I don't know, but there were a few things special about the 2000s-2013 about planespotting that I seemed to have missed (heck, I was 7 in 2013). Watching some old videos, I found back in like 2005-2010 maybe, you could see 3 different DL liveries (ron allen, deltaflot, and the current one), and 3 different United ones (tulip, battleship grey, and maybe continental if that counts). Also, the US6 was a thing back then, so that also made it interesting. Not to mention, it was far more common to see cooler aircraft, like the DC-8, DC-10, MD-11, 727, classic 747s, and others at your local international airport. That was also the age of the NW/DL DC-9s being immortal, which was also really nice to see. The 747-400s were also at nearly every long haul international airline back then, but by 2016, basically all of them were either retiring them or already did. On the topic of 747s, it was really cool to see spotters at NRT getting tons and tons of DL 744s. In my opinion, that is my favorite paintjob on a 747 because it is modern yet nostalgic at the same time.
Nowadays, I believe the only interesting things around for a planespotter to see in the US is the UA/DL 757s/767s, but those probably are going to leave either late this decade/early next decade. On the short haul side, all you get is 737s/A320s with some regional jets. On the long haul side, it's mostly 777s, 787s, A330s. Don't get me wrong, I understand why the transitions and all that ocurred, but I'm asking this in a planespotter's view.
I guess I could understand why some people would say that they like the 80s/90s more than the 00s/early 10s but the thing that sets the two apart is seeing multiple cool liveries of UA/DL.
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Re: Anybody miss/remember the 2000s-early 2010s in terms of planespotting?
Certainly more colors and types back then.
I didn’t really spot very much back then, but I remember going online and looking at photos of all the different liveries and planes up. I remember I liked Northwest and their DC10s (2004 ish?) and AA and their MD80s. I used to make the MD80 out of duplos. Yup, I was a fan since I was 6 or 7!
We’re losing more types than we are getting. I do like seeing more a220s and a320NEOs (I realize they’re a derivative but Dam those engines are big), but yeah, lost the MD80s, 747s, soon the 757s and 767s will be out.
I didn’t really spot very much back then, but I remember going online and looking at photos of all the different liveries and planes up. I remember I liked Northwest and their DC10s (2004 ish?) and AA and their MD80s. I used to make the MD80 out of duplos. Yup, I was a fan since I was 6 or 7!
We’re losing more types than we are getting. I do like seeing more a220s and a320NEOs (I realize they’re a derivative but Dam those engines are big), but yeah, lost the MD80s, 747s, soon the 757s and 767s will be out.
Re: Anybody miss/remember the 2000s-early 2010s in terms of planespotting?
There was surely more variety than now. Nowadays everything has been standardized to a few types, probably even more here in Asia.
On the topic of the 747, HKG also used a 747 paradise. We still have plenty of 747F but nothing compared to what it was in the 2000s since nearly all the passengers planes are gone
On the topic of the 747, HKG also used a 747 paradise. We still have plenty of 747F but nothing compared to what it was in the 2000s since nearly all the passengers planes are gone
Re: Anybody miss/remember the 2000s-early 2010s in terms of planespotting?
It’s fun to see how different age groups value different time periods.
I used to complain back in the 2000s that all you ever saw/flew on was md80s, 737s, and 757s. the 767 was a boring aircraft compared to the giant 777.
Airbus is funny because outside of the a340 disappearing, you pretty much still see the same types, plus the 350.
Going from a more domestic focused airport in the US to European hubs like CDG in the early 90s was always fun. You’d still see 1011s, 707s, etc. And of course everyone noticed when a Concorde taxied by.
Fun thing about back then was the lack of immediate information on airlines. You’d see a livery you’ve never seen, and a name you’ve never heard of taxi by. And you’d wonder who they are, where they’re from, and so on. These days you pull out Flightradar24 and have all the info short of the captains middle name. But back then you just wondered. (unless you had one of those airline spotting guides)
I used to complain back in the 2000s that all you ever saw/flew on was md80s, 737s, and 757s. the 767 was a boring aircraft compared to the giant 777.
Airbus is funny because outside of the a340 disappearing, you pretty much still see the same types, plus the 350.
Going from a more domestic focused airport in the US to European hubs like CDG in the early 90s was always fun. You’d still see 1011s, 707s, etc. And of course everyone noticed when a Concorde taxied by.
Fun thing about back then was the lack of immediate information on airlines. You’d see a livery you’ve never seen, and a name you’ve never heard of taxi by. And you’d wonder who they are, where they’re from, and so on. These days you pull out Flightradar24 and have all the info short of the captains middle name. But back then you just wondered. (unless you had one of those airline spotting guides)
Re: Anybody miss/remember the 2000s-early 2010s in terms of planespotting?
