How often do you get Snapped?

[con-pilot]

I don't have any problems with spotters that take photos of corporate jets. As if not for one, I would not have a picture of an aircraft I was flying when we were in Beijing sitting on the ramp.

The picture must have been taken just after we had landed, as the paint still looked white, when we left three weeks later, it was brown from all of the pollution in Beijing.

[paulc]

As an aviation photographer I often write down the registration to confirm the type at a later date particularly if a unusual design (ie at Oshkosh) or if uncertain of exact type.

Having said that some places are not keen on seeing people write down reg's but are quite happy fo them to take photos - had this happen at a show last year and could not work out the reasoning behind it at all. (so just took a photo making sure the reg was visible).

Aircraft during the course of their 'lives' may change registrations several times and it is always of interest (to me) to trace their history. At my local there is an AA5 which on doing a bit of research was one that I flew in the mid 80's when doing my ppl.

[INNflight]

The Legacy pic I posted on the previous page was a German one indeed - would have to look up the reg.

I'll post a few more pics in the Bizjet photo thread later on.

[Anthony Supplebottom]

con-pilot - how do you cover the centre engine, do you have to sit on the roof while you push the blank in?

[Davjet]

Exactlty what I was thinking, how do you cover up that engine?

[Arkwright]

50, 900 and 7X you have to stand on the starboard wing beside the over-wing exit.....look carefully and you'll see a long rod between the centre of the engine cover to a point on the fuselage above the emer exit.......its a nightmare when:

a) The wings are wet,
b) Its windy.......trying to balance a round disk, connected to a long rod on a flexible coupling, and you're at full stretch..............

[con-pilot]

con-pilot - how do you cover the centre engine, do you have to sit on the roof while you push the blank in?

It is just as Arkwright said. As I am 6ft 5in tall it was not all that difficult for me to install the number two engine cover. I could stand on the wing and put it in place, on both the 50 and the 900. With shorter pilots it was/is a bit more challenging, so to say.

As I posted prior, we were parked at Beijing when that photo was taken. We stayed for three weeks and when we left, I of course removed the number two engine cover, then I had to change my uniform pants. As the aircraft was so dirty from the pollution my black pants turned brown from being on wing and leaning against the fuselage. From there we flew to Singapore and on approach I flew through a light rain shower in an attempt to wash off all the pollution. It worked, mostly. Still had to have the aircraft cleaned in Singapore.

[NuName]

Dont want to get picky but on mine its the port side, best to make sure your insured before you do it, especialy with ice or rain about. Just got "snapped" out of LFPB, best photo ever, my thanks to the photographer.

[Sir Niall Dementia]

I'm flying rotary in and out of Royal Ascot all this week and we often buy pics from the spotters to use in advertising, there are some remarkably skilled snappers out there doing it for a hobby. I've also found myself in the same situation as ShyTorque, usually I tell them to snap all they want but to please respect the privacy of the pax and neither approach them or photograph them, I've never had that request refused.

It does amaze me when I'm on the jet just how much info they have about our movements, if the Olympic Security people for London knew what info is out there they would probably shut down all UK airspace for ever!

SND

[An2]

INNflight,

Was it really necessary, to wake the ol' aviation-photgraphy ghost in me?!
Flying biz-a/c in one of the worlds most beautiful country, I really should lug around the cam-bag a bit more often!

Thread ref.; I too share the passion, for both aviation and photography. Not keen at all on the reggo-thingy though....

[Pace]

Photography and number taking etc are totally different! Many of us like taking pics of our aircraft and I agree I have had some good pics of the jet I fly.

Its the guys who walk into hangers with notepads taking down details of every flying object tucked away in the depths of the hangar and others who record every movement.

These people travel the length and breadth of the country seeking out obscure airfields at a huge financial cost to themselves! There must be an attraction/addiction? But I fail to see what it is?

Photography is a hobby in itself and I can fully understand that but I get the impression that in this context the camera is a recording tool for most rather than a creative tool.

There is always the danger that some owner may not want his movements put on the net or the jets occupants displayed in a similar fashion for a number of reasons I can think of!

Pace

[what next]

There is always the danger that some owner may not want his movements put on the net...

He must switch off his transponder then... Otherwise there are websites like flightradar24.com or radarspotting.com where all movements can be viewed in real time. All the time. By every person on this planet who has internet access.

[Pace]

If that is the case then why not plane spot from home You can record the landing/ takeoff times and aircraft reg from the comfort of the computer chair?
My reference to photos was more concerning occupants.

Pace

[what next]

You can record the landing/ takeoff times and aircraft reg from the comfort of the computer chair?

You don't even have to bother yourself! Just download the protocols from time to time... I did once because I was not sure if I had noted the takeoff-time correctly. Can be useful even to us from time to time.

My reference to photos was more concerning occupants.

I have never seen a photo of a business aeroplane on the web where you can see the occupants. Apart from some deliberate paparazzi shots of course, but those are not aircraft spotters.

[INNflight]

Now, I agree that there are some individuals (as everywhere) who get carried away or go to places they should not without permission (hangars, private ramps,...), and these definitely deserve to be put into their place or removed from property.

I have myself bumped into a few down the road, and while most enjoy aviation, they do not always know the rules associated (e.g. that a section of the apron can be private property) and usually apologize for their mistakes. If not, well get them the f* outta there!

[de facto]

It is just as Arkwright said. As I am 6ft 5in tall it was not all that difficult for me to install the number two engine cover. I could stand on the wing and put it in place, on both the 50 and the 900. With shorter pilots it was/is a bit more challenging, so to say.

So SOPs dictate the tallest pilot of the two or the FO to do the job?
Seems like the legacy is very bug friendly

[con-pilot]

So SOPs dictate the tallest pilot of the two or the FO to do the job?

More common sense than anything else. True I was the tallest pilot, I was also the Chief Pilot of the company, but I never stood on any type of privilege. So when I was on the aircraft, because I was tall, I assumed the job of placing the engine covers on the aircraft when parked overnight.

Unless we had my director of maintenance with us, then he did it, after all, he acted like they were his aircraft.


However, being tall I also used as an excuse for me not to service the lav on the 50. For some completely unfathomable reason, the service access door is dead center on the bottom of the fuselage on the 50. So that was some of the old RHIP. (Rank Has Its Privilege)

[knot4u]

Falcon 50 is a nice aircraft, but whoever engineered the lav dump should be drawn and quartered.

[ehwatezedoing]

Originally Posted by what next

He must switch off his transponder then... Otherwise there are websites like flightradar24.com or radarspotting.com where all movements can be viewed in real time. All the time. By every person on this planet who has internet access.

Likewise flightaware, owners have the option of removing their aircraft from the list so they won't show up.


I fly DC3T among other things. Those are attention getter for sure!