National was practically empty; faint scent Cinnabon and National Guardsmen with AK-47's. No free NYTimes (b/c they weren't delivered to the airport today, apparently). Absolutely no delays taking off or landing, even into LaGuardia. Our flight's approach was across Brooklyn, not up the Hudson, which offered a wide (but not straight down) view of downtown Manhattan. Everybody on the plane was staring or craning to see. [ shots of Manhattan from a private plane]