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

[PeteHemsley]

After a conversation with another forum member about 'spotters/enthusiasts' collecting aircraft regs, I was just wondering why people do this. Now I'm not saying anything bad here, but I'd really like to hear from you Reg hunters and explain why you do this as a hobby. I work in aviation and have for many years now and I love to photograph military aircraft. Now photographs I can understand, but I just can't get my head around the whole Reg thing.....

Post your thoughts.

[POL]

A very basic philosophy I have...I've photographed an RAF Typhoon in 3(F) Sqn marks. Ok, what do I do now, they're boring!

I'm a spotter (I.e. Someone who collections registrations (civil) and serials (military)) first, and a photographer second. There's always something worth getting if you collect registrations, there's always something new! And of course I don't need to get involved in the rubbish about there not being enough to photograph, there's plenty to log

I'm sure there are better explanations as to why, but that's just me.


Now, train spotters...

[RichC]

Can i ask though, and again i'm not having ago even though my signature says otherwise

Why spotters will travel huge distances just to see a tail fin with a colour code on it and a serial number, write it in their book to say where they saw it and then oh fudge off again?

I'm a monitor, i monitor communications, i write down callsigns and generally interested in what the aircraft is, where its going, what it is doing and so on. To me, a KC-135 with one serial is exactly the same as another KC-135 with another serial. The difference? one serial number. And people get excited when they have jotted down this new serial.

So, can i ask why some spotters getting almost extatic about catching a serial number from an aircraft which has been around for 40 years and many of the same type flying everywhere? And why are colour codes/airfield codes so important. 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.

I too like Pete, would like to understand the above and of course his original question. As i can't fathom my head around it!

Sounds silly but when i am called a spotter i get offended and annoyed!

[wokka]

I did trains when I was younger! I there is a simplistic enjoyment and it reflects on a persons tidiness collecting numbers! My train logs looked best when they were almost complete - fully underlined. It was a task to find that last one that was missing so felt a bit like treasure hunting! There was a point though where I had seen nearly everything and I was growing up so stopped. However, with aircraft I've never thought about doing it because there are so many and I would never have a complete book! My hobby is therefore collecting photo's of various types and models, and to have a collection of as many as possible. I'd probably enjoy collecting them I suspect but if I never got anywhere near completion I wouldnt be able to curb my frustration! I class myself as an enthusiast because I like to look at them and understand them.

[POL]

Sounds silly but when i am called a spotter i get offended and annoyed!

Equally I get offended and annoyed when you get photographs who call themselves "Spotters" who can't tell the difference between a Tornado F.3 and a GR.4 (Not having a go at you Rich, but they are out there!)

What's the appeal of listening to an aircraft that could be a thousand miles away on the other side of the Atlantic?

People like to collect an entire series of book, or comics, or precious art, why should tail numbers be any different? As for why I do it, it's something different to the norm, it gets me out of the house (And off the streets breaking windows, etc.!) and best of all, I've seen parts of the world that you just wouldn't think of going to normally!

Oh, and I do like to know what an aircraft is doing when I see it; I'll log serial, code, callsign and any other information that's passed via R/T.

However, with aircraft I've never thought about doing it because there are so many and I would never have a complete book!

That's the best bit! always going to be something new to get

[RichC]

What's the appeal of listening to an aircraft that could be a thousand miles away on the other side of the Atlantic?

I find it interesting to know what the pilot/aircraft are actually doing. What the mission is, where its going and so on. Yes it's quite exciting for us monitoring to hear an aircraft going on a bombing mission or communicating with nuclear forces knowing what stuff means and so on. But why the interest in the bit of writing on the tail of that aircraft. I don't understand what makes a KC135 different to another in the spotters eye just because it has different writing.

I can understand the photo side of it too, i take photos myself as it's nice to see what you have seen and what it has been doing. But do spotters class that as the same when looking in their log book?

[Mike]

I think it's the male hunter/gatherer instinct,I can't think of any bloke I know who doesn't collect something or other.

Mind you,women are the same I suppose.........handbags.........shoes............parking tickets...................jewellery........

[POL]

I can understand the photo side of it too, i take photos myself as it's nice to see what you have seen and what it has been doing.

But surely once you've photographed one KC-135, it's the same as every other KC-135 so you never need to photograph one again?

