Having a friend who’s a pilot is a good thing. Having him offer you a plane ride over the Hudson Valley is even better.

On a super clear late autumn day, we left the Dutchess County Airport and headed south following the Hudson River south as it snaked its way through the highlands. After crossing over two bridges and seeing the Manhattan skyline, we continued our journey by looping around and going north and over the Shawangunk range in New Paltz. Sky Top looks a bit different when viewed from the top. 🙂 We circled around New Paltz and then back over the Hudson, following it over the Walkway over the Hudson and the Mid Hudson Bridge and finally back to the airport.  Thanks for a great flight Jon!

The plane, a Cessna 172

The instrument panel

The takeoff…and the NYS Thruway (looking north between exits 16 and 17)

Looking north towards Poughkeepsie, Route 9 on the right

The Newburgh waterfront

West Point

The Bear Mountain Bridge

The Hudson Highlands and Bear Mountain Bridge…looking north on the Hudson

The Hudson Highlands

Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge (former Galeville Army Airfield)

Mohonk Mountain House and Sky Top

New Paltz

The IBM plant in Poughkeepsie

Rock quarry behind the Poughkeepsie Galleria

Coming in for a landing!