New York Helicopter – No Doors!

No Doors? No Problem…

Some experiences live on your bucket list for years before you finally get the chance to tick them off. For me, a doors-off helicopter flight over New York City was one of them.

We actually planned to do this back in 2016, but for one reason or another, it never happened. So when we booked our trip to New York this year, there was no question about it — this was right at the top of my list.

We flew with Wings Air, based at Westchester County Airport, around 40 minutes north of Manhattan. Getting there was surprisingly straightforward: a train from Grand Central to White Plains, followed by an Uber to the airport.

And then there was the weather…

February? Apparently not.

Because we were travelling in February, I had prepared for absolutely everything. Thermal layers, gloves, hat, fleece jacket… basically enough clothing to survive an Arctic expedition.

As it turned out, New York decided to give us one of the warmest Februaries in recent history.

So much for the thermals.

Instead, we ended up flying in T-shirts. 🙂

Getting ready for the shot

For the flight, I took both of my camera bodies. One was fitted with a 24–70mm lens, while the other had an 85mm prime. The 85mm proved particularly useful as the light began to disappear and the city started transforming beneath us.

I specifically wanted to capture New York during that magical transition from daylight to city lights, so we arranged a take-off time of around 17:15. That gave us just enough time to reach Midtown as the buildings were beginning to light up.

And then we were off.

New York from a completely different perspective

The flight was nothing short of incredible.

Our pilot was fantastic — professional, knowledgeable and incredibly helpful. He pointed out landmarks along the way and, even better, worked with us to plan a route around the locations I wanted to photograph.

The flight itself was remarkably smooth.

Although I’m not sure my wife enjoyed the experience quite as much as I did…

We headed down the Hudson, taking in the incredible views before reaching the northern end of Central Park. We spent several minutes circling the park, giving me plenty of opportunities to grab some shots before turning south towards Midtown.

By this point, the Empire State Building had just started to light up.

The timing couldn’t have been better.

We spent quite a bit of time flying around Midtown, and being in a doors-off helicopter gives you a perspective that simply isn’t possible from the ground.

At one point, it felt like I could almost reach out and touch the top of the Empire State Building.

It really was that close.

When the city lights came alive

As daylight faded, New York completely transformed.

We made several passes over Lower Manhattan, taking in the World Trade Center and the incredible skyline before heading towards Liberty Island.

By now, the city was glowing beneath us.

Our final leg took us over the Brooklyn Bridge, before we turned north along the East River and began the journey back to Westchester.

And just like that, it was over.

One for the bucket list

The whole experience was, quite honestly, beyond words.

I’ve photographed New York from the ground before, but seeing it from a doors-off helicopter — with nothing between you and the skyline — was something else entirely.

I enjoyed every single second of it.

These are just a small selection of my favourite shots from the flight, but they give you a little idea of what an incredible experience it was.

Would I do it again?

Absolutely.

San Francisco or Las Vegas next, perhaps…

These are just a small selection of my favourite shots from an unforgettable flight over New York City.