Yes, I can recall most of the "major" sightings, and it's nice to reminisce

[wokka]

But Rich, it is a case of one mans junk is another mans treasure. I like a bit of everything myself, but I wouldnt want to be solely listening to aircraft without actually seeing them. Why? Because to me thats as daft as Chris collecting serials is to you. You can argue it about everything cant you? Why stick bits of plastic together to look like a plane when you can see a real one at an airport? Yet that is a creative art. Each to his own?

[RichC]

Chris,
Not strictly true, as photographs are a nice visual to look at and each photo (even the same aircraft) with a different background is of course different and unique. It's not exactly a log book is it? There is no way anyone can compare spotting/serial crunching with photography. Photography is a visual art, what is spotting?

wokka,
Agree about not being able to see the aircraft when just monitoring. But i go further. I monitor JTACs when i'm sitting across the road from them controlling jets in to simulate bombing convoys of armour which i'm also watching and photographing as the planes come down and do their work. I monitor stuff above my location which i see, i monitor helicopters doing their work ups and watch them at the same time. (or photograph them).
The only thing i can't see at the same time is long distance stuff but alot of those do actually come overhead!

So i get to monitor, watch and photograph in most cases.

I have seen some spotters go to an airshow and take no notice of the air display whatsoever, all they go there for literally is to write down a few serials they haven't seen before in their book which are on the ground in the static!

[POL]

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!

[RichC]

I already do live in a blackspot (sort of) for HF, VHF and UHF but i cope with what i can do and have. Yes it is getting boring but if so, i go out with mates to watch action somewhere.
We often go up SPTA and say to each other that sometimes we just like to sit and watch the action rather than hurrying to the radio to hear what is happening or trying to have one eye through a camera eye piece all the time.
It's nice to know the opinions and viewpoints on this from the various members of FC. Let's hope it doesn't get locked within 5 mins

[pan trash]

I am not a 'spotter' myself, more a military fast jet enthusiast, but can understand why some people collect numbers of trains/planes. We all have our little ideosyncracies and weird (in other peoples opinions) habits. I often get called a geek at work for going to watch an F16 take off or something different landing at the station. Having said that there was one type of spotter I have come across, and if you are one of these then I mean no offence, that I don't understand and that is the GSE spotter.

[RichC]

I get called a sap and geek by my other half. She even slept through the B1B taking off at RIAT one year. If she calls me a spotter for a joke i get well upset! I get a right paddy on!

[Al dunn]

I am an avid spotter and have been since I was 19 years old. At work I get asked some really stupid questions, but then there are some quite intelligent ones who are seriously interested in what I do. I never started intentionally on collect Serials/Registrations. I was just sat at Mildenhall one day during the Kosovo Crisis and started writing down the Serials of the arriving and departing aircraft. It was then when I got home, I asked myself what do i do with these now. I brought my first copy of MAM then and I have brought it every year since. I have even brought ones from befroe I started spotting of Ebay and only need about 6 or 7 to have a copy of everysingle MAM released to date. I find that a good day taking down serials and registrations is ver yrelaxing. My boys even enjoy spending a day with daddy at the local airport whether it be Military or that naughty C word. I wouldnt change my hobby for the world. Even my wife enjoys a day with me on a Spotting Jolly. I have been called some names in my time but i would rather be sat at an Airport/Airbase with my family tyhan sat in a pub wasting my hard earnt money

Alan
RAF Brize Norton

[wokka]

I must admit, sometimes I'll be taking a few (usually many!) photo's of an aircraft and at the same time wishing I wasnt because I just want to watch it! One occasion was Concorde's retirement, another was the first time I saw a Raptor. At least if you dont photograph you get to watch!

I havent seen anyone just looking at numbers and not the planes. That would be a number cruncher rather than a fan of aircraft.

[DaveChapman]

Im no spotter but an enthusiast,I also love photography of just about anything I think I can make look good.My local is the Loop and I love trying to get "that" shot of any of the aircraft that come through,you wouldnt believe how many shots i`ve got in my head that ive been after for years,luckily last year I managed 3 of them(Reds with smoke,amazing head on Dominie pass and an outstanding Tonka pass from the Exit) but I`m never happy,always after that one shot better.I dont collect the serials of what comes through but as we dont get much traffic in a day you know when you`ve bagged Herc 885 or Typhoon11sqn DC before ,but saying that It makes me happy when I get a different one.
As for monitoring well I find it massively interesting,dogfights above,targets on the ground or just whats coming through the Lichfield/Daventry corridors into the loop and what their intentions are.
I understand its each to their own and I am glad everyone does something different,nothing better than coming home from a day in the Loop and finding photos of an F-15e you togged in the Loop also photographed on Holbeach range,taking off/landing on base and all tied together with base logs and the brilliant Headsup section plotting every inch of its journey
Sorry for going on,
Dave.

