Spotters - Disgusting creatures

[Critical Reynolds No]

Sorry had to vent.

Why are these guys so weird?

I was having a spot of lunch after arriving into an aerodrome as one does. I saw a few blokes with 10foot lens extensions and I wondered if they got a picture of ones arrival? Wouldn't mind a copy. Went over to make contact. Gees if I didn't get the biggest brush off. Even with my drivers unifrom on, you'd think they'd be a bit more inviting. It was like I was trespassing on their land!!! Maybe they thought I drove the car park courtesy bus!!

What a bunch of w#nkerts.

Rant over.

[Skystar320]

Drivers uniform? = TAXI?

[Freewheel]

I once received a vicious, abusive phone call from somebody complaining that one of my company's helicopters had hovered near him for over 20 minutes, completely ruining his photos of the planes at same airport.

Fortunately the caller hung up when I invited him to see what all the fuss was about on the other side of the fence....


Plonker hadn't realised the spot he was apparently standing at was there for use by training aircraft and the subject of his complaint was...training. Never did hear any more.

[mostlytossas]

While you may think they are W#@kers my guess is they have the same opinion of pilots hence their snub of you. My guess is these people have been plane spotting for years at all different airports along the way and have probably tried to get pilots to let them see up the sharp end only to get the big shove off too.
You have to admit aviation does tend to attract its fair share of prima-donnas and tossas.

[Q300]

Yep some spotters just have no idea, and it's those ones who give the perfectly good spotters a bad name. As a spotter, I have the utmost respect for the people who are in the profession - I mean if I wasn't polite, I wouldn't get awesome opportunities like the jumpseat.

Bad spotters are the rude sort, the ones that don't respect authority, don't respect the rules, etc, etc.

I've met some tosser pilots and some tosser spotters in my short time, but I still try to be nice to anyone and everyone. A bit of nice goes a long way sometimes.

[Sunstar320]

Q300 has nailed it...some spotters are too big for their boots. They think they are know-it-all's and alot dont have repsect for the younger ones.

Sydney Airport spotters are quite rude and defensive of their little patch from experiences....

Nice guys up on the Gold Coast and Adelaide though!


What was the airport you were at, Critical Reynolds No (http://www.pprune.org/members/51483-critical-reynolds-no)

[Critical Reynolds No]

I was being nice. That's the shock. I never had a preconceived thought about these guys. I don't know any, and as long as they don't hurt anyone, they are welcome, in my books, to do what they please. I've had plenty of people take photos of my pointy end (sorry had to do it) and I never judged them (although only while the a/c is on the ground). Plus I never picked if they were spotters or the average punter. Didn't bother me.
So here I go, wondering up to have a nice chat and was basically told to go away.
I don't count myself as a tosser but knnow plenty of them.

These guys were w#ankers.

[Runaway Gun]

Ha. You should have taken a photo of them. Then posted it here...

[Wally Mk2]

All of the spotters that I have come across I've found to be keen to listen to anything you have to say re flying. So obviously I haven't had much to do with them in general. But the way I see it a genuine spotter wouldn't dream of being a pr1ck to a pilot for that achieves zip. Afterall these aviation nuts (said nicely) would love to interact with a pilot.
One day some years ago I was pre flighting a plane for the usual 'sick run' when I noticed a guy with I assume his wife & a small child all standing with their noses hard up against the wire fence watching my antics. The dad then tried to get a piccy with his child in the foreground & the old Beech behind him thru the fence. It was a Sunday so pretty quiet & I simply walked over asked them if they would all like to come have a close look at the 'KFC' flying box & perhaps take a pix or two. Well I nearly got run over by the kid trying to get thru the gate to look at the plane. In short a couple of minutes spent with this family showing them inside quickly was a shear delight to wittness. A pix or two was quickly taken & I can only assume that this made their day, I know it did mine:ok:

Spotters don't have to be professional,ignorant or otherwise many mums & dads I see at the fence line probably just dreaming & taking photos, I know I did too many years ago:ok:



WMk2

[Critical Reynolds No]

Not many Mums and Dads hang around fences with Pot Belly's and 10foot Manhood extensions on their cameras.:ok:

[Howard Hughes]

Perhaps he was a private detective surveilling one of your fellow pilots and you had 'blown his cover'...;)

Do I sense a bit of 'lense envy'?:}

[MyNameIsIs]

Q300's got it i reckon.

