View allAll Photos Tagged PlaneWatching
I had planned to go to Nellis on this day for Red Flag 22-1 but the winds were extreme - 40-50 mph so I guessed not too much would be happening. Very dusty and stuff was blowing everywhere. I stayed near LAS but it was pretty boring. Good day to catch up on reading and photo editing. I took these photos in early February 2022.
Incredible low approach of a Boeing 747 on the tiny island of St. Maarten thrilling adventurous tourists on Maho Beach. © All rights reserved
This picture has been published in January 2010 edition of National Geographic Magazine. It is featured as a centerfold image in "Visions of Earth" section.
I am thrilled to share this happy moment with my supporters and of course thank them! So get a copy of Nat. Geo. and check it inside! Or you can view it online here.
My wife and I liked Red Flag 21-1 so much we decided to check out 21-2. We knew it was going to be smaller so we only stayed for one full day. What we didn't count one was the nasty weather. Blah grey sky, very windy, and cold for the morning takeoffs. Takeoffs were to the SW so we joined up with a bunch of other spotters to watch the planes leave on Cheyenne Avenue. When the fighters take off on the 21R they bank right above your head so you get a mix of belly and side profiles - but it is a cool experience. Tankers and bombers tend to use 21L so you have a better angle but if there were no clouds you would be shooting into the sun. Despite this we had a good time. After the morning rush headed out we moved to the Speedway area for the recovery. All in all a very good day, even if we were turning blue and felt sandblasted.
I took these photos in early March 2021 near Las Vegas, Nevada.
My wife and I had some free time so we decided to drive down to Las Vegas for the Red Flag exercise in mid-March 2025. The weather forecast was good and there seemed to be a decent line-up of participating aircraft. Unfortunately both items fell short. The sky conditions were excellent but the weather sucked. Very high winds affected some of the fighters. The first afternoon we were there all F-16s and F-35s were grounded due to crosswinds. Also unfortunate was that Flex departures were cancelled at the last minute so the planes had to do a straight out departure - this sucked for photographers. In the late afternoon the recovery shifted to landings over Cheyenne Avenue. This was our first visit there in about a year and we couldn't believe the change. It was a mix of a homeless camp, scrap yard, bombed out Gaza, and just a totally trashy area. Burned out cars and car parts were everywhere. We didn't feel safe there despite being among other plane spotters. Wow. I took these photos in mid-March 2025.
Re aircraft activity - it seemed a lot lower than at prior Red Flags. There were a lot of Nellis resident aircraft but not too many visitors. It was a decent trip but not a great one.
These photos are from our third day of plane spotting at the 23-1 Red Flag Exercise at Nellis Air Fore Base. After a lovely morning at Red Rock Canyon we got to Nellis around 1330, just as the B-52 was taxiing for take off. Excellent timing. Good weather, still windy, and most planes were doing the Flex West departure - very nice. About an hour after the wave of takeoffs subsided, we went to Cheyenne Avenue to catch the afternoon recoveries. This was one of our best days there ever. Seemed like nonstop action for over an hour. The lighting conditions were awesome - good late afternoon sun right before sunset - especially when the AWACS finished the days activities. Wow!
I headed over to Clutters Park on a very foggy Sunday morning at the end of July 2021. It was surreal. Visibility was nil at first, varying from dense to almost a whiteout. I could hear the planes but not see anything. Over the next few hours the fog lessened then increased. I could see planes on the ground but they went out of sight about three seconds after takeout. Eventually the fog burned off and things got back to normal. It was a very cool day!!
Please see my 4K up close video from London Luton Airport here www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-GLaXvSq4g&;
I was in southern Florida in mid-October 2021 and had some spare time so I stopped at the airplane viewing area at Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL). It's a nice area to relax right at the end of the north runway; the only drawbacks are the chainlink fence and heat haze. Air traffic is starting to pick up again so it was busy while I was there. I will definitely be back there!
