Spotters - Disgusting creatures
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Australia
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Spotters - Disgusting creatures
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.
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.
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Downwind
Posts: 348
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The great unwashed...
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.
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.
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.
You have to admit aviation does tend to attract its fair share of prima-donnas and tossas.
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
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.
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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
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
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Australia
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
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.
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
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
WMk2
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
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
WMk2
Sprucegoose
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Hughes Point, where life is great! Was also resident on page 13, but now I'm lost in Cyberspace....
Age: 59
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
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'?
Do I sense a bit of 'lense envy'?
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 283
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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!
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!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Mel-burn
Posts: 4,875
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ARRRGGGHHHH 
! Don't get me started! You might remember the Plane Spotters are Muppets thread a few months back!!!
Mine wrote down my rego and informed CASA that it has been written off. It was in perfect working order! Then I'm the on that has to prove that my aircraft isn't written off .
! Don't get me started! You might remember the Plane Spotters are Muppets thread a few months back!!! Mine wrote down my rego and informed CASA that it has been written off
. It was in perfect working order! Then I'm the on that has to prove that my aircraft isn't written off .
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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!
-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!
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.
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: In Frozen Chunks (Cloud Cuckoo Land)
Age: 17
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One Tangara is exactly the same as another Tangara!
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
.
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
.
