JFK This Coming Sunday (1/30)

[gonzalu]

Antonis, NONE taken... believe me, I do not get insulted for spotting too much, as if there was such a thing as too much spotting.

Chris... Shopping is definitely NOT an option for me... If I tell the wife to go shopping, she will double what she does not WITHOUT permission LOL

Kaz, I am still in shock you got away with that. I told my wife and she was like, no way no way hahaha.

Rom, the distance from the edge of the water to the flight path on 4R is about 1500 feet which is almost the same as The Mounds to 22L. By comparison, 31R from Panera is about 2000 feet.

Take a look at this little map I threw together a few weeks ago. It has all the distances (approximate) from all the spotting locations to the respective runways... ZOOM in and you will notice a few faint lines ... click on them for distances... the rest of the stuff is well labeled too.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...c908a&t=h&z=12

[RomNYC]

Oh wow, thanks Manny! I definitely don't quite have an eye for this yet but these tips are extremely useful. Although I love looking at maps for all kinds of purposes, I never realized that Bayswater approximately equaled The Mounds. I guess I need to work on my depth perception a bit :)

This is good stuff, thank you

[gonzalu]

The Mounds has a LOT MORE reference queues for your eyes to judge depth. Bayswater is just wide open space and 4L is FAR ;-) but 4R is really close. I usually take my two bodies to Bayswater

D3 goes with the 70-200mm f/2.8 shoulder sling
D2Xs goes on the 200-400mm f/4 on the Monopod.

They are a PITA to handle but I get to have the best of both worlds. I also sometimes set up far right and away from the water's edge in order to be slightly further for a tiny bit better engle on 4R landings. The planes are still a bit high relative to you so you get a somewhat high angle of attack. If you go closer to the water on the concrete platform, you get nice incoming head on shots.

4L landings are OK and the taxi shots are also good. But all will suffer a bit from heat distortion and obstructions. The perimeter fence is omnipresent and the runway never goes above it so wheels are usually cut off in half and there are also shrubs and small trees that even in winter are in the way. This only bothers if your goal is to put up on A.net or otherwise a clean shot. For the enjoyment factor, Bayswater is a dream. It is the one place that makes you feel closest to the action and being on the ramps. All other spots are away from the airport and you can;t really see the runways/ramps... Well HoBe you can see a bit but not the same as Bayswater where you can see a huge bit of ground ops.

[ANITIX87]

I'm good to go for Sunday!

I'm hoping for HoBe as I've only ever been there for 4 minutes until a patrol kicked us out during UN week. Planning to arrive around 9AM, so let me know where you'll be, everybody!

PM me for my cell number if anyone wants it.

TIS

[gonzalu]

You got kicked out of HoBe? A public park? US Park no less? Totally weird. Monday morning I was there with my monopod, D3 with 200-400mm bazooka shooting away and parked right next to me (on the cell phone the whole time) was a fully marked and uniformed US Park Police Officer and not once did he raise an eyebrow... not even looked at me.

The one and only time I was even approached was back a few months ago when two officers approached me (because someone called me in as suspicious) and as soon as he spoke to me he was like " oh you're taking pictures of planes, ok have a nice day "

I'd be very surprised if you even get a second glance nowadays.

[ANITIX87]

Yeah, I was surprised, too. I was out there with the group of German guys who had come down for UN Week, and we got questioned, our IDs were taken away and checked for almost 30 minutes until his supervisor drove up and checked us all out. They then asked us to leave because of "tight security with the UN summit going on."

Here are my contingencies for Sunday:

MORNING
If 4R/L operations: North Woodmere Park for Departures
If 22R/L operations: Bayswater for Departures
If 31L/R operations: HoBe for Departures

AFTERNOON
If 4R/L operations: Mounds for departures
If 22R/L operations: Mounds for Arrivals
If 31L/R operations: Panera/Firestone for Arrivals

TIS

[gonzalu]

So they asked EVERYONE to move, correct? Otherwise, that would be discriminating and I don't think I would be very happy about it. Don't mind being asked to leave an area for whatever reason as long as everyone is asked to leave if no wrongdoing was taking place... law enforcement should be able to enforce the law without anyone questioning it. But I don't quite like discrimination, especially on public spaces that are completely removed from a secure facility. Howard Beach itself (real Howard Beach) could be far more dangerous as planes fly a lot closer to [it] than our HoBe parking lot spot...

I will drop it as it is a sensitive topic on this website and forum and do not want to jeopardize the hobby as a whole. However, arguably, we protect the hobby mainly for weeks SUCH AS UN week which are very rewarding for our hobby. Interesting to say the least!

[RomNYC]

Seriously, don't people have other things going on in their lives rather than calling you in as suspicious, not to mention dispatching police forces that might actually be needed somewhere else?

EDIT: hum, so much for dropping the subject... sorry about that.

[gonzalu]

Police Officers and Firemen don't have the luxury of "Cry Wolf" excuses.. they must check out every call or else risk a potential incident or catastrophe.

[NIKV69]

Has anyone checked to see if Bayswater is unlocked?

[chrisparypa]

Sunday is tomorrow right ?? Hope to see some people out :)

Is Bayswater unlocked ??

Im starting my day early in the morning, expecting to see sunrise from the one of the spotting locations, in the morning I'll try departures.... then arrivals....

Looks like wind from WNW tomorrow so probably 31L departures am I right ?? also Bayswater in the morning is the possible location I think :)

[NIKV69]

Bayswater is only good early for 22R departures or 4R arrivals first thing in the morning. Wx is saying clouds for morning and sun afternoon. I can only shoot AM so it will be game time decision for me.

[Zee71]

I am planning on heading out early as well...........bagel and a hot chocolate, and hitting one of the spotting locations. Most likely HoBe first if 31L is in use.

[NLovis]

Look at me, I have even less posts in here than you do :) Go for it RED. If weather's fine, I'll definitely be around unless they stick to HoBe or Bayswater all day (I'm limited to 200mm for now).

You sound like me before I got my new toy. I was stuck with a 200mm FILM camera till this dec (my b day). Since then I havent looked back. Got my own watermark finally thanks to Manny and I have MUCH better photos then I did last year. A small hint is to watch LGA for when they op rwy 4 arrivals. I havent been there myself yet but the guide on the site says 200mm and less will work great over there. Just bring a step ladder.
As far as sunday goes for me I dont see anything stopping me right now but we will see what happens. I will have to reprint the guide and try out my new GPS if it isnt the mounds or panera. Oh wait I dont have my old gps. Guess that only applies for panera then. Ill join the living outside the ramp area for a bit

[ANITIX87]

Heading out from here at 6:45 tomorrow, expect to arrive at JFK around 7:45 if there's no traffic. Looks like 31L, so I'll head over to HoBe in the morning.

TIS