The late 90s/early 2000s was absolutely the golden age for me. New types were out and about while the old guard of trijets and four-holers were still going strong in their twilight years. DC-8s and 707s could still be seen at major cargo hubs...man what a time.
Re: Anybody miss/remember the 2000s-early 2010s in terms of planespotting?
2000 is about the year I started getting really into aviation (10/11 years old) so the early 2000s were the "golden era" for me as a kid. Though in the scheme of aviation 2001-2009 was a horrible year for airlines with 9/11, bankruptcies, virus in Asia, and a global recession.
That being said, plane spotting was pretty great. MIA was full of 727, DC-8, 707, 747 classics, along with 777, 744, A330 etc.. Fleets were more varied and the classics were still around even into the late 2000s with cargo airlines.
I enjoyed the classic planes more and I was (still am) a flight simmer and back then I would mostly be flying sims of 747-200, DC-9 and 727. Where a 757 or Dash-8-300 was a more modern aircraft and the 777 was absolute state of the art technology. Now on flight sim flying a 747-400 is a "classic"
That being said, plane spotting was pretty great. MIA was full of 727, DC-8, 707, 747 classics, along with 777, 744, A330 etc.. Fleets were more varied and the classics were still around even into the late 2000s with cargo airlines.
I enjoyed the classic planes more and I was (still am) a flight simmer and back then I would mostly be flying sims of 747-200, DC-9 and 727. Where a 757 or Dash-8-300 was a more modern aircraft and the 777 was absolute state of the art technology. Now on flight sim flying a 747-400 is a "classic"
Re: Anybody miss/remember the 2000s-early 2010s in terms of planespotting?
I started flying decent amounts in 2006 and got interested in aviation within a couple of years from that. For me those years from the mid-2000s onward until the early 2010s were the golden years. There were so many older types still flying around the world. I managed to log most of them right before they became extinct, aircrafts that younger flyers can only dream of: F70, F100, A300, DC9-30 and DC9-50, MD80, MD90, MD11. I even had a few chances to log the A310 and the DC10, but made other choices. These are all almost gone now. The variety was really amazing in that era and at the same time flying and the booking process of flights were constantly becoming more convenient. I missed the 727 and L1011 by a few years, but don't really care since I got to fly on so many older generation aircrafts.
Re: Anybody miss/remember the 2000s-early 2010s in terms of planespotting?
EricAY05 wrote:I started flying decent amounts in 2006 and got interested in aviation within a couple of years from that. For me those years from the mid-2000s onward until the early 2010s were the golden years.
Golden years for me were the early-mid 1970s to early 1980s.
Lots of variety.... 707, 747, 727, DC-8, DC-9, DC-10, CV-580, L-1011, YS-11, Dash-7, F-27, F-28 BAC-111 and a wide variety of airlines. Open air observation decks located on terminal rooftops, the smell of Jet A, a pocket full of airline timetables...... those were the days.
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Re: Anybody miss/remember the 2000s-early 2010s in terms of planespotting?
The change in types and chamge in security really made a difference. For example, the Beach at SYD used to be a great location for getting close to teh main taxiway and you could find photo spots - but now there is a 3m high fence that you can't shoot through.
I know a group of video spotters who hate the current predominance of the 787.
I know a group of video spotters who hate the current predominance of the 787.
Re: Anybody miss/remember the 2000s-early 2010s in terms of planespotting?
FGITD wrote:It’s fun to see how different age groups value different time periods.
I used to complain back in the 2000s that all you ever saw/flew on was md80s, 737s, and 757s. the 767 was a boring aircraft compared to the giant 777.
Airbus is funny because outside of the a340 disappearing, you pretty much still see the same types, plus the 350.
Going from a more domestic focused airport in the US to European hubs like CDG in the early 90s was always fun. You’d still see 1011s, 707s, etc. And of course everyone noticed when a Concorde taxied by.
Fun thing about back then was the lack of immediate information on airlines. You’d see a livery you’ve never seen, and a name you’ve never heard of taxi by. And you’d wonder who they are, where they’re from, and so on. These days you pull out Flightradar24 and have all the info short of the captains middle name. But back then you just wondered. (unless you had one of those airline spotting guides)
Hahah, it's all about that childhood nostalgia, when things were "better" (easier is a better word) for most people. We get all that new responsibility and privileges when we grow up, but those same responsibilities can be burdens and people we love die.
I'd argue we have decent diversity today, even though a lot of manufacturers are gone from the skies (MDD, "Convair", Lockheed, etc.).
