What do the number writers do with the information they collect?
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With Norman, LN-KGL? Yes, by the way, th Radial Pair with Gary. He also flew with Dave Gilmour's group, amongst many other things.
Last edited by Ridge Runner; 22nd Jun 2010 at 16:08.
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What do the number writers do with the information they collect?
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I'm by no means a serious number logger however, I do note the registrations down when I am at the airport. I prefer talking photographs myself.
I have an Excel document that I use to note my jottings down. I just think its nice to see an aircraft that you have already seen before, eventually by taking the registrations down, you do get to know the aircraft too. I'm struggling to explain it, but I enjoy it.
I have an Excel document that I use to note my jottings down. I just think its nice to see an aircraft that you have already seen before, eventually by taking the registrations down, you do get to know the aircraft too. I'm struggling to explain it, but I enjoy it.
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If there was a planespotter equivalent of this - Train Spotting Simulator - they could all stay at home and do it.
Being an aviation enthusiast is "hilarious" because :
It gets me out of the house with the camera when as a 21st century Scot I should be sitting on my fat arse in front ot the telly / PlayStation with brain rot eating a deep fried pizza. ( They DO exist )
This practice of "exercise" is sadly not confined to good weather.
It gives me something impossible to strive for, which is clearly irrational. I mean as soon as I get see basics, say the BA Airbus fleet, they go and buy another one. My attempts not to get angry at Willie Walsh for this do me immense credit.
This lesson of never ignoring what's right in front of you is also "hilarious". Just eyeball that one as it goes past just in case, never growing complacent is also "hilarious".
Becoming engaged in a fascinating world like ATC and boring your friends with the intricate patters of LCY 09 arrivals turning down Whitehall as their LHR 27L / R inbounds lumber overhead is also sad. As is the practice of being arty with the camera trying to get a B747, a Fokker 50 and Big Ben all in shot at the same time.
Putting the whole glorious escapade into Excel and spotting trends and patterns can also help me in my job as an analyst (no really, it does (!) )
Not to mention travelling the world and having more to do than sit in the bar or the beach and listen to my skin sizzle.
Yup, being an aircraft spotter can be hard, but you meet all sorts of really nice people. As for Nigel with his flask and notebook, perhaps not. I'll give you that, we do attract some oddities.
I must away, summer solstice and Gatwick in the evening light beckon with a chance to put away those last elusive easyJet A319s. My sadness that they keep giving some of the G- ones to easyJet Switzerland before I see them is a burden I am struggling to carry alas....
Last edited by Skipness One Echo; 23rd Jun 2010 at 16:07.
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<<If there was a planespotter equivalent of this - Train Spotting Simulator - they could all stay at home and do it.>>
Well, there is SBS and that isn't a simulator...
Well, there is SBS and that isn't a simulator...
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Plane spotters who collect registration numbers are fulfilling a basic psychological need that all of us humans feel to some extent or other. It is partly a need to complete a set, whether that be by seeing all G- registered aircraft, owning every type of Hungarian postage stamp issued, or noting every Eddie Stobart lorry on the road. The racier side of collecting covers areas where the is no finite list (as in a Stanley Gibbons stamp catalogue), and you therefore don't know when you've got every one of something, such as airline timetables, Beatrix Potter thimbles, or telephone cards. It could be argued that the collecting gene manifests itself differently in men and women, with the female version having an element of practicality about it (e.g. shoes). But that's a whole other debate...
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a basic psychological need
What is a a basic psychological need is the need to appear 'normal' and this sometimes leads to the need to rationalize behaviour in order to normalize it.
I suppose collectors can be divided into three main groups, those who collect for investment purposes, those who collect for enjoyment purposes (displaying and/or using the items) and those who collect for prestige purposes. Many collectors will naturally belong to more than one group.
One thing they all have in common is that the items they collect are of a physical nature. Is it 'collecting' or a 'collection' when nothing physical is involved and the item involved is manufactured by the 'collector'?
Freud, of course, believed it could all be traced back to toilet training.
I suppose collectors can be divided into three main groups, those who collect for investment purposes, those who collect for enjoyment purposes (displaying and/or using the items) and those who collect for prestige purposes. Many collectors will naturally belong to more than one group.
One thing they all have in common is that the items they collect are of a physical nature. Is it 'collecting' or a 'collection' when nothing physical is involved and the item involved is manufactured by the 'collector'?
Freud, of course, believed it could all be traced back to toilet training.
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I thought trainspotters where a bit barmy but a guy from work tells me his teenage son is a Eddie Stobart Truck spotter!!
He has a log book with the cab and trailer numbers and also the names on the front, there is also a Stobart truck spotters fanclub as well.
