Planespotting thoughts

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icr5
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Joined: 21 Apr 2006, 00:00

Planespotting thoughts

Post by icr5 »

I'm not trolling!

When I was a kid (long time ago) I spend a lot of time on the airport and next to the runway. Sometimes too close, the fence was not a real obstacle(Please don't tell my parents, officer).

Last Sunday I wanted to show to my little daughter the planes as close as possible. She has been on many, but she has never seen one landing/taking off just above her head.

A little googling and I found this site. Cool! In the car and off to spotting place A (runway 25L). 5-6 cars there, but everybody is on his own. Strange I thought there is a spotting community. Jetair A320 and Austrian MD80 or Fokker 100 are passing over our heads.

We go the place a little bit further , close to the tower and the wall. again a few cars there and again no social contacts. I went to a guy how just stepped out of his car. "Hi, are you here because the airplanes?" "No!" ....!? "Can I ask you something?" "No!" "Sorry! Have a nice day!"
There was a couple with a big binoculars. So I decided give another shot. "Hi! Are you spotting the airplanes?" "Yes, but today is not good day." "Could you point me to a place where I can show my daughter the plane taking off?" I got some mumbling.

Not much of a spotting community....


One more remark, seems like the spotting has turned into a photo hobby. It is not anymore about the planes. It's more about who can spend more money on DSLRs and lenses.

8O

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speedbird1
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Post by speedbird1 »

Well if you see a guy in a silver Mini with stripes on the front I am a friendly spotter.
For the regulars on here now you all know who I am!
See you around.

Emirates

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Comet
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Post by Comet »

I'm generally a friendly spotter but I don't take kindly to people who put kids on their shoulders and block my view with the video. I don't get to spot very often and when I do I don't like to have my enjoyment spoiled.
Sabena and Sobelair - gone but never forgotten.
Louise

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fokker_f27
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Joined: 19 Nov 2005, 00:00
Location: Weerde, Zemst - Belgium

Post by fokker_f27 »

I do it because of the aicraft. Especially the specials. :) If you see a a kid running around with a book, a pen and his old man, then its probably me. I know a pretty nice spot: Abelag.
The most sexy girl in the sky: The Sud-Est Caravelle 12.

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Avro
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Post by Avro »

Hi icr5,

I noticed exactly the sme phenomena as you describe. It's sad, but I have the impression that people are ready to have contact with each other via a computer but less in real life....

But I'll be happy to meet you and have a chat with you when I'm in Brussels.

Chris

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fokker_f27
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Location: Weerde, Zemst - Belgium

Post by fokker_f27 »

If you ever go on a Saturday, please let me know. I'll be happy to talk to you too.
The most sexy girl in the sky: The Sud-Est Caravelle 12.

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Advisor
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Re: Planespotting thoughts

Post by Advisor »

icr5 wrote:I'm not trolling!

Last Sunday I wanted to show to my little daughter the planes as close as possible. She has been on many, but she has never seen one landing/taking off just above her head.

8O
Nice of you to do that. You remind me of my father :smile:

Happy Spotting, am sure u shall give ur daughter a whole lot of beautiful memories.
Aum Sweet Aum.

JoNnika
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Joined: 24 Mar 2006, 00:00

Post by JoNnika »

When i started spotting at EBBR i must say i had the same experience as you did. Now i know some of the regulars who spot outthere and made some friends. Some mature spotters though actually do strike me as very egoistic and childish people (not naming names) but on the other side i made some friends and we go on trips all together sometimes so that kind off makes up for those few egoistic people.

Some actually have tricks to put you on the wrong feet when an aircraft is comming in on the 25R instead of 25L.

The trick is to choose your friends carefully as spotting is not a hobby anymore for alot of people, it's a contest and a tricky game of egoistic people.

If you see a group of people with a black car and a metallic one, come talk to us, we will be happy to give you the grand tour and talk to you :)

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Avro
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Post by Avro »

Why don't we organise a Brussels spottermeeting again this year ?

Would be nice to see some new faces behind all those nicknames :)

Chris

Stoney
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Post by Stoney »

Avro wrote:Why don't we organise a Brussels spottermeeting again this year ?

Would be nice to see some new faces behind all those nicknames :)

Chris
good idea... Would indeed be nice, as I don't know any of you guys in person...

burner737
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Joined: 24 Dec 2004, 00:00
Location: Pulle

Post by burner737 »

I think it's just the belgians ... because whenever I go to AMS or DUS everybody is quite friendly ... for example they always give you info about what's coming if you don't know ... that's something what doesn't happen that much around in BRU ... but if you take ANR and OST the spotters around there are friendly ... so it's just a thing in BRU ...

Regards Tim

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