[RichC]

I guess i don't like being called a spotter because i don't actually spot aircraft or take serials. I find the "anorak" side of it (well come on, how many people in the world think spotters are an anorak community) rather geeky. I'm not in anyway "trying" to offend anyone as i have friends who are spotters and to be honest each side of the hobby works side by side with each other.
But the spotters/serial'ists don't help the fact that some actually do wear absurd clothing associated with the jokes with patches all over their coats and hats.
You can, seriously, spot a spotter a mile off with the artifacts they have collected over the years sewn all over their clothing. It is that side of the spotting fraternity which will keep the old jokes going. Apologise if i have offended those who do wear such items but i'm just going by what i see and hear myself and from the various jokes that have come about over the years.

You can spot the various genres out there.
1. (Spotters) wear various clothing associated with their favourite squadron or air station or aircraft. This includes various patches sewn to their coats and hats and so on. They have to wear a cap, have a bomber jacket or similar (some are like darn Police vests with pockets for everything), their logbooks and pens. Binoculars, cameras, step ladders, key fobs (lol) and sometimes a radio.
2. (Photographers) wear normal everyday clothing, hats, large camera bags on their backs with various cameras set for each situation they might encounter. A radio to know what is coming and going and a notebook incase they too need to jot down their favourite serial or location co-ordinates, action etc. Binoculars. Not forgetting the dreaded step ladder.
3. (Monitors) wear normal clothing but can be found also with a note book and pen writing down callsigns, frequencies and what is going on if logging (or not writing anything), binoculars, shades (cause we look cool), cars or any vehicle with an antenna farm stuck on the roof and various radios in the car and with them (depending if they can carry where they are going). And a camera if needed to take photos of the action they are watching and monitoring.

So they are all similar in regards to our 'tools' of the hobby. Except for some reason it is the "spotter" fraternity which all the jokes are made up for and it seems the general public consider the "whole" aviation hobby as "Spotting". Which is incorrect in my opinion.

I guess writing down callsigns is similar to serials in regards you know what you have seen/heard on that day and where and i agree with that but there are aspects of "spotting" which will always be considered as geekish to the public or other genres of the hobby. I am not a spotter, i monitor and watch aircraft. I have no interest in what serial it is or what colour code the tail fin has. If its a type im interested in, then so be it. I monitor the comms if they have an interesting profile to listen to.
As Dave Chapman just mentioned above, if you can't join the pilots dogfighting or bombing a dam in Wales then the next best thing is to listen to them doing it.
We all watch videos on youtube of aircraft bombing targets in afghanistan and hearing the JTACs call in the target info for the pilot, it is that aspect we love in monitoring. It is generally exciting knowing that kind of mission profile.
Just listening to the old debriefs in the air that the 800, 801 and 899NAS used to give on their GCI sorties was fantastically interesting. No other air arm used to do the same in depth as they did. It was interesting in the fact of hearing a pilot with so much experience teach other students the art of air combat and watching them above with your eyeballs at the same time. It's like Top Gun but in real life.

That's my aspect on my side of the hobby in that last paragraph.

[deerhunter]

Right thats it, I`m going to blow all the theories out of the window. I`m going to turn up at Mildy in a ballerina dress, then you can work out if I`m a spotter, serial collector, monitor..er or whatever.

Best answer gets a kick in the

Gotta laf havnt you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS I`m barmy, thats my excuse

[wokka]

Like this thread! Its kind of a psycho-analytical assessment of yourself!

Incidentally, I dont think most people would associate the clothing, patches etc as a spotter. Geek maybe! If I went to an airfield and saw someone with a pair of binoculars and a pen and paper, I would immediately say spotter! I have various merchandise. I have a Hercules shirt because I love hercs, and a Lockheed shirt because I love big dark american planes. I also have a cap with an F-16 on it. But who, other than another aircraft enthusiast would know what that was? However, If I went to an airfield with my Cap, a t-shirt, a camera, a pen and paper, a pair of binoculars and my camera, I think I would look a right tool rather than a spotter - so I dont