You might be an aircraft spotter if...
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There was a Belgian F16 that took the fence down at Waddo a few years back with its main wheels and then the spotters ended up coming onto the airfield, it landed ok though
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I must admit that, sad though it is in a way, I find UK Control Tower & Airfield Photographs of WW2 very useful. Not so much for the towers, but to find out a bit about the history of a place if I spot a building/tower/bit of hard standing and wonder what it was.
Tim
Tim
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I wasn't taking down numbers! Honest!!
Just watching the antics of the sky gods of the jet age in their aerial steeds...and wondering whether one day I might perhaps become one of them.
Beat watching Marsh Warblers swooping in the undercroft!
Living there was like having a non-stop air display in those days! Although there was an excellent air show in later days - eveything from a Bleriot IX to a VULCAN B1 as well as the superb Black Arrows.
Just watching the antics of the sky gods of the jet age in their aerial steeds...and wondering whether one day I might perhaps become one of them.
Beat watching Marsh Warblers swooping in the undercroft!
Living there was like having a non-stop air display in those days! Although there was an excellent air show in later days - eveything from a Bleriot IX to a VULCAN B1 as well as the superb Black Arrows.
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Gresley A4 Pacific 60009 Union of South Africa
Some information about this locomotive for the closet trainspotters on this Forum:
Train Photos - Rail Pictures and Images | 60009 union of south africa on the serven valley
Train Photos - Rail Pictures and Images | 60009 union of south africa on the serven valley
OK Thread drift - but my Railway Anorak story dates from 1959, when at the age of 15 I was waiting for the local stopper train to stop in the village to take me to Derby to meet up with the rest of the school CCF Contingent to catch the 'Devonian' to Bristol en route to RAF Locking for Summer Camp.I was the sole [prospective] passenger when the Station Master approached me and said the stopper had broken down at Chinley.I expressed my alarm and informed him how important my journey was.He promised to do what he could. Twenty minutes later the Devonian - consisting of two Jubilee Class locos pulling 14 coaches - pulled in to this tiny station to pick up this pimply 15 yr old cadet.For the two spotters this was Train Spotting Heaven
it's a fine line spotting
Little off thread but last year as a bday present was bought a behind the scenes tour at Mytravel in Manchester. This included the Cabin crew side of things, then a bus to Ringway and a flight in an A320 whilst they explained what was going on up front etc. Then to the Engineering to see a B767 being worked on. The next day had a go in the A330 sim too!
1. I knew the anorak count would be high, and this was proved when during a coffee break I got talking to one of the lovely FA's who it turned out recognised me from school and so got chatting to her, and later the 2 other girls. I turned around and it dawned on me that 20+grown men were talking to the Pilot, and as the only other pilot in the room (Going through CPL hour building at the time) I was talking to the girls.......
2. One guy asked 3 FA's weather they had any knowledge of a DC-10 girt bar.........must have been his chat up line! I kid you not.
1. I knew the anorak count would be high, and this was proved when during a coffee break I got talking to one of the lovely FA's who it turned out recognised me from school and so got chatting to her, and later the 2 other girls. I turned around and it dawned on me that 20+grown men were talking to the Pilot, and as the only other pilot in the room (Going through CPL hour building at the time) I was talking to the girls.......
2. One guy asked 3 FA's weather they had any knowledge of a DC-10 girt bar.........must have been his chat up line! I kid you not.
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7. Totally bored bird sat in car.
He was running about with a pair of Binoculars shouting tail numbers at her while she entered the numbers into a tablet /palm computer, while also carrying his spare cameras, camera accessory bag, folding chairs, cool box and stepladder. I last saw her disappear into the crowd watched by a squad of Gurkas who appeared to have been suddenly struck down with feelings of bergen inadequacy.
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You night be an aircraft spotter if...
...the airshow list comes up on the sqn. One half of you wants to stay at home with the family and forget about work. But then you spot RIAT....Waddington......and one or two more, and remember sun, rain, beer, tents, women, burgers, the after show party, and the planes.
