Aircraft reg's. Why do you collect them??

[POL]

wokka will be able to vouch for the fact I don't look like Rich's description of a "spotter" - I hope!

[wokka]

Likewise!


-Edit-
Actually, we all will soon wont we? with our Fighter Control stickers on our cars!

[PeteHemsley]

There is no way anyone can compare spotting/serial crunching with photography.

Why not? It's still the act of collecting something!

I think wokk and Flaps have summed it up perfectly, it's simply because that's what someone prefers to do. What would you do if you lived in a UHF/VHF/HF/etc. black-spot of some nature (Maybe not all of them at once, but I'm sure you see what I'm getting at), or if it was raining or foggy. You'd have nothing to do and your enjoyment of the hobby decreases. Rich, you've said yourself the monitoring side of things is getting boring. At least collecting registrations continues to provide a lasting interest for me!

I agree with rich here. Comparing a photographer to a spotter is like comparing a car with a bird. I shoot aircraft as much as I can in their natural habitat, doing things they were built for eg: bombing runs, low level...etc etc. I don't shoot aircraft to look back and think "oh good I've got that one.."! Another reason I like to photograph aircraft is trying to make a job out of it and create an income.

I can always send a photo into a mag, post online or print out and use it as a huge photo on my wall, but what can you do with a Reg/serial? Write into a mag and say you seen this aircraft??? Although there are some detailed explanations on here, I still don't get it! I know guys that spend thousands per year travelling the world to see a number! I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that. It's a hobby and it brings you enjoyment so I'm definitely not having a go here

[PeteHemsley]

....oh and one other thing.

Can of worms well and truely opened

[RichC]

Have to agree with all that you said there Jem, i am in exactly the same boat. If someone comes up to me and asks me what a serial was for an aircraft that just came in, i have to shrug my shoulders and say "Sorry, not into serials i haven't got a clue". Mainly because i don't even look at the serial whatsoever, it's like it is invisible. Because to me, that aircraft is just an aircraft type... what construction number it has is irrelevant to me or what tail fin flash it had.
To be honest the same goes with colour schemes, i sit here in amazement people getting *very* excited over a warplane painted like a circus or with certain naff celebrational fins.
To me a warplane should be painted in war paint. If i saw a certain plane with certain scheme go through a low level spot or land at an airfield, to me the tail colour or whatever it was would again be invisible to me (per se) as to me it is yet another plane, silly circus or not. Yet some are so over their heels in seeing such a thing i sit there and wonder.

I do help people when using PP if needed with serials if i can but rarely notice the serial as i don't even look at them.

This article typically shows what is thought of as a spotter:- And shows exactly what i was on about....a coat with loads of pockets..... (sorry if the chap is on FC )
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... -work.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Note the word "Anorak" is used several times.

So here is another question to compliment Petes original:-
Do spotters mind being called Anoraks? Or does it offend? Or do you take it on the chin as a joke?

[ArabJazzie]

Hi all,
I think the cap of spotter is being wrongly fitted in this thread! Why?

Well it goes like this. Rich im sure you said at the start that you listen into lots of radio comms. You have even said that you do follow this up to look at the aircraft if it is near you or involved as you watch and listen to an exercise. So if you see this aircraft, how did you make initial visual contact with the aircraft if you didnt spot it in the first place?

Now all you photographers out there. How do you sort out your files? Bet some of you, maybe even most use either the serial/reg or tailcode to id the photo. Now would this not put you into the definition that started this thread of you being a spotter. You might not have noted the serial/reg/code in a notebook when you first took the pic, but certainly looks like, to me anyway, there is a route to you being classed as a spotter. Also see above!

Now where do i fit into all of this. Well i am a Civil and Mil number cruncher who only stops when a balloon or power-shute floats past. But i also take photographs and have been known to stray into taking photos of said power-shutes and Balloons. And if money permitted, i would also listen to the scanner and use an SBS system. So that covers about everyone who has replied to this thread!