We've got Avelo and Breeze coming in, hopefully that Pacific Northwest one will do well.
Aircraft I'm happy to see come into play today:
a220
a320/321 neo
a350
787
Aircraft I'm sad to see leaving within the next 5-10 years:
757/767
747 (many already gone)
a340
And of course the MD80s that have evaporated from the skies these past few years. Heck I recall when I was going to school from the parking lot, I'd always be greeted by a roaring AA MD80 departing to the North, and then greeted again a few hours later coming back to the lot (this was at UT Austin). The flights were hourly to DFW and we had more mAAd dogs than any other nonhub in the US, here at AUS! Memories like that stay forever.
Re: Anybody miss/remember the 2000s-early 2010s in terms of planespotting?
I really miss the early to mid 80’s. You still got an occasional DC8. Most airlines across the Atlantic used 747’s.
Boston (my home) saw 747’s from BA, AF, EI, AZ, OA, SB, SR, NW, and TW.
And then there were the L1011’s from TP, DL,EA, and TW.
Not to mention the DC10’s from AA, UA, and NW.
Every domestic jet airline into Logan flew the 727 (except for Empire, New York Air, and perhaps a couple of others).
So many airlines to see. So much diversity. It all seems so much more vanilla now.
Boston (my home) saw 747’s from BA, AF, EI, AZ, OA, SB, SR, NW, and TW.
And then there were the L1011’s from TP, DL,EA, and TW.
Not to mention the DC10’s from AA, UA, and NW.
Every domestic jet airline into Logan flew the 727 (except for Empire, New York Air, and perhaps a couple of others).
So many airlines to see. So much diversity. It all seems so much more vanilla now.
Re: Anybody miss/remember the 2000s-early 2010s in terms of planespotting?
zrs70 wrote:I really miss the early to mid 80’s. You still got an occasional DC8. Most airlines across the Atlantic used 747’s.
Boston (my home) saw 747’s from BA, AF, EI, AZ, OA, SB, SR, NW, and TW.
And then there were the L1011’s from TP, DL,EA, and TW.
Not to mention the DC10’s from AA, UA, and NW.
Every domestic jet airline into Logan flew the 727 (except for Empire, New York Air, and perhaps a couple of others).
So many airlines to see. So much diversity. It all seems so much more vanilla now.
Boston was punching up in terms of 747 service until really not that long ago. Even 5-8 years ago during the summer season you’d see multiple from AF, BA, LH, and VS.
And then one day the 787s and a350s started showing up…and now that’s the standard around here.
Re: Anybody miss/remember the 2000s-early 2010s in terms of planespotting?
I actually feel bad for spotters now due to the lack of variety, I started being interested in planes around 1990 age 7 so just in time to still see Pan Am & TWA at Heathrow. Also in the 90's still a lot of classic types where flying but in the twlight of their careers, in europe you could see 707's, BAC-111's, Comets, DC-8's, Caravelles, Mercures, VFW-614's & VC-10s (i even flew on VC-10's) all had examples still flying. Likewise for props, Viscounts, Vanguards and Heralds all where active just in the 90's. By 2000 virtually all of these types had been retired. Outside of the UK, examples of the Convair 880, 990 where still flying into the 90's and the Trident in China. I think all mass produced western built airliners could still be seen flying one way or another into the 90's.
amc737
amc737
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Re: Anybody miss/remember the 2000s-early 2010s in terms of planespotting?
Wow, seeing everyone's replies make me realize just how much a simple 10-15 years can change...
Re: Anybody miss/remember the 2000s-early 2010s in terms of planespotting?
amc737 wrote:I actually feel bad for spotters now due to the lack of variety, I started being interested in planes around 1990 age 7 so just in time to still see Pan Am & TWA at Heathrow. Also in the 90's still a lot of classic types where flying but in the twlight of their careers, in europe you could see 707's, BAC-111's, Comets, DC-8's, Caravelles, Mercures, VFW-614's & VC-10s (i even flew on VC-10's) all had examples still flying. Likewise for props, Viscounts, Vanguards and Heralds all where active just in the 90's. By 2000 virtually all of these types had been retired. Outside of the UK, examples of the Convair 880, 990 where still flying into the 90's and the Trident in China. I think all mass produced western built airliners could still be seen flying one way or another into the 90's.
amc737
Yes! From the UK here, born in 1981. The early 90s were a great time, with a fantastic variety of machines.
Heck, I remember when seeing an A320 was still a novelty!
In the last 20 years, I'd guess that about 95% or my flights have been on version of the 320 or 737 families, and quite frankly.... I'm sick of them!
