I just read this article about the Manhattan VFR (Visual Flight Rules) route along the NYC flight corridor and thought it sounded amazing (and, like the author, was surprised they’ve resumed this practice despite the events of 9/11).
Have any Dopers actually experienced this low-flying route? What do you remember?
I have never done it but I have read about it and my flight instructor told me about it. IIRC, it is extremely busy and very narrow corridor in places. I think that it is only the width of the Hudson river in parts so you really have to pay attention to keep from busting airspace. My instructor told me that on a clear weekend day, it is more like a highway than a typical VFR corridor. Planes just line up one behind the other and buzz on through. It sounds cool but I would have to have much more experience and a lot of nerve that day to try it myself.
I have ! It was in a turboprop going from Newark to Logan back in the early to mid 90’s. I remember the pilot talking over the intercom about getting permission to “run the corridor” and not knowing what he was talking about. All of a sudden we are what felt like (not really but when your not used to flying at rooftop level of buildings it feels like it) right on the deck and alongside skyscrapers. Truly amazing. Thanks to the OP for bringing that experience back to the front of my memory bank !
Hey, you’re welcome. Thanks for sharing, and welcome to the SDMB. 
I’ve flown it a few times in a Cherokee, but not since 9/11. It is a very busy area. A lot of helicopters around, especially down near the Statue of Liberty.
It’s not really a difficult flight as long as you know where you are. You’d want to have the terminal area chart with you.
When I did it I was on with LaGuardia, then they switched me over to the Hudson River frequency. The VFR traffic in the corridor make position reports on that frequency. Southbound traffic stays close to the New Jersey side, northbound sticks close to Manhattan.
My best memory is from the first time I flew the route as pilot-in-command, shortly after I’d received my pilot’s license. As the towers loomed over my left shoulder and the Statue of Liberty was dead ahead, I had a “moment of clarity”. I exclaimed to my girlfriend in the passenger seat, "What am I doing here?! I’m a freakin’ carpenter, and I’m flying a plane in the middle of Manhattan!!!"
I have flown it twice, but that was some time back (late 1980s, I think). I remember telling myself it couldn’t last. It seems I was wrong.
I told a friend about it, and he decided to give it a go. But he flew under the GW Bridge - he said he felt it would be “more interesting.” I asked him if he’d checked for cables hanging down before trying it - of course he hadn’t.
I also flew the Grand Canyon below the rim - very spectacular. That one is now against the rules - a pity.