The best thing to come out of the UN General Assembly meeting


Road closures, heavy police presence, annoying news stories about various world leaders.  Nothing good can come out of the UN General Assembly meeting each fall in New York City.  At least, that’s what I used to think.  Now I know better. 

In addition to all the headaches and whatnot that come from the meetings there is also one truly phenomenal opportunity for aerophiles – plane spotting at JFK.  As the gateway to NYC, JFK receives scores of international dignitaries during the week leading up to the big meeting and there is a similar outflow after the sessions conclude.  And the planes that show up are a lot of fun. 

These are planes that don’t make it to the United States very often. Ilyushins and Tupolevs.  Airbus A300s and A310s.  Even an A342 and a Boeing 747SP – one of the originals – arriving in from Iran.  Gambia sent a 727-100 and Burkina Faso sent a 727-200. 

It is, quite simply, plane spotting nirvana.

Here are a couple thumbnail images from some of the folks who were out spotting this year.  I’m going to need to check out the schedule for next year and see what I can do to be out by JFK for this event. 

Gambia’s 727-100 Iran’s 747SP Russia’s IL-62

Good stuff.

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Seth Miller

I'm Seth, also known as the Wandering Aramean. I was bit by the travel bug 30 years ago and there's no sign of a cure. I fly ~200,000 miles annually; these are my stories. You can connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.