I used to be into the spotting but then my pursuit of a flying career got in the way (so far so good!). Being on both sides of the fence I can honestly confirm what others have said- there are tossers in both camps!

I basically spotted because it combined my interest in flying and photography into one and was quite enjoyable- have even made a bit fo cash from it.

To cast a wide net and put all in the same boat is a little harsh- wonder how you would feel if people's opinion of you was grouped into the 'bad bunch' when your well away from it??

Expecting the uniform to get a reaction were you?? Please don't tell me you wore it to the local shopping centre during lunch whilst back in your training days.... please....
Just yanking your chain- some of them may have actually thought you were Wilson Security!

[VH-XXX]

ARRRGGGHHHH :mad:! Don't get me started! You might remember the Plane Spotters are Muppets thread a few months back!!! :mad:

Mine wrote down my rego and informed CASA that it has been written off :mad:. It was in perfect working order! :mad: Then I'm the on that has to prove that my aircraft isn't written off :mad:.

:mad:

[coke drinker]

Three types of spotters I can't handle...

-Ladder climbers
-Hangar invaders
-Know alls (you can get rid of them by asking them the Vfe or Cruise Climb speed. They never know)


I comfort myself in the knowledge that at least they aren't train spotters. Train Spotters spend there whole lives looking at identical vehicles! One Tangara is exactly the same as another Tangara!

[AerocatS2A]

I've always thought that most pilots are simply spotters who've made a couple of different choices in their lives. Hence the cringe factor when you see them. It's like looking at yourself in a weird parallel universe.

[blueloo]

One Tangara is exactly the same as another Tangara!

Thats not true - every Tangara has a different amount of vomit, piss and homeless people on it.:E

[hoss]

haven't met any 'spotters' but i know quite a few people who love to talk for hours about anything aviation, 'aerosexuals' they call themselves and i'm always up for a chat. one guy i met could tell you the pros and cons between an RR RB211 525-D4 versus RB211 525-B2, he was a courier driver!

anyway, i do my best to keep them entertained up in brissy on rwy19 on the quartering tailwinds, doh.

yesterday mister whippy was parked and probably doing great business near rwy16 at melbourne.

fantastic stuff:).

[Deaf]

If they are not:
1-Female
2-Spectactular Chests

The AFP should investigate, if they are 1+2 then you have to do your duty.

[Howard Hughes]

That's a scarey thought Aerocat...:eek:

[PyroTek]

Deaf,
What if they are category 2, but not 1?

<shudders>:{

I would love to go taking some shots of aircraft just for ****s and giggles sometime.. Sounds fun...

[Wally Mk2]

Remember 'spotters' where once kids just like you & I:-) Their interest didn't go as far as some of us, IE pilots. Probably over the years as security has gone nuts they have become somwehat alienated towards the way we pilots tend to be sceptical as to their intetions etc.
I can't recall many years ago 'spotters' being as pushy as they at times appear to be now. Spotters had the ability to wonder around an most airports once & mostly they where harmless with that 'kid' excitment. Like all forms of transport there are those that do & those that like to 'watch', voyeurism perhaps. Lets face it most humans like to 'watch' something or other, some just take it a little more seriously than others that's all:)

I'm of the opinion that if I come across someone whom appears to be keen about aviation I promote it even in a small way by waving to them thru the fence:ok:

'Deaf' if the person/s have yr 'qualifications' as stated then do you really think talking aviation is gunna happen?:E



Wmk2

[Atlas Shrugged]

It was like I was trespassing on their land!!!

Aerodromes are for aircraft, not fecking spotters.

[Freewheel]

Wally,

I've not lost that point, but when it comes to abusing somebody because they didn't get their shot, or wandering out onto the operating areas, there's clearly something going wrong.

At least we haven't heard of any of the low end of the gene pool jumping in something and thinking, "I wonder what happens when I push this button" or "What if I flick that big red switch". I'm sure there's been a few flat batteries, but it seems nobody (yet) has a story of "one of these clowns managed to get it started and then pi55ed off and left it".