I would also like to say that if it wasnt for my camera, im sure you wouldnt be able to tell me different from anyone by the way i dress as i dont have an anorak, bomber jacket with patches or a merchandised hat!

So as far as im concerned, anyone who goes wherever to watch aircraft, makes visual contact by spotting them then doing what they want next.

Proud to be a number crunching, photo taking, plane spotting anorak! But then im not easily offended!
Arabest,
Geoff.

[urkles]

Reading through this thread has made me laugh! Everyone is pigeon holing and stereotyping each other to make excuses for their own particular interest and then belittling others

look, everyone is different, the common interest is aircraft, and what enjoyment they get out of it is surely up to them, its whatever floats your boat. I love watching planes, love collecting serials and love photographing what I see, I dont have an anorak, in fact I have a healthy social life and lots of friends and interests outside the aircraft scene, I play football (still and im nearly 40!), I still work on aircraft with the BCWM and have served the Fleet Air Arm, so where does that put me and everyone else in your so called stereotypes?

We are nerds! All men are, its our natural state, friends will call me a nerd then go on about motocycles, football teams, and any other interest as if thats normal and im somehow different

Some of these posts seem to be an excuse to belittle and mock other members for their hobby, and that is just not fair when yourselves are just as bad!

[RichC]

What i like about this thread so far is that within 2 pages we have not yet had it locked or arguments have started. All my comments are light hearted, i think FC needs light hearted discussions at the moment

But of course you are correct, i (and others) are taking the mickey and so far everyone takes it and knows it is.

Arabest,

I get what you mean by the "spotting of aircraft to actually see it" but that is not how people perceive the word "spotter".
Of course, does this ALL come down to the Royal Observer Corps? They used to sit/stand outside their little bunker with binoculars (or not) spotting aircraft visually. So, i wonder if the word "spotter" does actually come from those?

Perhaps it is his fault:-
http://www.sciencephoto.com/images/down ... =670037453" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

or her fault:-
http://www.airporthotels.com/blog/wp-co ... 75x300.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In the meantime, it's time for my tea (i'm cooking) and so i look forward to whatall you anoraks (i'm not one, cause i have a social life too ) discuss while i'm gone.

[PeteHemsley]

i love this thread if im being honest. light hearted banter and p taking is top notch. we all do it when we meet at stations and various low level haunts so why not on a forum? we all know each other so we should all be like this all the time

the main reason i started this thread was because of a recent trip to shawbury and seeing people running between aircraft to note the reg. it only looks crazy to us lot that don't understand what the whole idea is. its all good. we are all happy in this aviation hobby and long may it continue guys!

[Blue Diamond]

Good question. Started with locomotive numbers in the days of steam, then I added buses followed by civil registrations and finally added military serials to the list. Don't seriously spot any more as I'm much more keen on the photography but I do log the numbers/serials of what I photograph for the record. Returning to the question as to why I do/did it, I don't honestly know. As a young lad I found trainspotting treat fun and it grew from there.

[pikey01]

What makes a C-17 that comes from Hawaii so exciting over an RAF C-17A from Brize Norton. They look EXACTLY the same, they sound the same, they do the same mission, all that is different is the little bit of writing that people get excited over.

But the Hawaiian has a pretty yellow band on the tail! Ive often wondered...what would actually happen if you fill your book completly?!

[POL]

You wait a week for the next aircraft to be delivered!

[GOOSE]

.what would actually happen if you fill your book completly?!

I'd go back to trains..........

[Blue Diamond]

I have to ask Rich why he needs to analyse the hobby so intensely and put people into various pigeon holes. In the three categories he listed in an earlier post, I can think of some people who would fit aspects of each. At the end of the day this and many other hobbies are multi faceted and does it really matter which facet floats an individual's boat?

