Over the years there were many opportunities to fly a single or twin engine airplane into JFK; park it for a week or two and get back in for the final flight home to a small airport in Bucks County, PA.
Taking off from JFK at maybe 11:00 PM and telling air traffic control we want to fly over the Varazzano and turn left on course to our destination is a great memory to have. To have done it routinely during years of international travel is a rather nice memory. All alone in a small plane at night flying over Queens at 2,000 feet is a marvelous sight and very relaxing after a long journey from someplace far from America. This is America. This is my place. This is where I belong.
Taking off from JFK after taxing from general aviation onto the active runway feels great. On a cold winter night the air is thicker so the aircraft starts flying pretty quick. On a warmer summer night it takes a longer take-off roll because the air is thinner but the runways at JFK are over two miles long, more than enough to get a small twin into the air and what a sight comes into view. Heading west the Varazzano quickly comes into view. The statue of Liberty is just past that. It’s pretty small from the air and it’s the best statue in the world. Tell departure control we want a left turn over the Varazzano on course to Bucks county is a nice final leg to get home. .
Views: 9
