Harrier at Cottesmore, 1600 today.
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Oh cripes, I went to last years Duxford Flying Legends show.....am I now classed as a beardy wierdy spotter?? I even bought a model of a Stuka!!!!
Time to but a notepad, pair of Bino's and little radio so I can hear the pilots and stalk them
Time to but a notepad, pair of Bino's and little radio so I can hear the pilots and stalk them
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When I was in (yes, I know) and a lot younger, I had a slightly scathing attitude towards some civvies.. you know the thing; wannabees etc. But here's the thing. No genuine aviation enthusiast in the RAF (in my experience) has ever had a go at spotters, and certainly no aircrew. When I was standing at 22 the other day and the chap in the back flipped me a wave, he may well have been thinking 'loser', but I doubt it. Because the one thing that spotters and fliers share, is a love of the sky, and aeroplanes. It doesn't matter that one can fly and the other can't.. the common thread is still there. As a country, we are all too ready to be cynical and to sneer at people who don't fit 'the norm'.
When I go rallying, photogs are part of the scene, because they're condensed, they all go to the same places together and they have identity. If someone climbs a mountain and takes a stunning fot similar to those we see here on the low fly routes, his skills (rightly) get praised to the heavens. Perhaps its because Billy No Mates outside the wire on his own cuts a slightly lonely figure, that he's easy to deride. Either way, its silly, pointless and reflects worse on the person having a go, than the subject of the mockery. I enjoy walking, and I enjoy photography. I'm old and fat and wear glasses so I do neither particularly well. But I'm contented enough thank you.
When I go rallying, photogs are part of the scene, because they're condensed, they all go to the same places together and they have identity. If someone climbs a mountain and takes a stunning fot similar to those we see here on the low fly routes, his skills (rightly) get praised to the heavens. Perhaps its because Billy No Mates outside the wire on his own cuts a slightly lonely figure, that he's easy to deride. Either way, its silly, pointless and reflects worse on the person having a go, than the subject of the mockery. I enjoy walking, and I enjoy photography. I'm old and fat and wear glasses so I do neither particularly well. But I'm contented enough thank you.
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I know this is moving the thread on a little too far from Harriers, but I know Aviation photographers who have sat above the Machy loop all day to get shots of just 2 or 3 aircraft. Their patience rewarded when they are searched out by aircrew for copies of their photos, is that sad? no way.
I admit, taking numbers down appears a waste of time but the photography could just be earning the guy the cash to improve his gear by selling on www.Airliners.net. What seems a poor subject for a shot may be another mans dream shot.
I remember years ago at Woodford airrshow, getting new kit on the back of a poor Autogyro pilot crashing his craft into the runway. The papers could'nt get enough of the photos for a few days, and whilst at Church Fenton my photos of a Hawk pilot who decided to do a wheels up landing were very quickly taken for the investigation. I did not even get replacement film for that roll.
I think the other posts show that most uniform lads do understand why people stand at fences for hours on end, they are not sad, they are just keen to taste the avgas and enjoy the efforts of professionals.
Keep it up lads
I admit, taking numbers down appears a waste of time but the photography could just be earning the guy the cash to improve his gear by selling on www.Airliners.net. What seems a poor subject for a shot may be another mans dream shot.
I remember years ago at Woodford airrshow, getting new kit on the back of a poor Autogyro pilot crashing his craft into the runway. The papers could'nt get enough of the photos for a few days, and whilst at Church Fenton my photos of a Hawk pilot who decided to do a wheels up landing were very quickly taken for the investigation. I did not even get replacement film for that roll.
I think the other posts show that most uniform lads do understand why people stand at fences for hours on end, they are not sad, they are just keen to taste the avgas and enjoy the efforts of professionals.
Keep it up lads
I have been in my life to exactly one airshow, where I spent a couple of hours squinting into the sun and concluded that the only person who was having any fun was about 1,000ft over my head.
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Never been an avid spotter, but I must say, when flying in RVSM airspace, it is amazing how close a 747 or 340 looks when on a reciprocal heading, one day I intend to take some pics but so far have been too intent checking the altitude and TCAS.
I really need to give my co-pilot more stick time!!
I say good luck to the spotters, better that than a drunken or drugged up yobbo kicking the crap out of an innocent person.
Anyway, here's one of me recently passing through Malta on the way to Casablanca
Cheers
I really need to give my co-pilot more stick time!!
I say good luck to the spotters, better that than a drunken or drugged up yobbo kicking the crap out of an innocent person.
Anyway, here's one of me recently passing through Malta on the way to Casablanca
Cheers
Al R - I was sitting in the front of 107. I wasn't thinking "loser". I was thinking about the photos I took in 1987 as a Lightning pilot waved at me, when I was stood by the crash gate at Binbrook. 
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I suppose I'm a spotter as well then... I like to capture images that no-one else can for posterity. The RAF come to me for photos! They've been used in the RAF books and publications- Mumsie is very proud!
SMT
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I suppose I'm a spotter as well then...
PS. SMT, That SHAR shot is special. Where were you standing.
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Sammy,
Is 107 the jet in the shots? Good man - glad you are living your dream. I e-mailed those shots to someone who has a son who is a 15 year old space cadet. He wants to fly so much, it hurts. I'm chuffed that you were once that lad you looked and had a dream, and who got there. And who knows? In 2028, there'll be some lad tugging at his flying gloves and giving the instruments one last scan, who once was inspired by seeing you too.
