Thanks to all the photographers

Thats fascinating , I wondered why there were so many photographers at MIA Runway visitor park , not sure if I could stretch to that much , I guess I am still one of the note-pad die hards with a CAM then ! . Great memories of the gallery and pier balconies though .
Cheers for the updates , still using 10x 50 ;>)

As stated, everyone to their own rules. For myself I wish to count only aircraft I can clearly see – so have a limit of around circuit height foe ‘tiddlers’, couple of thousand feet for airliners. Knew a spotter who would only count an aircraft when he could see the wheels!

A further consideration is those who count the current displayed registration verses those who count the airframe (as identified by c/no.). ‘Paint Scrapes’ is a recent addition to our vocabulary.

As for binoculars, sorry, way out of date. A decent SLR with a 300mm or larger lens, with digital zoom-in on the PC provides not only massively greater magnification, but also time to leisurely consider colour scheme etc – indeed, with a steady hand (or tripod assisted) it is quite possible to read off an underwing regn of a trailing airliner some 30,000ft up! Something near impossible even with a powerful ‘pole’ or monocular.

Yes, the hobby has moved on. While the note-pad equipped ‘die-hard’ all-weather “spotter” on an Airport Balcony (what a great social place they were at MAN, LHR, LGW, LPL etc) may be an ageing breed (habitat destroyed) there is renewed interest in aviation as an enthusiast due to Flight Sim programmes and followers of FlightRadar24 and similar, even down to use of point and identify Mobile Phone Aps.

How I wished I had a digital camera in the 60s and 70s. To take more than a dozen shots at an Air Display was considered outrageously extravagant, and that was before weeding out poorly exposed shots, camera shake and scratched film. How did we ever manage?

How the Internet has changed things. Back in the ’80s as a regional Aviation Society we had around 500 to 600 members and a monthly magazine that relied heavily on a core of 20 or so enthusiasts to produce. Today, the direct descendant of that Aviation Society, although now run by individuals not a committee, still produces monthly movements for our ‘base’ airport on a website and runs a forum visited daily by over 100 logged-in members plus over 1000 guest visits, with 20 to 40 posts daily covering a wide variety of topics. Well gone are the days of always having small change, and a list of ‘mates’ telephone numbers to ring (from a call-box, also now near extinct!), if something interesting should turn up to be seen from the balcony.

Great thread this for reflecting on how time (and technology) have changed the hobby, but not our delight in all things aviation.

Thanks Tartan , I guessed that would be the answer more or less apart from the puritans of course. Can’t believe I still have the bug . Met a family down from Glasgow (to MIA) on Tuesday , they had driven down to see the Emirates 380 come in and fly back out in the afternoon , made me realise how dedicated ( or crackers) we all are !

Great pics btw

Regards

Glen

Welcome back to the spotting world!!! you can hide, BUT, it ALWAYS gets you back lol..
Now see, your 2nd point, THAT was a big point of contention when i was a “number cruncher” way back when…. some considered taking “dots” as “fudging”, since i guess information was a lot less …. accurate than now, you can look at Flightradar 24,see something go over your house look out the window and know to about 99% that it was what FR said it was… That said, i even knew spotters (nameless) who would take a plane read off on the telly as a cop!!! to the MASSIVE chagrin of some! (I recall a GLA spotter falling out with another who took a Casa 212 which came in in thick thick fog because he HEARD it hehe).. end of the day, it’s a hobby, there are NO rules, so as long as you enjoy aircraft and seeing them then no harm can come from that.. i guess to answer, if YOU think it’s a cop, then it’s a cop.