This Wow Air Airbus A330 EC-MIO diverted to London Stansted Airport from London Gatwick on 20 June 2016. Here is the video of the departure www.youtube.com/watch?v=Det0TB36NoY
I took advantage of a killer deal on Alaska Airlines - very cheap fare to FLL and double elite qualifying miles. I spent some time in the Hibiscus Parking Garage viewing area on a lovely but windy day in late February. Nice place to plane watch; I think I had the place to myself. I was able to capture some rare (for me) Canadian flights, some nice liveries, and a cool 727 that offered zero gravity flights. Life is good!
I was in southern Florida in mid-October 2021 and had some spare time so I stopped at the airplane viewing area at Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL). It's a nice area to relax right at the end of the north runway; the only drawbacks are the chainlink fence and heat haze. Air traffic is starting to pick up again so it was busy while I was there. I will definitely be back there!
We had a layover at Sea-Tac and took advantage of a day lounge pass for the lounge in the North Terminal. Excellent choice. With our elite status we have access to lounges in many airports and this one was one of the best. Planes were landing and taking off from the South so landing had the planes turning off the runways before we could see them. I took these photos in mid-September 2022 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
I took advantage of cheap air fares and hotel costs and spent a few days in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area. On one of the days I went to the parking garage at FLL on a lovely morning. Good weather and I pretty much had the place to myself. One oddity - the north runway was closed for a few hours so everything was coming/going on the south runway. A few hours later the reverse happened: south runway closed, north was active. I didn't see any construction going on or vehicles of any kind on the runways. FLL is no longer on ATC Live so I was in the dark, but it was still a nice day.
Today was forecasted to be nice weather wise - it started off pretty ugly but got a bit better later in the day. I split my time at the South Park area for takeoffs and then switched to the north side to catch some late afternoon activity on Runway 15. Not a bad last day in Anchorage!
My wife and I drove to NAF El Centro to catch the Blue Angels practice for their first air show of the season. We were also fortunate enough to see some of the T-45 Goshawks trainers and other aircraft in town for the air show. Excellent day weather-wise. I took these photos in mid-March 2023 - what a great day!
Some aviation photography I did in the morning and evening hours from the Premier Inn Terminal 4 at London Heathrow Airport. It's always cool seeing so many heavies and special liveries. I took these photos in late-April 2022. Once again it was another day of easterly operations - blah!
Another day spent inside the Premier Inn T4 at Heathrow Airport caring for a sick wife. Decent plane watching but still dealing with easterly operations and shooting through double pane/glazed windows. It was still nice to see a wide variety of heavies and special liveries. I took these photos at the end of April 2022.
We had a few minutes before returning our rental car so we found a parking lot on Sunset Road and killed some time, Beautiful weather and a nice variety of landings. I took these photos in late January 2023.
This was our second day at the Naval Air Facility El Centro. It was also the day before the annual air show featuring the USN Blue Angels so we hoped for a full practice run through. Things were a bit off on this day - storms had passed through all morning delaying things. The Blues finally took off and started their antics when after about 15 minutes Blue Angels 1 and 3 landed and pulled off on a taxiway for about 15 minutes. We didn't see any vehicles approach so we were a bit mystified. They eventually took off and resumed the practice. By then the sun broke through and it was so bright - it made for very harsh shooting conditions. Despite all this they put on a great practice and we really look forward to seeing them again.
I took these photos at NAF El Centro, CA, in the middle of March 2021.
We made it to this Red Flag exercise but only for 1.5 days this time - bummer - it was busy. The first day there the weather was excellent - not too hot and nice and blue. There was a lot of fighter activity but very few heavies - no worries - it was still worth it!
I took these photos in mid-March 2024.
I was passing through Sea-Tac on my way to San Jose for a big Comic Con. I had a few hours between connections so I decided to spend them in the Alaska Airlines Lounge in the North Concourse. I think it's Alaska's best lounge, even though it often doubles as a day care facility for unruly children. The view of air traffic is awesome, especially when landings/take offs are from the North. This was a great day for photography, except for glare from the thick windows. How I wish there was an open air observation deck above this concourse!