Having run a shop for collectors for about 30 years I think I have finally cracked this spotting business. I believe that ALL men are borderline autistic (Asbergers at least) and have an obsessive desire to complete patterns, be they train numbers in a book, badges in a series, pubs to visit, or even those whose motto is "so many women - so little time". As a button collector and former trainspotter I dont exclude myself, and I always have a little smile at those who come out with the same tired old anorak/thermos/egg sandwich jokes, because if you dig deeply enough their own autism will be manifesting itself in one way or another. It's true that woman don't seem to suffer much, although possibly their desire to own a separate pair of shoes and handbag for every day in the year may be a feminine version of the same syndrome.
By the way did you know there is a barbed wire museum somewhere in the US? I believe it has quite a lot of visitors.
By the way did you know there is a barbed wire museum somewhere in the US? I believe it has quite a lot of visitors.
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Just prior to the closure of Binbrook there was a large amount of spotters for the final few days of flying. We got to popping over and chatting to them on one occasion.
One lady, when asked if she would miss the place, replied.
"For the last 10 years I have spent my 2 week summer holiday with my husband (a crazy Lightning enthuiast) in a camper van parked at the crash gate so No I won't miss the place one bit."
One lady, when asked if she would miss the place, replied.
"For the last 10 years I have spent my 2 week summer holiday with my husband (a crazy Lightning enthuiast) in a camper van parked at the crash gate so No I won't miss the place one bit."
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I knew just two spotters and they did not conform to the stereotype. One was a Lightning/ Hunter mate and bucket and spade captain, the other was a TP (from VC10 days) including every Uk built Jag and most Uk built Tonkas. Flew with the latter to Schipol on company bizjet and with six hours to kill before taking our pax back home went Dutchmil spotting (nice warm day and better than kipping) The Dutch spotters were dumbfounded when they discovered his pedigree (they quizzed him because he looked like the police!).
So next time you get airborne, look a little bit deeper at your captain, you never know
So next time you get airborne, look a little bit deeper at your captain, you never know
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We imported a couple of L39's that were some of the, if not the first into the UK...... we were out flatting one down for a repaint and I put a nice Vatican Registration on it for the Visiting Spotters that stood along the end fence to view it from a distance.
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First let me point out in register of PpruNe members interests, that I am an aircraft photographer, and my number crunching is limited to getting the serials of the aircraft I photograph
Among the many sights of spotter knobbery I have seen, was a trip to Lossie in 91 to get some of the desert cam stuff. At the same time there was a detachment of 8 USAF A7's at Sculthorpe. I was on the pillbox at the 23 end and another bunch of folk turned up. (They had been at Leuchars earlier, and it was still morning!). We heard the call signs "Otis 51-54" on the scanner calling for clearance to pass the MATZ west of Kinloss. You could just make out 4 dots going S-N, and with binocs they were slightly bigger dots. One of the spotters said "I hope the other 4 turn up and we can "bag"them.
Another time going back to Edinburgh on the train after the Leuchars show, two guys sat opposite me and got out their Ian Allan abc "Military Aircraft Markings" books, and proceded to check off all the stuff they had seen. They stopped briefly to try and get a glimpse of the "Union Of South Africa" steam loco, that lived in a shed at or near Cupar. They also had the equivelent Ian Allan book for train numbers and ticked that, and a lot of others off. A bit strange I thought, but hey its a hobby and they seem to be enjoying it. But before we reached the Forth Bridge, the pulled out another Ian Allen book, this time for Coach numbers. They had been going round the airshow getting the numbers of coaches in the car park?
Among the many sights of spotter knobbery I have seen, was a trip to Lossie in 91 to get some of the desert cam stuff. At the same time there was a detachment of 8 USAF A7's at Sculthorpe. I was on the pillbox at the 23 end and another bunch of folk turned up. (They had been at Leuchars earlier, and it was still morning!). We heard the call signs "Otis 51-54" on the scanner calling for clearance to pass the MATZ west of Kinloss. You could just make out 4 dots going S-N, and with binocs they were slightly bigger dots. One of the spotters said "I hope the other 4 turn up and we can "bag"them.
Another time going back to Edinburgh on the train after the Leuchars show, two guys sat opposite me and got out their Ian Allan abc "Military Aircraft Markings" books, and proceded to check off all the stuff they had seen. They stopped briefly to try and get a glimpse of the "Union Of South Africa" steam loco, that lived in a shed at or near Cupar. They also had the equivelent Ian Allan book for train numbers and ticked that, and a lot of others off. A bit strange I thought, but hey its a hobby and they seem to be enjoying it. But before we reached the Forth Bridge, the pulled out another Ian Allen book, this time for Coach numbers. They had been going round the airshow getting the numbers of coaches in the car park?
