next trick will be runways. From a straight wind point of view, 31L would seem likely, but I know things don't always work that way at JFK. However, since AF uses T1, it would seem they could minimize the taxi time with this behemoth by using 31L vs. 22L. Anyone have any other thoughts on the runway? Making a mad dash from 31L to 22L is not my idea of a good time.

FlightAware shows AFR380 as "scheduled" but the Air France web site shows it underway with an arrival of 1:15.

I suspect Inwood will be the gathering spot - my cell # is 203-623-1281 if anyone wants to link up.

John

[moose135]

FlightAware shows AFR380 as "scheduled" but the Air France web site shows it underway with an arrival of 1:15.
FA shows it scheduled for 12:50 arrival, so don't cut it too close!

I'll be heading out, I'm sure I'll see you guys there!

[NIKV69]

FlightAware shows AFR380 as "scheduled" but the Air France web site shows it underway with an arrival of 1:15.


That is because Flightaware doesn't give accurate info till the aircraft reaches our US airspace. I sure hope it's late. 1pm will be a tad early for some good light but I may head out.

[Ychocky]

Best of luck fellas. I eagerly await the first shots.

[mirrodie]

Wow, nice day out. Enjoy the sun and the clear air! Looking forward to the pics.

[Metal484]

So much for the rainy weather reports, now I really wish that I didn't work today, my regular day off of all things. Flightview on JFK's website is showing that the flight is right around Gander and an arrival time of 1:07pm, but we all know how cross atlantic flight tracking goes.

[bluejuice]

As of 1115 it is approx 700 miles out and has an ETA of 1300.. JFK currently on the 2's

[MarkLawrence]

Flightaware is showing 12:42 at the moment (11:30) 728 miles to go.

[bluejuice]

Flight explorer also showing 1242 ETA as of 1136, 531 miles out

[lijk604]

I home sick guys, praying for 31L for the arrival.

[bluejuice]

Last update 1230L
ETA 1300 just approaching PVD still @ 34000'

[lijk604]

Here she was at 8000' just about at ROBER intersection. Headed in for 31L. Of course, it's nowhere near as good as what y'all at JFK are going to have, but, hey, I'm home sick, and I did snap it.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2664/4119607253_b424d9be37_o.jpg

[Metal484]

Here she was at 8000' just about at ROBER intersection. Headed in for 31L. Of course, it's nowhere near as good as what y'all at JFK are going to have, but, hey, I'm home sick, and I did snap it.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2664/4119607253_b424d9be37_o.jpg

WOW...don't you just live in the perfect spot to get this picture. Not a Final Approach shot but I still love it. Great pic!

[Ychocky]

Here she was at 8000' just about at ROBER intersection. Headed in for 31L. Of course, it's nowhere near as good as what y'all at JFK are going to have, but, hey, I'm home sick, and I did snap it.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2664/4119607253_b424d9be37_o.jpg

Nice one mate!

Get well soon :lol:

[george]

Great Shot!

[SengaB]

First arrival of AFR's A380 into JFK. I was hoping for some clouds and rain but that never materialized.
31L arrival of AFR380B F-HPJA. Glad to see a new A380 back into JFK.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2716/4119729449_4cac242859_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2631/4120503130_9bf6a688d4_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2532/4120503036_4aa23109a4_o.jpg

Senga

[george]

Great Pictures!! Thanks for sharing. I was supposed to head out there today but I had to work :evil:

[MarkLawrence]

I thought Senga might be the first to post this! Great shots Senga - looks like it was the perfect afternoon - was that Inwood Park?

[AirtrafficController]

The AF A380 caused some delays for aircraft taxing to Terminal 1. Air France flight 6 was unable to enter its gate due to the whale-jet and sat on the taxiway for some time before it got in.

[PhilDernerJr]

:arrow: NYCAviation Coverage of First Flight (http://nycaviation.com/2009/11/20/air-france-a380-completes-first-flight-to-america/)

[AirtrafficController]

Excellent coverage Phil! The last photo is a beauty.

[Hussman75]

Very nice, Senga! Good to see something interesting at Kennedy again... What really catches my eye, though, is not that it's an A380, or an Air France A380, but that it's a CLEAN Air France A380!! :wink:

[Arinyc]

Nice and sharp photos.

I called ATIS at 1100 and it said 22L arrivals, so I didn't go because I was going to go by subway, and Inwood/Bayswater for 31L was my only option. ARGGH. I'm happy someone did get it!

[Hussman75]

Excellent coverage Phil! The last photo is a beauty.

X2! Great work all the way around, Phil...

[lijk604]

Nice work Phil.

