November 29, 2024 — Sunrise Over Manhattan: Flying the Hudson River Corridor

On November 29, I flew the Hudson River Corridor with my buddy Zack. We launched early and timed our arrival perfectly—right at sunrise. The light over Manhattan was unreal. Golden reflections off the skyline, shadows stretching over the river, and the RV-8 humming steady at low altitude. The pictures are absolutely epic.

The Route

We entered the corridor from the south, near the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and flew northbound past the Statue of Liberty, the skyline, and Central Park—right up to the Alpine Tower just north of the George Washington Bridge. After reaching the northern boundary, we turned around and flew the corridor south again, retracing our path.

Flying the Hudson Corridor

The Hudson River VFR Corridor allows pilots to fly below 1,300 feet through one of the busiest pieces of airspace in the country—right past downtown Manhattan—without talking to ATC. You stay beneath Class B airspace, monitor the corridor CTAF (123.05 MHz), and make position reports at key landmarks: Verrazano Bridge, Statue of Liberty, George Washington Bridge, Intrepid, and so on.

It’s VFR only, so weather and visibility have to be solid. You’re sharing the route with helicopters, tour aircraft, and other GA planes—so staying alert is non-negotiable.

Worth It

This was one of the most unforgettable flights I’ve done. Zack and I have been flying together for years, and this one went straight to the highlight reel. Flying your own plane through the heart of NYC at sunrise? Hard to beat.

Starting July 1, I began a new chapter—as a U.S. diplomat in the Foreign Service. Before jumping in, I had six weeks of vacation banked with Carnegie Mellon. With a canyoneering trip already on the calendar in Zion, Emily and I decided to do something we’d dreamed of for a long time: fly the RV-8 across the country.

The goal was simple—visit friends, see the nation, and make the most of the plane I spent a decade building.

Leg 1: East to Midwest
First stop was Indianapolis to see Emily’s parents and my friend Zack. A few days there with family and friends made for a good send-off before heading west.

Leg 2: Nebraska and Colorado
We stopped for lunch in Lincoln, Nebraska with Dannee—one of my former sergeants from Afghanistan. Great catch-up, though we had to double back after Emily’s AirTag alerted us her wallet was still at the airport. Crisis averted.

From there, we flew into Denver and stayed with my buddy Wes for the night.

Leg 3: Into the Mountains
We followed I-25 north, then picked up I-80 westbound into Salt Lake City. The approach was stunning—but the flight itself was rough. Headwinds hit 50 knots at 16,000 feet, and we rode mountain waves for hours. One of the most challenging legs I’ve flown.

Salt Lake, though, made up for it. Great food, great views.

Leg 4: North to Seattle
From Utah, we continued north through Idaho and into Washington. In Seattle, we stayed with friends of Emily’s family—Merril and Peter—and visited one of my old flight school friends, now a Delta Captain. Seattle was a favorite stop. We took a few days to soak in the Pacific Northwest.

Leg 5: Down the Coast to Zion
We hugged the coast down through Oregon and California, making a few scenic stops before landing near Zion for our five-day canyoneering trip. The canyon crew hit the rocks every day. I joined for two: Heaps and Imlay—both legendary and miserable. Imlay took us 23 hours start to finish. Absolutely brutal and equally unforgettable. Emily hiked Angel’s Landing instead—smarter choice.

Leg 6: Weather Games and the Trip Home
The trip east was trickier. A major line of storms blocked our path. I filed IFR to skirt them, but turbulence and restricted airspace forced us to land in New Mexico. We made an unplanned overnight stop there.

We did have the amazing experience of flying through Monument Valley at low level! And seeing Lake Powell from above!

Next was a stop in Wabaunsee County, Kansas (had to look up the spelling). My old Marine buddy Eric is now the Sheriff there. We hadn’t seen each other in years—worth the detour.

We made one last stop in Indiana before heading home. Total trip time: 21 days.

Final Tally
Only one maintenance issue—a missing bolt on the wheel pant, easily solved with a trip to Ace Hardware. The oxygen system worked flawlessly the entire time. The RV-8 handled everything we threw at it.

It was the perfect farewell tour before starting this next chapter. America is a big, beautiful place—and seeing it from the cockpit of a plane you built yourself is something special.