And don't get me started on the DOTARS rubbish for immobilising your aircraft.....

[Wally Mk2]

I hear what yr saying 'Freewheel' & I understand but we (pilots & the likes) are for more professional than some (arrogant spotters) are so hence we act accordingly, or should do even in the face of stupidity.
Agree about DOTARS though, immobilising an A/C, like locking the front door of yr house, that action is stop the 'honest' thieves out there, if they want to get in they will.



Wmk2

[aileron_69]

What if I flick that big red switch


......sounds like me every time I go out to fly my plane:E

[tasdevil.f27]

Its the train spotters you have to watch your back with, they like to pelt things at you if you dare get in there way!

I'm lucky to be in the industry and get to spot all day long & take the odd photo or heaps. I have spotted at a lot of airports also and haven't come across any bad ones yet and most go out of there way to show me the good photo spots. I always wear my ASIC (even land side) so everyone knows who I am and that i pose no risk. :E I am sure there are some freaks out there, but i haven't seem them as yet luckily. Have seen and delt with some rude pilots in my time though.

Aerodromes are for aircraft, not fecking spotters.

True, but if they are not doing any harm whats the problem? If they were airside and starting giving you grief then thats another story of course.

[HarleyD]

I guess one way of evening up the score a little if afflicted by ‘Spottus Obnixious Maximus’ (the greater or spotted spotter) is to wander out to the car park, take a few snaps of his 1993 Camry (be sure to include a clear number plate shot for posting and details of all the aerials that are screwed and clamped all over it), stick your head in the window of his car to check out the selection of VHF band scanners, needlessly point out that you can’t see his VHF radio telephone installation certification clearly displayed, complain that you can’t get a decent clear shot of the nodding dog on the hat shelf with his big fat momma’s head in the way and will he tell her to get out so that you can, ask him if he works for Al Kayda, point out that his tyres need rotating and when he bores you with the fact that he only just had it on jacks in the driveway rotating all the tyres like he does every 60 days tell him that is not what you meant,…. He should be in the car and rotating all the tyres so that he is moving further away from you at every moment……..bloody Muppets

Mind you they’re not all like that at all, there are some really great blokes that are spotters, it’s just the 98% of morons that stuff it up for the rest of them!!!

HD
What sort of spotters will there be next? - Taxi spotters, that would be just right up the alley of some twits....."look there's yellow falcon on LPG with a boot ad".....pause..."I better get a picture of the number on the side and put it on the Interweb"

[Critical Reynolds No]

Looks like a lot of Spotters frequent this forum.....:zzz:

[sixtiesrelic]

It takes all sorts.
I've met some good blokes who share my love of aeroplanes and I've met some real roosters (Can't fly but scream abuse at the world from the safety of the chook yard (or computer))
I think what gives pilots the the you know whats, is the w*nkers who want to talk to them as equals on flying and aeroplanes, as well as the ones who think their photos are so sacred and have to be paid for.
I always have the pleasure of walking up to a good spot wearing my red card to get the exact right angle without the need of a zoom lens, when I see some supercilious twit up his ladder, trying not to overballance with the weight of the shotgun on his camera, specially when I know he is a real champion rooster.
Roosters make it easy to spot... they post photos of themselves on the net.

[Sunfish]

I have an enduring image as a student PPL at YMMB looking at a flock of spotters under the North West windsock, taking photos including me in the little C150.

I just don't understand the attraction.

[tasdevil.f27]

I always have the pleasure of walking up to a good spot wearing my red card to get the exact right angle without the need of a zoom lens, when I see some supercilious twit up his ladder, trying not to overballance with the weight of the shotgun on his camera,


The best bit is when they fall off the ladder right as an aircraft taxi's by. :D

[Urshtnme]

Such unusual creatures and very annoying at the best of times. I'm yet to meet a polite one!

This'll never happen in Australia!
http://images2.jetphotos.net/img/1/9/5/1/53113_1207686159.jpg

A little to keen maybe?