[wunaladreamin]

Here's a bunch you guys missed from the morning.
http://www.tinfoilhelmetphotography.com/Airplanes/JFK-November-09/resized08chinaairlinescargob18/719123810_VsgZi-L.jpg
http://www.tinfoilhelmetphotography.com/Airplanes/JFK-November-09/resized09emiratesa6ewh/719123992_hrQ85-L.jpg
http://www.tinfoilhelmetphotography.com/Airplanes/JFK-November-09/resized10southafricanzssxe/719124158_n8ptJ-L.jpg
http://www.tinfoilhelmetphotography.com/Airplanes/JFK-November-09/resized07lhcargodalcq/719123550_GfcHH-L.jpg
http://www.tinfoilhelmetphotography.com/Airplanes/JFK-November-09/resized06cargoluxlxgcv/719123347_yXaad-L.jpg
http://www.tinfoilhelmetphotography.com/Airplanes/JFK-November-09/resized01jalja8916/719122468_74rUM-L.jpg
http://www.tinfoilhelmetphotography.com/Airplanes/JFK-November-09/resized02jalja8916/719122614_5v45A-L.jpg
http://www.tinfoilhelmetphotography.com/Airplanes/JFK-November-09/resized05airchinacargob2478/719123157_RTD5K-L.jpg
http://www.tinfoilhelmetphotography.com/Airplanes/JFK-November-09/resized03cathaypacificbkpl/719122844_QkUYQ-L.jpg
http://www.tinfoilhelmetphotography.com/Airplanes/JFK-November-09/resized04cathaybkpl/719123005_dk9Nu-L.jpg

And here's one ugly piece of ****...
http://www.tinfoilhelmetphotography.com/Airplanes/JFK-November-09/resized11airfrancefhpja/719124341_fowo5-L.jpg

[eric8669]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2596/4120190477_cd5c7ee3d7_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2755/4120190551_fdde165308_o.jpg


Just for Fun
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2770/4120964214_e178df9cf7_o.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2514/4120964554_f0ae0dbf32_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2590/4120964608_5cdb251d0f_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2755/4120190789_548bfbd97e_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2645/4120964780_c9fe6b74cd_o.jpg

[PhilDernerJr]

Thank you very much guys. I loved seeing it up close, but it would have been great to share it with you guys.

Man...a LOT of special schemes today! Those who took the full day off really got some treats. Great shots all around!

[mirrodie]

WOW. That Etihad.....just WOW.

[Cary]

Having the sun peek out from the clouds right before the F1 *almost* made up for me missing the Qatar Amiri A345 :D

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u36/soak2179/e12587633848727caryliao_mg_1135.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u36/soak2179/t12587648554813caryliao_mg_1128.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u36/soak2179/d12587646973327caryliao_mg_1219.jpg

[moose135]

Great day today all around - the skies cleared in time for the A380 arrival and they switched to Rwy 31 just before she got here, so we had nice light. It was good to see so many folks out today - Phil, terrific shots from the ramp!

Here are a few of my shots from today:

http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Kennedy-Airport/JM20091120F-HPJA001/719279694_XKhsU-L.jpg

http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Kennedy-Airport/JM20091120F-HPJA002/719279882_SKhMY-L.jpg

It's so clean! :wink:
http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Kennedy-Airport/JM20091120F-HPJA003/719280142_GBd3k-L.jpg

http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Kennedy-Airport/JM20091120A7-BAO001/719290727_zVZc2-L.jpg

http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Kennedy-Airport/JM20091120EI-DBP001/719291079_VQxpN-L.jpg

http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Kennedy-Airport/JM20091120A6-EHJ001/719279337_W7UBu-L.jpg

Four new JB airframes today! Plus two in new colors...
http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/JetBlue/JM20091120N562JB001/719278433_7qpYg-L.jpg

[jerslice]

Some great coverage guys! I'm jealous.
Wunala - that Cathay looks awfully familiar :-)

[SengaB]

Mark,
I shot the A380 a little downwind. I guess my shots look like the others people took :)

Senga

[ChrisW]

Great shots and coverage of the big day! Nice to finally see a Delta A380 - well, half of her revenues are Delta's... :D

[JZ1]

Great shots all around. Envious to all of you who could be there. Luckily this is going to be a daily affair going forward and I shall get it in the coming days.

[nicolas]

Nice pictures :borat:

[Ychocky]

And you guys fail to disappoint.

wunala you crack me up. Colorful bunch of special schemes you got there.

[Matt Molnar]

Video finally done!

http://nycaviation.com/newspage/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/airfrance-video-vimeo.jpg (http://nycaviation.com/2009/11/20/air-france-a380-completes-first-flight/#video)

[hiss srq]

Nice vid, I heard my signature cough in the background at the end LOL

[moose135]

Nice vid, I heard my signature cough in the background at the end LOL
Not to mention the machine-gun clatter of shutters going off :D

[m.marra]

Very nice vid! Loved the shot from the tail.