Quite a few years ago there was a brief question in one of the daily papers concerning 'train spotters', with a rather interesting answer and comment by a psychologist.
Hea reasoned that there was a deep-seated gene in some people who were able to notice pattersn in things, and to make sense of them. Many centuries ago, when we lived in mud-huts, ate berries, and 'high-tech' was a pointy stick, those people who watched things moving and made notes were one of the most important people in the tribe.
They were the ones who noticed that animals went to watering-holes at certain times of the day, and what time of day there were most (and, therefore, best time to hunt them for dinner). They were the ones who noticed that bright shiny thing going behind the hill every day, and noticed that every day it went a little further north, and the days were hot; and then it went so far and then went back the other way, and it got cold. They knew when certain animals would pass through on their migration, and which animals were easiest to catch. They knew which plants grew at which time of year, and which plants attracted which animals, and which of those were the 'tastiest'.
In essence, these people were one of the most important members of the tribe.
The psychologist likened the 'xxxxxxx-spotters' to those tribesmen of centuries ago, just with a slightly different 'thing' to notice and record. If it applies to train-spotters, then it applies equally to plane-spotters.
Personally, I think the psycho was smoking something. Or maybe he played golf?
Hea reasoned that there was a deep-seated gene in some people who were able to notice pattersn in things, and to make sense of them. Many centuries ago, when we lived in mud-huts, ate berries, and 'high-tech' was a pointy stick, those people who watched things moving and made notes were one of the most important people in the tribe.
They were the ones who noticed that animals went to watering-holes at certain times of the day, and what time of day there were most (and, therefore, best time to hunt them for dinner). They were the ones who noticed that bright shiny thing going behind the hill every day, and noticed that every day it went a little further north, and the days were hot; and then it went so far and then went back the other way, and it got cold. They knew when certain animals would pass through on their migration, and which animals were easiest to catch. They knew which plants grew at which time of year, and which plants attracted which animals, and which of those were the 'tastiest'.
In essence, these people were one of the most important members of the tribe.
The psychologist likened the 'xxxxxxx-spotters' to those tribesmen of centuries ago, just with a slightly different 'thing' to notice and record. If it applies to train-spotters, then it applies equally to plane-spotters.
Personally, I think the psycho was smoking something. Or maybe he played golf?
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Sat at Waddo airshow whilst on Dom's and heard a very funny conversation between a middle aged man with all the badges, and three camera's and and ex army guy going through the course with us:
Spotter: So they've never fitted weapons on the Domine huh, must be pretty boring.
Stude: There's weapons fitted now!
Spotter: What? Where?
Stude: There the new GBU-30 stealth bombs, can you not see them?
Spotter: No!
Stude: Exactly!
Spotter: Wow!!!
Couldnt believe anyone could be THAT gullible!
Spotter: So they've never fitted weapons on the Domine huh, must be pretty boring.
Stude: There's weapons fitted now!
Spotter: What? Where?
Stude: There the new GBU-30 stealth bombs, can you not see them?
Spotter: No!
Stude: Exactly!
Spotter: Wow!!!
Couldnt believe anyone could be THAT gullible!
"Hea reasoned that there was a deep-seated gene in some people who were able to notice pattersn in things, and to make sense of them. Many centuries ago, when we lived in mud-huts, ate berries, and 'high-tech' was a pointy stick, those people who watched things moving and made notes were one of the most important people in the tribe."
See my comments above about pattern completion etc. I always knew we spotters were really latter day tribal leaders, so let's have a bit of respect from the rest of you lowly tribesmen, and remember to salute anyone in an anorak from now on.
See my comments above about pattern completion etc. I always knew we spotters were really latter day tribal leaders, so let's have a bit of respect from the rest of you lowly tribesmen, and remember to salute anyone in an anorak from now on.
Remember the first time I went on a UK bus trip round local airports, stopped at the perimeter fence at Kidlington (Oxford), never seen a vehicle empty so quickly. They could give lessons on aircraft evacuation procedures. Love that expression, 'pole them off' for the act of using a telescope.