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Cockpit/9191/image/KaiTak-Spotting1.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceball.gif
Manchester Airport knows how to put spotters at a safe distance to aircraft

http://www.gebenus.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/fellow_spotter.jpg
Damn it where's my rifle!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2420/2525763242_380fff937b.jpg?v=0
An all to common site near where I work.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/2524879625_0c00de2bac.jpg?v=0
The "Sniper" spotter

http://www.plane-spotter.com/Jpegs/Spotters_at_AMS-2.jpg
Umm....do you have your ASIC card?

http://www.pimp-aviation.com/free_downloads/Splash%20Screens/1st%20Plane%20Spotter.jpg
Holy crap, they've made a computer game out of it now!!! "The Aerosexual"

This is very interesting though


After 9/11, plane-spotter hobbyists are being watched themselves &mdash; JSCMS (http://jscms.jrn.columbia.edu/cns/2006-03-14/ovide-planewatchinghobbyists)

[b_sta]

This'll never happen in Australia!

Nope, we've got ASICs to protect us :}

[ForGreaterSafety]

I've only met two spotters, one I worked with and the other I had to arrest for pleasuring himself right under final in the full monty. Made for an interesting brief (get it) when the charge was heard. (That was in Canberra just under those trees offset from final right near the road)

Cheers
FGS

[mattyj]

Take plane spotter to its nth degree and you get..a pilot:8

[Blue Carpet]

I have an enduring image as a student PPL at YMMB looking at a flock of spotters under the North West windsock, taking photos including me in the little C150.

I just don't understand the attraction.

Whats so hard to understand? They're aviation enthusiasts and love aviation/aircraft, just as train spotters love trains/railways.

[OZBUSDRIVER]

Cummonnnn, who hasn't pestered their parents to take them to the aerodrome to look at the aeroplanes. Some kids just don't grow up:}.

Collecting photoes of various airframes and getting them on the web really is no different to any collection type of hobby. Mind you, if they do turn out to be numpties, just smile and turn around and go your merry way. just leave them to whatever planet they are on.

Have come across some interesting characters but most all of them are quite polite...they ARE after information on whatever you are driving. It helps them with their collection. for example, who here hasn't checked the records of RAAF A-numbers for a bit of history on something they may have discovered at an aerodrome. All compliments of "plane-spotters" It's is all history, if it isn't recorded, it may as well not have happened.

[doubleu-anker]

Critical Reynolds No

"Disgusting creatures"?

No I don't buy that for one second. Sorry but you are displaying the classic symptoms of a closet spotter in denial. Your protestations are much too "loud" to fool us.

I recon you have an anorak at home somewhere. You were going out spotting yourself when you came across other spotters and one had taken your usual spot! Come on, admit it!.

I am NOT a spotter, ya hear!!

[tipsy2]

I may be wrong with this, but I seem to remember that it was 'spotters' that rumbled that august organisation, the CIA and worked out the movements of the 'Rendition' flights.

I enjoy flying aircraft, the spotters enjoy photographing them.

To each His own.

tipsy:ok:

[Capcom]

:} ... ah dear O dear .... :E

HarleyD .... :D .... :ok: :} great post!!

Many moons ago at a far away distant Regional Airport ... a shallow gene'd nob and his equally shallow ol' man pulled up across the road from the A/D in the Bongo van (4 wheeled version) for a gork (nothing highly techical in tow like a camera ... soooo no not a 'spottur')....

Little ol' me did not see 'Jimbob' jump the fence, wander across the active, through a then unlocked gate, into the terminal, buy a packet of chips and a drink, then wander back through the gate, pausing briefly at the very edge of the big long black drag strip, just adjacent the big white square boxes painted on said drag strip, waiting to watch a big ol' plane to do a howley and smoke up da wheels goin past ... :eek: :hmm: :ugh:

Suffice to say the local law enforcement were none to impressed with Jimbob and his ol' man Jethro Metho! :rolleyes:

Not too many Bongo vans got a police escort outa town ... they did .... after some hours of errrm 'safety signage' and 'you dam'd fool hick' education !!! :E

[tasdevil.f27]

The "Sniper" spotter

brilliant :ok:

[Q300]

Some of the younger ones (like myself - I won't say exactly how old, but I'm still at school) aspire to be pilots one day or at least have a career in Aviation. You see some shady looking people in anoraks with little hair and "strange tendencies" :} but surely us young bunnies are all good? The sort who still see the awesome factor in flying?

I too felt I was spot on with my earlier post :ok: I aim to please.

