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Spotting In SNA/SoCal

Dvincent From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 1719 posts, RR: 12
Posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 2264 times:

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Hey Guys,

I'm going on vacation in a week and a half in California. I'll definitely be taking some time to spot at LAX, and I've read many threads about good locations there, but I'm also interested in the other airports of the area. I've read about spotting areas at SNA but I guess I want to know if things have really changed in that general area.

If anyone has any advice it would be gladly appreciated.

From the Mind of Minolta

11 replies: All unread, jump to last

SAN787 From United States of America, joined Jun 2007, 616 posts, RR: 1
Reply 1, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 2264 times:

are you making it down to SAN too?

those who don't get carried away should be.

Dvincent From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 1719 posts, RR: 12
Reply 2, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 2254 times:

I may, I know we're going down to San Diego but I don't know if I'll be able to get any spotting time in.

From the Mind of Minolta

WakeTurbulence From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 1288 posts, RR: 18
Reply 3, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 2179 times:

Quoting Dvincent (Thread starter):
I've read about spotting areas at SNA but I guess I want to know if things have really changed in that general area.

What do you mean by this?

Jetwash Images - Feel the Heat!!!

Dvincent From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 1719 posts, RR: 12
Reply 4, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 2166 times:

Quoting WakeTurbulence (Reply 3):
What do you mean by this?

Whether or not the places I have read about have become off-limits or not. I think that was just a poorly worded sentence. There's some industrial parks with some nice parking lots that, with a ladder, I could get some decent shots from. But I'm not sure if they're still "OK" for spotting without being bothered by, say, the police. I've seen them referenced in searched posts here but they're all quite old.

I'm actually coming in to SNA and staying in that general area, so it would be very nice to know if that is the case.

From the Mind of Minolta

DL767captain From United States of America, joined Mar 2007, 2539 posts, RR: 0
Reply 5, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 2163 times:

If you make it down to SAN there is a place that i usually go to. it's on top of the aladin parking structure the planes fly directly over you! you have a great view of the runway but there are a couple power lines in the way and you have to pay like $2

WakeTurbulence From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 1288 posts, RR: 18
Reply 6, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 2159 times:

The SNA parking lot across the the threshold of 19R should be fine. I have been more times than I could count and I have not been stopped by police.
-Matt

Jetwash Images - Feel the Heat!!!

Dvincent From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 1719 posts, RR: 12
Reply 7, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 2157 times:

Thanks Matt. Is it good this time of year light-wise? I take it that it's for afternoon/evening movements only.

From the Mind of Minolta

WakeTurbulence From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 1288 posts, RR: 18
Reply 8, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 2153 times:

The spot is good year round for afternoons. In July it is probably good from maybe 4 to sunset, just watch the heat haze early on.
-Matt

Jetwash Images - Feel the Heat!!!

Dvincent From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 1719 posts, RR: 12
Reply 9, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 2148 times:

Thanks Matt. Hopefully I'll have something to show in a week's time.

From the Mind of Minolta

Dvincent From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 1719 posts, RR: 12
Reply 10, posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 2020 times:

Thanks for the tips, guys. The hedge clearing by the threshold of 19R was a great place to watch. I tried to go to Ike Hill Rd to watch rotations/touchdowns but unfortunately the road is closed, looks like to construction.

I used a new weapon that I picked up on my trip - the Minolta 100-200 lens. Its image quality is pretty similar to my 70-200, the main difference is that it has a 49mm filter thread and the lens can fit right through a fence.

I'm on my laptop so unfortunately I won't make any edits until I return from vacation but suffice to say I had a pretty good time.

[Edited 2008-07-21 06:44:30]

From the Mind of Minolta

CO777ER From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 691 posts, RR: 0
Reply 11, posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 2005 times:

FYI there is a driveway off of the street that parallels the runways on the north side of the field. (the tower side). I want to say it is by the Martin Helicopter area. So if you went from 73 - Red Hill - Right on Lear. It's between Lear and Kalmus IIRC.

It is towards the end of 19R.

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