Eyes Aloft: The Sublime Obsession of Plane Spotting

Ditto here, but not a pilot. I almost always lunge outside when I hear an unusual (usually military) aircraft. A few years ago, a Ford TriMotor was making frequent passes overhead and I got some good photos of it, due to hearing it from afar. I almost always accurately distinguish the mid-range hum of the Sheriff's Bell from the more thumpy Coast Guard helicopters that often pass by. I have seen many neat aircraft as result of my aerial curiosities, including WWII bombers, various fighters, re-fuelers, cargo planes, mil helicopters that made trains seem mute, meteoroids/incoming space debris, and a few celestial anomalies. Yeah, I used to get some strange looks (and comments) when I had my Leica Ultravid, Zeiss Victory, and Orion 15x70 binoculars. Be glad you weren't into astronomy; folks come up with all sorts of big ideas when they see some "creepy" guy staring at the night sky, "undoubtedly" searching for any insignificant gap in the miniblinds of person x,y,z while completely indifferent to the rest of the Universe. If looking up was held in half the esteem of watching telly, it might be a much more interesting world. On another note, maybe Irvine Welsh will do something with the title of this article. Apparently, a sequel to Trainspotting is due next year.

I live a few miles away from the Charleston SC airport/AFB now, and it's amazing the variety of planes I see. Even getting back from a 12 hour work day, I'll stop and watch for unfamiliar engine sounds every time.

On another note, it never matters the exact topic: I get a little jealous every time I read about these groups of people enthusiastic and relentless for their apparently purposeless niche hobby. Maybe it's what it says about their work schedules, or just that they can keep focused on one thing long enough to really get into it like this..

I do the same, have since I was a kid. Walking out of the office a few years ago I was greeted by a sound I hadn't heard before; not the normal chinooks or blackhawks that frequent the local army airfield, but didn't have the distinctive huey sound either.

Decided to wait around for a few minutes, was rewarded by seeing a brand-new, not-operational-yet Osprey flying up the valley. Guessing it was going to stop and refuel, I drove down the hill to the airport and watched it touch down and taxi in. A fairly steady stream of people, adults and kids, started showing up shortly thereafter, and the flight crew was nice enough to get permission to let us all out onto the tarmac and give us a short tour. A few of us stuck around while they refueled it, and watched it take off. Very impressive piece of engineering, that machine.

That aircraft proved to me that as cynical and jaded as I might have become, some things still have the ability to reach my inner kid, and convinced me that I should pursue my childhood dream of getting my pilot's license.

Now -- money, time and weather permitting -- I fly an equally magical carpet in the form of a 1968 Cessna 172. That first solo was equal parts wonder that they thought I was ready and terror that I was about to show them why I wasn't. Currently building hours and practicing for my check ride, hopefully will have my ticket by the end of the year.

Me too, it's not just planes though, trains, boats, roller coasters at theme parks, buildings, I can't go anywhere without being in awe of this stuff.

I do the same. A few years ago, I heard a small plane and looked out our skylight. There was a big black storm cloud behind the plane and I remember thinking the pilot was lucky to be outrunning it. I flicked on the cheap aviation radio receiver that I happened to have on my desk, just in time to hear his "mayday, engine failure" call. I watched the aircraft glide down behind some houses in the distance, then made a phone call to the local airfield, who were able to tell me that the pilot was down safely in a field next to a school and they had a recovery vehicle on the way. Phew!

And for ships: https://www.marinetraffic.com/ee/ais/home/centerx:25/centery...

Indeed, I enjoy combining it with: http://www.liveatc.net/topfeeds.php - quite relaxing listening to the calm controllers voice.