Continental123 From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 147 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 1409 times:
I am going on spring holiday and was wondering where America's best spotting airport was. Any info would be useful.
Go3Team From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3266 posts, RR: 22 Reply 1, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 1395 times:
Probably better asked in the Photo section. DCA is nice, if you like them flying over you, and you can handle a bunch of RJs, 737s, and A32X.
United767 From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 356 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 1382 times:
Quoting Go3Team (Reply 1): Probably better asked in the Photo section. DCA is nice, if you like them flying over you, and you can handle a bunch of RJs, 737s, and A32X
Agreed. Don't forget the occasional 757. The best is when they are landing on 19. I'm usually out there a few times a week.
I wish UA flew mainline to MYR, that way you wouldn't be stuck in a smelly Saturn for 12 hours.
FlyDeltaJets87 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 1382 times:
Any LAX spotters would say the In N' Out right outside of the airport. There's a hillside that overlooks one side of the airport as well (I'm going off memory and what other posters have said; I've never been to California myself).
Just look the through the database of photos taken at LAX. You'll see what I mean.
Thomasphoto60 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 3723 posts, RR: 25 Reply 4, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 1336 times:
Well if you like CO (IAH) and WN (HOU) birds, then Houston is your city. HAS (Houston Airports System) is very open to photographers and spotters alike. Check the photo DB for proof as well as this site,
JewPilot From United States of America, joined Sep 2006, 110 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 1319 times:
I'd say O'Hare. It gets planes from across the Pacific and the Atlantic. Some airlines you might see are:
along with AA and UA heavies. Cargo Airlines are a big part of the traffic there also, with carriers such as
FedEx, China Airlines Cargo, UPS, NWA Cargo Airlines, Air France Cargo, Atlas Air Cargo etc.
My grandmother has a condo 10 miles north-east of O'Hare. My early afternoon activities there usually consist of watching tv, and sitting on her porch, watching the International heavies come in. There are various hotels, including a Marriot in the center of O'Hare, and other great spotting locations nearby. Also, if you happen to be in Chicago on a very nice, sunny day, you can clearly see O'Hare form both the Sears Tower, and the John Hancock Tower; a very cool experience. Well, wherever your trip takes you, happy spotting!!
GentFromAlaska From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 2074 posts, RR: 2 Reply 6, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 1277 times:
Its a long way to travel but if you make it try HNL. I'm not sure what the runway number is just outside the perimeter of the airport next to fence line there are one or two flight schools and some aircraft parts stores or aircraft repair shops which offer fantastic spotting. The ocean is on on one side of you and the runway on the other. I want to say its the Diamond Head approach.
All kinds of aircraft from the U.S mainland, Asia and South Pacific land at HNL. Its was neat to see a 747 flying directly over you at a 1000 feet, and a few seconds later see it see the rear wheels touch the runway. An additional treat, HNL shares its runway with Hickam AFB, occasionally the large U.S. Air Force C5A Galaxy aircraft will land or take off.
If you have a laptop with wifi you can use flightaware.com to track arrivals and actually look for them as they approach the HNL airport, and get a suntan to boot.
For noise abatement HNL does change often, the runways they bring arrivals in on.
Man can be taken from Alaska. Alaska can never be taken from the man.
FlyDeltaJets87 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1250 times:
Quoting GentFromAlaska (Reply 6): Its a long way to travel but if you make it try HNL. I'm not sure what the runway number is just outside the perimeter of the airport next to fence line there are one or two flight schools and some aircraft parts stores or aircraft repair shops which offer fantastic spotting. The ocean is on on one side of you and the runway on the other. I want to say its the Diamond Head approach.
The best spot at HNL is the golf course at Hickam AFB. Nothing like trying to putt and having an Aloha 737-200 or Delta 767-400 or a United 777 taxi by less than a hundred yards away.
A couple of the holes run right along the side the little "lake" on the northside of 8R. Perfect for watching departures. And when I played there, it happened to be evening so I got to see quite a few of the widebody departures heading back to the mailine.
SiouxATC From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 367 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1233 times:
I would pick LAX, or ANC.
LAX: In-N-Out is great. its just northeast of the airport, on Sepulveda BLVD. You'll see everything, airlines from all corners of the globe. It is awesome.
ANC: Pt. Worzenof? (sp.), earthquake park? Its also an awesome place to see the northern lights over Anchorage. I was there a couple of times and loved it, I didnt get bugged by the cops at all. I have never seen so many cargo heavies, mostly from Asia. It was great. I remember watching a NW 747F with a bald eagle on the tree a couple yards away from me, that took the cake for my fav. spotting location of all time. Even over AMS.
Just my $.02. Wherever you decide have a great time, it is the best hobby.
GentFromAlaska From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 2074 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1212 times:
Quoting FlyDeltaJets87 (Reply 7): The best spot at HNL is the golf course at Hickam AFB.
A civilian most likely wound not have credentials to gain entry onto the AFB. Its been a few years but I recall being at or near the spot you describe.
Are you claiming any lost golf balls or holes in one courtesy of aircraft engine jet wash.
Man can be taken from Alaska. Alaska can never be taken from the man.
FlyDeltaJets87 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 1158 times:
Quoting GentFromAlaska (Reply 9): Are you claiming any lost golf balls or holes in one courtesy of aircraft engine jet wash.
I actually played pretty well that day. No hole-in-one's though. (In fact, I've yet to have a hole-in-one. Come close a couple times, but that's all beside the point)
Bushpilot From South Africa, joined Jul 2007, 0 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1004 times:
Quoting SiouxATC (Reply 8): ANC: Pt. Worzenof? (sp.), earthquake park?
ANC is a pretty good one for sure. I am not sure which would be best. But ANC at Pt. Wornzof is good, earthquake park is there. But also Kinkaid Park has some good spotting of planes coming in to land from the west on 9R&L, as well as Connors lake to the east of the airport.
Can spot tons of heavies, but also lake hood is basically on the same campus and is the busiest float plane base in the world. From Pt Wornzof one can also spot a few F-15s and other military cargo planes coming in and out of Elmendorf AFB that is also nearby.
Jkw777 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (6 years 4 months 1 week 1 day ago) and read 925 times:
Quoting FlyDeltaJets87 (Reply 3): Any LAX spotters would say the In N' Out right outside of the airport. There's a hillside that overlooks one side of the airport as well (I'm going off memory and what other posters have said; I've never been to California myself).
Just look the through the database of photos taken at LAX. You'll see what I mean.
In-N-Out on Sepulveda @ LAX grows a little bit tiring. But it's still the coolest hang out spot where you're not going to get harassed by the police/authorities.
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