This was our second day at the Naval Air Facility El Centro. It was also the day before the annual air show featuring the USN Blue Angels so we hoped for a full practice run through. Things were a bit off on this day - storms had passed through all morning delaying things. The Blues finally took off and started their antics when after about 15 minutes Blue Angels 1 and 3 landed and pulled off on a taxiway for about 15 minutes. We didn't see any vehicles approach so we were a bit mystified. They eventually took off and resumed the practice. By then the sun broke through and it was so bright - it made for very harsh shooting conditions. Despite all this they put on a great practice and we really look forward to seeing them again.
I took these photos at NAF El Centro, CA, in the middle of March 2021.
Only the second Airbus A380 to visit London Stansted, this HiFly aircraft was operating a number of charter flights in June 2019.
Please see my video of this aircraft landing and departing here
After a pleasant drive from Los Angeles I arrived in Las Vegas on a lovely afternoon. Before heading to the hotel I decided to sit near the end of 26L and watch some planes come and go. Nice choice. A steady stream of planes landing in a beautiful late afternoon sky. I found a spot in a little strip mall and had a really nice view. Not a bad way to spend about two hours. I took these photos in early December 2022.
We had a layover at Sea-Tac and took advantage of a day lounge pass for the lounge in the North Terminal. Excellent choice. With our elite status we have access to lounges in many airports and this one was one of the best. Planes were landing and taking off from the South so landing had the planes turning off the runways before we could see them. I took these photos in mid-September 2022 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
The wife and I went to San Diego to visit family in August 2021. One of our must do activities is to picnic on Dog Run Beach on Coronado Island. We find a spot almost at the end of the runway at NAS North Island and hope for the best. Air activity is always so unpredictable. On this day no fighters were up and about but we did see a cool mix of trainers, a C-130 dropping paratroopers, and some other rare types (for us) plus a few Navy ships. We had awesome skies and good food too. Definitely not a bad way to spend a few hours!
Please see my 4K video filmed during Storm Ciara at London Stansted with diversions, go-arounds and plenty of spray and wet weather during gale force winds. www.youtube.com/watch?v=79TKi3qys_k
Please check out my video of Wizz Air aircraft at London Luton Airport here www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdKt5B4PWMU
We had a layover at Sea-Tac and took advantage of a day lounge pass for the lounge in the North Terminal. Excellent choice. With our elite status we have access to lounges in many airports and this one was one of the best. Planes were landing and taking off from the South so landing had the planes turning off the runways before we could see them. I took these photos in mid-September 2022 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Photos from my 2nd day at the 22-1 Red Flag Exercises held at Nellis AFB outside of Las Vegas. The morning was very slow but things picked up shortly after noon. A number of fighters took off, followed by 2 B-52s, 3 B-2s, and a number of support aircraft. A major wind event was coming into Las Vegas and I think that led to a lot of last minute Flex West departure cancellations. It also made things very dusty, gritty, and hazy. For recovery operations everyone made a beeline to the Cheyenne Avenue spots. Excellent day but it was freezing by the time the last B-2 landed shortly after sunset. I took these photos on 2/1/2022.
I took advantage of some very cheap airfares and flew into Fort Lauderdale for a few days. Since planes were landing at MIA from the West I headed to MIA - good choice. Great weather, a very nice mix of aircraft, except for the steady stream of American Airlines jets.
I took these photos in early February 2025. What a nice mid-winter break!
On 3 May 2018 Air Corsica launched flights from Ajaccio and Bastia to London Stansted Airport using Airbus A320 aircraft.
The airline is the third to launch new flights and destinations within a few weeks at London Stansted. Another welcome visitor.
Please see my video of the arrival and departure of two of their aircraft here youtu.be/Fh841HiiGXE
These photos are from our second day the Red Flag 23-1 at Nellis Air Force Base in last January 2023. The day started off good with a bunch of Flex West departures. For some reason which we can't figure out, all the departures switched to straight out departures - pretty boring and not good for photography. Later in the afternoon we headed to Cheyenne Avenue for the recovery operations - and we weren't disappointed but it seems like the heavies landed on 21L instead. Oh well!