[mostlytossas]

By and large spotters are harmless and just get their kicks from photographing planes and listening on their scanners. I see no harm in that. Others like me like to sit and waste a day with a fishing rod in hand so to each their own. It would be a sad day in this country if we couldn't do these things for fear we might go troppo and attack some boat/plane/train etc.

[Sunfish]

To be fair to the spotters and similar inquisitive folk, as a very young person wondering about career choices I happened to visit Point Cook when Sqn. Ldr. Duffy (?) was in charge of the Mustang.

I had the temerity to ask a question about whether I could look in the cockpit.

The answer put me off the RAAF for good.

[amberale]

Q300, I must agree, young bunnies are always welcome.

Tell me son, do you like gladiator movies????

For what it's worth I have loved my time working in control towers as we get the best view of all the aircraft [I haven't been in a tower for nearly 15 years] but I wouldn't sit by an airport to watch on my days off.

AA

[Wally Mk2]

'amberale' what a crack up:E 'Flying High' is obviously stuck in yr head:}

Someone said in here that spotters of a young age at times turned out to be pilots,(or words to that effect),well ya lookin' at one right here:ok: As a kid living across the paddocks from EN (housing estates now) I used to walk my bike thru the thistles with a couple of mates up to EN & leave our bikes with the nice man at the carpark ticket box, (hmmmm come to think of it 'amberale' he too asked us kids whether we liked Gladiator movies:E, bugga that we said would rather watch a smelly old plane anyday). Us kids used to go sit on the observation deck & watch planes for hrs, no camera though as that was a luxury back then, but we where still 'spotters', just not recording the fact. Sometimes we would go stand at the fence line where there was an open gate near a hanger & wait for someone to pass so we could ask to go wander around the light planes, this we did a lot with perhaps the odd person coming up to us & asking can they help us. After about 10 mins we where usually left alone after asking a zillion q's about planes. Obviously never walked around the big planes like the DC3's & even the really big DC9...wooohooooo etc.:)
Spotters, I see them as mostly curious perhaps fanatical about planes but never had the chance for many reasons to go beyond just watching.

Wmk2

[triton140]

Interesting thread .....

For mine, I've always had a love of aviation and a keen desire to learn to fly - but never had any inclination to become a "spotter" despite being an avid photographer. Dunno why, but photographing planes never really occurred to me :rolleyes:.

Since starting out on my PPL, I strangely find myself hanging around the field after my lesson camera in hand (with very long lens!) taking shots of the comings and goings.

So - should I feel ashamed of myself that I've almost become a disgusting creature, or should I feel happy that I can both enjoy flying itself as a hobby and enjoy recording aspects of aviation via my other interest in photography? Maybe as a budding pilot I can record things with a different eye?

Who knows - at the end of the day, to each his own (as long as you don't hurt anybody). :ok:

[A37575]

Expecting the uniform to get a reaction were you?? Please don't tell me you wore it to the local shopping centre during lunch whilst back in your training days.... please

Lunch time at Westfield Shopping Centre at Airport West used to be the swaggering ground for instructors at Essendon...the aviators sunnies over their heads were seriously awesome :yuk:

[triton140]

Westfield Shopping Centre at Airport West used to be the swaggering ground for instructors at Essendon

Q: How do you know you're drinking with a flying instructor?

A: He'll tell you ....

[The Bunglerat]

Lunch time at Westfield Shopping Centre at Airport West used to be the swaggering ground for instructors at Essendon...the aviators sunnies over their heads were seriously awesome

Okay, so getting a bit off topic here, and I'm certainly not defending the w@nkers who hit the social scene after hours in their work gear to impress the ladies (or gents for that matter), but does it occur to anyone that these guys simply want to get a sandwich/pie/souvlaki without having to disrobe or fiddle around with the removal of those bloody annoying w@nker bars and other trinkets?!?

Many a time in my former GA days I would frequent a certain shopping centre food court with no hidden intentions or motivations other than to get myself some lunch before heading back to the "office." Does a police officer get into his civvies everytime he pulls into a McDonalds? Or a paramedic? Or any other regular Joe who is required to wear a uniform as part of his job description but - heaven forbid - he might have to be seen in a public place for a few moments? Get over it.