Aircraft_spotting

[[Image:Spotter.jpg|thumb|right|Spotters at [[Guarulhos International Airport|Sao Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport's]] control tower.]]
'''Aircraft spotting''' or '''Plane spotting''' is the enjoyment, observation and photography of [[aircraft]]: [[glider]]s, powered aircraft, large balloons, [[airship]]s, [[helicopter]]s, and [[microlight]]s.

When spotting planes, observers notice the key attributes of an aircraft. They may notice a distinctive noise from its engine or the number of vapour trails it is leaving. They will assess the size of the plane and the number, type and position of its engines. Another clue is the position of wings relative to the fuselage and the degree to which they are swept rearwards. Are the wings above the fuselage, below it, or fixed at midpoint, perhaps it's a [[biplane]] or triplane. The position of the tailplane relative to the fin(s) and the shape of the fin are also clues to its type. If it is an antique or light aircraft it might have a tail wheel. Some aircraft types have a fixed [[undercarriage]] while others have retractable wheels.

Other features include the speed, cockpit placement, colour scheme or special equipment that changes the silhouette of the plane. Taken together these clues will enable the identification of a plane. If the observer is familiar with the airfield being used by the aircraft and its normal traffic patterns, he or she is more likely to leap quickly to a decision about the aircraft's identity - they may have seen the same type of aircraft from the same angle many times.

==Spotting styles==
[[Image:aircraft.spotting.srilankan.arp.jpg|thumb|right|Spotters watching the landing of a [[SriLankan Airlines]] [[Airbus A340]] at [[London Heathrow Airport]].]]
Some spotters will note the markings, a national insignia or [[airline]] livery or logo perhaps, a squadron badge or code letters in the case of a military aircraft. Published manuals allow more information to be deduced, such as the delivery date or the manufacturer's construction number. [[Camouflage]] markings differ, depending on the surroundings in which that aircraft is expected to operate.

Ancillary activities might include listening-in to air traffic transmissions (using [[radio scanner]]s, where that is legal), liaising with other "spotters" to clear up uncertainties as to what aircraft have been seen at specific times or in particular places, and the drawing, painting, filming, tape-recording or photographing of aircraft.

The hobbyist might travel some distance to visit a different airport from their usual one, to see an unusual aircraft or to view the remains of aircraft withdrawn from use. Some aircraft may eventually be placed in the care of museums (see [[Aviation archaeology]]) - or perhaps be cannibalised in order to repair a similar aircraft already preserved.

Some spotters are competitive and may get a thrill from seeing all the planes of a particular operator, military or civil. [[Aircraft registration]]s can be found in serial books, such as [[Military Aircraft Serial Review]]. The internet has many enthusiast websites. ie: www.jetfueljunky.com , www.jetphotos.net, www.airliners.net or www.aviationcorner.net

==During hostilities==

[[Image:tornado.za463.arp.jpg|thumb|left|The [[RAF]] [[Panavia Tornado|Tornado]] can be identified by its distinctive large tail]]

During [[World War II|WWII]] and the subsequent [[Cold War]] some countries encouraged their citizens to become "plane spotters" in an "observation corps" or similar public body for reasons of public security. Britain had the [[Royal Observer Corps]] which operated between 1925 and 1995.

==Airshows==
Airfields may recognise the public's interest in aviation as something to be encouraged and provide viewing areas in safe locations. Many organised [[airshow]]s draw large crowds and some raise funds for charitable causes such as [[museum]]s, organisations restoring historic planes, or bodies that assist injured aircrew or the dependents of Armed Forces' personnel. Some shows have a more commercial motive. Some aircraft photographers make a profit from their hobby, with the internet providing an outlet for their photographs.

==Legal ramifications==
[[Image:thunderbolt.a10.fairford.arp.jpg|thumb|right|The high engine position on this [[USAF]] [[A-10 Thunderbolt]] makes identification easy]]
The potential legal repercussions of the hobby were dramatically shown in November 2001 when fourteen aircraft spotters (twelve British, two Dutch) were arrested by Greek police after being observed at an open day at the Greek Air Force base at Kalamata. They were charged with espionage, and faced a possible 20-year prison sentence if found guilty. After being held for six weeks, they were eventually released on £9,000 bail, and the charges reduced to the misdemeanour charge of illegal information collection. Confident of their innocence they returned for their trial in April 2002 and were stunned to be found guilty, with eight of the group sentenced to three years, the rest for one year. At their appeal a year later all were acquitted. <ref>{{cite web| title=Plane-spotters 'ignored warnings'| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1950198.stm| accessdate=2007-03-14| publisher=BBC News| date=2002-04-25}| quote=Note-taking in conjunction with other activities may be detrimental (to Greek security)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1953132.stm |title=Greek court convicts plane-spotters |date=2002-04-26 |accessdate=2007-03-14 |publisher=BBC News |quote=The verdict bears no relation whatsoever to the evidence given.}} </ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1953654.stm |title=How did plane-spotters end up as spies? ||date=2002-04-26 |accessdate=2007-03-14 |publisher=BBC News |quote=I would warn that spotting in Greece is still not particularly liked by the authorities and without our contacts at the Greek Ministry of Defence, which helped on a number of occasions, the trip might have been a little longer than anticipated!}}</ref>

==Fight against terrorism==
In the wake of the targeting of airports by terrorists, enthusiasts' organisations and the police in the UK have co-operated in drawing up a code of conduct. This attempts to both allow enthusiasts to continue their hobby and increase security around airports, by asking enthusiasts to contact police if they believe something they see or hear is suspicious. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3682329.stm |title=Plane-spotters join terror fight||date=2004-05-04|accessdate=2007-09-16|publisher=[[bbc.co.uk]]|quote=Police and BAA are recruiting aviation enthusiasts to help fight terrorism at London's Heathrow Airport}}</ref>
[[Image:malaysia airlines b747-400 specialcolours arp.jpg|thumb|right|Spotters and photographers enjoy seeing aircraft in special colour schemes. This is a [[Boeing 747-400]] of [[Malaysia Airlines]]]]

==See also==
{{commonscat|Aircraft spotting}}
* [[Bus spotting]]
* [[Train spotting]]
* [[Birding]]
* [[Butterfly watching]]
* [[Airliners.net]]

==External links==
*[http://dmoz.org/Recreation/Aviation/Personal_Pages/Plane_Spotting/ Plane spotting links at DMOZ]











*[http://plane.spottingworld.com Plane Spotting World]
*[http://www.spotterswiki.com A Wiki for Spotters]

==Notes==
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[[Category:Aircraft|Spotting]]
[[Category:Hobbies]]
[[Category:Recreation]]

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