[RichC]

I dont analyse the hobby intensily, i observe and what i 'have' observed is what i have put here in a light hearted way. I'm obviously not alone in my thinking and opinion, the original poster has similar views as do others.
I have categorised myself in those three points (me being the last one) and i stated that we all seem to be similar in what we use as tools of the hobby and in all three points, they are indeed similar.

I find it interesting as being in the same "general" hobby as to what other viewpoints there are regarding the different aspects of the same hobby. Why spotters are classed by many (public) as anoraks. What gave them that in the first place?
I am told i am a geek for listening to the radio and taking photos yet i couldn't give a rats bum . Even my wife to be says i am a SAP!. Whatever that means.

But if i'm a sap then i can't think what serial spotters are

[Mike]

I've met loads of guys that are purely "number collectors" - they'll even buy a day ticket to a major airshow,run around the static without taking any shots and write-down the serials/registrations and go back to their car and be on their way to the nearest airfield only to do the same.

Then there are "plane-spotters",these guys do much the same but actually take an interest in the flying-display too.

Then there are "aviation-enthusiasts" who take loads of photos,take a note of serials and stay at the airshow all weekend - like me !

[MarkL]

Rich

I am delighted this topic has come up. I am constructing a reply but it may take me a little while as I need to absorb all that has been said so far. What I would like to say at this point is however a little bit forced by you. You have pee'ed me off in two ways. First is your pathetic signature. You claim to be interested in people's desire to record aircraft registrations and at the same time you be-little them in your signature. Then, you say your wife calls you a geek for listening to a/c radio transmissions and in the same breath insult anyone who collects registrations with your 'If I'm a sap I can't think what serial spotters are.' I find you worse than the uninformed who don't understand our hobby. At least they are receptive to an explaination, where you have decided to catagorise people based on their interest. I am interested to hear your definition of a plane-spotter. I want to know how you picture someone who records registrations and then I'll show you how totally wrong you are.

Don't bother starting your reply with ' I was just being light-hearted'. You have made very clear what you think of 'low life' plane spotters. People like you who feel the need to attack others because you don't agree or understand their interests really really worry me.

Mark

[RichC]

There you go, only takes one with a low sense of humour to ruin the thread and get it locked! didn't take long did it? I thought maybe Pikey01 or Blakey would have done that (by light hearted micky taking)


I said i find it interesting, the points made from all walks of the hobby, did i not? What my opinions are, are the same as many others on here. Just because you feel like you do about me or my views i really don't care. Your sense of humour sucks obviously (or you simply have had a bad day at work and need to lighten up (oops i said it!).
I have friends who are spotters (i said that too) and we all have discussions like this, i find none of them in the same attitude as you. But then you are of course behind a keyboard.

We have this banter on SPTA or at an airfield fence, again none of the attitudes are like yours and we have a laugh.

Thought maybe we could have the same here (as did Pete, the originator) but again the dull sense of humour of some members is beyond me.

Lighten up! I'm as much of a SAP as you!

My view on plane spotters? I categorised a plane spotter above but i feel Flaps has got it spot on in the way he describes it.

Why is it every interesting discussion on here always ends with someone getting peed off with someone elses opinions, i thought plane spotters were light hearted, can't we actually have a laugh on this damn forum without someone ruining it? God knows what some of you are like down the pub, sitting on your own moping?

I have said my comments were light hearted, they are not offending in any way, it's what is called banter. If i am being called a sap and geek then its no worse than what is being said on here from me or someone else to a fellow hobbyist.

[profile_m]

Not sure how this could be taken the wrong way Its all obviously light hearted

I think we are all geeks in our own way but then again everyone has their own geeky traits. People who collect stamps? Whats that about? People who go hiking in all weathers? are they geeks? Live and let live and definitely take the micky out of one and other as if you cant do that, what's the point?

Personally I don't get why people number crunch but I don't care, let them get on with it! They're all geeks anyway

[RichC]

Well i couldn't agree more with that post!