Thinki will be sticking to things with wings and engines
He has a log book with the cab and trailer numbers and also the names on the front, there is also a Stobart truck spotters fanclub as well.
Thinki will be sticking to things with wings and engines
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Yes, Rob, but on the way to see the flying machines what better than to cop a few Eddies? Great fun and when the drivers see you almost drive up a tree to get the name they'll give you a friendly wave...!
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Tried it this afternoon on my way back up the M6, its ok I guess when you are passing one of them as you can keep pace with the cab (slowing everyone else down in the middle lane
) and read it from the side but how the hell do you do it when they are on the other carrigeway? youve got a closure speed of approx 140mph, and the writing is tiny!! You really need a steady nerve
Also noticed theres always more on the other carrigeway than yours.
Aircraft are far more relaxing, sitting in the avaition park at Manchester with a coffee and a tray of chips.... bliss.
) and read it from the side but how the hell do you do it when they are on the other carrigeway? youve got a closure speed of approx 140mph, and the writing is tiny!! You really need a steady nerveAlso noticed theres always more on the other carrigeway than yours.
Aircraft are far more relaxing, sitting in the avaition park at Manchester with a coffee and a tray of chips.... bliss.
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I thought trainspotters where a bit barmy but a guy from work tells me his teenage son is a Eddie Stobart Truck spotter!!
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Sheesh! You guys have it so easy!
You should try Birdwatching!
They don't have registration numbers.
It takes a great deal of skill to work out that the sparrow you see on Tuesday morning is not the same one you saw a day before in a different field!
You should try Birdwatching!
They don't have registration numbers.
It takes a great deal of skill to work out that the sparrow you see on Tuesday morning is not the same one you saw a day before in a different field!
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There is a great difference between birdwatching and twitching. I'm a bird watcher, I can't fail to be in this area. I look onto my front garden to find it occupied, as this morning, by six pheasants, 8 goldfinches, 4 jackdaws, longtailed tits etc etc. They give me a great deal of pleasure, as they do other people. Remember TWITCHERS are the collectors, birdwatchers are observers, not collectors.
The Tornado at 100 feet past my garden yesterday afternoon was pretty impressive, as was the Puma OVER my garden at the same height. {Frightened the lesser spotted woodpecker out of my tree. Ah well.]
The Tornado at 100 feet past my garden yesterday afternoon was pretty impressive, as was the Puma OVER my garden at the same height. {Frightened the lesser spotted woodpecker out of my tree. Ah well.]
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Better get some extra white coats down here, and a padded van too. My wife and I are aircraft spotters, Eddie collectors and birdwatchers! We don't twitch now for health reasons but we used to collect lists of birds seen by the month, year and all-time. Is there a place in Heaven for such illustrious souls I ask?
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My first post.
An intersting discussion.
I have a slightly different method. I take a photo, and use that in a photobase to see which different aircraft I have seen. I have to say this is purely military aircraft. while I may have lots of photos of one airframe, only one picture is used in the photobase.
I presume there must be others out there doing something similar.
An intersting discussion.
I have a slightly different method. I take a photo, and use that in a photobase to see which different aircraft I have seen. I have to say this is purely military aircraft. while I may have lots of photos of one airframe, only one picture is used in the photobase.
I presume there must be others out there doing something similar.
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I enjoy Spotting, I dont always collect regs for some reason.
Only when there is something interesting such as the Trooping of the Colour Flypast I would like to know the aircraft involved.
I also collect the regs of the aircraft I have flown on just to keep as personal record. (The Excel spreadsheet sounds good, might try it).
I also Like trains, but a certain type of trains, STEAM!!
These Electric and Diesel Boxes on wheel dont appeal to me even though I drive them.
I also like Birdwatching, I like birds with long hair and a BIG CHEST
Only when there is something interesting such as the Trooping of the Colour Flypast I would like to know the aircraft involved.
I also collect the regs of the aircraft I have flown on just to keep as personal record. (The Excel spreadsheet sounds good, might try it).
I also Like trains, but a certain type of trains, STEAM!!
These Electric and Diesel Boxes on wheel dont appeal to me even though I drive them.
I also like Birdwatching, I like birds with long hair and a BIG CHEST
Last edited by Malaysian28; 25th Jun 2010 at 10:55.
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jem60 - have you considered what would happen if a Tornado flew through a flock of your feathered friends at 100 feet?
Be easy to spot in your living room!
Be easy to spot in your living room!
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ANGEL. Yes, but I can't do much about it. I once had a birdstrike when I was flying a C.150, and killed a seagull. Put a dent in the wing, and before you wags get your humour into gear, the birdstrike wasn't from behind!!!