What am I talking about when I mention aircraft spotting?  Well, it all depends on how you view the activity.  There are several different types of spotting activities - those I will be mentioning are the most commonly practiced methods that I know of and practice myself.  My definitions of aircraft spotting fall under the categories listed below:

A.  Sitting somewhere outside an airport or military base for a given period of time and watching what's landing and what's taking off,

B.  Using a scanner, tuned to various airport/military base frequencies and listening to the activities and (if possible) watching those activities take place,

C.  Using definition A and/or B and taking notes of the aircraft you see (writing down registration numbers, serial numbers of the planes, etc.),

D.  Taking still photographs of the aircraft as they come close to you or pass by you, and/or

E.  Doing any or all of the activities mentioned above.

In this section, I will do my best to list my favorite spotting locations at various airports and military bases in the country - that I have spotted at in the past and will spot at again in the future.  If you have other spots that I have not listed, drop me a line and let me know!

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING. Due to heightened awareness of suspicious activities on and around airports and military installations, you could be stopped and subjected to questioning by local authorities about your activities. Do not question their authority, unless they do not appear to be anyone representing any law enforcement agency (including a private security company), where in that case, ask to see a badge or identification that they represent law enforcement.  Be careful what you say, since the wrong words in the wrong places can and will get you arrested and you can possibly have your film/tapes/memory cards/cameras confiscated.  I will list any spots in each of the represented pages where I personally have been questioned about my activities and the spots where you have a good chance of being stopped and questioned.

Spotting at McGuire AFB, NAS Key West, and NAS/JRB Willow Grove is pretty much off-limits.

Now, onto the pages! The locations are sorted by state. Locations not linked (when the rest have been linked) show places I have not spotted at as of yet.

The Aircraft Factfile and Recognition Guide can be found by clicking here.

The List of Carrier Air Wings can be found here.

The List of USAF Tailcodes can be found here.

Alberta

4 Wing Cold Lake

Delaware

Dover AFB
New Castle County Airport

Florida

Eglin AFB
MacDill AFB
Marathon Airport
Miami International Airport
NAS Key West
NAS Pensacola
Orlando-McCoy International Airport
Tampa International Airport
Tyndall AFB

Maryland

Andrews AFB
Baltimore-Washington International Airport
Martin State Airport

New Jersey

Atlantic City International Airport
Flying W Airport
McGuire AFB
Newark Liberty International Airport
South Jersey Regional Airport
Warren Grove Weapons Range

New York

Farmingdale Republic Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
New York LaGuardia Airport
Stewart International Airport

Pennsylvania

NAS/JRB Willow Grove
Northeast Philadelphia Airport
Philadelphia International Airport

Virginia

Langley AFB
NAS Oceana
Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport

© 2004-2007 Steven Holzinger