I did a tour on 1(F) when it had its own Rockery, almost 20 years ago. I was fortunate enough to get a few flights and I consider myself lucky and more than contented enough with that. I controlled a few of the guys over Bosnia a little later, and I was damned proud of 'em and that I suppose, makes me fond of the Harrier. Harriers would invariably come in that little bit lower, make that little extra effort whenever the vis was a bit crappy, and whenever 'hard left' was screamed.. well, we got hard left.
I can't be done with the airshow thing and a good spotting sesh usually coincides with a good long walk. I'm not a fin number ticker.. its the spirit of the thing that I enjoy, and I get a great deal of pleasure out of just gazing at any fighter flown as (I imagine) its supposed to be flown, or even how its cared for. Its an indefinable and beautiful thing, and people far more eloquent than me have failed to capture the essence of it all. Perhaps the essence of it only needs to be captured by people who don't do it.
Take it easy, thanks for the reply. And watch out for the hares next time you heartless b
stard.
Al.
Is 107 the jet in the shots? Good man - glad you are living your dream. I e-mailed those shots to someone who has a son who is a 15 year old space cadet. He wants to fly so much, it hurts. I'm chuffed that you were once that lad you looked and had a dream, and who got there. And who knows? In 2028, there'll be some lad tugging at his flying gloves and giving the instruments one last scan, who once was inspired by seeing you too.
I did a tour on 1(F) when it had its own Rockery, almost 20 years ago. I was fortunate enough to get a few flights and I consider myself lucky and more than contented enough with that. I controlled a few of the guys over Bosnia a little later, and I was damned proud of 'em and that I suppose, makes me fond of the Harrier. Harriers would invariably come in that little bit lower, make that little extra effort whenever the vis was a bit crappy, and whenever 'hard left' was screamed.. well, we got hard left.
I can't be done with the airshow thing and a good spotting sesh usually coincides with a good long walk. I'm not a fin number ticker.. its the spirit of the thing that I enjoy, and I get a great deal of pleasure out of just gazing at any fighter flown as (I imagine) its supposed to be flown, or even how its cared for. Its an indefinable and beautiful thing, and people far more eloquent than me have failed to capture the essence of it all. Perhaps the essence of it only needs to be captured by people who don't do it.
Take it easy, thanks for the reply. And watch out for the hares next time you heartless b
stard.Al.
Stickmonkeytrainer..I'd wager it was 'goofers' or above '1 charlie', but the memory gets old and fuzzy (as does my spelling). All I remember is the two deck dash and that I almost got the guys to afterflight their own kit.
"Jointery only goes so far.."
Amazing how many SHAR pilots wanted us to look after their SE.
Sammysu your not short and ex LBH perchance?
"Jointery only goes so far.."
Amazing how many SHAR pilots wanted us to look after their SE.
Sammysu your not short and ex LBH perchance?
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Al R
During my time of perusing PPrune posts I've determined that there are a number of correspondents that are very sad, small-minded d1ckheads who regularly post inane cr@p seemingly to get perverse joy at attempted p1ss-taking.
Almost everyday my job dictates that I land literally in peoples' backyards - I've heard every possible question many times over but my company would take a very dim view of me if it was reported back that I had been anything but polite to the people whose backyard I borrowed.
It takes all types and some of the most ignorant lurk amongst the pages of PPrune!!
Ignore them and enjoy your hobby. I most certainly believe the backseater's wave was genuine.
GAGS
E86
During my time of perusing PPrune posts I've determined that there are a number of correspondents that are very sad, small-minded d1ckheads who regularly post inane cr@p seemingly to get perverse joy at attempted p1ss-taking.
Almost everyday my job dictates that I land literally in peoples' backyards - I've heard every possible question many times over but my company would take a very dim view of me if it was reported back that I had been anything but polite to the people whose backyard I borrowed.
It takes all types and some of the most ignorant lurk amongst the pages of PPrune!!
Ignore them and enjoy your hobby. I most certainly believe the backseater's wave was genuine.
GAGS
E86
Last edited by eagle 86; 30th Jan 2008 at 03:17.
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Being a bit of a spotter just makes the day job more enjoyable! It also makes you look up and smile every time you hear a jet overhead rather than phone in a low flying complaint.
I guess it all depends on the level of spotting you indulge in - from watching and photographing to collecting side numbers or getting signatures at air shows. Its a hobby and people without hobbies tend to be very dull people. There may be people out there who others would consider weird but if it doesn't hurt anyone and they enjoy it what's the problem?
It was an interest in aviation that led me into my current job (not too far away from yourself Al R) and being involved in the display team is perhaps as good as it gets as a closet spotter
SMT - If that's one of the passes I think it was my guess would be either on the deck edge or on the top of the ramp....
I guess it all depends on the level of spotting you indulge in - from watching and photographing to collecting side numbers or getting signatures at air shows. Its a hobby and people without hobbies tend to be very dull people. There may be people out there who others would consider weird but if it doesn't hurt anyone and they enjoy it what's the problem?
It was an interest in aviation that led me into my current job (not too far away from yourself Al R) and being involved in the display team is perhaps as good as it gets as a closet spotter
SMT - If that's one of the passes I think it was my guess would be either on the deck edge or on the top of the ramp....
)