Re: Anybody miss/remember the 2000s-early 2010s in terms of planespotting?
b4thefall wrote:amc737 wrote:I actually feel bad for spotters now due to the lack of variety, I started being interested in planes around 1990 age 7 so just in time to still see Pan Am & TWA at Heathrow. Also in the 90's still a lot of classic types where flying but in the twlight of their careers, in europe you could see 707's, BAC-111's, Comets, DC-8's, Caravelles, Mercures, VFW-614's & VC-10s (i even flew on VC-10's) all had examples still flying. Likewise for props, Viscounts, Vanguards and Heralds all where active just in the 90's. By 2000 virtually all of these types had been retired. Outside of the UK, examples of the Convair 880, 990 where still flying into the 90's and the Trident in China. I think all mass produced western built airliners could still be seen flying one way or another into the 90's.
amc737
Yes! From the UK here, born in 1981. The early 90s were a great time, with a fantastic variety of machines.
Heck, I remember when seeing an A320 was still a novelty!
In the last 20 years, I'd guess that about 95% or my flights have been on versions of the 320 or 737 families, and quite frankly.... I'm sick of them!
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- eurotrader85
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Re: Anybody miss/remember the 2000s-early 2010s in terms of planespotting?
A slightly different angle on the question, but what I miss most is the viewing galleries at airports in the UK to see the planes parked and taking off from elevated positions. A day at LGW or wherever was immensely enjoyable and then it was all removed on 'security grounds' following 9/11. Never understood that given viewing galleries are still around in Europe, and what were they expecting? ISIS to rock up to LGW or wherever with an anti-aircraft missile? If so don't think the viewing gallery was where their horrendous plan would be staged, and basic security could remove that threat.
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Re: Anybody miss/remember the 2000s-early 2010s in terms of planespotting?
I really miss the old IB and AA liveries, as well as the MD-80. I remember just a few years back seeing many 74/75/767's. While I welcome the A330neo, A350, 787, E2, A220, SSJ, and MRJ, I do miss the old jets. I also miss American's A330. I've flown from CLT to MAD twice, and it was great seeing all thos AA330's to Europe (Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, etc). Now it's all 787's, which is fine, but I miss the A330's. Also, the 757 is being replaced by essentially an A320. Doesn't feel right.
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Re: Anybody miss/remember the 2000s-early 2010s in terms of planespotting?
Heck, I remember when seeing an A320 was still a novelty!
In the last 20 years, I'd guess that about 95% or my flights have been on version of the 320 or 737 families, and quite frankly.... I'm sick of them![/quote]
I'm with you here. I've flown on so many A319's that I'm honesly tired of them! Although I haven't flown on as many 737's, so I'm always glad to go on one.
In the last 20 years, I'd guess that about 95% or my flights have been on version of the 320 or 737 families, and quite frankly.... I'm sick of them![/quote]
I'm with you here. I've flown on so many A319's that I'm honesly tired of them! Although I haven't flown on as many 737's, so I'm always glad to go on one.
Re: Anybody miss/remember the 2000s-early 2010s in terms of planespotting?
I remember the excitment of seeing my first Air Malta A320 9H-ABP in Febuary 1991, my first flight on one was in September 1995 on 9H-ABQ, now flown on loads.
Re spectators areas, I remember when the IRA mortared Heathrow in 1994, we headed to Gatwick at around the same time and the spectators area was shut although I suspect the IRA may have been noticed if they tried to get one on the terrace.
Unfortunatly most UK airports terraces declined over the years even before 9/11, airport expansion meant you couldnt see all the airport anyway and lounges etc built in front obsuring the view - seem to remember this happened at Gatwick, while some UK airports like Stansted never really got one after the new terminal was developed. Dont get me wrong its a shame they have gone but on the flip side I think most UK airports have areas on the outside you can spot and this is tolerated (even encouraged...) far more than in the 90's where the police would move you on if not on the offical spectators area
amc737
Re spectators areas, I remember when the IRA mortared Heathrow in 1994, we headed to Gatwick at around the same time and the spectators area was shut although I suspect the IRA may have been noticed if they tried to get one on the terrace.
Unfortunatly most UK airports terraces declined over the years even before 9/11, airport expansion meant you couldnt see all the airport anyway and lounges etc built in front obsuring the view - seem to remember this happened at Gatwick, while some UK airports like Stansted never really got one after the new terminal was developed. Dont get me wrong its a shame they have gone but on the flip side I think most UK airports have areas on the outside you can spot and this is tolerated (even encouraged...) far more than in the 90's where the police would move you on if not on the offical spectators area
amc737