This day started out miserably - heavy rain all night, drizzle in the morning with low, heavy grey clouds - but ... LAX had reverse operations going on. I have never been here for that so I went to Clutters Park shortly after sunrise to see this - and the park was packed! I thought it was pretty cool to see despite the rain. The rain eventually tapered off but the clouds never burned off. I stayed there most of the day; in mid-afternoon LAX switched back to normal ops - and then the rain started again. Not a bad day.
Please see my video of this aircraft landing at departing London Stansted Airport in 4k Ultra HD here
Some last minute photos from London Heather Terminal 5 while waiting to board our flight home. I need to find some good spots for Runway 9L landings for future reference.
These photos are from our second day the Red Flag 23-1 at Nellis Air Force Base in last January 2023. The day started off good with a bunch of Flex West departures. For some reason which we can't figure out, all the departures switched to straight out departures - pretty boring and not good for photography. Later in the afternoon we headed to Cheyenne Avenue for the recovery operations - and we weren't disappointed but it seems like the heavies landed on 21L instead. Oh well!
I stopped at the Hibiscus parking garage at FLL to spend a few hours plane watching. Beautiful day outside and air traffic is picking up finally. Unfortunately I didn't pay enough attention to my camera settings and some of the photos are not tack sharp - I hate that. FLL is very spotter friendly and I see a return trip in my future!
I took these photos in mid-December 2021.
Oh, the irony! Here I am at Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport, basking in the ultimate "window seat" glory—staring out at a majestic airplane and the bustling tarmac, all while parked on this comfy gate bench. I didn’t even have to bribe the check-in agent with my secret stash of shamrock-shaped cookies for this prime view! Meanwhile, some poor soul is probably arguing with the boarding desk, “Window seat, please!” only to get stuck between a snoring giant and a kid with a tray of sticky buns. Sorry, buddy—looks like I’ve claimed the best window seat in the house, no boarding pass required!
As I sip my overpriced airport coffee, I can’t help but chuckle at the thought of the check-in chaos. “Window seat, please!” they cry, dreaming of a scenic flight over Ireland’s green fields, while I’m living the dream right here—watching Aer Lingus planes strut their stuff like runway models. Maybe I’ll send a postcard from this spot: “Wish you were here, stuck in the middle seat with no view!” With this photo, I’m aiming for Flickr’s Explore page—proof that the real adventure starts at the gate, not 30,000 feet up!
And let’s be real, this “window seat” beats any in-flight experience. No cramped legs, no questionable armrest battles, just me and my front-row tarmac show. The plane’s engines are humming a lullaby, and I’m half-tempted to ask the pilot for a selfie through the glass. “Window seat, please?” Cheers to Terminal 2, where the view’s so good, I might miss my flight on purpose!
This WW II vintage aircraft, a B-17 belonging to the Commemorative Air Force, makes an annual visit to the War Hawk Museum. It's always a joy to see her but dang, can we get some clear weather? We are suffering from eye, nose, and throat irritating wildfire smoke. When she was in the air I could hear her long before anyone could see her. Fortunately, checking out my wife is always good for my sore eyes!
I took these photos at the Nampa Airport in mid-August 2021
I took advantage of an Alaska Air fare sale to MCO, rented a car, and headed to MIA and FLL for a few days. The photography gods were with me on this trip. Very good weather and a nice variety of airplanes.The only negative was the ongoing construction at the Holes - hopefully it is finished sometime soon.
I took these photos in mid-December 2021 at Miami International Airport.
Please see my video of the first arrival and departure of WOW Airbus A321, TF-DOG at London Stansted Airport www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1-WR1nsMOI
Wow's inaugural flight was on 25 April 2018 and was made by the newly delivered aircraft, having only been delivered to the airline the previous day. Low Cost Airline Wowair is operating Stansted - Reykjavik KEF